Pan Tilt head user getting first ball head

I picked up a Manfrotto 3021 Pro tripod with aluminum legs and 3030 pan tilt head in 2003, for mostly shoot night scenes and landscapes but want to shot more birds, wildlife, and action photos.

The Sirui K-30X and Wimberley Sidecar are on their way for use with my Canon 100-400 mk1 lens. My thinking is that this would afford the most flexibility with the 3021 tripod.

How easy is it to adapt from a pan tilt type head to a ball head for landscapes?

Does it make sense to replace the 3030 head with the Sirui ball head with sidecar, or should I consider getting a second tripod for the Canon lens, and keep the old Manfrotto setup intact?

Thoughts?

Thanks.

When I switched from a pan-tilt (my first tripod was also a 3221 (black 3021)) to a ballhead, I think it took me all of 30 seconds to get used to it. That may be a stretch... it was probably quicker. For most of what I do, a ballhead is much easier to use.

For wildlife and action, you will be much happier with the ballhead and sidekick.

That said, keep your old head until you are certain you won't use it again.

The time required to become familiar with how the Sirui K-30x works could be defined as "30 seconds".


Really, there was no struggle, just installing it on the Manfrotto tripod, sliding my 6D with an Arcus Swiss type plate into the clamp, testing the pan knob, and that's it.

Sidecar = Sidekick... Just to reduce the confusion. Should be a good combo for that rig.

Correction made.

This K-30X is easier to work with than I anticipated and looks very solid on the 3021.

Thanks.

My Sidekick images
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=18342898