Best TRIPOD HEAD for WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY | Ballhead vs gimbal vs video head [photo friday]
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- čas přidán 18. 10. 2018
- Since I started photography I have been constantly searching for the perfect tripod head for wildlife photography. A tripod head that is great for close up and landscape photography and at the same time able to handle the big lenses.
I think I have come to the conclusion that such tripod head does not exist. With a heavy duty ballhead I get quite close, but since I use the big lenses quite a lot, I have to add a gimbal style head or a video head to the selection.
Once again it is time for a Photographer's Friday.
••• SOME GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO •••
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Really Right Stuff head: geni.us/MH_013
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See you out there !
All the best
Morten Hilmer
Going beyond a simple gear review to a heart-warming story of story-telling to little kids and inspiring the next generation to feel what it is like to be content with the simplest things in life! Just amazing to see your good works Morten. Thank you for another amazing video.
That's what caught me, too. I was listening to the tripod head reviews, but was captivated by the community building and education at the end. Thank you!
These videos are what got me into Wildlife photography. Keep up the good work Morten!
Thank you, Morten.
Always a pleasure having a coffee with you ;).
I own the Leofoto LH-55 Ballhead which is a fraction of the cost to the reallyrightstuff and I love the 55mm dia ball.
What I find is that the actual stem (the neck from the ball to the swiss arca mount) is much thicker on 55mm ball heads and that is my real reason for going so big.
There are of course many other options and choices but in general I like optimizing stability over light weight even when travelling.
Good gear pays you back.
I could listen to you talk about just about anything for however long :) . You just have a way of telling your stories and explaining things. Can't wait for the next one!
As I watch, I keep wanting to hit the like button, but then I realize I already hit it LOL
Oh you are so nice. Such a lovely comment. Thank you very much:)
I can listen to you talk all day...absolutely love your videos and stories within them.
You're just a big kid at heart - I get much joy out of watching your videos, thanks.
Please keep at it Morten. I look very forward to watching your videos. I recently returned from a trip to Ireland and the wildlife there is all around you, all the time. I had a great experience with a Robin, while I was getting a photo he started jumping around my feet and I just had to set the camera down and enjoy his company.
Sounds so great. I have never been there, but one day I will go. Thanks for your nice comment:)
AS always love watching your videos, having my coffee 2. Love your little personal story at the end with the kids. Don't forget to take a photo with your outfit on.
Morten, Have you not yet picked up a Wimberley sidekick? - Great compromise between the ball-head and gimbal especially when you are travelling. Good run-through of different options, now days I'm always pushpin to find lighter and smaller solutions as well, however nothing beats the big systematic for long lenses. Keep up with the videos, Cheers, Tom
Love the"Photographers Friday" again you have shared your knowledge and experience with all of us in a way that is truly enjoyable. Hope you don't mind that I had my lunch while watching 😋. As always looking forward to your next adventure. Thank you so much for sharing.
I absolutely love your enthusiasm and desire to share your knowledge and experience. The world needs more people like Morten Hilmer. Thank you.
Coffee time with Morten! great to see this style of video again mate. Thanks for the advice, I'm on the search for a nice head for my 500mm!
Morten, I think it is wonderful that you are passionate about teaching young kids about how people used to live! I am sure they will have an experience they will take with the for the rest of their lives!! I would LOVE to see video/photography of your interaction with the children!!!
Awesome stuff as always! Great info on the tripod heads! And I hope you do some video of the stone age stuff to share, as that sounds awesome too! Cheers!
Morten your passion is infectious, I could listen to you all day, the children could not have a better teacher, I look forward to seeing your next video cheers my friend.
I saw this pop up on my notifications last night and started to watch the video; I was in so pain because I'm ill. So glad to watch it now!!!
pff why do i like this videos so mutch? keep on doing this!!!
Morten your videos are looking really good nowadays, super crisp, the content is fantastic as always, please make more :D
Great video Morten! Interesting to hear you take on all the different heads and possible combinations and hacks. Personally, I prefer a video head for all my wildlife photography. I have the Manfrotto MVH500AH. It is smaller and more compact than the one you have, so it is easier to travel with. I do shot quite a bit of video and it is perfect for keeping the camera absolutely still. But I also prefer it for still photography. One reason being that I often photograph owls in low light conditions. Therefore, I need a longer exposure to get enough light to keep the ISO down. The MVH500AH is perfect because I keeps the camera and less totally locked in on the subject so you can avoid all shake, etc. So I use my video head for everything I do. For landscape I just pop on a small ball head on top of the video head and I works great. Thanks again!
Another informative video Morten well done. I love how you are so excited about things you do it is inspiring, makes me want to drop everything and get out and shoot.
Great stuff keep the videos coming.
Roy Cardiff I have my COFFEE ready keep up the good work
Great stuff again Morten !!!
Fantastic explanation of a nuanced difference between the uses of the heads. Really informative, thanks Morten. Enjoy the kids workshop!
