Panning with Ball Heads

i really hope this is my last question for the day

what is the difference between panning base ball head like 488RC2 and normal one like 486RC2 ( never minding the ball diameter difference ).

can the 486 pan around in the same way as 488 ? is the actual difference only in having an extra ratchet and a graduated scale ? or once you tilt the 486 down 90 degrees you can no longer pan it around

A ballhead without a seperate panning bearing is a real problem if you intend to pan.

The difference is that one simply does not have a panning base. Imagine a tilt, swivel pan three way head.. without the panning point.. it simply will not allow you to pan .. period.. with a ballhead this is not the case. as the ball itself can rotate infinately,.. however.. when the ball is panning.. it is also fee to tilt front back and side to side.. at the same time.. the pressure applied to the ball to keep the whole works from "flopping over" will also be fighting a smooth pan.

My first experiences with Ballheads on a tripod were the Manfrotto grip action heads whcih do not have seperate panning actions.

...this is a big problem for any action photography, or landscape work where stitched panoramas may be of interest.

Take a look at this ballhead;

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=221​095&is=REG

You can replace the threaded camera mount with a QR plate... like an Arca or Manfrotto RC2 ..

psychonaut wrote:
can the 486 pan around in the same way as 488 ? is the actual difference only in having an extra ratchet and a graduated scale ?

The main differences between the 486 and 488 (besides overall size) is the the 488's ability to pan (swivel). The 486 does not pan/swivel.

IMHO, you really want the 488. That pan/swivel can be very very nice to have. I wouldn't own a head without it.

Is the 488 a good head for panoramics?? I've read something about the lens nodal point... is this head sufficient for that purpose??

Yeah, tell me about it. If I had known this fact before I bought my 486, I would have opted for the 488 instead.

Don't overlook the 486 for use on monopods. That's what I use on mine, and panning is not an issue.

I really love the fact that all the RC2 heads use the same QR plates. It makes life in the field a lot simpler, especially when switching back and forth between various lenses, the monopod, and the tripod.

No, it's definitely not sufficient for adjustment for the nodal point. UNLESS you use long lenses, which lessens parallax errors/distortions, and then the nodal point is not very important. The longer you go the less important the adjustment for nodal point.

The pan/swivel base is incredibly important for panos, IMHO. Yes, you can free-hand a pano and use good software to adjust for all the mistakes and you'd never know. But you're better off getting it right - or as good as possible - in the camera first.

A ball-head, on the other hand, is not so great for panos, but it still can be done. I'd strongly recommend a hot-shoe level, and very strongly recommend a bubble level on the tripod base or ball-head base to ensure that you are panning/swiveling on level.

It's really all a matter of how much work you have to do after taking the pictures, really. A pano head on a level tripod is the best you'll get. Free-hand is the worst, but it can still be done.

ok i did not realize you can interchange release plate systems. whats compatible with what? will anything on 3/8-16 work with anything else on same thread or are there any additional compatibility issues ?

do you just buy a regular ( no quick relase ) head and then slap a quick release assembly onto it ?

It's the plate that he's talking about - the part that attaches to the camera or big lens. If you have several heads that all take RC2 then the plates are all the same. So if you have two RC2 heads then you also have two RC2 plates, and now you can permanently leave a plate on the camera and another plate on your big lens. Either will be ready to go on either head.

I have only 1 head so I have 1 plate. If I switch from my 17-40 to my big lens I have to take the plate off the camera and attach it to the lens. (It balances much better this way.) If I bought another plate I could leave one on the camera permanently, and the other would stay on the lens.

eh, i believe he was saying i can put manfrotto quick release plate system onto a giottos head ?

quickie question: what is the thread size on the Digital Rebel bottom, is it 1/4 ?

The Manfrotto quick release systems are integral parts of their respective heads, and Giottos can't use them. You can buy a Manfrotto 3157 plate, but it'll only let you attach it to a Manfrotto RC2-style head. OTOH, you can attach a Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head to 'most any photographic tripod out there, since they normally use a 3/8 x 16 thread to connect tripod and head. The most common (and used by DR) thread for head to camera attachment is 1/4" x 20 thread.

hm...

what can you tell me about this quick release plate system ?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=258​767&is=REG

more specifically which heads will it go on ?

The Mafrotto QR system may or may not be the best around, but there is a way to use it with another brand of head.
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=149​686&is=REG

This is a QR adapter that goes on top of a tripod or monopod head and gives you the Manfrotto release system.

It is probably a good idea to use only one style of QR. If you are married to Manfrotto, this is the way.

Have Fun,