Ballhead on or off when hiking?

[Travis Ingle]

I am curious how many of you have a backpack with a pouch for your tripod that you use when hiking to a location and when doing so do you leave your tripod head on or take it off? I have a Lowepro NatureTrekker with the pouch for my tripod. I have the smaller accessory bag attached so I have the tripod holder on the side instead of on the back. I have a Gitzo 4 section CF tripod but my Markins ballhead makes it a bit top heavy and sticks up above the top of the pack when attached. I don't have it on with locktite or anything so it would be easy just to take it off and on during the time I am hiking around.

Any real reason to leave it on? Do many of you take it off and stick it in your bag until you reach your shooting location?

Thanks

[da_nige]

I leave mine on. If I see a shot while I'm on the move I dont want to waste time reattaching my head. I also find the head is useful for putting the elastic round (I use a Photo Trekker AWII)

Neil

[JohnJ80]

Why would you take it off?

I just strap it to my pack and go.

J.

[PacAce]

I leave my head on the tripod all the time. It's time consuming enough to have to set up the camera with the lens I want and then setting that up on a tripod when out in the field. I don't need to be wasting anymore time trying to put the head on the tripod as well before I can set up the tripod. :)

[Travis Ingle]

Thanks for the replies. I would take it off because I shoot landscapes and hiking through the woods and ducking under trees/brush can be troublesome at times with the ballhead being taller than the top of the backpack. Unless I take the bag off the back of my pack and move the holder to the back and lower it but then the pack would not be able to sit on the ground standing up (not a huge deal I guess).

As for missing a shot I don't shoot wildlife so that isn't much of a concern. And about time/hassle, I can't imagine that being a factor. I bet it takes maybe 10-20 seconds to spin the head onto the tripod securely. I would leave it on most of the time, just taking it off when I know there is going to be a more than a mile hike in front of me before I even plan on setting up. After that when I am survaying the landscape adn moving about I would leave it on.

[JohnJ80]

Thanks for the replies. I would take it off because I shoot landscapes and hiking through the woods and ducking under trees/brush can be troublesome at times with the ballhead being taller than the top of the backpack. Unless I take the bag off the back of my pack and move the holder to the back and lower it but then the pack would not be able to sit on the ground standing up (not a huge deal I guess).

As for missing a shot I don't shoot wildlife so that isn't much of a concern. And about time/hassle, I can't imagine that being a factor. I bet it takes maybe 10-20 seconds to spin the head onto the tripod securely. I would leave it on most of the time, just taking it off when I know there is going to be a more than a mile hike in front of me before I even plan on setting up. After that when I am survaying the landscape adn moving about I would leave it on.

You'd be better off with a 4 section tripod that is about the same length as your pack is high.

If I had to do what you describe, it would literally drive me nuts. I don't know of anyone that does this either.

J.

[Travis Ingle]

I am curious how many of you have a backpack with a pouch for your tripod that you use when hiking to a location and when doing so do you leave your tripod head on or take it off? I have a Lowepro NatureTrekker with the pouch for my tripod. I have the smaller accessory bag attached so I have the tripod holder on the side instead of on the back. I have a Gitzo 4 section CF tripod but my Markins ballhead makes it a bit top heavy and sticks up above the top of the pack when attached. I don't have it on with locktite or anything so it would be easy just to take it off and on during the time I am hiking around.

Any real reason to leave it on? Do many of you take it off and stick it in your bag until you reach your shooting location?

Thanks

I have the new series 2 (2540 I think). ;)