do I need a ball head or would a tilt head do?

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ukphd

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Nancy
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Hello (again!)

Sorry for more questions.
I'm still weighing up (literally!) which monopod to buy (see http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2677753#post2677753) but now I'm getting confused about the heads.

Do I really need a ball head or would a tilt head do?
I'm very tempted by the Slik Pro Pod 381 CF monopod but the heads seem almost as expensive as the actual monopod so was thinking of going for a tilt head. I've never used one though so I'm not sure whether it makes a massive difference. Clearly there's a functional difference but never having used either I'm unsure exactly how it differs (sorry to be dim!)

thanks
Nancy :)
 
Maybe I'm being dimmer, but do you really need a head with a monopod. After all it is just a glorified walking stick, but if you have to keep taking the head off and on to use it as such then I can't really see the point, or do people never use it as a walking stick?
 
jim_j said:
Maybe I'm being dimmer, but do you really need a head with a monopod. After all it is just a glorified walking stick, but if you have to keep taking the head off and on to use it as such then I can't really see the point, or do people never use it as a walking stick?
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well I'm not sure - people in my other thread mentioned heads so I assumed I needed one with it. Presumably without it is harder to position the camera at the angle you want it I guess?
 
It really depends on what you want to do with your monopod.

Really a monopod is used when shooting with heavy lenses (usually long focal distance primes) and you need a ‘helping hand’.

I see you mention in your original post you want something light to carry when walking. But do you really want a monopod or tripod? Reading the original thread I worry that you are perhaps really wanting a tripod in the dark of the forest…

Back to the original question… Do you really need a head on the monopod at all? If your lens has a collar then no. You can tilt the camera from portrait to landscape orientation. Other adjustments can be made by tilting the monopod forwards and back.

If you don’t have a lens collar then a tilt head is what you need.

A ball head will allow a lot of adjustability but nothing you can’t do by moving the monopod. Which is why I wonder if you really need a monopod or a tripod?

HTH
 
jim_j said:
Maybe I'm being dimmer, but do you really need a head with a monopod. After all it is just a glorified walking stick, but if you have to keep taking the head off and on to use it as such then I can't really see the point, or do people never use it as a walking stick?
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Ah yes you do and no it not a walking stick.
mine has a tilt but a ball will give you more movement in all angles. what will you be using it for? if its wild life you will need to point up high and low but if motor sport then panning will be most of your movement I am guessing..
 
Thanks everyone.

It's for wildlife photography mostly. I was recommended a monopod originally (on here in a previous thread). It may of been due to my need for something light and small. I'm not trekking just to take photos, I'm also conducting research and recording data (which is my primary task) so I wanted something that would help improve my photos that I could manage with all my gear. Also cost is an issue currently as I've recently splashed out on a canon 100 -400 lens so am wanting to spend under £100 in total.

I don't have much time to set up my shots, which may be the other reason the monopod was suggested. I basically follow a group of monkeys so they are my primary photo models! but it's a case of when there's a break in data collection I'll try to get some shots. I'll also shoot anything else opportunistically like birds, other wildlife etc.

So am I right in thinking a tilt head would do then?
:)
 
ukphd said:
Thanks everyone.

It's for wildlife photography mostly. I was recommended a monopod originally (on here in a previous thread). It may of been due to my need for something light and small. I'm not trekking just to take photos, I'm also conducting research and recording data (which is my primary task) so I wanted something that would help improve my photos that I could manage with all my gear. Also cost is an issue currently as I've recently splashed out on a canon 100 -400 lens so am wanting to spend under £100 in total.

I don't have much time to set up my shots, which may be the other reason the monopod was suggested. I basically follow a group of monkeys so they are my primary photo models! but it's a case of when there's a break in data collection I'll try to get some shots. I'll also shoot anything else opportunistically like birds, other wildlife etc.

So am I right in thinking a tilt head would do then?
:)
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Right. Good I understand. If you're a littl'un then this will definitely help with the 100-400. I think this lens comes with with a collar which means you don't need a tilt head (if you have this lens already have a look and check). Simply attach the monopod to the collar, and loosen the collar to rotate the camera from portrait to landscape, or vice versa. This is also more beneficial as the connection will be nearer the centre of gravity of the camera / lens combination. IYSWIM.
 
Freester said:
Right. Good I understand. If you're a littl'un then this will definitely help with the 100-400. I think this lens comes with with a collar which means you don't need a tilt head (if you have this lens already have a look and check). Simply attach the monopod to the collar, and loosen the collar to rotate the camera from portrait to landscape, or vice versa. This is also more beneficial as the connection will be nearer the centre of gravity of the camera / lens combination. IYSWIM.
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Excellent - thank you.
Yes I do have the lens collar so that sounds like it will work well.
thanks :thumbs:
 
I use a monopod all the time, with a tilt-head, it's a viable lightweight alternative to a tripod when hiking helping to ensure image sharpness in landscapes (during daylight hours)

Simon
 
My partner uses a mono-pod because she has trouble with steadying the camera. Also needs a hiking stick type, unsteady on her pins. I added a small light weight Kood ball head, because she needs to be able to remove the camera easily from the mono-pod when she is using it as a hiking pole.

