I do long-exposure pictures virtually solely, so I search for particular qualities in ball heads. If I’m adjusting the ball head at nighttime for a sequence of images for stacking for Milky Means images or two-hour-long star trails, I need one thing straightforward to make use of and rock stable. We’ll undergo my decision-making course of collectively.
Deciding on a tripod head
There are quite a few tripod heads. And far of it is a matter of desire and practicality.
A pan and tilt head separates horizontal, vertical and panning motions into three separate axes — typically doing so exactly — and are well-liked for video. They typically are typically heavier. Some have handles. The few instances I’ve used one with a deal with for night time pictures, I’ve rammed my enamel on the deal with. Perhaps not.
A gimbal head strikes fluidly and is nice for monitoring, making it well-liked for wildlife or sports activities pictures. Nevertheless, it appeared a little bit giant and chunky and overdone for night time pictures.
I made a decision to search for a ball head. A ball head is comparatively mild and compact and would enable me to simply compose in both panorama or portrait modes, aiming the digital camera simply at varied angles. Like tripods, I actually needed to buy a top quality ball head as soon as and use it for a few years to come back. I bought my ball heads over six years in the past and am nonetheless fortunately utilizing them, so I apparently didn’t select too poorly!
Ball head options which can be helpful for night time photographers
Stability
Above all, I needed a ball head to be rock stable and never sag, vibrate or transfer and will accommodate a considerable amount of weight. In any case, many people night time photographers use a heavy DSLR and extremely wide-angle lens mixture.
Ease of operation
I didn’t need to use a headlamp each time I positioned the ball head at nighttime, so this was additionally a should. I needed easy-to-turn knobs that had been logically positioned.
Ball pressure
I additionally needed to have a separate pressure knob the place I might exactly dial within the quantity of pressure that I needed. That is significantly useful when adjusting the principle ball head, because it supplies sufficient pressure in order that it isn’t too tight requiring further power when positioning, however not too free so that you just danger the digital camera flopping or have issue exactly positioning the digital camera.
Arca-Swiss fast launch plate
My two cameras already had a particular type of quick-release plate referred to as an L-bracket connected to them, all of which had been Arca-Swiss appropriate. I seemed for a appropriate mounting base that might simply let me open the clamp, slide the digital camera in and safe it simply.
I like utilizing L-brackets as a result of I can shortly alter the digital camera to portrait or panorama mode. Certain, I might in all probability obtain portrait mode with a ball head by turning it on its facet, however I felt this may introduce some instability, as I {photograph} continuously in high-wind areas within the desert. And the wind within the desert generally appears to gust out of nowhere!
Pan adjustment for panoramas
The pan adjustment is used to rotate the digital camera from left to proper with out adjusting the lean in any respect. I hoped to discover a ball head that allowed me to simply pan in fairly exact, easy changes. I needed to have this feature. Nevertheless, greater than six years later, I nonetheless haven’t achieved a panorama. Sometime, proper?
What did I select?
As a result of I had two cameras and was buying two tripods, I additionally bought two ball heads.
Acratech GP-s ball head
I selected the Acratech GP-s as a result of it was extremely regarded, light-weight at lower than a pound whereas nonetheless holding 25 kilos and comparatively small. It appeared like a winner.
As a bonus, the GP-s might convert right into a panoramic tripod head simply. You could place it the other way up to perform as a leveling base for panoramic pictures, protecting the whole lot parallel to the horizon. I additionally favored its smaller dimension, which might simply accommodate journey tripods with out banging its pan knob in opposition to the tripod, and even permitting the tripod legs to fold over it. Offered!
Actually Proper Stuff BH-55
Though it would sound unusual, the Actually Proper Stuff BH-55 is a beautiful-looking ball head that conjures up confidence. I selected this for further stability in excessive wind circumstances, because it helps as much as 50 kilos, simply accommodating giant cameras with a heavy ultra-wide lens.
This does, nevertheless, weigh 1.9 kilos, virtually twice as a lot because the Acratech. That mentioned, I do love the big locking knob. I’ve giant fingers, so this actually feels comfy, though I ought to point out that the Acratech ball head has a scalloped clamping knob. Though smaller, it’s extraordinarily straightforward to grip, so having a big locking knob doesn’t matter a lot.
Selecting by time touring
If I might return in time and select once more, I’d probably select to buy two Acratech GP-s ball heads. I like the BH-55, don’t get me unsuitable. However the GP-s ball head is so secure and straightforward to make use of that I don’t really feel I would like the additional weight and beefiness of the opposite. However actually, I’ve no regrets! I like them each.
An attention-grabbing ball head for right now
At the moment, if I had been in search of a ball head, I’d have an in depth take a look at the Platyball Elite from Platypod. Why? This intriguing ball head has an “the other way up” ball head design, inserting the panning turntable on the highest as an alternative of the underside, making it far simpler for us to pan cameras in a straight line even when the tripod legs themselves usually are not completely degree.
However there’s extra. You could discover that I by no means talked about bubble ranges as one of many options I used to be in search of in a ball head. That’s as a result of they’re virtually not possible to see, not solely as a result of I shoot at nighttime but in addition as a result of they’re continuously poorly positioned. The Platyball Elite makes use of a backlit digital leveling system not terribly in contrast to what you may see in a digital digital camera. This makes use of an A23 alkaline battery for energy and works in any orientation, additionally providing three brightness ranges. Though I might do with out yet one more merchandise that requires a battery, that is such a helpful characteristic that I would make an exception!
