SunwayFoto GH-PRO II Geared Head

2025-02-04T12:52:40

The tripod head appears well made, the movements are very smooth and seem precise. We use this for our architectural photography and video (helps get the camera leveled very quickly and easily). Also, fairly compact for being a 3-axis head. Really enjoy using it!

Puxiao C.

2023-08-23T18:52:55

Don't believe the hype. All the YouTubers you've seen giving this thing rave reviews have either never used a geared head from a reputable manufacturer or are being paid by Sunwayfoto. Or both. The build quality is okay, especially for the price, but it could have been better. The flip-out levers on the knobs rattle around, feel cheap, and are completely unnecessary. The indexing line/mark for the scale on the up and down tilt knob is far enough away from the scale itself to make you second guess if it's actually lined up with any given point on the scale, and the scale for the side to side tilt movement is in such a stupid spot that I didn't even realize there was one at first. When the whole point of a geared head is precise movements, why go out of your way to make measuring those movements more difficult or annoying? Also, this may just be an issue with the one I received but one of the knobs has a "loose" spot where the gears feel like they're slipping from a few milimeters. Anyway, having said all that it's probably still the best budget geared head out there, especially if you're looking to save weight in addition to money. However if neither of those are a concern for you, just get the Manfrotto 410, if not something even nicer.

MITCH G.

2023-02-23T16:12:59

This is a great head. So much so, that I purchased a second one as a back up. However, I made the mistake of purchasing an open box one, that I have typically had a lot of luck with. This one was so loose that I couldn't rely on it -- so it is unusable. I made the mistake of waiting until after 30 days to inquire about exchange or return options. I was sent to the manufacturer in China, whom was more than willing to repair it and send it back at their expense. However, my expense in getting it there was as much as purchasing a new one. I am stuck with this one.

Scott W.

2022-12-26T11:17:34

It?s a great head for macro and landscape work ar a great price.

Gary S.

2022-12-25T11:24:55

The SunwayFoto Gear Head is a great alternative to a ball head. I?ve never found a ball head that I like and doesn?t drift over time. The Sunway provides precision control and is stable.

DARRYL L.

2022-10-20T05:21:04

I purchased this I purchased the Sunwayfoto geared head thinking I?d probably be sending it back because I was highly skeptical given its affordable price point. But after putting it to the test in real estate photography I have concluded that this is superior to any geared head I?ve owned?even those that were twice the price. It?s smooth as silk, beautifully machined, light weight, not bulky, and has great ergonomics. This one is a keeper and has made a believer out of me.

ROY P.

2022-10-13T08:52:15

Very robust and tight turning. When paired with an r5 and hefty 28-70, I didn't notice any drifting.

forrest c.

2022-09-18T08:27:38

By using an L bracket and that geared head I have so much control on highway angle or take photos. For me personally it's hard to hold the camera and adjust when using a ball head. The Sun way Foto geared head is a perfect answer for me personallyFOR ME PERSONALLY IT'S HARD TO HOLD THE CAMERA AND ADJUST WHEN USING A BALL HEAD. THE SUN WAY FOTO GEARED HEAD IS A PERFECT ANSWER FOR ME PERSONALLY.

JAIME O.

2022-06-02T08:50:51

I can?t believe that I waited this long to get one of these! I film content for YouTube and our website and I?ve been struggling to get our whiteboard perfectly aligned in the video frame using a ball mount for years! Didn?t even know that something like this existed until I got so frustrated that I started to search. I try to buy only the best and this piece of equipment doesn?t disappoint. It is exceptionally well-built and feels rock solid in your hands. Operating it is a breeze as well and all the mechanisms are smooth as butter! The best things is that all of our video will now be perfectly aligned in frame. LOVE IT!

JOEY W.

2022-04-27T08:42:33

Compared to other similarly priced options this is less bulky which is very nice. My only wish would be for the panning function to be geared as well, but as it is, this probably is why in sum total, the head is less bulky. ?One less knob to include in the design. The friction function for panning seems like a reasonable compromise.

Hillel B.

2022-04-25T08:17:52

I can't find a single thing to complain about. It's well made and it's absolutely a game changer in getting things level vs. a ball head. A necessary piece of equipment for real estate photography in my opinion and any time that being level is vitally important (architecture for example). I actually love using it, and I think the design is well thought out (I love the cover that you can put over it even when attached to your tripod to keep the dust out of the gears when not in use). It's only been about a month, but with the quality of this, I don't see any reason to spend upwards of $1k for the "best" geared head, unless you simply need the absolute best of everything and have money to burn.

