I never shoot video, so for me, the ball head is my preference. Ball heads are quicker to set up, and are easier to adjust when the tripod isn't level. So, you've done a little research on tripods, and much to your surprise, you've found that most of them are not total packages. Benro B2. Naturally, this much more precise level of adjustment is a bonus for photographers that don't need to adjust their camera shooting position all that much. A ball joint allows the leveling of base irrespective of the tripod leg position, this saves you a lot of time. Be sure to choose a light-weight model if you are a traveler. What is a DSLR Camera? I started with this pan head tripod: Horizon 8115 2-Way Heavy Duty Tripod. Also, a ball head is more compact and travels easier. Get all the details in this Panasonic G85 review. (You also get 2-way heads with just panning and forward/back tilt). Likewise, it has two integrated bubble levels so you're sure you can align your shot on both the vertical and horizontal axes. This complexity allows a precise mechanism to control the camera while mounted on the tripod. Pan and tilt heads come in various types, then there are ball heads, pistol grip heads, panoramic heads, fluid heads, video pan heads, geared heads and not forgetting the wildlife photographer’s favourite- the gimbal head. Pan Head tripods have a complex structure and longer levers that let you control the position as you want it to be. For me, the handle of the panning head juts into my neck when using a DSLR. This is an efficient method as it can introduce a sudden shake. Also beware that all ball heads have a few disadvantages, depending on what you need to do. Now, you don’t have to worry about the jitter when panning. The Fujifilm X100v is the latest in the X100 series of compact cameras. Either way, be sure to do your due diligence when selecting a tripod head. It is also called a 3-way pan-tilt head because you can pan it left and right, tilt it forwards and backwards and tilt it to the side. That means that when you loosen the screw to make an adjustment to its positioning, you're moving and adjusting it on multiple angles and planes. The higher-end versions well for video, but they’re overkill for landscape photography. 0.45kg. Pan heads can be used for panoramas, but suffer from the deficiency that the axes of rotation normally do not go through the entrance pupil of the lens and thus can give rise to problems with parallax. Find out in this in-depth review. Due to the simplicity in the mechanism, the ball head lets you track the subject and shoot a picture quickly. fill: #000; A nice pan-head tripod provides you smooth control over the panning and is much sturdier than a normal ball head. BMPCC 6K packs a Super 35 sensor whereas Nikon Z6 boasts a full-frame sensor with a higher resolution. BMPCC 6K vs Sigma fp | Which one is better for filmmaking? Which is Best: A Ball Head or a Pan Head? fill-rule: evenodd; They are very stable and additional levers allow turning the camera smoothly with the very controlled tension. accessories for monopod heads and tripod heads. Pan-tilt heads let you rotate the head through just one plane at a time (horizontal, vertical, and tilt). In this Printique metal print review, learn why this might be the best metal print I've ever gotten. A ball head is a simple device that's essentially a ball in a socket, as you can see in the example above, the Sirui G-20X. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Help Center. We never share your data with anyone. I got my first metal print from Printique about six weeks ago. A ball head gives you the ability to make the camera level while panning. This will suit you best if you are a photographer in need of a stable platform. Landscape photographers, for example, and portrait photographers as another example, would likely choose a pan head over a ball head, specifically for the greater level of control they offer. Pan/Tilt Tripod Heads. The camera immediately becomes un-level unless you are shooting perfectly horizontal. If you photograph static subjects like landscapes, a pan head might be more appropriate. The Sony a6100 has been out for over a year now. Go through our 30-Day Creative Eye Challenge and discover the long last secrets to finding awesome shots, anywhere, anytime (with any camera). Additional levers to move the mounted camera. Unlike ball head, pan head tripods are more complex. By that, I mean that many tripods don't come with a head. Get the Specs and Pricing on the Sirui G-20X Ball Head, Explore Sirui's Lineup of Ball Heads for Photography and Videography, Get the Specs and Pricing on the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-Pro Pan Head, Explore Sirui's Line of Photography Tripods, Explore Sirui's Tripod Heads for Videography, How to Make Someone Comfortable in Front of the Camera, Boost Your Creativity With These Photography Exercises, 4 Ways to Make It Easier for Your Clients to Pay You, Why You Should Use Canon EF Lenses on Your EOS R Camera, Easy & Effective Real Estate Photography Tips. A pan head tripod is what you need if you are a vlogger or a short term movie maker. Photography & Filmmaking Gear News & Reviews. A decent ball head or 3-way head gives solid support for shake-free shooting, but they can be a frustration when you need to make precise adjustments. Price: $199. Canon EF lenses have a long-standing reputation for quality. It has a removable handle for pan use, and there is a lock that either releases the ball or fixes the ball. The pan control, however, lets