Tripod and Balls heads?  Which one is right for me?

During my workshops I am asked about tripods and ball heads.  Some participants hesitate to spend their photo budget on one of the most important items in your camera arsenal.
I often see when people use a tripod, it is either too small and light weight for the camera gear they have, or they have one that is too short for them to use without straining their necks and backs.
When buying a tripod make sure that it will extend to a height that allows all of the functions, either in landscape or portrait mode, without straining your back to operate.
There is nothing more frustrating than to bend over all day long and end up with an aching back.
The ball head is just as important as the legs.  Of the tripod heads I see, too often are those that I categorize as movie heads or multi lever heads.  The first is one that has an arm specifically designed to rotate the heads in a panning motion, which is not stable enough for long shutter speeds.
The first image shows a typical video head with a single control.  Not very stable and not designed for multi-angle adjustments.

Video Head

3 levers to operate

This type of ball head is stable but requires 3 different adjustments to set up the shot.  I see many folks become frustrated with how long it takes to compose using this type of head.
Now I suggest that the single control ball head is by far the best choice.  First it has a large ball which is more stable.  The bigger the ball the more stable it is and the more weight it will carry as well.
Secondly, with the single control, you are able to set up and compose with a single motion, thereby making it a pleasure to use instead of a chore.
There are many different manufactures of this type, but remember the larger the ball the more stable it will be. If you use one of the larger camera bodies and a lens even at the 80-200 mm size you should have a head that will support the weight plus about twice the pounds.  So camera and telephoto at 10 lbs.. you should use a 20 lbs.. rated head.  Your question may be why over twice the rating?  Because people either buy new and heaver equipment or even rent a large lens.  Then the head they have is not as stable.
The more weight your head and tripod carry the more vibration and lack of sharpness will result if you don’t insure your equipment will do the job.
This is just an example of a good ball head.

So hear are the key points to remember.  A tripod that is strong and light weight, such as carbon fiber.  That is tall enough to keep from straining your back.  Then a single level ball head that will carry the weight of your gear.
If you are serious about taking tack sharp images with ease, then the added cost of tripod and head will be the best investment.
See you next time, “Keep shooting.”

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