Markins Q20i Review

The Q20i is the largest ballhead made by Markins.  Markins has a history of making high end ball heads, and the Q20i is no exception.  Spoiler, the Q20i is one of the best performing heads I have tested in both pure stiffness and on a weight adjusted basis.

NameMarkins Q20i
TypeBall Head
Stiffness About Vertical Axis10778 +/- 87 Nm/rad
Stiffness About Radial Axis7616 +/- 47 Nm/rad
Retail Price$430
Weight1.279 lbs (0.58 kgs)
Manufacturer weight rating110 lbs (49.9kgs)
Maximum Height4.0 in (10.2 cm)
Base Diameter2.6 in (6.6 cm)
Ball Diameter48 mm
Tension Controlyes
Panning Lockyes
Quick ReleaseArca Clamp

The size and weight of the place it on the upper end of what we consider a midsize head.  Despite this, the Q20i manages to be the second stiffest head I have tested, only behind the massive Feisol CB-70D.  This is a remarkable achievement for Markins.  Typically there are small weak points on a head that reduce stiffness.  Not so here.  Markins seems to have thoroughly eliminated all of the typical weak points to make one of the best performing heads I have yet tested.