Gear Heads vs. Ball Heads

Bubber Jones · 16th of February 2004 (Mon)

Taking what I read from Ilya's recent post, I'm trying to decide on a new head.

Reading through the post and shopping online, I'm trying to decide between a geared head vs a ball head. I like the idea of precise adjustments of the geared head, but don't want it to be too slow in the process.

The canidates (I think):

Manfrotto 410
Manfrotto 488RC2

I'm interested in hearing likes/dislikes about geared heads. Seems not too many people use them, there just might be a reason...

Dan

CyberDyneSystems · 16th of February 2004 (Mon)

Well,. I've been a gear head my whole life,. it started with Muscle Cars in High School...

Oops,. wrong subject..

I like ballheads. To many knobs on gear heads.

kfong · 16th of February 2004 (Mon)

I use gear head and I like it. I also happen to like buttons and knobs. The manfrotto's have built-in spring loaded clutches so you can turn them like a pan head for coarse adjustment. Gropping for the three knobs for the three axis adjustment while your eye is in the view finder takes getting use to, but there is no friction lock which can work loose.

Ken

ChrisNardone · 16th of February 2004 (Mon)

I have the Bogen/Manfrotto 3275 (410) Geared head. Ditto what Ken said. You can swing it rapidly like a ball head on one axis at a time. As I said on Ilya's post, I also use it with a spotting scope. That is why the precise gear movement was important to me. If you're just using it for SLR photography, you might be happier will a ball head.

EDad · 16th of February 2004 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubber Jones

The canidates (I think):

Manfrotto 410
Manfrotto 488RC2

I've been looking myself, and think I will go with the 488RC0. It's just like the 488RC2, but with a different shaped QR plate, $10 less, and has bubble levels.

488RC0
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...989&is=REG

488RC2
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...779&is=REG

If I'm wrong, somebody please tell me.

16th of February 2004 (Mon)	#1
Bubber Jones Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 129	Gear Heads vs. Ball Heads Taking what I read from Ilya's recent post, I'm trying to decide on a new head. Reading through the post and shopping online, I'm trying to decide between a geared head vs a ball head. I like the idea of precise adjustments of the geared head, but don't want it to be too slow in the process. The canidates (I think): Manfrotto 410 Manfrotto 488RC2 I'm interested in hearing likes/dislikes about geared heads. Seems not too many people use them, there just might be a reason... Dan

16th of February 2004 (Mon)	#2
CyberDyneSystems Wait, all that time and all I get is "Cream of the Damn Crop" ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Providence RI Posts: 37,388 IMAGE EDITING OK	Well,. I've been a gear head my whole life,. it started with Muscle Cars in High School... Oops,. wrong subject.. I like ballheads. To many knobs on gear heads. __________________ GEAR LIST CDS' HOT LINKS My POTN Share Threads Jake Hegnauer Photography

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16th of February 2004 (Mon)	#3
kfong Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 124	I use gear head and I like it. I also happen to like buttons and knobs. The manfrotto's have built-in spring loaded clutches so you can turn them like a pan head for coarse adjustment. Gropping for the three knobs for the three axis adjustment while your eye is in the view finder takes getting use to, but there is no friction lock which can work loose. Ken

16th of February 2004 (Mon)	#4
ChrisNardone Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 199	I have the Bogen/Manfrotto 3275 (410) Geared head. Ditto what Ken said. You can swing it rapidly like a ball head on one axis at a time. As I said on Ilya's post, I also use it with a spotting scope. That is why the precise gear movement was important to me. If you're just using it for SLR photography, you might be happier will a ball head.