Ballhead or panhead???

I have both and they do offer you two totally different solutions. The ball heads are very quick to adjust and work well when speed is of the essence. What they don't offer is any real level of accuracy. That's what the pan heads do but at the cost of adjustment speed.

I have both and much prefer the pan heads, only using the pistol grip ball head when I need to work really quickly. For every person that likes the pans, there is someone that will choose the ball. You really need to have a play with both and see which works best for your personal style. :)
 
I have/use both and agree with what dazzajl says.
 
dazzajl said:
What they don't offer is any real level of accuracy.
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Just re-read this, and I don't get it - what do you mean about Ball heads lacking 'accuracy' ???

In moving from pan/tilt the major advantage for me was indeed accuracy of positioning :shrug: speed was just a bonus
 
what do you mean about Ball heads lacking 'accuracy' ???
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Well with a pan head if I want to adjust the camera on one axis, the others remain where I put them. With a ball head, as soon as you loosen off the ball, the whole lot is on the move.

That's fine for say portraits where a degree here or there isn't likely to make any difference but for landscape or architectural work, it can be total pain.

You have to remember that I'm a complete control freak when it comes to making images. Pan heads just lend themselves to that condition better. ;):lol:
 
dazzajl said:
Well with a pan head if I want to adjust the camera on one axis, the others remain where I put them. With a ball head, as soon as you loosen off the ball, the whole lot is on the move.

That's fine for say portraits where a degree here or there isn't likely to make any difference but for landscape or architectural work, it can be total pain.

You have to remember that I'm a complete control freak when it comes to making images. Pan heads just lend themselves to that condition better. ;):lol:
Click to expand...



I do lots of landscape work too but never considered my Ball a problem as such, but I think I get where you're coming from - and it also occurred to me that my last tripod was both old and cheap, so perhaps a 'good' pan head is better than a good Ball for such

My Ball is defo much better than the old pan was, never had a good pan though to compare by

Cheers

DD
 
DD, I'm thinking of getting a ballhead, which one do you have?
 
I was given a Uni-Loc tripod a couple of years ago - yippee, a freebie

Then the giver told me the head wasn't strong enough for my D2Xs! The bigger one cost me about £90, great free tripod eh :lol:

This is the one I have... (pasted from Warehouse Express website), with the swivel bits and obviously quick release bit. Very sturdy bit of kit it is too, it'll lock and hold still a very heavy combination of a D2Xs with 70-200 f2.8 no problem - and will of course fit any tripod legs too

The UNI-LOC 30 ball heads are made in a series of six heads divided into two categories: three revolving base and three standard base. Each combines a patented internal locking mechanism, nylon cups for smooth ball motion and locking lever to give positive ball lock
 
Thanks Dave ;) I'm looking at the Giottos MH1000 652.
 
I think, after reading the posts, it is the panhead for me :)
 
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