Need help choosing a tripod head: Does anyone have a good recommendation for a top quality head? I just bought a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 tripod, so now I am shopping for a head... and...

steveoliveira

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a top quality head? I just bought a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 tripod, so now I am shopping for a head... and there are so many choices. I shoot primarily landscape, with a Nikon D7500, and I never go longer than 300mm. Size and weight aren't really important factors for me.
What type head would you recommend for my situation, a ball or a pan/tilt?
Which manufacturers would you recommend?
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you... newbie Steve

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I think any decent pan head would work for landscape. They are precise and tend to be less expensive. They take a little longer to adjust than a ball head, but speed is not really the issue with landscapes. The mountains are not going anywhere.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

steveoliveira wrote:

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a top quality head? I just bought a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 tripod, so now I am shopping for a head... and there are so many choices. I shoot primarily landscape, with a Nikon D7500, and I never go longer than 300mm. Size and weight aren't really important factors for me.
What type head would you recommend for my situation, a ball or a pan/tilt?
Which manufacturers would you recommend?
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you... newbie Steve

Really Right Stuff
Great quality, pricey but sturdy.That is what I use.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/search?keywords=ball%20heads

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

PixelStan77 wrote:

Really Right Stuff
Great quality, pricey but sturdy.That is what I use.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/search?keywords=ball%20heads

I am a ball guy.

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

steveoliveira wrote:

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a top quality head? I just bought a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 tripod, so now I am shopping for a head... and there are so many choices. I shoot primarily landscape, with a Nikon D7500, and I never go longer than 300mm. Size and weight aren't really important factors for me.
What type head would you recommend for my situation, a ball or a pan/tilt?
Which manufacturers would you recommend?
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you... newbie Steve

I've never been happy with pan-tilt heads, unless it is an Arca or Linhof, but these are considerably more expensive.

I use an Arca Swiss Z1 ball head, and it is at least as good as the RRS or Markins top models. I think they are selling for around $400.

I have a Sirui, K30X which sits on my lightweight tripod, and though it is not as nice or smooth as the Arca, it does a decent job for a $135 ball head.

When I am not taking bird pictures, I am taking landscapes, making stitched panoramas, and use the Arca often.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Ballhead.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

My grandson just got this and absolutely loves it. Not cheap, but not the most expensive, either, and good quality

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1175123-REG/gitzo_gh1382qd_series_1_center.html

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Check out Really Right Stuff and their big ball head, I think it's the 55?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

tradio wrote:

Check out Really Right Stuff and their big ball head, I think it's the 55?

The Really RIght Stuff "Big" ball head is the BH-50. I would suggest, for your camera/lens combination, the BH-40 with a lever release top plate:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/BH-40-Ballhead

Expensive, yes? But it will be the absolute last ballhead you have to buy.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

The Really RIght Stuff "Big" ball head is the BH-50. I would suggest, for your camera/lens combination, the BH-40 with a lever release top plate:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/BH-40-Ballhead

Expensive, yes? But it will be the absolute last ballhead you have to buy.

AGREE spend the $ on this one. You can also buy it used on eBay also it holds it value if you should sell it one day!! Top choice!!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

steveoliveira wrote:

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a top quality head? I just bought a Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 tripod, so now I am shopping for a head... and there are so many choices. I shoot primarily landscape, with a Nikon D7500, and I never go longer than 300mm. Size and weight aren't really important factors for me. What type head would you recommend for my situation, a ball or a pan/tilt? Which manufacturers would you recommend?
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you... newbie Steve

I generally prefer a pan/tilt head, but none of mine tilt 90° to the right without limiting up and down movements, so with lenses with no rotating tripod mount I use a ball head because I shoot a lot of verticals.
I hesitate to recommend a particular brand - mine are Bogen, Linhof, Manfrotto, Ries and Smith-Victor, and each serves the purpose I bought it for.

CO

If I hike with my gear, I use my Manfrotto 460MG 3-way head. Its magnesium construction makes it light yet strong. I also like to use my Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W 3-way head. It has adjustable friction on the axes and the handles push in to make it more compact when transporting it.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

I bought this form Carter's Camera Cottage and it works well with Tamron 150-600 G2 and Nikon 750.

http://www.cameracottage.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6122458

Dan R Loc: Way Way Way Upstate NY

I've been through a few and after finding the one below, I don't think I would use anything else. I have a D750 and some heavy wide angle zooms. Its a solid hold at any angle, no stickiness at any temperature.

Sirui K-10x Ball Head B&H # SISUK10X MFR # SUK10X

edellington

I use this Induro Ball Head every day and love it.
Induro BHD3 Ballhead 55lb Load Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SXMRX0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UmPiAbQD15REE