cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

If I was forced to pick only one type, I would pick a ball head, but, like everything else, you need to select a head to match the work, lens and location as well as the conditions. I own quite a few high quality heads and I try to use the one best suited to the job. On a monopod I only use the monopod specific heads from Really Right Stuff (RRS). On my tripods, I usually use a RRS ball head but I also use a Wimbley Gimbal and, upon occasion, a Monfrotto geared head. Id I'm using a small, lightweight tripod (these are called my early mistakes) to hold some lighting equipment, then I use whatever head is attached or works for the job assigned. Happy Holidays!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Here is the fluid head I currently use and recommend - unless you think it is too cheap for you and you have plenty of money to spend?? - http://www.ebay.com/itm/KINGJOY-VT-2510-Video-Fluid-Dydraulic-Damping-Damper-Tripod-Ball-Head/192020961090?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3De4d1e09cf94648c0aefcb3676d7203d3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282292937983

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I prefer the ball head.

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

I use a gimbal on my tripod, and I have a ball head on a mono pole. I trust the gimbal more than the ball head. I like the way I can balance the camera with a gimbal. If I could only have one, I would take the gimbal hands down.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

In part, "versatility" is defined by the user and their needs.

Pan/Tilt is probably the most "versatile".... but it's also typically the largest, heaviest and often has protruding handles that can be inconvenient when packing it or carrying it around in the field.

Ballhead can do almost everything a pan/tilt can do... is better in the field and packs better because it typically doesn't have protruding handles and is reasonably compact. But, it's not as good for vertical/portrait orientation because the head basically needs to "flop to one side", making things less well balanced. One solution for this is an "L-bracket" on the camera, but that adds conisdierable bulk and weight and cost.

Gimbal is the least versatile.... it's basically "long lens only". It can be very valuable, though, making big, long, heavy lenses far smoother and easier to use! Arca-Swiss compatible lens plates are a necessity (to be able to fine tune positioning and reach as good equilibrium as possible, with the big lens). Note: non-internal focusing/internal zooming lenses see a little less benefit used with gimbal, than lenses that don't change length. Those that do change length when focused and/or zoomed will go slightly out of perfect equilibrium when they're adjusted. Still, gimbal can be useful.

Gimbal is especially ideal for any sort of laction shooting with big telephotos.... sports, wildlife, etc.

And, there are several different types of gimbals.... "Side mount" are a little limited to the size and weight of lens... up to about 8 lb. With side mount gimbal the tripod mounting foot on the lens tripod ring is positioned to the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock positions. "Bottom mount", where the tripod mounting foot is set to the 6 o'clock position, might be needed for the heaviest lens/camera combos (400/2.8, 600/4, 1200/5.6 lenses, for example).

Incidentally, when using short lenses on a camera, a side-mount gimbal might also be used for vertical/portrait orientation of the camera, so long as the camera has an Arca-Swiss plate installed (i.e., a larger and more expensive L-bracket isn't needed).

There are also "full" gimbals that completely replace any other head on a tripod, as well as "gimbal adapters" that are used in conjunction with a standard ballhead (which must have an Arca-Swiss quick release platform to use it with a gimbal adapter). A gimbal adapter allows the tripod to be returned to standard ballhead use at any time, simply by removing the adapter.

Full gimbals provide dual axis function: vertical "tilt" movement, as well as horizontal "panning". Gimbal adapters only provide the vertical tilt movement and rely upon the ballhead to provide horizontal panning movement.

Personally I have four different tripods:

- One with a heavy duty ballhead and a gimbal adapter. This is probably my most versatile "field" tripod.

- Another with a full size gimbal head on it, which is pretty much a "large lens only" tripod now.

Both the above have no center column, but have leveling platforms instead. This makes for quickest and easiest set up of a gimbal head (which usually needs to be pretty level).

