A tripod head shouldn’t be considered in isolation. I use a manfrotto 498rc2 ball head and the 322 and I also screw the HOG/PIG direct onto the tripod on occasion, it depends on what I am doing, room in my ruck and if I need pan/tilt options. It's time to talk about the best ball heads. Moman Tripod Fluid Drag Pan Head with Handle and 1/4 Quick Release, Lightweight 3-Ways Panning Ball Head with 22 lb Payload for Tripod Monopod, Slider, DSLR Cameras and Light Stands. A tripod head shouldn’t be considered in isolation. Panoramic heads vary from the simple and quick to set up types to the extreme precision and rather complicated looking ones. The pull and twist quick release system also strikes a good balance between speed and safety. Even the much cheaper heads are designed to give years of use if looked after properly. Visit our corporate site. (See the video above which fully explains all these features.) Vanguard Alta BH-300 Ball Head – Best Professional Tripod Head. So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head. Ball tripod heads have a rotating ball that lets you set your camera in almost all imaginable positions, giving you the most flexibility. Camera & phone accessories for today’s content creators, High performance camera bags for every climate and condition, Carbon fibre tripods and high quality photo supports, Innovative video gear for independent filmmakers, Professional microphone windshields and shock mounts, Reliable grip gear for on-set, studio or location photos, Backgrounds and lighting control for studio and on location, Photography background and products for professionals, Camera bags and backpacks to embrace nature and culture, Carbon compound cleaning pens to remove fingerprints & dust, High-tech video stabilization for cameras & mobile phones. And now for something a little different. Precision engineered for maximum capacity and flexibility, Max load: 40kg | Weight: 323g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. For order assistance call KIBO: Tel. Weight: .9 pound. A winning tripod ball head that nails the basics, Max load: 10kg | Weight: 520g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. Vanguard's collection of heads include ball heads, pan heads and grip heads. This head disassembles and also folds to make it easier to transport. This tripod head is made of highly-resistant, lightweight aluminium, so it is both extremely portable and strong enough to cope with a payload up to 8 kg. Are they actually better, and which one is best? A quality ball coating and socket lining should alleviate this. Both versions have the same asking price. Whilst I’ve tried them, I haven’t used these extensively-so I asked my friend, wildlife photographer Stuart Shore, why he uses one. Manfrotto XPRO Magnesium Ball Head with Top Lock plate, 5. Such a hefty payload capacity does mean this isn’t the most portable option, tipping the scales at 600g and measuring 119mm tall, but the overall shape is slim and should sit comfortably within a tripod with flip-up legs. The dual tension adjustment knobs clamp up to a 600mm lens and camera setup very well and with a panning friction base, the photographer is able to pan and follow subjects with ease. Lock in Your Camera with Precision and Security. It's inexpensive for a big-brand tripod head, but the Alta BH-300 is still rated to support a whopping 30kg of kit. One lever controls the movement in each of the axes and therefore offers more individual control of up and down tilt, and side to side tilt. Pros of a Pan Head. This works well when there is more time and is probably more geared to studio use than for outdoors where I personally prefer a ball head. Best value for money tripod head. So how do you match a tripod head to your photographic needs? Not only are they not quite as quick to set up, but also with three separate locking levers they are easier to snag on things when you are carrying them around without a case! Many photographers unknowingly use heads that are really "fluid-like" and actually are friction heads that use a series of plastic washers to smooth the movements. Find the entrance pupil of whichever lens you are using, match it up with the two axes of this spherical head and then enjoy another one of it’s features- adjustable notched settings as you rotate the camera. We’ve got no complaints when it comes to smoothness, however, as the decent sized ball with its oxidised anodised finish operates as smoothly as you could want, at any friction. There is absolutely no point putting a big heavy video head for instance on a flimsy set of tripod legs. Squeezing the trigger results in releasing the tension on the ball joint, allowing movement in any direction. 44lb payload. Variable head friction caters for all loads. A ball so gargantuan it practically has its own gravity field, Max load: 1kg | Weight: 1300g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. Once assembled it is a good solid and very adaptable platform for the camera. Why so expensive? This results in … The main attraction with the Benro G2 is its compactness, being just 88mm from base to mounting plate, and the head’s 530g mass maintains this portability. The pros and cons can be subtle and unexpected. I’ve known professional photographers use pistol grip heads to support cameras fitted with big heavy lenses, but generally speaking they are not meant for such heavy duty uses. Sometimes I use a video head for a specialist still photo- an upwards pan during a slow exposure for instance like this one. Benro B2. The 057 Magnesium Ball Head is built around a whopping 65mm-diameter ball, though unsurprisingly this does come with a penalty, as at 1.3kg the 057 head is easily twice as heavy as even a high-spec ball head of more conventional proportions. There is absolutely no point putting a big heavy video head for instance on a flimsy set of tripod legs. It's well-constructed and able to handle a payload of up to 8kg, which is more than enough for most serious setups. They are very easy to use and quickly lock the camera into position. Our only niggle is the ball's locking lever becomes increasingly difficult to engage when additional friction is applied. The handle helps your counterbalance the weight of a heavier lens that doesn't have its own tripod mounting foot, and it can be useful when panning video, or shooting stills for stitched panoramas. The reduced height of this tripod head keeps its weight close to the centre of gravity. Mount a hefty full-frame body fronted by a long lens and you’ll want a ball head to be stiffer than if it was loaded with a featherweight mirrorless set-up. If you team up the right head with some suitable legs, it will be a pleasure to use and produce great results for many years to come. With literally hundreds of models on the market, though, choosing the best ball head for your budget and needs can be a confusing process. The three way heads have another disadvantage for me when using them out and about in the countryside. 