Ball head or....? I have a manfotto monopod, a BeFree Manfrotto travel tripod (a cheap rocketfish tripod) and am looking to buy a solid tripod. My question is what is the best head to...

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

I have a manfotto monopod, a BeFree Manfrotto travel tripod (a cheap rocketfish tripod) and am looking to buy a solid tripod. My question is what is the best head to buy for them that I can use on monopod and tripod?
The manfrotto 468 head seems to get great reviews but are there other options and what are the pros and cons. I am reading the blogs too but thought I would open up the comversation here.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

crazydaddio wrote:

I have a manfotto monopod, a BeFree Manfrotto travel tripod (a cheap rocketfish tripod) and am looking to buy a solid tripod. My question is what is the best head to buy for them that I can use on monopod and tripod?
The manfrotto 468 head seems to get great reviews but are there other options and what are the pros and cons. I am reading the blogs too but thought I would open up the comversation here.

I would definitely recommend a ball head. Which one would depend upon what you’re putting on it.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

5dmarkiv and a 150-600......worst case weight scenario...

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

crazydaddio wrote:

I have a manfotto monopod, a BeFree Manfrotto travel tripod (a cheap rocketfish tripod) and am looking to buy a solid tripod. My question is what is the best head to buy for them that I can use on monopod and tripod?
The manfrotto 468 head seems to get great reviews but are there other options and what are the pros and cons. I am reading the blogs too but thought I would open up the comversation here.

In my opinion, the pan and tilt would be best for both the monopod and tripod. I find the ball head to be too flexible, and the pan and tilt can be used for action shots as you are able to lock one in and follow with the other.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

crazydaddio wrote:

5dmarkiv and a 150-600......worst case weight scenario...

The 468MGRC2 Hydrostatic Ball Head would be my choice. I like the hefty 2" ball and tension control. Cannot imagine needing anything heavier.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

crazydaddio wrote:

5dmarkiv and a 150-600......worst case weight scenario...

Assuming you will be following action with this set-up, and especially for a monopod, I vote for a video/fluid pan/tilt type head .....

I have used this one with good results using 300 2.8 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/KINGJOY-VT-2510-Video-Tripod-Stand-Fluid-Ball-Head-for-DSLR-Camera-DV-Camcorder/362027541734?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

For smaller lenses without tripod collar, you will be better off with a traditional type ball head especially on a tripod. I like this particular one because it has dual panning feature at the bottom and top for increased functionality ! - https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMaster-SPH45P-SPECIALIST-Ball-Head-with-QR/162675239508?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Ball heads are terrible on a monopod, get a tilt head, something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-234-Monopod-Tilt-Replaces/dp/B000KHZ8AA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1509336099&sr=8-5&keywords=tilt+head

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

rwilson1942 wrote:

Ball heads are terrible on a monopod, get a tilt head, something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-234-Monopod-Tilt-Replaces/dp/B000KHZ8AA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1509336099&sr=8-5&keywords=tilt+head

Tilt heads are terrible on a tripod.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

I would recommend a ball head for a mono-pod.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

orrie smith wrote:

In my opinion, the pan and tilt would be best for both the monopod and tripod. I find the ball head to be too flexible, and the pan and tilt can be used for action shots as you are able to lock one in and follow with the other.

dds48

I had a tilt head then got a ball head and would not go back to a tilt. Reason the ball head is much more compact, also with practice the ball head can be easily manoeuvred to any position without having to undo fasteners.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

RWR wrote:

The 468MGRC2 Hydrostatic Ball Head would be my choice. I like the hefty 2" ball and tension control. Cannot imagine needing anything heavier.

Ball heads with a smaller ball can be weak and hard to get tight enough with a heavy camera/lens combination. You will use it twice and hate it.
A 2" diameter ball would be great.
Personally I stick with pan and tilt in the field and geared head for products inside.

Ken

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I find a ball head difficult to maneuver for landscapes, largely because keeping it level for rotation when shooting a series of shots for panoramas is slow and cumbersome. Keeping the camera level is much more easily accomplished with a pan and tilt head with a ball level on both the tripod and the head.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Tilt head for the monopod. Pano Gimbal for the tripod.
Ball heads have too many issues with large and heavy lens.
I own all three but rarely use the ball head, even with smaller lenses like a 24-70 I prefer the pano gimbal.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

markinvictoria Loc: Victoria TX

I'm trying to picture how and why to use a pan/tilt head on a monopod. Makes sense on a tripod...but I don't have enough hands and arms to adjust the two control arms, hold the monopod steady and push the shutter. Guess I need to make a trip over to youtube...maybe I'm missing something.