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Ball head vs Video Head
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Nov 12, 2019 17:53:05   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
chrissybabe wrote:
Video heads, although very nice to use, are a pain to carry around unless you remove it from the tripod. A ball head is much smaller. A carbon fiber tripod attached to your pack works much better when teamed up with a ball head. So use whatever head works for the current job.
I have a good solid arca swiss clamp on the tripod, and 3 good arca swiss plates attached to a ball head, a gimbal and a video head. I can quickly swap between which ever is the best for the job. Works at home and when car based. When tramping only the ball head goes. There is no good reason to lock yourself into one specific head.
In passing I do have quite a good Manfrotto video head but did find that some combinations of hardware caused it to be less than stable (it sagged because of the weight) whereas a ball head didn't. This particular video head might have been better if it had provision to allow the camera to be rebalanced on the head but that means even more hardware.
Another problem with video heads is some of them can be harder to make into universal mounts. Not impossible but harder. I had to machine the top of the Manfrotto to allow adding an arca swiss clamp on top instead of a QR Manfrotto plate. But it worked. Also possible to add an arca swiss clamp onto the QR plate as an adapter but the permanent change is better.
Another disadvantage of a video head (mine anyway) is you use your right hand to adjust the horizontal movement but your left hand to adjust the vertical movement. This can be annoying.
So depending on what you are photographing, where you are photographing it, weight limitations etc make sure you can use any of the head types and can swap them quickly. Then you are using the best tool for the job.
Video heads, although very nice to use, are a pain... (show quote)


I use the Manfro hexagonal QR plate system as a QR for all my heads.

There are big and small fluid heads and big and small ball heads - with big lenses you need BIG of either one ! Smaller lenses are almost in a completely different world .....
.

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Nov 12, 2019 21:03:11   #
Magaliaman Loc: Magalia, CA
 
One thing is for certain, there doesn't appear to be a clear and concise purpose for each type of head. If you're comfortable with any type of head, that's great. But if you feel you need a Ball Head, Video Head, Gimble, or Gear head, I guess its pretty much up to the individual.

Somehow in my mind, I felt MOST hogs used and preferred Ball Heads (I Did), and Gimbal Heads were designated for BIF or long telephotos mostly. Video Heads were just for that..... Video. Sure for specialty applications someone may require a geared macro rail or other type of device for Panos etc. Heck, I'll bet someone actually prefers a "Z" Head (Although I cant imagine who)

Point is, I suppose I'm not way off base for at least questioning my past decision to shoot MOSTLY with a ball head or gimbal. I Guess I'm lucky as I have a couple of Ball Heads, a Nest Gimbal, a fluid Video Head, and even the dreaded "Z" Head. My Tripod is a Carbon Fiber Systematic with a 75 or 100 mm 1/2 Ball Bowl Leveler so I can quickly switch out to ANY head I wish.

Thanks to each and everyone of you for your opinions, preferences or YOUR rationalizations as to what type of head is best. Its been a surprising response as far as I'm concerned. (Although it IS UHH, I should have expected opposition or division to my assumptions)

-Gary

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