Ball versus Pan head

[photog1107]

I have researched this quite a bit, but am still struggling with knowing if I am about to make the right purchase decision. When evaluating the ball versus pan head decision, I am getting the feeling that each is better for different types of photography. But I actually do a bit of them all. Sports, macro, animals/nature, and landscape... as well as a few portraits.

I am leaning heavily toward the ball head for it's ease of use in composition, but just want to make sure that my camera setup (moderately heavy--a Canon 7D with 580 EXII flash and potentially a zoom lens) won't begin to slide off my mark once I have it in place. I have a really inexpensive tripod now with plastic knobs and it currently won't hold anything in place if it's not sitting upright... so I don't want that situation again after spending nearly $300 to upgrade.

Any thought on stability of ball heads? Am currently looking at a Manfrotto 190XWNB legs with a Manfrotto 490 ballhead. Thanks!

[PhotoPatzer]

Hello Photog!

Say... I did the same thing a while back... I ended up going with the almost the exact same set-up that you have listed there.

I have the 055PROB legs and a 496RC2 ball head.

I urge you to follow your research and buy the combo that you mentioned in your post. I absolutely love my setup and I would recommend it to anybody.

Let me know what you go with. I would like to know how much you like it.

[AlQ]

I was on a bit of a budget so I recently picked up the Slik 340DX legs with the Manfrotto 496RC2 ball head and have been very pleased.

I am relatively new to photography so for now this satisfies my needs.

[PhotoPatzer]

Originally Posted by AlQ

I was on a bit of a budget so I recently picked up the Slik 340DX legs with the Manfrotto 496RC2 ball head and have been very pleased.

I am relatively new to photography so for now this satisfies my needs.

Excellent!

[111t]

Professional ball heads lock down positively. Beyond that it's mainly a matter of preference. I would advise that you could go to a local camera store and get some hands on experience. My current head of choice is a pan/tilt head the bogen 30/30. (recently discontinued but replaced with another model)
This one:
Manfrotto | 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with RC2 Quick | 804RC2

I love the 30/30. I've gotten pretty quick at aiming it. I don't use it for sports though...

[Elmo]

+1 for the 3-way

[PeezieCP4]

I have a 3 way as well from manfrotto 190prob with 804RC2 head. I was unsure about at first when i bought it. But after a few weeks i couldnt be more happy with it.