Filmmakers who travel for work often pack two tripod heads: a ball head for stills and a fluid head for video. Deaf Director, a YouTube filmmaker with 41.3K subscribers, has been flying with a single SIRUI BH-60 instead. In his hands-on video, he describes it as one of his favorite travel accessories for video jobs, a head he can throw in his luggage and take almost anywhere. Here is how it performed in his tests, including the one limitation he flagged.
What Is the SIRUI BH-60 2-in-1 Tripod Head?
The SIRUI BH-60 is a camera tripod head that combines a precision ball head with a two-way fluid head. A mode switch at the base changes it from free ball movement for photography to controlled pan and tilt for video, so one head covers both.
Deaf Director has used both ball heads and fluid heads a lot, and he was glad to see a company thinking creatively about the category. For him, the ball head side handles photography and clean horizon lines, while the fluid head side handles video, without switching heads mid-shoot. The SIRUI BH-60 is built around that hybrid workflow, and the BH-60 launch overview covers the full specifications and kit options.
Watch Deaf Director's full hands-on video below:
Build Quality: Light Enough to Pack, Strong Enough for a Cinema Camera
The BH-60 is made of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and weighs about two pounds (950g per SIRUI's official specs), which Deaf Director found easy to walk around and travel with. What impressed him most was the 11.02 lb load capacity (5kg counterbalance in video mode, per SIRUI's official specs). He mounted a full-size Canon C80 with Canon L glass, and the head handled it without any problem.
Tested Setups
- Canon C80 + Canon L lens: held without issue
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II: used for the photo and video mode demos
- Supports: a carbon fiber travel tripod or a monopod
The BH-60 is designed mainly for mirrorless cameras, but it can carry a cinema camera in a pinch.
How Does the Mode Switch Work? Ball Head vs Fluid Head in One
The mode switch at the base has three positions: the center position locks the head as it is, the 360 position frees the ball for full rotation, and the pan and tilt position turns it into a two-way fluid head that blocks roll.
Deaf Director calls the design simple and intuitive. There is a lock at the base for basic panning and a separate lock for the ball, as on any ball head. The mode switch is what makes it interesting.
Mode Switch at a Glance
- Center: locks everything as it is (Neutral in SIRUI's official naming)
- 360 mode: free ball movement for photos (Full-Motion mode)
- Pan and tilt mode: smooth pans and tilts, no roll (Limited-Motion mode)
360 Mode for Photography
With the switch in 360 mode and the ball loosened, he gets full 360° freedom and can angle the camera however he wants. On a monopod or a carbon fiber travel tripod, this lets him position photos exactly and level the horizon quickly. He especially likes that the head shows exactly which angle the camera is at.
Pan and Tilt Mode for Video
To return to controlled movement, he locks the ball, brings the switch back to the center (it clicks into place) and moves it to pan and tilt mode. He then screws in the included video arm, which takes only a few seconds. In this mode he gets smooth fluid pans and tilts, and the head stays controlled without introducing roll. He also liked the resistance on tilts. These are the core moves behind most pan and tilt camera movements.
Degree Markings for Panoramas
One detail he called out is the degree marker at the bottom for pans, which helps when shooting panoramics. On the back, a scale shows the 40° tilt range (±40° in video mode, per SIRUI's official specs), so he always knows where the tilt is set. Once the composition is right, the large locking knobs keep the camera from moving.
Arca-Swiss Quick Release Compatibility
The BH-60 uses an Arca-Swiss plate. After popping off the small safety device, the plate slides on and off, so Arca-Swiss users can mount their cameras right away.
Deaf Director admits he is a Manfrotto 501 plate user and runs that system across his whole kit. He simply attached a small 501-style quick release plate onto the Arca-Swiss plate, which is why a 501 plate shows up on the head in his B-roll.
Using a Different Plate System?
Arca-Swiss users are set from the start. Manfrotto 501 users can attach their own quick release plate on top of the Arca-Swiss plate and keep their existing workflow.
SIRUI BH-60 Integrated 2-in-1 Ball & Fluid Head for Photo & Video
- 2-in-1 Ball & Fluid Head | 950g
- Photo / Video Mode, One-Turn Switch
- 5kg Counterbalance, 360° Pan | ±40° Tilt
- 60mm Ball, 20kg Static Load
- Dual-Lock Arca-Swiss Quick Release
Real-World Use: A Travel Tripod Head for Interviews
For his tests, Deaf Director used both the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the C80. The scenario where the BH-60 helped him most is interview work while traveling, where he often has to set up fast.
His Fast Interview Setup
- Step 1: Switch to 360 mode and loosen the ball knob.
- Step 2: Level the horizon line exactly where it needs to be.
- Step 3: Switch back to video mode and make small pan or tilt adjustments.
- Step 4: Lock all knobs. The frame stays put for the entire interview.
When the shoot wraps, the head goes straight into his luggage. He now brings it on local shoots as well, because it is so easy to throw into the car.
What to Know Before You Buy: No 90° Vertical Notch
Vertical Shooting on the BH-60
Deaf Director flagged one limitation: the ball head offers full 360° rotation, but there is no notch to drop the camera to 90°. That matters if you shoot a lot of vertical photos or vertical video. Two workarounds he suggests:
- Camera cage: Many cages now have an Arca-Swiss mount built into the side, so the camera can be switched to vertical.
- Side plate: Add a small Arca-Swiss plate to the side of the camera body.
If vertical content makes up a large part of your work, plan for one of these mounting options before you buy.
Who Is the SIRUI BH-60 For?
Based on Deaf Director's experience, the BH-60 fits:
- Hybrid creators who shoot photos and video on the same trip and want one head instead of two
- Traveling filmmakers who need an interview head that sets up fast and stays locked
- Mirrorless users looking for a compact tripod head for shooting on the go, with headroom for heavier cameras when needed
Final Thoughts
The Verdict
Deaf Director sums up the SIRUI BH-60 as a useful two-in-one travel tripod head that has become an essential part of his kit. He rarely travels with luggage without it, and he thinks it makes sense for anyone looking for a compact tripod head on the go.
Ball head positioning for stills and controlled fluid moves for video fit in one small package, and an Arca-Swiss side mount covers vertical shots.
FAQ
Can the SIRUI BH-60 be used as a fluid head for video?
Yes. In pan and tilt mode, it works as a two-way fluid head with roll blocked. With the included video arm, Deaf Director got smooth pans and tilts with comfortable resistance.
Is the SIRUI BH-60 Arca-Swiss compatible?
Yes. It uses an Arca-Swiss plate. Users of other systems, such as Manfrotto 501, can attach their own quick release plate on top of the Arca-Swiss plate.
How much weight can the SIRUI BH-60 hold?
Deaf Director cites an 11.02 lb load capacity (5kg counterbalance in video mode, per SIRUI's official specs). He used it with a Canon C80 and Canon L lens, though the head is designed mainly for mirrorless cameras.
Can the SIRUI BH-60 shoot vertical photos or video?
The ball head has no 90° notch. For vertical shooting, use a camera cage with an Arca-Swiss side mount, or add a small Arca-Swiss plate to the side of the camera.
Should I choose a ball head or a fluid head?
A ball head is faster for positioning stills, while a fluid head gives controlled pans and tilts for video. If you shoot both, a 2-in-1 head like the SIRUI BH-60 covers both without carrying two heads.
