Looking for a tripod head for vertical shots??? Please help!!! :)

I am looking for a tripod head for vertical shots. Do you have any recommendations? My head can't support my camera with heavy lens attached to it while the camera is in the vertical position. It doesn't swivel sideways, either.

Please help!!!

Well first off what kind of tripod and head do you use ?

A good ballhead with and arca-swiss top and an L-bracket for your camera works great. You turn your camera to the vertical position and then mount it on the ball head. It keeps the center of gravity of the camera and lens above the ballhead. There are tons of options from Really Right Stuff, Kirk, Sirui, Benro, etc.

I use Really Right Stuff equipment. It is expensive but worth it in my opinion.

bpalermini wrote in post #18067714
A good ballhead with and arca-swiss top and an L-bracket for your camera works great...

This is what I do. It works as it should, the only downside for me being that an L bracket makes it harder or impossible to get into the USB & other ports on the side of the camera, eg. If you're using an external HDMI monitor, or Camranger. The Camranger is wireless, but, connects to the cam via USB.

However, if you're starting from scratch it takes some spending to get into. A Manfrotto 553 angle bracket is an inexpensive accessory for mounting between tripod and tripod head if your current setup uses 3/8" threads in this connection.

Not a solution for all seasons and reasons, but, if it does work for you it's $50 USD.

The Arca Swiss plus L-bracket is superior in many ways, not least of which is that it keeps the weight over the center of the tripod, the 553 moves it a little to the side. This is definitely a YMMV solution, but, a handy gadget for many uses.

EDIT: Rereading the original post, if you're wanting a quick change to vertical for wedding shots an L-bracket on Arca Swiss takes but a moment to switch back and forth.

oharing wrote in post #18067624
I am looking for a tripod head for vertical shots. Do you have any recommendations? My head can't support my camera with heavy lens attached to it while the camera is in the vertical position. It doesn't swivel sideways, either.

Please help!!!

I'll repeat the question about your tripod/head. What are you using?

What lens (on what camera) are you using? Many "heavy" lenses have their own tripod foot that can be rotated around the lens to rotate the camera's position.

fotopaul wrote in post #18067689
Well first off what kind of tripod and head do you use ?

SkipD wrote in post #18067790
I'll repeat the question about your tripod/head. What are you using?

What lens (on what camera) are you using? Many "heavy" lenses have their own tripod foot that can be rotated around the lens to rotate the camera's position.

^^^
OP, it matters simply because the possible solutions might not be available to you!

• some tripods cannot change heads
  
• some heads cannot change platforms/QR systems
  
• some QR systems do not offer L brackets