What’s Your Preference?

Nicole · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 08:11 PM

Tripods are one of those very useful things in photography. Whether it's supporting a telephoto lens or helping you take long-exposure shots, or even self-portraits, it's pretty safe to assume that almost everyone will wind up with a tripod at one time or another. (Even if it is the $1 image stabilization device

).

There are two main categories of tripod heads out there (I'm going to leave out the really specialized things like the tracking heads, etc): Ball heads and pan/tilt heads.

Pan/tilt tripods are really common. They look something like this:

Ball heads are also available. I've even found them on tiny table-top tripods. They look something more like this:

Now, which head you prefer depends on preferences and also what kind of shots you take. If you're trying to do a lot of panning, a ball head probably won't be as easy to use. But if you're looking to move your camera quickly to different positions, a ball head may be faster. There have been lots of write-ups about which is "better", so I'll leave you with a few of those articles:

So, this week's question is: which kind of tripod head do you prefer? And if you like your tripod, why not share with us the type you have any why you like it?

Saralonde · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 08:36 PM

I'd prefer a ball head, but I have a pan/tilt head. My tripod is a cheapie model. Works better than nothing, but I'd love to get a nicer one someday, and when I do, I'll be looking for that ball head

.

Nicole · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saralonde

I'd prefer a ball head, but I have a pan/tilt head. My tripod is a cheapie model. Works better than nothing, but I'd love to get a nicer one someday, and when I do, I'll be looking for that ball head

.

You know that was the reason I took "prefer/use" out and just put down prefer

I have both, but I prefer the ball head. I recently got a SLIK mini-tripod with the ball head (which I will eventually do a review of). But it's much nicer and easier to use than my cheapie pan/tilt one. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that I can never get my photos level on that one because the head is slightly tilted, so I have to compensate for that and it never winds up right

dognutmom · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Add me to the have a pan/tilt but would prefer a ball head.

I also have a cheaper tripod and will use it until it breaks but it is a pain sometimes having to loosen several different fittings to get the camera to where I want it.

jujitsu1 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:12 PM

I have a pan/tilt head tripod which I had for 10 years . Its a vanguard one and was bought for me to use with my camcorder . But now I use it for both camera and camcorder.

Jamesc359 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:57 PM

My table top tripod has a ball head (of sorts) on it, and my full size (a cheapy) has a pan/tilt head. Just from using the one on my mini-tripod I can tell I'd really prefer the ball head for most things.

Taallyn · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 11:37 PM

My Manfrotto tripod came with a pan/tilt head, but I upgraded it to a ballhead at Christmas time.

mrodgers · #8 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 07:03 AM

I just received my tripod today! The wife came home with it as a Valentine's gift. She can't save a gift until the actual holiday for her life, LOL.

Since we're rather broke, it's a cheapie. I had looked at $30, $50, $80 tripods at the local Ritz store (only store around for me) and they were all junk. She bought the $30 one at Walmart and for $30, I am thoroughly impressed. I certainly wouldn't compare it to a $300 job like some of you have, or use it for a n expensive dSLR with a heavy lens, but for my cheap light fixed lens, it looks like it will be just fine.

It has a pan/tilt head. I only have a day's worth of experimenting with it, but I would think I would like this better than a ball head. I think using a ball head, it would be difficult to keep the camera level when moving it around. I think it would be easier to level the tripod, then you don't have to worry about it any more when you move the camera around.

prrs4me · #9 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 06:39 PM

I prefer the ball head. It seems to be easier to get the camera where I want is and get it level. I have the Manfrotto 322RC2 and it has a trigger grip which works very well for me.