Ball Head

<p>I'm in the process of buying a tripod and the vendor told me that a head ball is not for outdoor use. Can anybody comment?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>The comment that springs to my mind is not considered very polite, so I'll substitute "nonsense" for it.</p>

<p>Was he joking? Ball heads are routinely used for nature, landscape, macro, etc work.</p>

Don't buy from that vendor.

<p>That's gotta be one of the dumbest comments I've ever heard from a vendor.</p>

<p>What a ridiculous statement. He was probably out of them at the time.</p>

<p>A ball head is more compact than a 3-way, and there are no handles to jab you or snag on branches. A good ($300+) ball head operates smoothly under partial tension, allowing you to position the camera without flopping or sticking, then tighten without causing the aim point to shift. A cheap ball head will make you tear your hair out due to slip-stick action and/or poor holding power.</p>

<p>Surely he was jesting? (to which he answers, "don't call me Shirley")<br>

Estúpido.</p>

<p>Maybe he's getting rebate from the 3-way head manufacturer, or he wanted to clear out his surplus stock of 3-way head.</p>

<p>Maybe you misunderstood and he said bald heads aren't good for the outdoors as they are easily burnt by the sun, was he standing by a display of 90spf coppertone?</p>

<p>Thanks to all of you, it reassure me since it was my first choice for the reasons Edward pointed. </p>

 

<p>Ball Head is the gold standard. I shoot mostly landscapes and have used a ball head for the entire time with complete satisfaction. I have a professional friend who shoots waterfalls, and swears by this non-ball head: <br>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124665-REG/Manfrotto_410_410_Junior_Geared_Head.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124665-REG/Manfrotto_410_410_Junior_Geared_Head.html</a><br>

I think he likes it because he can fine tune the framing of his shot. </p>

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