wide2tele Loc: Australia

Can shoot panos quite well with my 3-way but lets say for the sake of argument panos are best on a ball head as it doesn't matter. The world does not shoot only panos.
For any vertical movements, you still have problems, for horizontal movements, you still have problems unless you level your tripod.
For a normal landscape (not pano) it's a lot of messing around if you want precision. Same for anything else requiring adjustments after initial setup.

If you disagree, as I said, me say, you say, doesn't matter. Why do 3-way exist? If they have no benefits for speed or precision as you suggest they would be gone.

Capn_Dave

I like the ball head when I am not using big lenses. When I am using my big lenses I have two go to mounts either a fluid head or the gimbal. I am usually shooting wildlife in those instances

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The post you quoted was prompted by an additional post.
Sadly, not directed at you, but in general.
Sorry to disappoint you.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Gene, these images are beautiful. Nicely done!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thanks!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I've been shooting without a 3 way since 2006. I have yet to have the issues you describe. I shoot about 5% panos, and I shoot about 75% wildlife with a long lens equipped with a collar. When I had a 600F4, all of those were done on a tripod, sometimes with a ball head, and other times with a gimbal. I saw no functional difference between them - both got me what I wanted. I ditched the 3 way because it was of no use to me once I got the Arca Swiss. It was a Bogen 3047 on a Bogen 3051 tripod. I gave it away. It was too heavy, too unstable. I even tried to use it on my Cambo camera stand in the studio - it vibrated with focal plane shutter cameras - there was zero chance the 250 lb camera stand contributed any vibration. No issue with leaf shutters.

BTW, 3 way pan heads have been around for quite a while. Ball heads are relative newcomers to the scene, not becoming popular in earnest until the mid-90s with the Arca-Swiss B1. Before that it was 99% 3 way pan heads and geared pan heads. I just took a look at a copy of Popular Photography, May 1983, and another - April 1974. In 1983, ads at the back only list 3 ball heads - available at B&H (when it was located on 17th St) - offered by Slik - compact, standard and pro - $18, $30 and $46 respectively. None were popular among pro photographers. Three way pan heads will be around for a while - they are cheap and ubiquitous. Or maybe they are cheap because they are ubiquitous, or vice versa. Probably all of the above.

I will say extremely positive things for the Arca-Swiss C1GP which IS a very precise and well-executed geared three way pan head. Even the panning movement is precisely geared. It, and it's predecessor, the C1, are the best 3 ways I've used - and the only one I will use, given the problems with the geared Manfrottos and others (LeoFoto, Benro) that are 1/4 to 1/3 the price.

Unlike the traditional 3 way pan heads and the geared versions of those heads, the Arca-Swiss Cube styled 3 way geared head is unique in that there is no "cantilevering" - moving the camera away from the center of mass and axes of rotation of the support system. Cantilevers can induce instability and loss of vibration dampening, which not to mention inherent structural weakness, which is why most conventional 3 way heads are so unstable and have such low (in comparison) loading capacities.

https://www.arca-shop.de/en/tripod-heads/gearheads/cube-c1/68/cube-c1-gp-geared-panning-classic

I can't continue to have this discussion with you since you are not acquainted with how a good ball head works first hand. I am not disagreeing with you, but you seem to be hell bent on trying to convince me that I couldn't possibly be right. Rent, borrow, steal or buy one and use it for a couple of months and I'll be glad to have this discussion with you. I am not sure why you are wasting your time trying to convince me that I should be having "issues" when I am telling you I haven't experienced them.

izziadog

a high ball with knob creek bourbon is always best!!!

pendennis

Prefer Knob Creek on the rocks!

wide2tele Loc: Australia

For the second or third time, I use both types of heads. Have been since the 90’s and since the first pro ball heads were released. I currently own 3 of them.
I’m not the one lacking the experience here.
If I’m shooting people, I’ll use a ball head for speed. If I’m shooting products, I’ll use a 3-way for precision. A ball head simply does not suit all types of photography. You’re the one hell bent on suggesting there is no need for any other head besides a ball head. There will be a few thousand pros around the world who will not agree with you. Let’s call this one agree to disagree.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

The best head is what ever work best for you in the situation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Interesting concept!

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have adapted all my tripods to accrea Swiss types. I like the idea of having one universal system. Before that it seemed that every tripod head I owned had a different mounting plate. It didn't cost a lot and it saves lots of time.