Not a "what tripod" thread, but a "what tripod head" thread

I would like a nice expensive tripod head to go on top of my Gitzo. I would like it to hold my 7D with max load of the 28-70L f2.8 "brick".

In particular I am looking for the head, once set in a "nearly right" position, to have the facility of ease of fine adjustments in all directions for both landscape and for close ups when using my 100mm L f2.8 IS Macro.

I know macro focussing rails would be the way to go solely for macro, but I am looking to see if there is a head solution that would do both landscape and close up work with fine adjustment capability

What would you recommend?

Thanks in advance

What model Gitzo do you have?

peter_n wrote in post #12558651
What model Gitzo do you have?

Its a Gitzo GT3541LS Series 3 Systematic Tripod

A geared head. LINK
I use the Manfrotto 410 head and its excellent for the money.

I don't know how much the RRS BH55 cost in the UK but I think to buy one good ball head for a first class tripod is worth the money.

The BH-40 or the Markins Q10 are both sized fine for up to 300mm, althought the BH-55 and Q20 physically fit the Gizto 35xx tripod better. The BH-55 is overkill in terms of stability and load carrying if your longest lens is under 300mm. Consider also Arca Z1, or Kirk ballheads or Linhof Profi 1, all are fine products.

Manfrotto 322RC2 Joystick Head , it is kinda heavy

Take a look at the novoflex line very nice ball heads.

http://www.novoflex.co​m …pport-systems/ball-heads/

thank you
joe

You have a top-line tripod...

You have a top-line tripod and I suggest getting a top-line head. This definitely rules out the Manfrotto line. I suggest: Markins, RRS, Arca Swiss, Gitzo or Acratech (There are others - these are just off the top of my head).

There are great advantages to using an Acra Compatible QR system (YOU "CAN" CONVERT A MANFROTTO RC-2 QR TO ARCA COMPATABILITY - BUT WHY NOT GET THE ARCA FROM THE START) is that the plates are basically interchangeable and you can use the great RRS L-bracket. The L-bracket is the tripod head equivalent to sliced bread!

nigpd wrote in post #12558666
Its a Gitzo GT3541LS Series 3 Systematic Tripod

I use this tripod too. Like a tripod, a ballhead can be a preference choice and it's a good idea to try several before you buy. I tend to look at usability/ergonomics and while I have three different brands of ballhead they all more-or-less work the same way so I don't get confused in the heat of battle. As I stand behind the ballhead the ball locking knob with integrated friction control is on the left, the panning lock knob is facing me at the back of the ballhead, and the drop slot is at the front of the ballhead facing the subject. I hold the camera in my right hand when it's on the head.

I use an Arca-Swiss Z1 on my 3541LS. It's the one copied by most of the rest except for the elliptical ball, which A-S patented. The ball is 54mm in diameter and the ballhead is extremely smooth in use and has handled everything I've thrown at it with ease. Comparatively light in weight it's simple to use and absolutely rock solid. It's the best ballhead I've used and I recommend it.

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If you want fine adjustments then you want a geared head. I use the 410 like DavidR and it is fantastic. Throw a macro rail on top of it and you can dial in absolutely everything about your shot but height, all with ridiculous precision.

If you want a higher-end version you can step up to the 405 or even the 400. There is also an ARCA-Swiss one that is insane, but it is insane in price as well, $1700. In reality though, if you your camera and lens combined don't weigh more than 11 lbs there is no significant benefit to going with anything larger than the 410 because the gears don't get more-precise-enough to justify it for 99% of us.

Thanks for your comments and your recommendations guys, very much appreciated. The comments give me good food for thought, so I have some decision making ahead of me for sure!

Thanks once again

nigpd wrote in post #12558398
I would like a nice expensive tripod head to go on top of my Gitzo.

You don't often see expensive as a requirement.

rvdw98 wrote in post #12563051
You don't often see expensive as a requirement.

My thinking is, a quality tripod deserves a quality head, and a quality head invariably means an expensive head

nigpd wrote in post #12563156
My thinking is, a quality tripod deserves a quality head, and a quality head invariably means an expensive head

That's not necessarily true, but I guess that depends on your definitions of quality and expensive. For example, both RRS and Photoclam make quality heads, but RRS can be about double the cost of a comparable Photoclam offering.

Still, most quality heads are also black, but if I was looking for a quality head, I'd ask for that instead of a black head.