Ball Head or pan & tilt?

[Danny133]

Whats the advantages and disadvantages of each?

I has a giotto tripod with MH5011 I think it's called pan and tilt ..

I'm just wondering why veryone recommends ball heads?

 

[seriousrikk]

It is much easier and quicker to get the camera pointing exactly where you want it with a decent ball head.

 

[Danny133]

Is it a waste to buy over a pan and tilt?

 

[On the Huh]

I use one of these and find this type with a trigger pretty good.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-322rc2-horizontal-grip-action-ball-head/p10912

 

[AndyB1976]

Danny,

With the ball head you can effectively change the axis in one move.

So you can go ;

Up and down (tilt)
Rotate (pan)
Orientation (portrait landscape)

With the 3way head you need to adjust each axis independantly which takes a bit longer, but is also more accurate - ie it doesn't throw out the other axis, whereas a ballhead typically allows complete movement once you release the locking mechanism.

It will depend more on your setup, Ive got the 322rc2 mentioned above but would also like a 3way geared head for macro work.


Andy

 

[Scotty Pro]

Danny, I was in the same situation a couple of weeks ago, bought a Manfrotto Pro Tripod without head and then went and bought one of these. The ball head comes highly recommended for ease of use and speedy positioning, although I have to say it feels awkward at first.

Mine in the link above only cost £28, I used a 15% off code

 

[Danny133]

Scott that's more sensible money for me although think I should perhaps stick with my current pan and tilt? Hmmm

 

[Scotty Pro]

Scott that's more sensible money for me although think I should perhaps stick with my current pan and tilt? Hmmm

Its a cracking piece of kit for £28 mate, and the leather bag it comes in can be used for a lens pouch

 

[Danny133]

Can get it for £30 but all reviews say the 10degree movement is poor

 

[awp]

Like everything else you get what you pay for - if you want to see whata really good head can do - go try this one:
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-acratech-gv2-head/p1019787

 

[Darth M]

A few good (but expensive) ball heads here;

http://www.outbackphoto.com/the_bag/uwes_tripods/essay.html

 

[Shutter]

Danny, I was in the same situation a couple of weeks ago, bought a Manfrotto Pro Tripod without head and then went and bought one of these. The ball head comes highly recommended for ease of use and speedy positioning, although I have to say it feels awkward at first.

Mine in the link above only cost £28, I used a 15% off code

Its a cracking piece of kit for £28 mate, and the leather bag it comes in can be used for a lens pouch

Agreed. Just bought it, lovely to move - but still think i prefer a pan and tilt and I don't think any ball head will change that!

 

[smalls]

i have both a ball head and 3 way, the ball head is quicker to set up but harder to fine tune the composition, for landscapes i much prefer to use the 3 way as its much easier to fine tune so much so that i need to put my ball head up for sale

 

[seriousrikk]

In my experience a cheap pan and tilt will be much better to use than a cheap ball head.

Having a separate control for each axis to me makes framing feels fiddley when with a ball you unlock, frame, lock. But this is where cost comes into it - cheap ball heads suffer from sag. This is where you tighten the ball, release the camera and the setup sags a bit.

Have you looked at Redsnapper? Their RS12 ball head is very good for the money and the bundle it with a tripod too...

http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-284___RSH-12_Ball_head.html#a43

 

[Danny133]

Thanks guys I'll keep my P&T .. It's not a cheap one at £90 odd quid all in considerig my last tripod cost £10

 

[trevorbray]

I had the frotto 460 3 way. Junked it in favour of the 410 geared head. Heavy and Slow...but very precise. I bought cheap and bought twice !!