INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ball heads are all the rage
They're very quick and easy to adjust, the most basic models having a single locking screw
Release this and you get a full range of pan, tilt and swivel adjustments
Once the camera is in position, you simply tighten the screw to lock the head in place.A more sophisticated variation sees the addition of a
This adds safety, especially when using heavy camera and lens combinations, reducing the risk of the camera falling forward when the main
locking screw is loosened.Yet another addition that's proving increasingly popular is a separate panning lock
You can release this to enable pan-only movement of the ball head, while tilt and swivel settings remain locked.Typically, ball heads that
have a larger diameter ball enable greater precision when making adjustments, with less sag after the locking screw is tightened
They also usually have a higher maximum load capacity
The addition of spirit levels or a bubble level on the camera platform can be useful, especially if the camera you're using doesn't feature
a virtual horizon.The other main option is to go for a more conventional three-way head
Unlike two-way heads popular for video capture, a three-way head includes a swivel adjustment, as well as just pan and tilt, so you can flip
the camera through 90 degrees for portrait orientation shooting
Typically, there are three separate locks for each plane of movement
This can be a bonus when making very precise adjustments, for example in architectural or macro photography, as everything remains locked
apart from the single plane of adjustment that you want to alter.The downside is that adjustments in multiple directions take longer to
Another factor is that, if you're travelling around with the tripod in a bag, you usually need to remove at least one of the locking levers
so that it doesn't stick out.The secret third optionWe're not for a moment suggesting they're lazy but, for some photographers, even the
need to loosen and refasten the locking screw of a ball head is too much of a chore.An interesting twist on conventional ball and socket
design comes in the shape of so-called joystick or pistol grip heads
In this case, the clamp is spring-loaded to keep the head fixed in position
All you need to do to facilitate movement is to squeeze the release mechanism on the handle, reposition the head, then release the grip
It's almost too simple.Leading models include the Manfrotto 327RC2 and Vanguard GH-300T
The maximum load rating of these heads is 5.5kg and 8kg respectively
Both have adjustable friction damping, which also enables more secure locking for heavier cameras and lenses, as well as bubble levels to
The Vanguard is a little more innovative, also including dual pan-only locks, plus a built-in trigger system for releasing the shutter via a
trigger on the pistol grip itself.Connection cables are supplied for some Canon and Nikon cameras, and other cables are available as
One drawback of both heads is that upward tilt is very limited, making them less than ideal for photographing birds or aircraft in
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