They are very easy to use and quickly lock the camera into position. Well, of course there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this and it may be that, like me, you need several different types of head for specific requirements. A sound choice if you're after a compact tripod ball head, Max load: 14kg | Weight: 530g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. It comes with an integrated 360-degree clamp that allows for smooth panning even on bumpy terrain, and its quick-release plate is Arca-Swiss compatible. Need a spare head, or a simple one to throw into a travel bag and take on your adventures? Are they actually better, and which one is best? But what you lose in portability, you gain in usability. Benro B2. SIRUI K-X Series Ball Head - SIRUI's unique locking mechanism for guaranteed precision and safety. At its heart is a fairly large ball for good stability, and its grease-free polymer housing enables exceptionally smooth movement, even with a lot of friction applied. Make an Offer. When you let go of the trigger it locks the ball joint at that position. 4.4 out of 5 stars 75. 44lb payload. So what are the options? 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. Why use one? We went for the Top Lock system which is Arca-Swiss compatible, with the QR plate released using a simple but effective button. Click For Latest Price. Ball heads are available in lightweight magnesium options as well as hydrostatic and built in grip types. This makes it easy to get smooth moving shots when recording video. The Arca-Swiss quick-release mounting standard is great for maintaining interchangeable compatibility with other tripod heads, but some manufacturers still stick to proprietary designs. The best camera for beginners in 2021: perfect cameras for learning photography. If you have set it up right then it should be easy to stitch together the results into a seamless panorama. 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. It can cope extremely well with most types of shoot and I’ve reviewed that particular head elsewhere on this site here. Rather than using a dedicated friction control dial, Benro has opted to incorporate it into the large, grippy locking knob for the ball. Squeezing the trigger results in releasing the tension on the ball joint, allowing movement in any direction. Friction system could be more finessed It's inexpensive for a big-brand tripod head, but the Alta BH-300 is still rated to support a whopping 30kg of kit. I have a relatively good tripod (secure enough for me), but the friction knob is very weird. It's an extraordinary piece of kit that does everything you need from a ball head and more, and while it is definitely more expensive than other contenders on this list, we'd add that the AirHed 360 represents absolutely fantastic value for money. 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. On the latter subject, it is possible to spend well over a thousand pounds just on one heavy duty professional head. It’s not the strongest head on this list, nor the most sophisticated, but in terms of sheer value for money, the Neewer Metal Tripod Head is pretty much unbeaten. If bigger is better when it comes to ball head stability, then this supersized giant should be the ultimate ball head. Any fluid cartridge, whether it's used in a tripod or a monopod head, or even at the base of a monopod for its feet, will dampen the effects of camera movement. The Manfrotto 393 heavy telephoto lens support was produced as an ideal support for long lenses on a Monopod. Technical Specifications: Arm length 5.91 in Attaches by. It's well-constructed and able to handle a payload of up to 8kg, which is more than enough for most serious setups. The 303SPH is a superbly engineered head and although it does look complicated, it’s really quite quick and simple to set up once you get used to it. A Travel Photography Buying Guide, Spectra LED Lights: Your Portable Sun Everywhere, Photography studio equipment for beginners: the definitive list, Photography for Beginners: A Camera Bag Buying Guide, 5 Tips to Help You Buy the Right Camera Lens Filters, Gifts for Photographers: The Definitive Guide. 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. Clamping your ball and pan movement with locking knobs that aren’t grippy enough can result in unwanted camera movement. Variable head friction caters for all loads. Even the much cheaper heads are designed to give years of use if looked after properly. The unusual off-centre ball positioning allows for a much greater range of movement than a conventional ball head, especially if you want to shoot straight up or down. Manfrotto 244MINI 244 Mini Friction Arm with 1/4” attachments & 3/8’’ adapter. 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. Fold away handles, fine adjustment and control for the ultimate in exact framing. 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. Bath There's no hiding this tripod ball head's bulk though, so if the off-centre design appeals, try Gitzo's significant'y lighter Series 2 version. $89.99 Used. 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. If you are not interested in the multiple angle option and you want to restrict your camera movement to two axes, then… Another budget-friendly option, this head offers smooth movement and generous capacity, Max load: 8kg | Weight: 445g | QR plate: 1/4-inch. Peak Design Travel Tripod. A geared tripod head is a really precision piece of engineering designed for studio work, but also sometimes used outdoors for landscape or architectural photography. So how do you match a tripod head to your photographic needs? To adjust drag, first clamp the ball, then loosen the friction dial on the end of the locking knob to gradually release the ball and set optimal friction. The Gitzo 2 Way Fluid Head is an extremely compact fluid head with an essential, ergonomic design comprehensive of many technical … The reason is the very precise control they allow. 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? Peak Design’s Travel Tripod is their latest Kickstarter backed project. I often photograph intimate landscape scenes on the ground, so that adds another level of complexity to precise tripod placement. Once assembled it is a good solid and very adaptable platform for the camera. A winning tripod ball head that nails the basics, Max load: 10kg | Weight: 520g | QR plate: Arca-compatible. 5 out of 5 stars (23) Total Ratings 23, 100% agree - Would recommend. It does, however, work extremely well on a sturdy tripod and that is where you will find most people using this system. • Best panoramic tripod heads Weight 0.49 lbs. The grip-handle head is a derivative of the ball head. So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head. 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. We'd say the trick is to pick a head with a larger ball diameter: around 40-50mm is a sweet spot for providing extra stability while maintaining portability. 