Kyle P.

2022-03-22T01:10:17

I chose the Sunway head based on its price and features. I've used ballheads for decades and was not sure whether I'd like working with a geared head. The head is reasonably well-made, it looks nice, and is suitable for my relatively lightweight camera (MFT). Not sure whether I'd trust it with a heavier system. So far I had two issues: the horizontal movements are rather difficult to rotate, and there seems no easy way to fix the drag. That's more pronounced in cold weather. The lubricants must get more viscous. It has gotten better over time though. The second issue is that there is a certain amount of give in the head. It flexes under load. That sounds worse than it is. The flex is minimal and has not prevented me from careful framing. It is possible to make large adjustments quickly by using the little cranks, but I rarely find that necessary. I bought the head to slow me down a bit and become more deliberate in my framing, and it works great for that. I might upgrade to a geared panoramic head as well.

Christoph G.

2022-02-07T08:09:36

Feels very high quality. All metal. Satisfying to use. Have not had it long enough to comment on durability.

ROBERT E.

2022-01-19T08:56:01

This seems to be well built and will be used for my in-studio macro photography. It should last a long time.

Joseph F.

2022-01-16T12:02:58

Here's the thing, I've always been grumpy about reviews written by people who haven't used the item yet. I mean, why do that you fool? You haven't even gone out and stumbled around in the wilderness with your new framitz. What business have you to be writing about how wonderful it is? But, Adorama is quite insistent that you do something along those lines right now. The email pops up and offers you a chance to win a gift card if only you will take a moment to review your new thingy. What the hell, it is exactly what I need when I'm out in the dark trying to level the horizon for that perfect shot. I know it will serve me well when the time comes. I've put it on me tripod and fiddled with the knobs. I'm so glad I bought it. My new SunwayFoto GH-PRO II is my ticket to casually leveled horizon nirvana. Now, about that gift card...

JOHN S.

2021-10-15T06:05:36

I bought this to replace my Manfrotto Junior Geared Head, because the gears were starting to get stiff. This one is lighter, more compact, and the gears have been very smooth and easy to maneuver. It is also much more affordable!

Justine C.

2021-10-05T10:41:41

I ordered the Sunwayfoto GH-Pro II on a Monday & it was in my mailbox on Weds. i.e. ( 2 ) days... Excellent delivery time... I've been using the gearhead for a couple weeks now & I was pleasantly surprised of the quality of this unit right out of the box. It is an absolute joy to use & is precisely accurate in both left to right & fore & aft adjustments, it holds constant on pano's too...The Arca-swiss clamp works perfectly & it easily holds my 5DM3/EF 70-200 mm lens as well... Both the upper & lower pivots are well dampened & have a professional feel to them. The gearhead is designed correctly in that the camera or lens clamps over the center axis, not offset to the side as with Benro & Manfrotto heads, rendering them useless IMO at any price...The GH-Pro II is a tremendous value for the money considering what you are getting in useable function...

WILLIAM F.

2021-03-31T08:47:13

I love the design of SunwayFoto GH-PRO II geared head. It is very compact, comfortable to use, very smooth and light. I am very glad to find this head for such a price. The box looks very nice like a gift, and I think it would make a wonderful gift to any photographer. A Geared head in a size of a ball head! It was on backorder and I ordered Benro geared head, very good head by the way although quite big, but when finely I got my SunwayFoto GH-PRO II I decided to return Benro. Adorama shipping and customer service is superb.

LEONID G.

2021-02-09T07:29:50

Highly recommended

Danny D.

2020-12-24T09:05:22

A brilliant product for the photographer looking for a well made precision tool for architectural, tabletop and macro photography. Smooth, well damped controls in a compact design that easily supports my Canon DSLR with a variety of medium sized lenses. Some have noted the lack of geared panning but for the price I feel that it was worth the omission. It would be nice but I am sure Sunway may intro that on a new model that will, of course, cost a little more. In the meantime I am making money with a product that looks to last a lifetime.

MARK D.

2020-06-04T08:43:40

Very sturdy, smooth, and built with the tightest of tolerances. If you are looking for a reliable, well built tripod head, this is an excellent unit. I purchased this unit for macro endeavors and it does a great job in allowing me to adjust my composition as needed to achieve the image I desire. The gears are smooth and well machined providing minute movements. A fantastic product at a fair price.

Dik H.