Page 31 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

E Q UIPMEN T 29

TRIPOD HEADS

There are two main types of tripod heads that are either have their advantages and disadvantages, and there is no
built into or can be attached to your tripod: ball heads and right or wrong choice, but you should take into account
pan-and-tilt (also known as a three-way head). Both variants the combined weight of your camera and largest lens.

BALL HEADS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES 1
◾ ◾ Quick to position ◾ ◾ Hard to adjust in one
◾ ◾ Lightweight axis only
◾ ◾ Less fine control 5
◾ ◾ Compact size 2
◾ ◾ Often less stable in the
◾ ◾ Simple to use
vertical orientation 3
◾ ◾ Camera needs to be
supported when you adjust 4
the position of the head

PAN-AND-TILT
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
◾ ◾ Fine control over each axis ◾ ◾ Heavy and bulky 1
◾ ◾ Very stable in every axis ◾ ◾ Takes time to position 5 6
once tightened each axis correctly
◾ ◾ Good for larger camera 3
systems 7
◾ ◾ Usually less expensive
than an equivalent
ball-and-socket head
4
KEY TO ANNOTATIONS

1 Quick-release plate 3 Ball-and-socket adjuster 5 Spirit level 7 Tilt lever
2 Ball-and-socket joint 4 Pan direction lever 6 Vertical/horizontal lever

SHOOTING STRAIGHT
A spirit level is really useful when
shooting landscapes or architectural
subjects. It will help you to align your
camera so that it’s level in at least one
axis. Spirit levels are built in to quality
tripod heads. They can also be bought
separately and attached to a hot shoe.
Some cameras also have a spirit level in
either the viewfinder or the rear LCD.
▲ TRIPOD SPIRIT LEVEL ▲ IN-CAMERA SPIRIT LEVEL

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