I'm not so sure on my pins these days . . . might get myself a hiking pole mono-pod?

CJS
 
I tried using a cheap ball head (plastic thing from jessops and very very nasty, must replace when funds allow) and it allows me to brace against walls, trees, the side of my foot, . . . whatever I can find that's solid and not squishy, and I can adjust to shoot up and down easily too. A monopod with a bit of extra length (beyond your normal eye height) is useful for those times its braced out at an angle so you don't have to stoop (my back is troublesome). I would expect a tilt head is fine if you are just taking photos horizontally and always bracing to a solid floor directly below the camera but is going to lack the positioning flexibility of the ball head.

A monopod is not a walking/hiking stick, but there are walking/hiking sticks that are also monopods.
 
hmm I wonder if a "cheap"ish ball head would be a better idea then?

Are they all compatible with one another?
I've decided to go for the slik pro pod 381 CF (assuming it's in stock somewhere) but their website doesn't mention which head will fit and I can't seem to work out if I can just buy "any old" ball head to fit
 
ukphd said:
hmm I wonder if a "cheap"ish ball head would be a better idea then?

Are they all compatible with one another?
I've decided to go for the slik pro pod 381 CF (assuming it's in stock somewhere) but their website doesn't mention which head will fit and I can't seem to work out if I can just buy "any old" ball head to fit
Click to expand...

They all take 3/8" or 1/4" thread, 1/4 is camera body size, with a threaded sleeve as an adapter available for a couple of quid. Some even have a 'sprung adaptor' already fitted.

The KOOD ball heads are metal, and the lightest and most versitile I've come across, time will tell how they last? Heads and adaptor available from:
http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/

The big butch 'pro type BH' make a hiking stick type monopod top heavey in its 'Hiking stick mode' . . . so I accept the fact, small, light and cheap might mean a replacement every so often . . . ?

CJS
 
ukphd said:
hmm I wonder if a "cheap"ish ball head would be a better idea then?

Are they all compatible with one another?
I've decided to go for the slik pro pod 381 CF (assuming it's in stock somewhere) but their website doesn't mention which head will fit and I can't seem to work out if I can just buy "any old" ball head to fit
Click to expand...

I bought a 381CF last week from "Morris Photographic" - not in stock but delivered within 4 days. Don't bother with Warehouse Express, I waited 2 weeks with no sign of one arriving so cancelled the order in the end.
 
simonkit said:
I bought a 381CF last week from "Morris Photographic" - not in stock but delivered within 4 days. Don't bother with Warehouse Express, I waited 2 weeks with no sign of one arriving so cancelled the order in the end.
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Ah that's helpful - thanks. I've just tried to order one from Parks Cameras but they sold out yesterday!

I'm on hold to Bristol Cameras to see if they have stock but they aren't answering...

thanks :)
 
CJS said:
They all take 3/8" or 1/4" thread, 1/4 is camera body size, with a threaded sleeve as an adapter available for a couple of quid. Some even have a 'sprung adaptor' already fitted.

The KOOD ball heads are metal, and the lightest and most versitile I've come across, time will tell how they last? Heads and adaptor available from:
http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/

The big butch 'pro type BH' make a hiking stick type monopod top heavey in its 'Hiking stick mode' . . . so I accept the fact, small, light and cheap might mean a replacement every so often . . . ?

CJS
Click to expand...


Thanks - They only seem to have the pro type ones on that site. I'll look elsewhere for the non pro ones then. cheers :)
 
Well after all this dithering it seems I'm now too late.
No where has them in stock and they are now being discontinued!
I'm wondering whether I'm actually going to get one in time before I go now or not :(
Back to the drawing board!
 
ukphd said:
Thanks - They only seem to have the pro type ones on that site. I'll look elsewhere for the non pro ones then. cheers :)
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Here you go . . . Kood BH02 Pro Ball Head 208gr rated 6kg £22.95+pp, and up . . . Adapter bush, 1/4" to 3/8" £1.95

http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/advanc..._in_description=1&keywords=ball+head&x=29&y=7

The 'BH' I have is the smallest and lightest Kood do, I needed it light so as not to out balance the 300gr 'Exped Hiking Mono-Pole'. You may wish to play safe and go for one of the more butch offerings?

