Ball head pano question

This is probably a silly question but I have never used a ball head and
every shop I've been to that stocks bogen tripods only had the 141RC 3 way
head.

The Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head
(http://www.manfrotto.com/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=1952 ) has
a "single ratchet locking knob for 360° pan and a double groove for +90°-90°
tilt movements."

So if you want to do a pano and there is only one knob, once you loosen the
ball how can you ensure you just pan without tilting it?

Thanks
Tony

 

Ball heads are not good for panos, it's a simple as that IMO.

That's not to say that it can't be done, as software like PTAssembler will
try and morph it back together if things get a little wacko.

My ball head also has a level bubble, so when it's been the only head with
me (I often leave the one between my ears at home also) I have managed a
"reasonable" series of images by realigning the bubble with each move.... it
tales extra time though and if shooting a fading sunset it becomes a real
problem.

Now I have a ball on one tripod, a 3 way on the other and my older spare 3
way in the boot for those times I only have the ball head with me and decide
to do a pano.

Cheers

Russell

 

2nd what Russell post.

Ball head is not a pano head. Your 3 way head is the best for pano
But if you want, try looking around for a Giottos 1000. I had one similar
til my friend claim it his
http://www.photofilter.com/giottos.htm

=bob=

 

There are ballheads you can use for panoramas and Manfrotto make them, but
that is not one of them. As soon as you loosen the tension you will get a
three axis movement.

If you want the ballhead but with Pano you need the 468 Hydrostatic range
starting at over $500. If you want just a pano head then I think the
cheapest is the 300N. Abut $300 usually. They also have something called a
Basic Panoramic Head Adapter 627. Pretty simple thing that fits any tripod
and provides you with graduation scales and 'clicks'. I have a similar thing
made by Minolta.

Unless you want to spend a lot of money the easiest way is just to use the
three way head. You might also think about buying one of those spirit levels
that fit into the hotshoe. Hama make a double level for about $70.

 

That's a bit of a generalisation. Any ball head with a panning base
works just as well as any 3 way. My markins M10 works a treat. However,
neither the ball head or the 3 way is going to pivot the camera around
the lens nodal point without a pano rail. If you want to do it properly
you need a pano rail.

 

Is the panning base built in or is that an add-on?

That's a bit of a generalisation. Many long lenses with their own mount
will pivot around the nodal. .....LOL just kidd'n

You are correct that nodal rotation is important. I did not bother shelling
out the bucks for the trick rail, instead I made a simple bracket that
offsets the camera on the QR plate.

OT: Many "simple" solutions work just as well as the expensive gear, like
the 20c piece of tracing paper that when rolled into a tube and placed on my
flash gives the same results as the latest Light Sphere gadget.

 

Hi Tony,

First off, I like ball heads a lot, but not for pano, for my pano head I
bought a Manfrotto 410 and add a arca swiss clamp on it to fit my
really right pano head www.reallyrightstuff.com look under pano.

You can get by with a lot less, but that is a choice you make! I made mine


I found that using a ball head was too hard to level, even with a bubble on
top. actually in this whole setup there are several level bubbles, I can
never get them all level could of course just be me not having
enough to drink first!

so I went and got the manfrotto 410, which is a geared head, apparently the
405 is suppose to be better, but at a cost, any how, the 410 is much easier
to setup level, whereas the ball head, you really never know when it is
truly level, if you are using its panning base (should your have that!)

anyway, bla bla.....i was going to rant a whole lot but listen, go to the
above link they have some awesome stuff and if you are serious about panos'
you will get a 6x17 anyway , or you get a good pano setup!

Henrik

some useless links

http://autopano.kolor.com/
http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/victoria/virtual/vr/barmah.html
http://www.dogsleap.com/index.cfm
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.houghton/
http://rbpark.ath.cx/tutorial-b
http://www.panoguide.com/
http://www.all-in-one.ee/~dersch/
http://www.epaperpress.com/pano/
http://www.ptgui.com/
http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/victoria/virtual/index.html#locations

and probably the best commercial software for stitching
http://www.realviz.com/products/st/index.php though if you have the time and
patient, then panotools is incredible

good luck

 

Certainly is. http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/ballheads.html

 

I have a Manfrotto #168 ball head. This is a two locking head - one for
the ball and the other for the base rotation. You don't have to use the
base lock to turn the camera around. Not sure if this is still made!


The other bit to use for pans is Hama 2 Bubble Spirit Level
Made to fit into the accessory hot shoe on your camera, this two-bubble
level in a transparent housing allows for proper positioning of your
camera both horizontally and vertically. This is an ideal tool when
shooting landscapes and architecture, especially with wide-angle lenses.

 

Thanks for all the useful replies guys...

Rob, Bogen says the 486 head I asked about is a replacement for the 168 but
I assume it is a different 168 to yours since it is described as having a
single lever lock as well) :-
http://www.manfrotto.com/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=630

Vanbar still list a 168..

I am just looking for a reasonabe all purpose set up that won't weigh a ton
and won't break the bank (I'm no pro

I may end up getting a set of 190 legs, both the 141RC 3 way and the 486
ball and a monopod...that should cover all the bases..(well my bases anyway)

I'm travelling to the south island of NZ in a month and thought there might
be the odd opportunity or two for some scenic panos but didn't want to
carry a more bulky 3 way head if I could get away with a compact ball
head...but I guess you can't always get what you want.

Thanks again.
Tony

 

I also have a 190 and with a 3 way head - the 3 way head is a pain to
travel with and a ball is much preferred option.

The larger tripod is the 055 with the 168 head. This is too heavy and
bulky for travel.

Still think that the 190 with a ball head the required size is a good
option with like I did mention a spirit level. Surely your not going to
take that many pans on your travels.

Even when doing pans and rotate the camera, unless you set up the tripod
exactly level, you still have to adjust the camera level.

BTW the #168 is too big for the 190 tripod.

rm