Ball and Socket Head For Monopod

Hiya, im planing on buying a Manfrotto 680B monopod, they however

dont come with a head, so im going to have to buy one seperately.

Thing is I dont know first thing about heads, so im asking for you

to help me find a head (preferably ball and socket) for a monopod.

The heaviest combo which I will be using is a Tamron 60-300mm lens

and my Pentax Spotmatic SP. The maximum amount of money im willing

to pay is £25-30.

 

P.S Will I also need to buy a "plate"? whatever that is. This is

what I know about the screw "large 2.3" camera/head platform with

plastic cover and dual 1/4-20" - 3/8" camera screw."

 

 

Thanks you very very much in advance,

Max.

You really don't need a ballhead with a monopod. Think about the additional degrees of motion that you have with only one leg, and ask yourself if you need more than one additional axis of movement.

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Most monopod users have something like a <a href='http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5491&is=REG'>tilt/swivel head</a>.

<br><br>If your head has interchangeable quick release plates, it'll come with one. And your Spotmatic will take the 1/4-20 screw, not the 3/8.

I use a Bogen 3262QR ball head on my Gitzo. It's not a bad ballhead for the price, and pretty good for use on a monopod. I prefer it to using a tilt head.

I took the ball head from an inexpensive Cullman mini-tripod. It works very well.

I have monopod with a Manfrotto tilt/swivel head, and another with a small Manfrotto ball head. I generally prefer the tilt/swivel head since it is much faster to use. I seldom need to point the camera up or down more than I can tilt the whole pod, so I set the head to tilt to the side for vertical shots & keep it only semi-tight. That way I just flop the camera to the side when shooting verticals, and there is no bothering with tension knobs while shooting. If your lens has a rotating mount, you wouldn't even need the head.

 

There are lots of differeing reasons for using a monopod, but if speed is a major consideraton (weddings, sports), the tilt/swivel head is faster. That said, many people prefer the ball head for it's flexibility.

 

You don't really need anything more. An anti-twist plate is another nice option that keeps the camera from slipping on top of the head, but it's not really necessary unless your lens is both large and does not have it's own tripod mount. I used to have the Tamron 60-300, but it was too long ago to remember what it had.

I use a Slik standard ball head and like it a lot. Within your budget. Tight and fast lockup lever and small but well finished ball. I tried the Bogen swivel thing,somehow prefer a ball head.Your lens exceeds my length,a 200mm, I guess. (An L bracket may be a useful accessory someday to mount the camera for verticals on same pod axis, just a vagrant idea)Plate is an option you dont really need unless you are using tripod heads with a QR plate system already and seek uniformity. I can carryh the whole shebang without losing it to gravity...GS

Ok, thanks allot guys and gals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Im geting the 680B monopod, and the head recomended by Chris Combs (thanks!) all in all its going to cost £70 with P&P

 

Thanks allot,

Max.