Ball versus 3-Way head

which do you prefer ?

more specifically the choice looks like it is between

manfrotto 3030 and 484RC2

ps: dont ask noob hard questions

ps2: tripod legs will have a column mountable sideways.

Personally, I like a ball head for the monopod and a 3-way for the tripod.

On the tripod I like to move the camera over a specific axis until I get it the way I want it. On the monopod, I am mostly working with sports or action, and in situations where a tripod is not suitable, and I may need to adjust it more quickly.

Have Fun,

What camera are you going to be mounting on it? Is the tripod/head weight going to be important? What are you going to be photographing? I was concerned about weight, so I got a 486RC2 head for my tripod. (20D, possibly with grip, and 100-400 as target max. load).

the camera is digital rebel and its going to be mostly still photography outdoors.

tilt/pan is heavier than ball as i understand ? but would this really be that important ?

CoolToolGuy i kinda follow your logic.

psychonaut wrote:
the camera is digital rebel

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and its going to be mostly still photography outdoors.

tilt/pan is heavier than ball as i understand ? but would this really be that important ?

CoolToolGuy i kinda follow your logic.

I started with a 482RC2 head on my monopod, but I eventually went to the 486RC2 - it has a bigger ball (smoother action) and the ball lock is a little larger, which makes it easier to use. On either one you can snug up the ball lock gradually to get just the level of drag that you want. The weight limit of the 486RC2 is also higher.

If you are going for a carbon fiber trpod or monopod the weight of the head can make a difference.

Have Fun,

I like a ball head on a tripod; it's faster and less fussy to adjust. I rarely found with a three way that I only wanted to adjust one axis. I was always fiddling with a couple different knobs. I also like the lighter weight.

Greg

hm...

will 486RC2 head be compatible with SLIK 700 DX PRO legs ? supposedly it has same thread but want to be sure ?

I like a Ballhead.. but having used several now,. I now know that the better ones are larger and heavier with larger balls (did I just say that? )

I'm not completely literate with all the Manfrotto Ballheads by number so I don't really know what size you are speaking of with the 486-488,. but I have seen some very well made large manfrotto units,. as well as some that are too small and lightweight to give positive and smooth adjustment.

With a Ballhead.. "bigger is better, heaviest is best"

Also,. having tried the pistol grip heads.. they do have there advantages,..(speed and ease of use) but they seem to be outwieghed by there disadvantages as well.(lack of balance, ball is too small for real smooth operation,.. no PAN only bearing... etc)

Giottos makes the MH3000 Ballhead,.. for under $150.00 @ B&H it is a really nice product.

I have a used one that I'm very impressed with for the cost,. I recently picked up one of the real "Big Daddies" though.. a Graf StudioBall,.. Swiss engineering pays off,. it is wonderfull. (but HUGE and heavy!)

As far as I know,. this is one place where tripod manufacturers don't mess around. They all seem to use one of two thread mounts.. completely universal systems. There are even adapters for the two thread mounts.

This may be a dumb question but.. how to you make sure your ball head is level?? For instance with the above noted MH3000 from Giotto, I dont see a bubble level or anything.

[QUOTE=belmondo]The best thing to do is buy one of those spirit levels that mounts on your hot shoe.

Like this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=194​974&is=REG

Very cool. Didnt know such a beast existed.

really depends on what your shooting... we got these in not so long ago at my store - http://www.bogenimagin​g.us …3?sectionid=8&i​temid=2529 - they seem to sell VERY well and very fast

Mike,. it is a nice product,. I had the 322RC for a while.. but eventually sold it.

It suffered the same shortcomings I mention in my post above,. except that it does not suffer from the balance issues that other grip action heads have.

However,. that head did introduce some new problems. Because of it's lower profile,. to mount many lenses to the head with a tripod collar,. one must reverse the QR on the head itself. (easily done)

BUT.. if you like to have the same QR system on a number of heads (as I did) and thus the same QR plates on all your lenses and bodies (as I do) .. then with the female side of the QR assembly reversed on the 322rc (and 90degrees off of the tilt only monopod head).. this means everytime you switch heads,. you must remove and realighn the QR plate on each of the lens collars or bodies you are using.

At this point you may as well not be using a QR because there is nothing quick about having to turn the QR plate every time you use it.

On many Manfrotto heads the QR lever is best working 90 degrees from the 322RC,. (like the monopod head,. and the earlier grip head) ....this also allows the plates to run lengthwise along the long end of a tripod color bottom,. as opposed to cross wise,. allowing for much better attachment to the lens collar. With the 322RC,. this sideways setting is out of the question without machine shop work (work I was baout to undertake before deciding to abandon the 322RC alltogether and get a real ball head instead.)

Of course with a real ball head.. the QR assembly can be turned any which way you want with no need to re-align the plates themselves.. the head simply allows you to turn the orientation of the receiving QR fixture wahtever you want. With the RC2 this is very helpfull as the plates want to be running front to back on the lens collars and side to side on the camera bodies ...

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
I like a Ballhead.. but having used several now,. I now know that the better ones are larger and heavier with larger balls (did I just say that? )

I'm not completely literate with all the Manfrotto Ballheads by number so I don't really know what size you are speaking of with the 486-488,. but I have seen some very well made large manfrotto units,. as well as some that are too small and lightweight to give positive and smooth adjustment.

With a Ballhead.. "bigger is better, heaviest is best"

Also,. having tried the pistol grip heads.. they do have there advantages,..(speed and ease of use) but they seem to be outwieghed by there disadvantages as well.(lack of balance, ball is too small for real smooth operation,.. no PAN only bearing... etc)

Giottos makes the MH3000 Ballhead,.. for under $150.00 @ B&H it is a really nice product.

I have a used one that I'm very impressed with for the cost,. I recently picked up one of the real "Big Daddies" though.. a Graf StudioBall,.. Swiss engineering pays off,. it is wonderfull. (but HUGE and heavy!)

So, I have the carbon fiber Manfrotto coming and have not made a head decision (I have a Manfrotto ballhead on my monopod). Given the weight of the CF tripod, what is the heaviest ballhead I can get away with?