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. The oversized quick release mounting plate and release lever offer unmatched ease of use, as do the large diameter pan and tilt locking knobs, both of which exude luxury. You want something with decent reliability and functionality, but also not to be weighed down too much. A quick release on these tripod heads is pretty much a necessity when I shoot with them. 3 … Tripod heads come in a bewildering selection of sizes, shapes and costs. Manfrotto legs have easy attachment to the heads and locking screws to stop the head shifting around- make sure you tighten these properly! These use a plate locking device to firmly hold the camera in place or at the touch of a button and/or a lever, release it fast for hand holding the camera or switching to another lens or camera. And now for something a little different. $32.90 $ 32. Please refresh the page and try again. 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. Fancy ball heads also tend to offer smoother panning movement, and will likely also have better quick-release mechanisms on their tops, often based on the universal Arca-Swiss mount standard. 1/4'' attachment type Attachment (top) 1/4'' attachment type Color black color Material aluminum + steel Safety payload 6.61 lbs. Designed to cover all your travel needs, no matter where the journey takes you. Versatile, compact, and flexible, ball heads deliver a unique combination of seamless control and convenience. 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. Precise control – This style gives you precise control over each plane of movement that your camera may move through. A great tripod head to start with is something like my favourite- a ball head. Then whenever the ball is clamped, this degree of drag is maintained. For order assistance call KIBO: Tel. Pan and tilt heads come in various types, then there are ball heads, pistol grip heads, panoramic heads, fluid heads, video pan heads, geared heads and not forgetting the wildlife photographer’s favourite- the gimbal head. 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. Ball tripod heads have a rotating ball that lets you set your camera in almost all imaginable positions, giving you the most flexibility. 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). Try one and you will immediately see how much easier they are for getting really smooth pans and camera movements. If you're not careful, your whole setup could come tumbling down and risk breaking your camera or lens! The best camera phone in 2021: which is the best smartphone for photography? Rubber knob coatings and lever designs can really help. This ensures the camera is in the right place for perfect overlaps with no parallax errors. They come with a locking screw that sets the camera in place. Vanguard Alta BH-300 Ball Head – Best Professional Tripod Head. It's time to talk about the best ball heads. Here I’m going to talk to about the pro, cons and differences between pan & tilt and ball heads on tripods. This results in … 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. You won't find many pistol grip ball heads around, but Vanguard's Alta GH-300T is more than just a gimmick. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Ergonomic locking levers and friction dial, Large ball good for use with heavier lenses, Friction control not immediately intuitive, Could be smoother when using high friction, Less intuitive as a conventional ball head, Limited load capacity for such a large head, Gimbal head better suited to really heavy gear, CES 2021: Cameras, drones & everything else from the tech supershow, 1. Manfrotto Tripods & Monopods for Manfrotto Cameras. Before we get to the list, though, a little background would probably be helpful fo… Base Diameter: 2.2 … SIRUI L-20s Monopod Head With Panning Base 180 Degree Tilt Sul20s W/ 4.8 out of 5 stars (13) Total Ratings 13, Benro’s B2 is one of the best value for money … Another unusual feature is the red selector that switches the amount of portrait angle from 90° to 105° for extra framing versatility. 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. Height: 3.9 inches. Because they employ clever engineering and are designed to last for years and years of constant use without any problems. BA1 1UA. The XPRO ball head can be specced with several mounting plate designs. I have used the 393 with the Manfrotto 190 Tripod and have found this setup a good and stable mount for my Canon 1D Mk1v and 500mm f/4 L IS lens and it has rewarded me with many wildlife images in low light situations where I wouldn’t have been able to get as sharp and well tracked shots without such a stable system. All-you-can eat social media for £10/m, Rankin to headline The Photography Show's Spring Shoots virtual event, 5 things to look for in a tripod ball head, GuruShots: winning photographs from the Winter Time contest, Do you really need a tripod? 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! To get realty serious support for long lens wildlife and sports photography, it’s best to move to a gimbal head. While you can lock or unlock the pan and tilt, the fluid head also features “drag” which controls how much friction there is when panning or tilting. Legs matter. Benro B2. So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head. Manfrotto MBAG80PN Padded Tripod Bag 31" Ballistic Nylon Holder Shoulder Strap ... Manfrotto Tripod Heads. Although they tend not to come as cheap as other options, 3 Legged Thing's ball heads and tripods have a reputation for exceptional carrying capacity and stability. So what to look for in a ball head? It's well-deserved. The AirHed Pro is the firm's flagship ballhead, able to handle a whopping 40kg of kit (really more than you're ever likely to need) without issue. Dimensions: 4.2 x 4.2 x 4.6 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Load capacity: 44 pounds. I used the Manfrotto 303SPH on a set of 058B legs for the header photo on this article which shows Harringworth viaduct, the longest masonry viaduct in Britain. This head disassembles and also folds to make it easier to transport. This is the one to go for! Well, while compactness and lightweight build may be key considerations for those concerned with how much they'll be carrying around all day, if you're planning to support a DSLR or CSC mirrorless camera with a sizeable lens attached, using a ball head that's too small can be risky. Whilst I sometimes use a video fluid head for stills, these and the fluid-effect heads are really meant for video use. There was a problem. These specialised heads are really intended for photographers using big, heavy and unwieldy long lenses. A tripod head shouldn’t be considered in isolation. (See the video above which fully explains all these features.) Kaiser Professional Ball-and-Socket Head: With a load capacity of 17.6 lbs, this head features a lever screw to clamp the ball, along with adjustable friction brake to preset friction and a rotating pan base with fluid system; 3⁄8” tripod thread with 1⁄4” adapter; weight: 1 Ib, 4 oz. While the 410 junior geared head is reasonably priced and can support a camera and lens combo up to 5kg, a heavier duty head like the Manfrotto 405 will be close to £500. Is better when it comes to tripod heads set your camera with precision and rather looking. Derivative of the best camera deals, reviews, product advice,,! That turn are amazingly silky -- silkier than even most lenses enough can result in unwanted camera.... 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