Tripod head for landscapes

Roy C

Roy C

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I am thinking of having ago at landscapes and wandered what type of tripod head is best suited for this this type of shooting.
I already have a good quality CF tripod and a couple of heads (gimbal and cheap ball head) but neither are really suitable for landscapes - can anyone recommend a head up to £100? Thanks in advance.
 
Manfrotto 498RC2 is pretty good ime. I don't like pan/tilt heads though plenty do.
 
Manfrotto Junior 410 geared head.
Very accurate and stable but heavy to cart round
 
I personally prefer a ballhead, but lots of (better!) landscape photographers like geared heads.
 
Thanks for the feedback folks :thumbs:. I will have to look further at the geared head as I have no experience of them.
 
There's a good geared head in classifieds at the mo
 
Grip shift ball head is the best for landscape imo. Micro adjustments on uneven surfaces is a breeze and quick and easy. I use the Manfrotto RC2322, but there is a newer version available.

1335701934_365745346_3-Manfrotto-322-RC2-Heavy-Duty-Grip-Ball-Head-Cameras-Camera-Accessories.jpg
 
Ball heads are definitely better for fast setup but a bit more fiddly to set up really precisely. If you're running around like me chasing sunbeams then it's probably the better bet but if you're more a sitting and waiting person you may well prefer a pan head.

I won't reccomend my Benro ballhead (KS-0) because it's annoyingly got the friction and clamping knobs much the same size and I am forever unlocking the wrong one!
 
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This is my Manfrotto 322RC2 head with quick release plate. This is actually one with patent pending on it, so must be quite a rare early version. I never use it now and hardly ever used anyway

Its just been boxed up as I prefer using a different head. Still got the original receipt as well , Purchased At Focus on Imaging 26 Feb 2008 for £79 and the plate cost £10 +VAT

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Realspeed
 
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Roy,
Have tried a number of heads but for landscape the old traditional 3 way panning head works best, allows you to set the level for horizon etc... and then reframe left right etc... without having to reset horizon. Go for one with a big adapter plate as they e.g. rc4 on the manfrotto line up,

Neil
 
I've relatively recently upgraded from a 322 ball head to a 410 geared one and I find the 410 far better where accuracy's needed and barely slower than the 322 to get perfectly aimed (actually, the 410 may well be faster). Where perfect positioning isn't necessary, the 322 is great but for pinpoint accuracy, geared is the way to go.

Brand new, the 410 is close to £150 but 2nd hand should be in budget (might need to wait for one to turn up!)
 
As you already own a ballhead, why not just add a panorama clamp? Plus maybe a nodal slide...

Paid some $170 for a Benro PC1 and Hejnar E003 nodal slide.

A test:
http://www.scvphotoideas.com/2010/11/benro-panorama-clamps.html

And Hejnar:
http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8_13


My "old" setup: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=5051474&postcount=4

Have now added another PC1 clamp and macro rails for multi-row panorama shots, like this: http://www.scvphotoideas.com/2012/10/assemble-benro-multi-row-panorama-head.html
 
For landscapes, I find a geared head far better than a ball head. The ability to individually adjust each axis is a big plus over the ball heads - allows much more accurate framing, and you can set one axis and move to the next without messing up the previous alignment
 
I have just bought this link I have the konig tripod and its made well, rhe head is due for delivery tomorrow, I'll let you know how it performs if you like.
 
My favourite tripod head is the Manfrotto 804RC2 3 way head which also has a scale for 360 degree for panning and a tilt scale with a bubble level as well. This is for my Nikon D300, I use a different tripod for my camcorder.

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Realspeed
 
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