Please help with tripod heads

I recently picked up a Manfrotto MK294A3 tripod from my work. I ended up getting it for $100. It is a tripod + head combo http://www.bestbuy.com …7772&st=mk294a3​&cp=1&lp=1

I don't care too much for the head but for the price I couldn't resist. Now I am looking for a ball head. I am looking at a couple of Manfrotto ball heads but they all appear to only go forward and back and can't go to the sides. What would be a good head to go with this tripod? I wanted to kind of stick with Manfrotto so I am not switching mounting plates between heads... but it looks like that may not be possible.

What heads are you looking at? Most of the Manfrotto heads will go in any direction you want - you just rotate the base so the drop slot is where you want the head to tilt most.

I was looking at the 496RC2 and the 498RC2. Not sure if the pan feature of the 498 will justify the extra cost if i have the 3 way head. So either of these will go in any direction and I just have to move the base?
http://www.amazon.com …words=manfrotto​+ball+head
http://www.amazon.com …words=manfrotto​+ball+head

They both have pan; that's what the second, smaller, knob on the side is for. But for your gear, the 498 is a better fit. It won't sag as much under load if you have the camera and 18-200 on it.

As of now I have a short carbon fiber Dolica tripod that I got from Costco, but i'm not too happy with it and will probably return it. Considered keeping it for just the head.. but it seems the Manfrotto heads will be better. What do you think? It would also be nice to just have the one mounting plate on my camera and not have to switch around.

I dumped my Manfrotto clamps for Arca-Swiss compatible ones when I got tired of flipping the ball head over to switch between portrait and landscape orientations. I have no idea what kind of head the Dolica has on it, but I'd definitely recommend going with the Arca-Swiss standard from the outset. Adorama's Flashpoint F-3 head is A-S capable and very solid at a nice price.

Jon wrote in post #14801675
I dumped my Manfrotto clamps for Arca-Swiss compatible ones when I got tired of flipping the ball head over to switch between portrait and landscape orientations. I have no idea what kind of head the Dolica has on it, but I'd definitely recommend going with the Arca-Swiss standard from the outset. Adorama's Flashpoint F-3 head is A-S capable and very solid at a nice price.

Same here. OP watch this if you arent familiar with Arca-Swiss style quick release stuff: LINK