Tripod heads, confused.

[412 Burgh]

Whats the best type of head for portraits, landscape, and general purposes? I'm looking mainly for ease of use and versatility. I was looking at the [h=1]Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head with 200PL-14 QR Plate [/h]but should I go with a ball head, 3 way head, etc? What's the most liked for general uses?

 

[SCraig]

What's the best car? What's the best shoes?

The reason that there are different styles is that people have differing preferences. Many people like pan heads with a pan lever. I personally absolutely detest them because no matter how I turn the head the lever is in my way. I use a ball head. Others detest ball heads because no matter what they do the head is flopping around. A lot of people really like the pistol-grip styles. I don't want anything that is locked, I just want them damped.

My suggestion would be to get your hands on different styles and see what feels right to you. Odds are what looked good in a catalog might not feel so good once you actually play with it a little while.

My 2-cents: I like ball heads, as I said. I hold onto my camera and lens when I'm shooting, that's what feels normal to me. When I use a tripod to hold my camera it's the same way, I still hold the camera and lens. With a pistol grip or a pan head or anything else I'm fumbling for levers and latches and knobs and stuff. I have my ball head set so that the locks hold the weight of the camera and lens without it dipping, and I just move it to where I want it. If I want to lock it in place there is one big latch right under my right hand that locks the ball. Manfrotto 054-Q2

 

[412 Burgh]

I was only given the option to feel a pistol grip. I don't have a local camera shop in Western PA or I can't find one in Morgantown WV, which is close to my school. However I felt a pistol grip once and it felt really good. Felt like it wouldn't slip or fall due to weight.

 

[Mully]

Don't buy a cheap ball head.... they slip... Manfrotto would be the way to go

 

[412 Burgh]

Don't buy a cheap ball head.... they slip... Manfrotto would be the way to go

The one I linked in there, would that be considered a cheap one? I understand the whole "Don't scimp on tripods" I understand they hold thousands of dollars worth of equipment lol.

 

[Buckster]

For general use, including portraiture and landscapes, one of my ball heads.

For my long lenses, 100-400 and 500 f/4.5, one of my gimbal heads.

For macro, 2-way macro rails on a 3-way geared head.

I don't personally like, use or own anything that has handles that stick out anymore. They tended to poke me in the neck.

 

[SCraig]

Don't buy a cheap ball head.... they slip... Manfrotto would be the way to go

Agreed. Manfrotto or better.

Look at your avatar. Both hands on the camera. Where are you going to get the third hand for the pistol grip? Every time you have to lock/unlock/move it you've got to let go of something else to do it.

Again, find what works for you and not for me, but think it through. The less you have to move your hands from where they need to be the better off you are. I just happened to think that my comments have all been based on being able to readily move the camera and that might not be a consideration in your case.

 

[412 Burgh]

Don't buy a cheap ball head.... they slip... Manfrotto would be the way to go

Agreed. Manfrotto or better.

Look at your avatar. Both hands on the camera. Where are you going to get the third hand for the pistol grip? Every time you have to lock/unlock/move it you've got to let go of something else to do it.

Again, find what works for you and not for me, but think it through. The less you have to move your hands from where they need to be the better off you are. I just happened to think that my comments have all been based on being able to readily move the camera and that might not be a consideration in your case.

Thank you for all of your input Craig, I will have to do some research and see what seems to fit me best. Like I said I don't have a local camera shop unfortunately so I may have to order a few different styles and see what feels best in my hands. Thank you for all of the great information!

 

[Buckster]

Look at your avatar. Both hands on the camera. Where are you going to get the third hand for the pistol grip? Every time you have to lock/unlock/move it you've got to let go of something else to do it.

That hand in his avatar UNDER the camera will be replaced by the tripod and head. Unless he's manually focusing, that hand will be free once it's no longer a support for the camera.

It's the same for every kind of head there is. In order to lock/unlock/move it, you've got to work the head with one of your hands. Somehow, we all manage to do that without a third hand.

 

[Helen B]

I have a 322RC2 grip action ballhead on one of my tripods, and it works very well for me, as long as the load is not too unbalanced. In effect the grip handle is a camera holding point when you move it. I find it easier and more precise to use than my heavier duty ballheads as long as it isn't overloaded.

You might want to consider what kind of quick release system you want to go with in the long run, so you don't end up with multiple types.

 

[table1349]

Buying a head should be no different than buying a tripod. You want a head that will support at least two times the weight of your heaviest gear. Three times is better. With a ball head you want friction control that is separate from the main ball head locking knob. Manfrotto makes decent ball heads that are good for general light use. If you are really serious about this over a long period of time, I would suggest that you look at upper end Arca-Swiss type ball heads. My personal choice was the RSS BH-55. Expensive but i can mount my 400 f2.8 with body attached and not have a millimeter of head creep when I lock it down. Markins, Kirk, Arca-Swiss and Acratech to name a few also make very high quality heads that would last a lifetime.

 

[SCraig]

That hand in his avatar UNDER the camera will be replaced by the tripod and head. Unless he's manually focusing, that hand will be free once it's no longer a support for the camera.

It's the same for every kind of head there is. In order to lock/unlock/move it, you've got to work the head with one of your hands. Somehow, we all manage to do that without a third hand.

Not mine. My hand goes there whether my camera is on the tripod or not.

When my camera is on the tripod it normally has my 500mm lens on it, and my left hand is over the tripod collar of the lens. My right hand is on the camera a half a foot behind the tripod head. The reason I picked that particular head is that it has one large lever that unlocks the head, and I keep it under the index finger of my left hand. To unlock the head I just move one finger down. Oh gee! That DOES work without a third hand and I managed to keep both hands on the camera! How convenient!

 

[Helen B]

I didn't dare to suggest RRS, but now that they have been mentioned, they are very good. You are getting into a system approach. L-plates (plates that mount the camera in horizontal and vertical orientations) can be very handy, for example.

 

[table1349]

I have a 322RC2 grip action ballhead on one of my tripods, and it works very well for me, as long as the load is not too unbalanced. In effect the grip handle is a camera holding point when you move it. I find it easier and more precise to use than my heavier duty ballheads as long as it isn't overloaded.

You might want to consider what kind of quick release system you want to go with in the long run, so you don't end up with multiple types.

Great minds think alike. (Your's is greater than mine :hail

My studio tripod has a 322 mounted to it. It is no longer an RC2 as I modified it with an Arca-Swiss QR. Works wonderful considering that in the studio since I'm not using long or heavy glass. For all around use I still prefer a heavy duty ballhead since it can handle about anything I throw at it. I would love to own a Burzynski head. I got to use one but never had the chance to own one.

 

[Buckster]

That hand in his avatar UNDER the camera will be replaced by the tripod and head. Unless he's manually focusing, that hand will be free once it's no longer a support for the camera.

It's the same for every kind of head there is. In order to lock/unlock/move it, you've got to work the head with one of your hands. Somehow, we all manage to do that without a third hand.

Not mine. My hand goes there whether my camera is on the tripod or not.

When my camera is on the tripod it normally has my 500mm lens on it, and my left hand is over the tripod collar of the lens. My right hand is on the camera a half a foot behind the tripod head. The reason I picked that particular head is that it has one large lever that unlocks the head, and I keep it under the index finger of my left hand. To unlock the head I just move one finger down. Oh gee! That DOES work without a third hand and I managed to keep both hands on the camera! How convenient!

If your left hand is over the tripod collar of the lens, as you said, how does your index finger reach down to the large lever without moving your hand off the collar? Maybe you could post a video of that? I may have to switch ball heads!