I need head!...which type should I get?

siejones

siejones

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Ball, Pan and tilt, grippy thingy heads.........

I know it tends to be a matter of preference but getting a preference means using all the types mentioned and that's a trial and error of buying that could be expensive no doubt.

Maybe there is no way around this but if I was to say that my photography is landscape and wildlife and maybe occasionally macro then surely I could be pointed in the right direction. Mostly it will be used for landscape as I do not have a long telephoto and wildlife stuff is handheld. I do not do sport or portrait (well not yet anyway).

Does this make a difference. Any suggestions?

Ta
 
When doing landscapes I initially went with a Ball Head but found the one I had sometimes fiddly to work with and now prefer Pan & Tilt........this is only my preference ;)
 
I personally prefere a ball head. I just find it so easy to adjust and do what ever I need with it by only undoing one screw and tightening it again.
 
Crikey........you know how to use a title to get people to read your thread!!!:naughty: :D :lol: or perhaps it's just me!!!:D

Ball head for me too...with a quick release. Cant beat them.:thumbs:
 
Janice said:
Crikey........you know how to use a title to get people to read your thread!!!:naughty: :D :lol: or perhaps it's just me!!!:D

Ball head for me too...with a quick release. Cant beat them.:thumbs:
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Trust you to notice that Janice :shake: :lol: :lol:

Ball head for me, much easier to to position.
 
Ball head for speed, but the small Manfrotto geared head, although a bit fiddly till you get used to it, is extremely accurate and solid.

George
 
Janice said:
Crikey........you know how to use a title to get people to read your thread!!!:naughty: :D :lol: or perhaps it's just me!!!:D

Ball head for me too...with a quick release. Cant beat them.:thumbs:
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:lol:....I may have had you in mind with a smile on my face when I wrote it :D

Oh....hang on....that could be taken the wrong way...I mean....I didn't mean that.....oh well too late :help:
 
Ball head. I have an 055 ProB tripod and a 488RC4 head. The quick release plate is an essential purchase.

What is the heaviest lens you plan on using? I have the 70-200 f2.8L IS and it is held very securely with this combo of head and tripod.
 
Thanks everyone. The ball head seems to be the most popular.
EOS_JD said:
Ball head. I have an 055 ProB tripod and a 488RC4 head. The quick release plate is an essential purchase.

What is the heaviest lens you plan on using? I have the 70-200 f2.8L IS and it is held very securely with this combo of head and tripod.
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Well at the moment it's just the 70-200 F4 but that may be a 300 F4 in future
 
So have you chosen your legs yet, Sie?

Im hoping to come to a decision & buy over the next few weeks ... but after putting it off this long ... Im tempted to hang on a little longer & watch how you get on with your choice first! ;)
 
InaGlo said:
So have you chosen your legs yet, Sie?

Im hoping to come to a decision & buy over the next few weeks ... but after putting it off this long ... Im tempted to hang on a little longer & watch how you get on with your choice first! ;)
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Very close to going with the Mafrotto 190XProB legs at the moment.

I am not as fussed about the weight as I was before but I don't want to go too heavy. It may be more stable to do so but if it means I am if'ing and buting about wether to take it with me or not on any one given occasion then it's defeating the IMHO. Plus I want it to sit comfortably in my Tamrac expo 5 tripod holder without being unbalanced or unweildy if you know what I mean.

So 1.8Kg sounds to me like a happy medium and the height while not being huge is not small either.

I am still debating though.....watch this space :)
 
i can place a 20D, 70-200 f2.8L IS with a 1.4x and a 580EX on my tripod - in fact believe it or not the 055 and 488 has held a 600 f4L IS!!! Steady enough to get good results but not really advised as that thing weighs a ton!

You'll be fine with even the 486RC2 head. Great combo too. the 300 f4L IS is not that heavy really. A fair bit lighter than my 70-200
 
Janice said:
Crikey........you know how to use a title to get people to read your thread!!!:naughty: :D :lol: or perhaps it's just me!!!:D

Ball head for me too...with a quick release. Cant beat them.:thumbs:
Click to expand...


siejones said:
:lol:....I may have had you in mind with a smile on my face when I wrote it :D

Oh....hang on....that could be taken the wrong way...I mean....I didn't mean that.....oh well too late :help:
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Tooooo late.....you've been Janice'd!!! :D :lol:
 
Just to throw a spanner in the works, I don't really like ball heads, preffering a 3-way head. I thought I would prefer a ball head before I tried the competition out, however... May be worth wandering into Jessops and having a play.
 
I'm happy with whatever I can blag or borrow, loads cheaper!!!! got me a pan & tilt, works well! borrowed on long term from my lovely big bruv! :D
 
I could not believe that Colin sold his ball with grip:D. I have one and love playing with it! :naughty:.................That'll keep Janice busy for a while:lol:. As I said once before Si a lightweight ball head is a great solution for mountain work.:thumbs:
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
I could not believe that Colin sold his ball with grip:D. I have one and love playing with it! :naughty:.................That'll keep Janice busy for a while:lol:. As I said once before Si a lightweight ball head is a great solution for mountain work.:thumbs:
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Do you have the Manfrotto 322RC2? Do you find it 'sticks' a bit when tilting up or down? I have one, and thats one of my few niggles with it. Other than that, its not a bad head, and the shape of it makes it very easy to carry, so its excellent for a every day head. However im considering getting a three way one for macro work.
 
Messiah Khan said:
Do you have the Manfrotto 322RC2? Do you find it 'sticks' a bit when tilting up or down? I have one, and thats one of my few niggles with it. Other than that, its not a bad head, and the shape of it makes it very easy to carry, so its excellent for a every day head. However im considering getting a three way one for macro work.
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Yes I do and think it's the dogs but I do not shoot macro so perhaps I am overlooking that little tug or stickiness that it can have. I clean it and rotate it a full range before use and it does not cause me any probs but know what you mean.

There is a friction adjuster in the handle which is worth tweaking.:thumbs:
 
Thanks everyone :thumbs:

I have also looked at these grip ones with great interest. Would like to take one of these out for the day to give it a field test.

I am beginning to think I am better off buying a head second hand then it's not too much of a loss if it don't work out.

hmmm whats in the classifieds.....
 
Trust Janice's 6th sense to read between the lines :naughty: :lol: ;) :D
 
322rc grippy ball headed thingy bob sits on top of my 190 leg set.

fantastic it is.......go buy!!!
 
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