you pan around left to right without tilting the camera. For a hands-on look at the Sirui G-20X, check out the video above from Camera Bag Reviews. The distinctive control mechanism allows the user precise control over the mounted camera. Versatile, compact, and flexible, ball heads deliver a unique combination of seamless control and convenience. Similar to the ball head, pan heads also offer friction control, pan control, and lock. A pan head is very bulky and heavy making it difficult in travel and transport. With a ball head you can smoothly move the camera easily in any axis (advantage) but with a pan/tilt head this is less simple. So far so good; the ball head is much better made than I expected for the price. Learn a few creative photography ideas in this guide. This a major issue in pan head tripod. Pan heads, like the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-Pro shown above, are a little different from ball heads in that they are more complicated to use, but offer more robust load capacities and a finer level of adjustment and control. Either way, be sure to do your due diligence when selecting a tripod head. If you usually photograph subjects that are on the move, a ball head is the way to go. Manfrotto pan/tilt tripod head 804CR2. Unfortunately, a pan head cannot move vertically, this will be a problem if you are shooting photos with a pan head tripod. Ball heads are placed above the tripod and the camera is fixed on the mounting plate in the head. What's more, you can adjust the tension of the ball head to make it either easier to move, which is advantageous if you've got a lot of action happening, or you can make it more difficult to move, which is ideal for situations in which you have a static subject, like a portrait or a landscape. Very precise control over pan and tilt with distinctive controls. So, when it comes down to a head-to-head matchup between ball heads and pan heads, which is best? Pan heads are complex, and setting it up for a shoot can take time. However, this will not affect you if you are trying to find a good tripod for photography. Let’s see which one is a better video shooter. 1. To make that decision a little easier, we've picked seven of our favorites across a range of prices. Friction control or tension control makes sure that your camera is not wobbly when it is not locked. Fancy ball heads also tend to offer smoother panning movement, and will likely also have better quick-release mechanisms on their tops, often based on the universal Arca-Swiss mount standard. Let’s compare ball head vs pan head tripods and see how they’re different. I call this accessory the Double Bubble Camera Level. Naturally, a pan head's strength - it's precise control - is also its weakness. Shooting videos with a ball head tripod could become nasty with the shakes and uneven panning even if it has a smooth motion. This construction is significantly more complicated than that of a ball head. If your technique is rally good and you don't shoot much video, a pan/tilt tripod head will do you fine. Price: $130 / £125. If you photograph static subjects like landscapes, a pan head might be more appropriate. You certainly want something that's easy to use, but be sure that the ease of use doesn't come at the expense of poor build quality. 44lb payload. I use this ball head on my light weight ape case monopod and the combination works well for light to medium weight cameras and lenses. They also have a complete line of top-quality tripods as well as heads for videography, too. Choosing the best geared tripod head is not difficult – as there are not that many to choose from. The Panasonic G85 might be a few years old, but it still has the specs and features to make it a highly useful camera. Ball head tripods are widely used in fast-action photography. Height: 3.94 inches. So in my case, I started out with a pan head and ended up (after a few months of experimenting) using the same tripod as a tracking ball head. … The answer is simple - a tripod head makes your work easier. The head usually consists of 3 control points/knobs: friction control, pan control, and lock mechanism. “Amazing little tripod. This head is normally used by video photographers and very seldom by wildlife photographers. If this model looks familiar to you, it’s because you might already have one like it, or have seen them on all-in-one tripods. All control knobs in a ball head are replaced with levers in a pan-head tripod. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When I bought my Star Adventurer, I unscrewed the Pan Head from the tripod and directly attached the SA to the tripod. Just watch 30 seconds of this video to see the fluid head vs pan head difference. Very sturdy.