Ball head for DSLR Video?

I'm currently using a Manfrotto 055xprob tripod with a 488 RC2 head. I love the setup and it works very well for still shots & video, but not good for panning video.

I would like to get a good head for around $100.

Any help would be appreciated..

Thanks

Also interested in this. Anyone got some advice?

You either should get a leveling base and then level the QR clamp or get a video fluid head but that's way more then $100...both options are over $100...

A ball head is not the best choice for video work. What I would recommend that would be compatible with the 488RC2 (using the same quick release system, that is) is Manfrotto's 128RC fluid head.

The 128RC only has two axes of movement and, because of that, I use Manfrotto's 438 levelling head under my fluid head to be able to easily level the 128RC head without messing with the tripod's legs.

In reality, I use the older 3130 fluid head and 3502 levelling head but these are just old numbers for the same items as I listed above.

Ball head may have been the wrong words to use eh!!!

I'm going to be using my 7D and it has a built in level, but would a leveling head still be better?
I would love to be able to use the same QR plates that I have now...

Thanks

By-tor wrote in post #10833235
I'm going to be using my 7D and it has a built in level, but would a leveling head still be better?
I would love to be able to use the same QR plates that I have now...

Look up the stuff I suggested. You will see what the leveling head is all about. It simply goes between the tripod leg set and whatever head you mount on it. The camera is held by the head that's on top of the levelling head.

The purpose of the levelling head is not necessarily to measure what's level but to be able to easily adjust the position of the head (which holds the camera) so its base is level.

The 128RC, as I said above, uses the same RC2 quick release system as the 488RC2. You can switch heads on the tripod but leave the same QR (Quick Release) plates on the camera and lenses.

Would this leveling plate be needed if the leg set has a built in level?

I looked at that 128RC on Adorama and it may just be the one to get.

Thanks

SkipD wrote in post #10833283
Look up the stuff I suggested. You will see what the leveling head is all about. It simply goes between the tripod leg set and whatever head you mount on it. The camera is held by the head that's on top of the levelling head.

The purpose of the levelling head is not necessarily to measure what's level but to be able to easily adjust the position of the head (which holds the camera) so its base is level.

The 128RC, as I said above, uses the same RC2 quick release system as the 488RC2. You can switch heads on the tripod but leave the same QR (Quick Release) plates on the camera and lenses.

By-tor wrote in post #10833306
Would this leveling plate be needed if the leg set has a built in level?

It's a royal pain in the tush to do precision level adjustment of a tripod by tweaking each leg to get there. That's why the 438 Camera Leveler is so handy. It allows you to set up the tripod roughly level and then in a VERY short time you can level the tripod's head with the 438 Camera Leveler.

Understand... Thanks

SkipD wrote in post #10833378
It's a royal pain in the tush to do precision level adjustment of a tripod by tweaking each leg to get there. That's why the 438 Camera Leveler is so handy. It allows you to set up the tripod roughly level and then in a VERY short time you can level the tripod's head with the 438 Camera Leveler.