- A third "field" tripod I use is fitted with a ballhead and a center column which can be reversed for macro work beneath the tripod. This also can be used with the gimbal adapter, if needed. And, if needed, this is also an extra tall tripod, even without the center column extended.

- The fourth and last is a big old, heavy duty "studio" tripod with a geared center column, large pan/tilt head. I used to carry this nearly 20 lb. beast around in the field, but I'm too old for that crap any more. It sits on a dolly now, so it can easily be wheeled around on a studio floor.

I also have a couple monopods... one with a smaller size ballhead and the other with no head, just an Arca-Swiss compatible quick release platform. Everything else is also set up with Arca-Swiss platforms and plates.

Djedi

I use a ball head for most situations, and have used the same Bogen pod with a very solid video head for big lenses. I also just ordered a Majestic geared head along with an old Davis and Sanford tripod for astro subjects that are not tracked. I found that my ball head still transferred just the tiniest bit of shutter vibration, and at 1800X that translates into fuzzy details. I will also try the majestic head for some still bird photography. We'll see.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Most tripods come with ball heads today (Higher priced tripods often come without a head). I'm a cynic. Ball heads are cheaper to make so they've convinced a lot of photographers.

I like pan/tilt heads. I find them easier to control and use both for stills and for light video. (More professional video needs fluid heads and much more.) I bought my last tripod, took off the ball head and put on a strong but light Benro pan/tilt. Didn't add much weight but so much more control. Longest lens I regularly use is a Nikon 400mm but I did shoot an air show with a borrowed Sigma 150-600. It worked well. I also had a 2x converter. When I got greedy and put that on, I couldn't keep focus on the airplanes moving so fast in my field of view. No joy.

Never used a gimbal

lindmike

Rein, thanks for your info. I currently use a pan and tilt on an aluminum tri pod. Not expensive. I thought I might be in need of a sturdier one when I use my 150-600.

skidiver8

I have been using my Tamron 150-600 on my gimbal head for a year and a half now using a Canon 7D mark II. When I first got the lens on a ball head, it would tip at odd angles every so often . It was annoying. I borrowed a friend's gimbal head for a couple of hours and I was hooked. I use the gimbal head on a Gizto tripod and it works perfectly for my needs, With the long Tamron lens, I photograph sports, wildlife, birds and action. I have used it for Yellowstone wildlife, car races, baseball games, and civil war reenactment and eagles. It has made my life so much easier. At B&H, I found the Jobu Design BWG-J3K Jobu Jr.3 Gimbal Kit with Swing-Arm HM-J2 to work perfectly with my Tamron 150-600mm lens. The weight was light enough and strong enough to hold the lens rock solid. For my wider lenses for land scape, I still use my RRS ball head. Hope this helps!

lindmike

skidiver8, sounds like you have everything covered. Do you use 2 separate tri-pods, or do you have to change heads?

lindmike

tyedyetommy, thanks for the info. I think I need a gimbal on one tri-pod and ball head on another

lindmike

cjc2, do you use one tri-pod for all the heads or do you have separate tri-pods for each use? What kind do you use? Thanks for your response

lindmike

amfoto1, sorry about that. Reading you response again tells me you have separate tri-pods. Which brand and model? Thanks amfoto1

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I have several usable tripods and several good heads which are moved around as circumstances dictate. I also own more than several 'junkie' tripods and heads that are relegated to holding lighting or whatever works for them. The good ones include an older, heavy as all get up, bogen tripod that can be used to jack up a car. My Wimbley head is usually stored on that. I have a older CF Gitzo (level 2 as I recall) with a RRS Medium Duty BH-40 head. I own a couple of other useful heads such a Bogen (which is no Monfrotto) geared head, many RRS monopod heads and a lot of other junk! Too soon old, too late smart. (That's why us older, and wiser (?) folks keep harping on getting the good stuff here!) Happy Holidays.

lindmike

Thanks for your info, cjc2. the info will be useful in making a choice. I'm a fan of buying once. not cheap.