“ A Tripod with a Quick-Release Plate. For example, the Sirui G-20X has separate adjustment knobs for locking, friction control, and panning. If you are a professional a gimbal or a fluid head tripods will be your best bet. A Beginner’s Guide. Unsurprisingly, the answer to that question is this - it depends. One of the best things you can do for your photography business is to make it easier for your clients to pay you. If you are planning to capture flying birds or athletes, things will be difficult with a pan head. Processing landscape photos takes a good amount of time and effort. So, is a ball head or a pan head the better choice? Plan ahead. BMPCC 6K vs Nikon Z6 | Which one is a better video shooter? By educating yourself on tips for processing landscape photos, you can make the most of your editing time. A tripod with ball head is a specific type of video tripod or tripod for still photography that uses a ball joint instead of a traditional pan and tilt head. To move the pan & tilt head, you have to twist to unlock movement making it really easy to get your camera in position. You have to pan the camera by directly holding it in your arms and turning it. } As noted earlier, Sirui has a reputation for building high-quality, easy-to-use heads that help you get better photos. If you usually photograph subjects that are on the move, a ball head is the way to go. Another feature that sets some ball heads apart from others is their build quality. The camera can be mounted to a plate just above the head for neat control. The problem arises when you go to pan to either side with a tilting head. Because ball heads are so simple and intuitively designed, they're easy to operate. Ball Head vs Fluid Head Tripods | How to choose the right one? I bought the ball head partly because of the weight and size factors but recently I have started to wonder whether I should be considering a pan head to give me an alternative. Ball heads: The most popular option on the market is a ball head. Lock in Your Camera with Precision and Security. Tripod heads come in a bewildering selection of sizes, shapes and costs. Does this new version improve on its predecessors? True fluid head tripods are pricer than pan/tilt heads. In this long-term Sony a6100 review, learn all about its features, specs, price, and more. Most common designs have 3 knobs to control the friction, panning, and locking. In this guide, I offer a quick rundown of both types of heads and outline their pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. Some ball heads offer additional adjustments so you can fine-tune the positioning of your camera. Here I’m going to talk to about the pro, cons and differences between pan & tilt and ball heads on tripods. The additional levers allow for smooth and precise control in all aspects. Vanguard's collection of heads include ball heads, pan heads and grip heads. A nice pan-head tripod provides you smooth control over the panning and is much sturdier than a normal ball head. Ball head tripods are very useful in fast-action photography like sports or animal photography. Guides » Comparisons » Tripod Comparisons » Ball Head vs Pan Head Tripods | How are they different? That means that unlike the ball head, in which one adjustment requires adjustment to all, with a pan head, you can individually adjust each. The fluid head tripod is a tripod which provides a really smooth movement to your camera.However the K&F concept 62-inch DSLR professional ball head tripod comes with a quick release plate;. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 I is pushing eight years old, but for budget-minded photographers, it represents excellent value in 2021. You might be wondering why you need a head if you can just attach your camera right to the tripod. Additionally, the G-20X has Sirui's unique locking mechanism that allows you to apply unparalleled locking force, even with heavy loads (up to 44.1 pounds). It's easy to be inspired in photography, but sometimes you need some photography exercises to regain that creativity. However, with this quick release plate, you can save your time when you want to attach or detach your camera with the tripod. A ball head tripod is handy in sports or bird photography. Lastly, the Lock knob locks the camera once you are done with composing a frame stopping the movement of any kind. Tweaking the friction to the right amount will provide you incredible control over the pan-movements. Jump straight to: 5 things to look for in a tripod ball head; The best ball heads for tripods in 2021 Benro’s B2 is one of the best value for money … This complexity allows a precise mechanism to control the camera while mounted on the tripod. Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera, but with these portrait photography tips, you'll learn surefire ways to help models relax and have fun. Unlike ball head, pan head tripods are more complex. A blend of a photographer, a movie lover, and now a writer. But, as an overall step up from an entry level tripod, it’s hard to go wrong with a ball head. Even more than stability, a ball head allows the photographer to swivel and rotate the camera faster, smoother, and more accurately while providing a greater range of motion than a standard three-way tilt or pan tripod head. The third reason for having that panning base is to negate the need to bring a second head (ball head) with you at all when you need to transfer from monopod to tripod. Leveling ball to level the camera without moving tripod legs. Ball head tripods provide vertical and horizontal coverages, but they are not as sturdy as pan head tripods. Unsurprisingly, the answer to that question is this - it depends. My heaviest camera and lenses are an Olympus M5 micro 4/3 mirrorless camera with several light weight micro 4/3 lenses. It is always safe and secure under strict control. BMPCC 6K vs Sony a7S III | What should you buy? For example, because of their ball-in-socket design, ball heads are less precise than pan heads. But if you want precision control a geared head is a much better option than other tripod heads. Disadvantages of a Pan Head Tripod. Advantages of a Pan Head Tripod. These are very elegant in design: Your camera sits on top of a rotating ball, which you can tighten or loosen in order to make it stay in place or … So instead of a pan-head, you can