Comments about Giottos Giottos MH-1002 Compact Ball Head with Independent Panning Lock - Supports 13 lbs.:
First of all, there is no way this ballhead supports 13 pounds, or even the 6.6 pounds that it is sometimes rated at. However, it is a great ballhead for smaller cameras like my Panasonic G1. The Giottos MH-1002 has a really nice look and feel to it, appears very well made. The independent panning lock is a great feature...the actual panning movement is a bit stiff, but works smoothly enough...the stiffness may not be a negative, it may keep your camera from wandering too easily when the panning lock is not tightened down. In my opinion, this ballhead is a great size for micro-four thirds cameras, and probably for smaller DSLRs with standard lenses.
Comments about Giottos Giottos MH-1002 Compact Ball Head with Independent Panning Lock - Supports 13 lbs.:
I find the ballhead easy to use and smooth. But it is not capable of clamping tight enough for me. Cranked all the way down, I can still move the head with my hands. The panning lock is really nice though. The construction is overall solid but a little wobbly.
If you have enough money, I think you should get a better head. It should be fine for light-duty work though, I wouldn't recommend using a large, heavy lens with it.