Help me choose a tripod head please

Patricia1066 · 10-04-2018, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by bdery

Also take a head whose size roughly matches that of your tripod.

Thanks for such considered advice.
The velbon base has a circumference of 5".Whether the ball is 54mm or smaller seems like it will fit. I'm a bit worried a really small head would look disproportionate.

In UK import duties make many of the suggestions quite a bit more expensive than in USA. An exception is benro, I can get benro b2 for £77 and it seems to meet your criteria. It's got friction control, separate drag adjustment and lock knob, and 40mm ball. PU-60 qlr plate and 5" head.

No one on the thread has recommended them yet, so it's less appealing despite the high specification.

Lots of recommendation for Sirui and as it's not a lot more I may go for one of these, the k40x is £99 excluding duty.

**catfishjohn** · 10-04-2018, 03:24 PM

I found the Neewer Gimbal head for my wife. On Ebay for $60.00. Am well pleased with the quality out of the box, too soon to say how it will perform long term. A gimbal requires a level tripod. In that respect it works much like a pan and tilt as it does not allow all the angles of a ball head. Arca Swiss is the way to go, it is easy to adapt an Arca clamp to any head.

Billk · 10-04-2018, 03:31 PM

My heavy tripod has a joystick on it. Very versatile.

You Tube

My lightweight tripod has a ball head on it. Stable and compact but useless for moving subjects IMHO.

cmohr · 10-04-2018, 04:39 PM

Just make sure whatever brand you go for in a ballhead, make sure it has a separate pan adjustment, so as you can get the angle right on the ball section, but still pan freely.

**richard0170** · 10-04-2018, 05:40 PM

I would go with an Arca compatible head. BUT you should also consider getting an L bracket. Modern cameras with their polywhatever bases do not grip very well to tripod heads and your camera tends to move on the head in portrait position and, if nudged slightly, in landscape. My K3 and Nikon D610 are both less secure on my tripod than my old beast of a camera, my Bronica Etrs.

bdery · 10-05-2018, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by Patricia1066

An exception is benro

Originally posted by Patricia1066

No one on the thread has recommended them yet, so it's less appealing despite the high specification.

I hear that Benro is ok, especially their newer heads. Some older stuff isn't as well regarded.

Originally posted by Patricia1066

Lots of recommendation for Sirui and as it's not a lot more I may go for one of these, the k40x is £99 excluding duty.

The K40x is huge. Really huge.

Let's put it this way : I use a K-1, 60-250 on a K10x head and it does not come close to reaching its limit.

Except if you regularly use an ultra-tele (in which case a gimbal would be better) you'd be well served with the K1-x or K20x at most.

Patricia1066 · 10-05-2018, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by bdery

I hear that Benro is ok, especially their newer heads. Some older stuff isn't as well regarded.

The K40x is huge. Really huge.

Let's put it this way : I use a K-1, 60-250 on a K10x head and it does not come close to reaching its limit.

Except if you regularly use an ultra-tele (in which case a gimbal would be better) you'd be well served with the K1-x or K20x at most.

Review here which slates the benro b0 head, even a kit lens caused creep as the b0 just couldn't support camera and lens safely.

Review: Benro Travel Angel A-1691TB0 - The Phoblographer

Probably will get the sirui k10x

Last edited by Patricia1066; 10-06-2018 at 01:17 AM.

Patricia1066 · 10-07-2018, 06:47 AM

I chose the Neewer ball head, 360 panoramic and Neewer L plate.

All the suggested criteria are met, and I'm happy with the security of the camera using the supplied plate.

I also bought the Neewer L plate. This isn't compatible with the ball head unfortunately, and is currently secured with a rubber band which gives necessary grip to the clamp.

The quality of the ball head is very good, and the knobs provide effective control of the ball movement.

The L plate is very well finished, and can be fitted to the K5 leaving access to the battery and card slots.
Total £26 for both.

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10-04-2018, 02:47 PM	#16
Patricia1066 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 31 Original Poster	Originally posted by bdery Also take a head whose size roughly matches that of your tripod. Thanks for such considered advice. The velbon base has a circumference of 5".Whether the ball is 54mm or smaller seems like it will fit. I'm a bit worried a really small head would look disproportionate. In UK import duties make many of the suggestions quite a bit more expensive than in USA. An exception is benro, I can get benro b2 for £77 and it seems to meet your criteria. It's got friction control, separate drag adjustment and lock knob, and 40mm ball. PU-60 qlr plate and 5" head. No one on the thread has recommended them yet, so it's less appealing despite the high specification. Lots of recommendation for Sirui and as it's not a lot more I may go for one of these, the k40x is £99 excluding duty.

10-04-2018, 03:24 PM	#17
catfishjohn Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Arkansas Posts: 137	I found the Neewer Gimbal head for my wife. On Ebay for $60.00. Am well pleased with the quality out of the box, too soon to say how it will perform long term. A gimbal requires a level tripod. In that respect it works much like a pan and tilt as it does not allow all the angles of a ball head. Arca Swiss is the way to go, it is easy to adapt an Arca clamp to any head.

10-04-2018, 04:39 PM	#19
cmohr Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brisbane. Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,824	Just make sure whatever brand you go for in a ballhead, make sure it has a separate pan adjustment, so as you can get the angle right on the ball section, but still pan freely.

10-04-2018, 05:40 PM	#20
richard0170 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2017 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,034	I would go with an Arca compatible head. BUT you should also consider getting an L bracket. Modern cameras with their polywhatever bases do not grip very well to tripod heads and your camera tends to move on the head in portrait position and, if nudged slightly, in landscape. My K3 and Nikon D610 are both less secure on my tripod than my old beast of a camera, my Bronica Etrs.

10-05-2018, 05:15 AM	#21
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Originally posted by Patricia1066 An exception is benro Originally posted by Patricia1066 No one on the thread has recommended them yet, so it's less appealing despite the high specification. I hear that Benro is ok, especially their newer heads. Some older stuff isn't as well regarded. Originally posted by Patricia1066 Lots of recommendation for Sirui and as it's not a lot more I may go for one of these, the k40x is £99 excluding duty. The K40x is huge. Really huge. Let's put it this way : I use a K-1, 60-250 on a K10x head and it does not come close to reaching its limit. Except if you regularly use an ultra-tele (in which case a gimbal would be better) you'd be well served with the K1-x or K20x at most.

10-05-2018, 03:47 PM	#22
Patricia1066 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 31 Original Poster	Originally posted by bdery I hear that Benro is ok, especially their newer heads. Some older stuff isn't as well regarded. The K40x is huge. Really huge. Let's put it this way : I use a K-1, 60-250 on a K10x head and it does not come close to reaching its limit. Except if you regularly use an ultra-tele (in which case a gimbal would be better) you'd be well served with the K1-x or K20x at most. Review here which slates the benro b0 head, even a kit lens caused creep as the b0 just couldn't support camera and lens safely. Review: Benro Travel Angel A-1691TB0 - The Phoblographer Probably will get the sirui k10x Last edited by Patricia1066; 10-06-2018 at 01:17 AM.

10-07-2018, 06:47 AM	#23
Patricia1066 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 31 Original Poster	I chose the Neewer ball head, 360 panoramic and Neewer L plate. All the suggested criteria are met, and I'm happy with the security of the camera using the supplied plate. I also bought the Neewer L plate. This isn't compatible with the ball head unfortunately, and is currently secured with a rubber band which gives necessary grip to the clamp. The quality of the ball head is very good, and the knobs provide effective control of the ball movement. The L plate is very well finished, and can be fitted to the K5 leaving access to the battery and card slots. Total £26 for both.