Which tripod head?

[JohnN]

Hi all,

Firstly I'm very much a begineer really despite owning a Canon 500D for a year or so now.

One of the items I picked up was a Red Snapper tripod with ball head, now the tripod seams fine, but I don't seem to get on with the ball head at all, mostly becuase its never level.

No I'm thinking of perhaps a pistol or three way panning head, but having never used any of them what are your thoughts?

If it helps I mostly take landscape shots, but also take alot of my family and when I'm lucky enough to actually spot any wildlife, which to be honest I'd love to campture with the stability of a tripod behind it (if thats even possible).

Anyway I'll stop rambling on now and hand over to you chaps (and chapesses)

John

[Elmo]

First things first!! No tripod/head combo is going to give a level platform, That is the photographers job to get the camera level. I carry both a carpenters level and a 2-way level that goes in the shoe of my camera for when it must be really level.

The biggest trouble with "cheap" ball-heads is either jerky movement or drift after setting that is the reason I use 3-way heads.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Elmo

No tripod/head combo is going to give a level platform,

Ah, but there is!

Of course, it's $5500 (MSRP).

[JohnN]

hehe, maybe a little out of my price range

Elmo, I wasn't expecting it to magically sort the level out for me, what I meant is that due to the ball design it can go absolutly everywhere - which has its advantages I'm sure, but if I want to pan round to adjust the shot I have to set everything from scratch even though the tripod itself is perfectly level.

Strangely though I've seen no drift from my head once locked, so I may have got a good ball head (well I did a fair bit of checking of reviews before buying), one thing I didn't fully understand it seems was how it would work, I just went with the general feedback of ball head is best.

[Elmo]

I have three ways I set up my tripod.

First: (seems most common) extend legs mount camera and use view finder to make things look level.

Second: (when single image must be level) Same as first except level camera with bidirectional sprit level mounted on hot shoe.

Third: (when shooting pano's) Set up tripod using a carpenters level to get the center column straight up an down. Then use a 2-way level mounted on hot shoe to get camera level on top of column. Then using the panning base of head to rotate.

I seems your ball head might not have a panning specific set up. This allows the ball head to rotate around the center axis without changing the setting of the ball head.

Osmosis-- there is a cheaper way, get a large cake pan, mount to top of tripod, fill with water. mount camera (weight centered) on piece of wood slightly smaller than inside of cake pan. Float camera/wood in cake pan. Instant level. cost $10.00 cheap, works, but not very pratical for everyday use.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Elmo

Float camera/wood in cake pan. Instant level. cost $10.00 cheap, works, but not very pratical for everyday use.

Dunno about you, but my camera won't float.

[Elmo]

That is the purpose of the wood Styrofoam also works but harder to mount camera.

[JohnN]

I have to say I'm not to sure about floating the camera, still I get what you;re saying.

Well thanks for the help here, it didn't do much for me getting another head but itr did something much better, it made me realise I just had to learn to use the thing and get on with it - much cheaper option too

[Solarian]

Any recommendations for a specific head? I just need it to not blow up. Mine started failing slowly over time, and then I let someone put a 1Ds with a 24-70L on it, and it finally gave out (fortunately, his camera didn't fall off or anything)
Basically, the ball can no longer grip, it just flops down and I can't make it stand straight. I don't need a super fancy head, just something that will hold my camera and last a few years.

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by JohnN

I have to say I'm not to sure about floating the camera, still I get what you;re saying.

Well thanks for the help here, it didn't do much for me getting another head but itr did something much better, it made me realise I just had to learn to use the thing and get on with it - much cheaper option too

I really do not think I want to float on either, Well I say that , but I have mounted them on small radio controlled boats.

But the most important statement made on this thread is your last comment about learning to use what we have. This not only applies to tripods but to all our equipment. AS I have grown older and carrying STUFF became more of a challenge, I learned I could do more and more with less and less.