A lot of reasons to choose tripods and heads relates to what you are planning on photographing. I do some close-up work, and I like the fact that the parts of my TiltAll tripod head are individually adjustable. The head tilt, for one, is very useful for leveling horizons with touching any other axis. The TiltAll design does allow me to slightly cinch down the vertical and horizontal controls to simulate a ball head, and I do use that on occasion, but it isn't really made for this. For following wildlife, perhaps a good Acratech ball head would be best, but they are rather expensive. Make sure, if you are going to buy a new ballhead, that you take your camera and a short and long lens with you to feel the action and balance. The better ball heads have good damping characteristics, but of course those characteristics change with different lenses and weight distribution. Andrew On Wed, November 23, 2011 12:27 am, Gregory wrote: > I use the Manfrotto 3221W Tripod with a FOBA Superball. Both have gone > through quite a lot, from severe rainstorms to winter blizzards and desert > sands. One leg of the tripod makes a small scratchy sound when extended > and that's all. I could take the leg apart and clean it but never quite > got around to the task. I always have had big 35mm cameras from motorized > F2 and > 3's to D2x's > > > The tripod is about 16 years old and the ball head is about 12. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Trevor Cunningham > Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:40 AM > To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students > Subject: Re: Opinions wanted on tripod heads > > > I love my Manfrotto 322RC2. Unless I'm mounting large format, I'll never > go back to handles and cranks. > > On 11/22/11 7:15 PM, Bob wrote: > >> I'm asking for opinions on ball heads for tripods. >> >> >> Any and all opinions and comments are appreciated. >> >> >> Thanks. >> >> >> Bob >> -- >> Money can't buy happiness--- But somehow it's more comfortable to cry in >> a Porsche than a Kia. >> > >
