Desmond DMH-2 & 50mm DAC-X1 Clamp Tripod Tilt Head Arca Compatible Oversized Knob

I've been on the hunt for a tripod head to go with my Seestar Smart Telescope to further facilitate Equatorial mode (object tracking based on latitude and polar alignment), and have gone through several different fluid heads over the past few weeks because I wasn't satisfied with the action of the tile/pan fluid heads, and I just don't like the look of the de facto EQ mounts available. The fluid heads I initially tried did pan and tilt, and while they worked to an extent they just didn't feel stable enough and there was always some locking lash that you had to compensate for after tightening things down. Some of them had really firm springs that returns the head to horizontal and you have to compensate for that when setting up. I suppose that's what's needed for shooting live action, but it just complicated things. I was about to go to a geared head to make things simpler (they're also about at least 3x the price of the DMH-2), when I decided that I only needed a smooth and positive locking tilt head that could support at least 6 lbs reliably (this can get heavier with an added battery pack and other accessories). My telescope just needs to be set up perfectly and left alone to do its thing. It also needed to be compatible with arca-swiss type plates.I looked at this Desmond DMH-2 and a generic DT-02D50, and decided on the Desmond. It had better ratings and reviews, while the DT-02D50 only had one 1-star review. The Desmond was also a bit lower-priced.Robust metal construction, large machined locking knob, no panning base, arca-swiss compatible, no spring return to horizontal, and rated to support 22 lbs. Basically everything I wanted and nothing extra. The plate clamp is secure, the large locking knob is easy to locate by feel, and doesn't take even a full turn to lock.From a design standpoint, the only thing that would make this even more perfect is if the track channel was geared, with a separate locking solution. That way, tilt can be adjusted by the knob, and locked into place using other means. That would really allow you to dial-in your latitude and nail polar alignment fast and easy. It would be a great feature, but not critical for my purposes.My search is over, and this is the one.

This is for my Nikon 400/2.8 AF-S II. I have a monopod and the lens came with an arca Swiss standard plate by RRS. Visiting local camera stores, I saw some very nice hardware only to find the head was good for 5.5 pounds or something else that would not do. I’m not excited about spending $400 on a head unit either. So Amazon here I come.First off, this head unit is large. I included my hand in a pic to show off the size of it. I completely expected something about half to 2/3 of the size. So right away I’m very pleased. Second of all, the craftsmanship is equal to anything I have purchased from the big three. It is anodized beautifully, the black color appears very professional, and the attention to detail in the manufacturing process is quite obvious.The important bit is how it hold my lens. I can mount my 400mm and easily lock it from moving at all using the large oversized knob. A slight twist loosens it completely. Someone in the middle allows it to have adjustable resistance so that I can repoint the lens and it stays where I leave it.I will want a tripod next, and I have no trouble at all searching the same brand. It is well worth the price. They could charge 3x what I paid and I would still be happy.The biggest surprise was really the size. It is indeed bigger than I ever expected it to be. For what I paid I had expected something smaller. Would buy from again. I hesitated at first but if so glad I pulled the trigger.

I came across this while looking for a "budget" monopod head and am so glad that I decided to give it a try. This head is well made and works great! I like that the top clamp can be pulled off and spun any way I want, and the bubble level comes off as well. I have big hands so being able to rotate the top and remove the bubble level has given me so much more space for my knuckles when using the tilt knob. Perfect for my R7 and rf100-400, I will definitely be looking into other items made by Desmond Photographic!

Pretty strong but haven't pushed it toohard

This tilt-head works extremely well for my current mode of photography. I'm an amateur with an interest in bird photography, with a few years of experience so please take my review accordingly. After purchasing and initially using my Sigma 150-600 contemporary lens, I realized that having some form of stabilization would help me take sharper images. I own a decent tripod and a 'budget' CF gimbal head, but one of my favorite things to photograph is hummingbirds in flight, and the tripod/gimbal setup can't keep up with my need to relocate and remain fluid.After a bit of researching reviews and blogs, I chose to try the DMH-2/DAC-X1 tilt head combo and it simply works. I've read all the reviews, maybe more than most have...this purchase works for my purposes and holds my Canon 7dmk2 + Sigma 150-600 tightly wherever I set the tilt.I want to mention something about holding large lenses like the Sigma 150-600, because so many of the reviews that I had read were from folks who claimed to be able to free hold the lens upright forever with no fatigue, etc.,...for me, I found that free holding was not giving me the number of 'keepers' that I should have had.With my monopod and the tilthead, I get more sharpness and a greater number of usable photographs. My setup is at or slightly below my eye height...I can maneuver quickly in a lateral direction and I find that I use the tilt function more than I thought I would initially. I recommend this tilt head because it is a quality piece of equipment and it has become an essential part of my gear.

I use this on my monopod instead of a ball head. I don't like ball heads on a monopod, but a tilt head works great. Everything feels quality with this tilt head, smooth locking and unlocking, and looks to be very well made.