CJS
 
CJS said:
Here you go . . . Kood BH02 Pro Ball Head 208gr rated 6kg £22.95+pp, and up . . . Adapter bush, 1/4" to 3/8" £1.95

http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/advanc..._in_description=1&keywords=ball+head&x=29&y=7

The 'BH' I have is the smallest and lightest Kood do, I needed it light so as not to out balance the 300gr 'Exped Hiking Mono-Pole'. You may wish to play safe and go for one of the more butch offerings?

CJS
Click to expand...

Well the monopod I'm hoping to get is only around 380g so I guess I need it light too (that's if I can actually find somewhere with them in stock!)

thanks v much :)

ETA: I'm now considering the Slik Lighty Pod 200 Monopod as I can't get the 381 CF. It says it has an in-built ball head so I guess that would work fine. It folds to 55cm which is ok (I'd have liked smaller but that's ok) and weighs around 380g...

Who'd have thought getting a monopod could be so complicated! :)
 
ukphd said:
Well the monopod I'm hoping to get is only around 380g so I guess I need it light too (that's if I can actually find somewhere with them in stock!)

thanks v much :)
Click to expand...

Be careful, we are into using a 'Hiking Monopod', Hazel my partner, needs a stick to walk with, and has trouble holding a camera steady. So she needs a monopod that doubles as a walking/hiking stike. Therefor the setup needs to be 'light'. Most 'monopods' are 'heavy' affairs, in comparison to our 'Exped Viewfinder Hiking Pod'. We use the light Kood ball head with removable plate, so that the camera can be quickly removed when in walking mode:)

I have read somewhere; 'monopods' are not as hardy as Hiking Monopods, despite there lighter weight, something to do with construction and aircraft grade aluminium?

So, if you are not old and decrepit like us, and only need a MP to support the camera, you can have a heavier 'butch' ball head on a normal photo brand type monopod. :gag: I never thought monopods could get so complicated:thinking:

CJS
 
ah ok thanks.
Well I want to keep overall weight as low as possible. I may not be that old but I'm not that strong either and I have a lot of trekking to do carrying lots of stuff so the lighter the better.

I am now thoroughly confused. I found a velbon which is really light but only goes to 130cm tall. :shrug:
 
+1 here for a ball head. I have used my monopod a couple of times leaned up against something at an angle for extra stability. Without a ball head this would have been more difficult to do.
 
Another point worth considering, ball heads can be very light but, they dont have the 'removable plate', screwing and unscrewing the camera every time, can be a pain?

CJS
 
Some tips on monopod usage techniques, showing reasons why you might very well want a tilt head if not a full ball head - http://www.nikonians.org/monopods/what_monopod_3.html.

Personally I prefer to have the monopod foot out in front of me and then to have the weight of the camera leaning back towards me and resting firmly against my face. That increases stability well beyond trying to balance the monopod in a perfectly vertical position, with the weight of the camera eager to fall in any direction it fancies. For my use a tilt head is the minimum requirement, and that is what I use. I did used to have a ball head for the monopod (I still have it) but found it a pain when the camera ended up tillted a little to one side, so a tilt head is my option of choice. To have no head fitted at all would be extremely limiting for all sorts of photography. Also consider how you would achieve portrait orientation with no head, or just a tilt head, if your lens does not have a tripod collar.
 
Agree with Tim - a ball head can be a real pain with a monopod. A tilt head is the best option. If you're using a fairly lightweight rig then the Manfrotto 234RC2 is ideal - especially the price. Anything weighty means that you'll be suffering from droop with that head. If that happens then the only option is the Really Right Stuff monopod head - expensive and only available from the USA.
 
Thanks everyone and thanks for the tips on technique too :thumbs:

I ended up going for a manfrotto 776YB M-Y Monopod. This was partly due to what was actually available in stock - many of the monopods I wanted were out of stock. I found this one at Morris Photo (who were brilliant about getting it sent to me quickly too). I chose this one as it seemed to be light but still had the full height range - fingers crossed I made the right choice.

I didn't see these posts in time so ended up with ball head. I went for a velbon 41q head which was the lightest I could find that had a quick release plate. It's only 180g which is good as the monopod is only 330g. It's only rated to a max load of 1.5kg though and my kit is just over that so we'll see how it fairs! I decided to risk it though.

I may get a tilt head too but the manfrotto ones with quick release plates are all nearly as heavy as the monopod! so I'll keep looking I guess :D

Thanks so much for all the help.
I'm going on a photo course tomorrow for the day so I'll get to try it out properly before I go away next week :thumbs:
 
If you don't mind a bit of weight, how about this monster tilt/swivel head for monopods, from Manfrotto - http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...Manfrotto-393-Long-Lens-Monopod-Bracket_11050.

11050.jpg


It can also be used with tripods.

:D
 
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