JonThin

Hi everyone. Greetings from Schenectady!!
I am relatively new to new to photography and to the forum.

I am about to purchase a tripod. Looking for advice on the best tripod head. Considering a ball head or a pan/tilt head either one would be with a quick release

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

One of the 1st things to consider is how much weight will it have to hold. The usual rule is a minimum rating of 1.5 to 2x the weight of your heaviest body/lens combination. Don't go cheap. My heaviest combo is about 10 pounds. My tripod/ball head is rated for 30 pounds.

Another consideration is how high will the tripod extend. The recommendation is to find 1 that will extend to at least your height WITHOUT extending the center column. When you start extending the center column, you introduce a wobble factor.

Whether you get a ball head or pan/tilt head depends on what you're shooting. A pan/tilt head is typically a studio item. A ball head gives you much more flexibility in an active situation like shooting wildlife.

If you have a very long lens (Tamron or Sigma 150-600) consider a gimbal head like the Nest NT-530H sold by MT Shooter. He owns Carter's Camera Cottage and is a regular here on the HOG.

Again, DON'T BUY CHEAP. A good tripod/head will set you back $200-$300.00. You can spend more. Check B&H Photo Video, Adorama, Cameta, or KEH websites for what they offer. I bought a Vanguard carbon fiber model with a good ball head for just under $300.00 about a year ago.

JonThin

Thanks.. There certainly much to consider before purchasing

Hammer Loc: London UK

Have a look at Acratech , if you intend to purchase any really heavy lens their "long lens head" is great because it is light and can be used as a normal tripod head. I can vouch for the quality of the heads , have two.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I use a Induro alloy AT413 tripod, it is very sturdy and does not cost and arm and leg (pardon the pun). My head is an Monfrotto MH 054 O-02 ball head. (has quick release) This head and tripod over the past year have been in snow storms, streams up to 4 feet deep and have both preformed to a stellar level. You would be very happy with either. The head has a red plastic ball sleeve that hold up under pressure. (there I go again) good luck.

CO

I really like the new Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W 3-way head with quick release plate. It's precisely machined from aluminum without any looseness anywhere. It has adjustable friction control on the front-to-back and side-to-side tilt and the handles can be pushed in to make it more compact when traveling.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1034870&gclid=CPOEn82ypskCFVJhfgod91QA5Q&is=REG&m=Y&A=details&Q=

The Manfrotto 460MG magnesium 3-way head is very lightweight. I use it when I plan on walking long distances on trails and I want the lightest setup.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/553704-REG/Manfrotto_460MG_460MG_3D_Magnesium_Head.html

monroephoto

Also check out a company, REALLY RIGHT STUFF.
Very expensive, but very good. Never pulled the trigger on a tripod from them, but their ball heads are impressive. These are the models I tend to see most pros using in various instructional videos I watched.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

RRS BH-55 LR

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

If you shoot landscapes, and particularly if you shoot for merging shots for wide panoramas, ball heads are a disaster. Pan tilt heads can be leveled and maintained in level while rotating the camera.
Otherwise, I see little difference between the two - its all in what you are used to.
Gimble heads and other special purpose gear is a separate issue.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Hi JonThin, please keep in mind that tripods, monopods, and heads (any type) are NOT items to be dealt with lightly. These are items that are counted on to securely hold the most treasured instruments, your camera body and your lens. Cheap is not an acceptable option! "Buy cheap-buy often". That is the honest truth when discussing this subject. While in a national park this fall I witnessed a tripod being blown over by the wind. Somebody really saved money on that purchase! There are reasons why quality is expensive, and cheap can cost even more. GL

ephraim Imperio

This is what I use. Very expensive but reliable and will last you for a long time:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/BH-55-LR-Full-sized-ballhead-with-B2-AS-II-clamp

(Download)

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I use a Manfrotto Joystick head and find it very easy to use and yet very sturdy. It will hold my D800 and 70-200mm which is not a light lens with no slippage at all.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

I have both a Manfrotto 441 carbon fiber tripod with a Manfrotto MHXPRO 3W compact tilt and pan for landscapes and panos.

ProMaster collapsible carbon fiber. It comes with a ProMaster professional ball head that has worked fine .

I have a Manfroto joystick ball also but retired it to the closet. Can be difficult to control with heavy set up. (D4s plus 70-200). Lost too many animal shots plus they are heavy and a pain to carry.

The PoMaster has a detachable leg that works a a monopod.

All are quick release. The Manfroto BeFree compact may be a little sturdier than the ProMaster

CO

[quote=Meganephron]I have both a Manfrotto 441 carbon fiber tripod with a Manfrotto MHXPRO 3W compact tilt and pan for landscapes and panos.

ProMaster collapsible carbon fiber. It comes with a ProMaster professional ball head that has worked fine .

I have a Manfroto joystick ball also but retired it to the closet. Can be difficult to control with heavy set up. (D4s plus 70-200). Lost too many animal shots plus they are heavy and a pain to carry.

I also have the Manfrotto MHXPRO 3W head. Great for landscapes. It has levels for the front-to-back tilt axis, side-to-side axis, and a level for when it's flipped up at 90 degrees for vertical shots.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

And I have only one and it holds the monster Sigma 150-600 Sport.