lightweight tripod head - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/17/2010 05:10:11 AM · #1

I'm looking to buy a lightweight tripod head for macro, pano, long exposures (night sky ...) and easy to use. I'm currently looking to Manfrotto balls like 486RC2 , but I've no big experiences with tripods.
What type of head do you use, what do you think of these balls ?

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/17/2010 05:18:16 AM · #2

I think I have the slightly smaller version of that ballhead.
Essentially, I adore it! It is so quick and easy, and small and light.... wonderful.

It can even (just) handle my big lens, but not on any crazy angle, I do need to be careful about balance.
I think mine really is a bit too small for the bigger gear, so ideally you'd want something a little bit bigger - and I'd say that is exactly what you're looking at.

For panoramas, I don't think a ball head is quite as perfect as something that actually pans sideways, but I think it is still worth it having to pay a tad more attention during panning.

I'd say go for it!

01/17/2010 05:28:15 AM · #3

Great, you seem happy with it. Is it smooth when you use it in free mode ?
Anyway you just finish to push me to buy it, thanks. ;)

pawdrix

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

01/17/2010 07:44:34 AM · #4

I have a ballhead and can't set it precisely. It seems to be the case with a lot of people I know, as well. After you set it, it tends to dip a hair which bothered me to no end, so I went with a nice tilt pan from Manfrotto that serves me better. If you can...try it before you buy it.

01/17/2010 08:09:53 AM · #5

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Do you know the reference of your ballhead ? Lots of mini ball from Manfrotto are suitable for "SLR cameras with short and/or light fixed-length lenses " so maybe the d700 is heavier enough to make the ball tilt when you release the camera.
I think the 486 and 488 models should be strong enough to support a d700 + big lens. But this is a good point, I should try it or get some user experience on these models.
Which model do you use right now ?

01/17/2010 08:47:52 AM · #6

That's right, the 488 tend to dip ... but the pan-tilt heads are so big and heavy.
Maybe the good choice is ball head for trecking and pan-tilt for studio ?

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/17/2010 09:34:55 AM · #7

I recently purchased a Bogen 3025, which is a good compromise between ball heads, and heavy heads with handles sticking out all over. If you are wanting to shoot long exposures, then you will have time to set up one with 3 knobs to adjust. It comes with 1/4" threads top and bottom.
To solve the ball head "dip" problem, set up the tripod with one leg aligned with the camera lens, and use that leg to do the final touch to vertical positioning.
Link added.
Bogen 3025 link
If you level the tripod, you can do panos with this one too, which is an advantage over a ball head.

Message edited by author 2010-01-17 09:38:22.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/17/2010 10:16:56 AM · #8

Thanks Waddy for your feedback. I'll keep in mind the model you use. I discovered that the 488 & 498 have a separated lock on the panoramic axis to prevent tilt while panning. I'd like also to be free and fast sometime, and I didn't like pan-tilt for this when I tried it.
This is worse than choosing the tripod !

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

01/17/2010 10:39:55 AM · #9

I'll throw a little more fuel on the fire. If you are looking at Manfrotto heads, get one with the RC4 quick release instead of the RC2. It has a larger plate and a far superior locking mechanism. It also has two levels built into the plate to help you level the camera for either horizontal or vertical shots.
I use the 488RC4, which can still be found, but has been replaced by the 498RC4.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/17/2010 10:47:55 AM · #10

kirbic, do you have the same problem that pawdrix had ? The 5d with a ~~24-70~~ any of your lenses should be heavier enough too dip. If not, I'll really go for the 498RC4. Also thanks for the difference between RC2 and RC4.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

01/17/2010 11:20:59 AM · #11

Originally posted by keyz:

With a longer lens, there will definitely be a little movement. There are some really solid ball heads that have less of the issue, but the nature of a ball head is that once you release the camera/lens from your grasp, the weight must transfer somewhere, and there will be some small amount of movement.
With a pan/tilt head, the head is always supporting the weight, even during movement, so there is no weight transfer after movement of the head, so no image shift. The trade-off is a heavier, bulkier head that has much less flexibility and speed in movement, but more precision.
There are some heavy-duty (and very expensive) ball heads that minimize "droop." Look at Really Right Stuff and Arca-Swiss.