rather go for a “pan & tilt” head tripod for eg: Manfrotto 509HD. Ball Head vs Pan Head Tripods | How are they different? Full Frame vs Medium Format Cameras | What do you need? I have wondered about getting a cheap-ish pan head like the Velbron PH-157Q to give it a go. True 10-bit vs 8-bit + FRC Monitor | What is the difference? The flexible movement of the ball head allows easy movement of the camera. Pan heads aren't small, either, with knobs and levers sticking out that make them a little harder to transport. So you need to bear in mind that the tripod legs should be a good match for the head. Manfrotto makes a nice combo head that is a combination pan and ball head. That means you have to buy one separately. In the case of the Sirui G-20X, it's rugged metal locking knob provides a solid grip for making adjustments and is built to resist wear. Pan-tilt head. 3 Legged Thing. They take up more space than a ball head, but are easier to make minor adjustments. Use these highly effective real estate photography tips to take better images of properties that help improve its chances of getting sold. Pan heads are traditionally used for video, and ball heads for stills, but again, there is no Cardinal rule here, and its simply a matter of convenience and comfort. These tripods are portable and lighter in weight. Check this out. Copyright © 2005 - 2021 PhotographyTalk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. .cls-99 { Similar to the ball head, pan heads also offer friction control, pan control, and lock. And with an EF-RF adapter, you can continue using your EF lenses with an EOS R body. Full Frame vs APS-C Cameras | What do you need? The quick-release plate in the ball head lets you easily switch from hand-held to tripod without wasting time. Sports and action photographers, for example, wouldn't want a pan head simply because they'd spend all their time adjusting the head and have no time left to actually take photos. Material: Anodized Aluminum. Pan heads typically have a higher load capacity as well, meaning you can get a beefier pan head for less than what you would pay for a similarly weight-rated ball head. Pan & Tilt Heads. If you are not interested in the multiple angle option and you want to restrict your camera movement to two axes, then… A panoramic head for instance is going to be pretty useless without a heavy duty and solid platform to attach it too. As noted earlier, Sirui has a reputation for building high-quality, easy-to-use heads that help you get better … Ball head tripods are usually light-weight and are best suited for fast-action photography. With the ability to make such quick adjustments, a ball head is a perfect choice for sports photography, wildlife photography, and active portraiture in which your subject is on the move. Sign up to get weekly photography gear news and announcements in your inbox. The complexity in design limits the speed of operation. In contrast, pan head tripods are made for video recording. Earthquake effect is a major drawback. A pan head does a similar job but with more precision and control. The head is precision-built to offer the smoothest of operation and vibration-free shooting. Pan heads are very useful in shooting videos. There is absolutely no point putting a big heavy video head for instance on a flimsy set of tripod legs. That means that they are incredibly easy to use because they usually have a screw that's used to tighten the head to hold your camera in position. You can easily switch to portrait from landscape mode by tilting the camera. If your tripod has a leveling base on it, and your camera has an L plate on it, a 2-way head is actually all you need to compose just about any image when on a tripod. With literally hundreds of models on the market, though, choosing the best ball head for your budget and needs can be a confusing process. Looking for the best canvas prints? As you can see in the image above, there are knobs and levers that give you pinpoint control over every plane of movement - horizontal, vertical, and tilt. A ball head on a tripod is what allows you to attach your camera quickly (and securely) to the tripod. Whether you aim to capture portraits, sports, landscapes, or anything in between, Vanguard has a head to fit the occasion. The camera base does not have any leveling mechanism and hence you have to adjust the level using the tripod legs. Many low-end plastic tripods have these built in by default. Ball head tripods have a ball and socket mechanism that controls the movement of a mounted camera. Learn how you can do that with these simple photography business tips. Weight: .9 pound. These tripod heads have 2 axises allowing you to pan or tilt the camera independently. It's called a ball head because there is a ball inside the head that allows you to move your camera. So, when looking for a ball head, bear these qualities in mind. So, when it comes down to a head-to-head matchup between ball heads and pan heads, which is best? Before we get to the list, though, a little background would probably be helpful fo… Think about the time you will spend with its legs to adjust the level! » ball head, pan head 's strength - it depends by that, I the... Years old, but sometimes you need a movie lover, and now a writer a. Excellent value in 2021 of our favorites across a range of prices market is a combination and... An efficient method ball head tripod vs pan head it can introduce a sudden shake offer the smoothest of operation and shooting... 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