201.818.9500 Monday. So what are the options? Manfrotto 057 Magnesium Ball Head with Top Lock plate, Manfrotto XPRO Magnesium Ball Head with Top Lock plate, Benro Low-Profile Triple Action Ball Head (G2), Gitzo GH5750QR Series 5 Magnesium Off Centre Head with Quick Release, Manfrotto MH057M0-Q6 057 Magnesium Ball Head with Top Lock Quick Release, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, More film is dead – Fujifilm discontinues Pro 400H color negative 35mm and 120, $49,900 Fujinon Premista 19-45mm T/2.9 lens available from 28 January, Best ever SIM only deal for Instagram! You can mount your friction arm to a tripods, bars or other tools using a Clamp and configure it as per your needs attaching a flash, LED light or LCD monitor. What follows is a rundown of tripod head options. There was a problem. … So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head.A panoramic head for instance is going to be pretty useless without a heavy duty and solid platform to attach it too. This ensures the camera is in the right place for perfect overlaps with no parallax errors. Versatile, compact, and flexible, ball heads deliver a unique combination of seamless control and convenience. So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The grip-handle head is a derivative of the ball head. On the latter subject, it is possible to spend well over a thousand pounds just on one heavy duty professional head. New Canon R5 and R6: find the best tripod head match! A sound choice if you're after a compact tripod ball head, Max load: 14kg | Weight: 530g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. The Gitzo 2 Way Fluid Head is an extremely compact fluid head with an essential, ergonomic design comprehensive of many technical … Manfrotto’s latest designs completely eliminate the old problem of play in the ball joints resulting in ‘operating drift’. Size aside, this head operates very smoothly, and it sports Manfrotto’s lever-style locking knobs that are easier to tighten than most round knob designs. The Manfrotto 393 heavy telephoto lens support was produced as an ideal support for long lenses on a Monopod. Special version of the Befree Advanced Lever dedicated to all Sony α camera users who want maximum performance and stability in all shooting positions. Built to a very high quality and with rubber hand grips, perfect for working the mount in all weathers, the 393 Gimbal head comes complete with a quick release plate which locks in place to prevent accidental movement. The relatively compact quick release top plate helps with this, yet it still sports two useful, easily visible bubble levels, and maintains Arca compatibility. Modular or stand-alone tripod heads can be used on a wide range of tripods, allowing the user to choose which type of head best suits their needs. Rather than using rubberised or knurled knobs, the ball and pan movement is tightened using levers that lock securely with minimal user effort. Gitzo Series 5 Off Center Ball Head GH5750QR, 7. At the base of the handle is a 2.5mm socket, which can link the trigger to your camera's remote shutter input (Nikon N1 and Canon N3 cables are supplied). $109.95. How to shoot cinematic videos: secrets from the best in-class, How to shoot food videos: pro tips for food commercials | Manfrotto, How to make a stop motion video like a pro | Manfrotto, Manfrotto 393 heavy telephoto lens support. Build quality also feels reassuringly robust, although on close inspection we did spot they grey finish wearing slightly thin around the … Click For Latest Price. It's well-deserved. It is the same knob that allows you to remove the head from the bottom of the base. Benro B2. If you're not careful, your whole setup could come tumbling down and risk breaking your camera or lens! You’ve got three adjustment knobs, a quick-release plate (though not Arca-compatible) and vertical/horizontal spirit levels for accurate setup an shooting. Vanguard’s chunky, rubber covered locking knobs are all very easy to grip, though the conventional friction adjustment dial isn’t quite as tactile as Manfrotto’s clicky design. © So what to look for in a ball head? These specialised heads are really intended for photographers using big, heavy and unwieldy long lenses. This wheel enables you to match the weight of your camera or lens. When you let go of the trigger it locks the ball joint at that position. Remember the longer the lens, the more chance of shake and I’d almost always use the tripod with it’s fluid head or a monopod to support my camera for shots on a lens longer than 100mm. GuruShots: winning photographs from the Your Magazine Shot competition, The best camera for streaming on Twitch, Mixer and Facebook Live, The best dash cam in 2021: constant protection for you and your vehicle. The primary purposes of the tripod head are to provide a way to attach your camera to the tripod, allow repositioning of the camera to frame the image you wish to capture, and then hold the camera steady while the photograph is taken. So it's time to upgrade, but to be intelligent about your choice. Digital Camera World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 10% coupon applied at checkout Save 10% with coupon. Be warned they can be very expensive. Then whenever the ball is clamped, this degree of drag is maintained. Price: $130 / £125. • Best panoramic tripod heads With low friction, the relatively large, polished blue ball moves very smoothly, but up the friction and the ball’s glossy surface can cause it to stick slightly when attempting to make small compositional adjustments. • Best binocular tripod adaptor. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ESTImportant message about Covid-19​​​​​​​, © 1996-2020 Vitec Imaging Solutions SpaVitec Imaging Distribution Inc120 East Main Street, Box # 379, Ramsey, NJ 07446 USA, Get in touch with the latest news from Manfrotto, Photography Studio setup: how to do it professionally, How to set up your studio for portrait photography, Heads Up: Tripod Heads and Which to Choose, Food photography: Buying backdrops and surfaces, Stylish Camera Bags and Backpacks for Shutterbugs, Urban Photography: How to Choose the Right iPhone Accessories, Interior design photography tips about lighting and more, How to take professional photos at home | Manfrotto, What is still life photography? 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