"You know that feeling when you are having something nice..." LOL!! I had to put your video on pause and make myself an espresso after your comment. :D
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative video. Morten’s presentation was so enthusiastic that I could simply go on listening to him on just about any subject. I wish you well.
Great one again, tack!
To heck with the coffee, the cameras/lenses & tripods are the good things I'm envious of!
Inspirational, like the mix between tech and passion for nature
Apart from the technical part, what a joy to hear you talking so passionately about that stone age thing!
Morten, don't ever apologize for the length of your videos. You are always helpful, interesting and a great story teller. It would be really great if you could film the upcoming experience with the kids and post to CZcams, (with the parents permission of course).
I paused your video and made a cup of tea for myself 😉 love your video and love your mug, Morten.
That is so great to her. I would have done the same - definitely:) The mug is from Scotland
Best in-depth explanation I've seen, thank you, sir!
oh man that is some mad real gear you have there!
thanks for sharing this great content with us!
loved watching this!
I forgot to say, that your pictures and films are outstanding! Great Job! Im following you since months.
ENJOYED IT, YOURE AN INSPIRATION!
It's neat to see you fired up about teaching the kids. Sounds like you'll have more fun than the kids. Good job.
amazing content as always !!
I’ve been using the same rrs head for years. Works great in all weather.
Great video! And your plan for the kids’ outing sounds wonderful.
I got to about 2:20 in and realized that I needed to refill my coffee... After a short pause, I was right these with you sipping my cup of coffee. That for sharing a cop, and lots of great video content with me.
Great vid Morten... thank you for sharing and hello from Jamaica
Thanks Morten for all the great advice. I hope you really enjoy your weekend & have a wonderful time being a caveman.
You are such an inspiration for life. Thank you.
That sounds like an awesome day foe the kids.
Super god video Morten...forsæt endelig med dine fredags videoer.
I wish I was three!! I hope you will have a little help. Glad to see coffee by your side again. Great info. I'm shopping for a new tripod so this was helpful.
Morten...so enjoy your videos. You have such a passion for nature. Please keep putting them up. By the way last year I went to Ecuador to photo birds. You will have a blast!
Morten, thank you for sharing your knowledge on tripod heads. Superb overview of the options on the market. I ended up going with the Really Right Stuff Ball Head for my telephone lens. Will get a Gimbal down the track.
I too use the Manfrotto mvh502, but I find it just as easy to slide and lock the plate to get an equal balance as I do the gimbal style!
Another great video my friend!
I might be a couple of years late to the party however I totally enjoyed the passion you put into your video. Great insight on the tripod heads then the excitement of your planning for the visit of the young children. Your planning to be in costume, relay a story, hands on art work, and an amulet they make and keep, those can make lasting memories. I’ve always thought if out of a group of children or adults if I can make a small lasting impression, inspire even one to to open their thoughts for the future it’s a success. Wonderful
Love your personality and all of your videos keep it up man
Thank you so much Ravon:)
What a smashing bloke ... Respect
Workshop for the children sounds great. Very valuable for them.Brilliant.Fiend of mine has just finished a three year degree in Experimental Archaeology. He has just started do some children's workshops around similar ancient skills on a small scale.
Lovely video. Thanks for sharing
Always informative.
Coffee or no coffee, I found this a very helpful video. Thank you.
What a nice guy you are Morten, good luck in all you do. Very informative video will help me in selecting the best head for me.
Exactly the video I was hoping for! It's a really tough question and can be a bit expensive to get the right one. 👍👍😍
Yeah Joseph - it is not easy. And further more lots of new heads are hitting the market every year. So the challenge is to get a perfect quality head to a fair price:)
Fantastic video! I just got this Manfroto fluid head, so I am glad to see it in your video.
Thanks Morten, very useful tips.
Super video! and have fun with all the little trouble makes on Monday ;-)
Thanks for your in depth review of these Tripod heads. Your review helped me choose which one to finally purchase. I appreciate your time and expertise! Best wishes for continued success.
Brah,
This video was so very informative.
Thank you !
ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO !!!
Great video as usual. I'd just like to add that a geared head can be best for many forms of macro photography. The problem with even the best ball heads is that if you frame a macro subject, close to 1:1 or greater, and then take your hand away, the whole thing droops causing the framing to change. So you end up having to try and position the framing over what you want, when so it droops, it droops into your desired position. Whereas with a geared head this doesn't happen as you don't have to touch the camera and lens, and so you get perfect framing. It's especially successful using live view.
This droop is not caused by the ball head slipping as many people think, so cannot be solved by getting a better ball head. What causes it is slight flex in the lens, the tripod to camera attachment, the lens tripod collar etc. At normal distances this isn't noticeable, but the higher magnification, the more this effect occurs. It was a revelation when I used a geared head, because it makes the framing so much easier. The main drawback is that geared heads are not good all round tripod heads and can be flower to frame your subject. In other words it is a specialist thing for when you are framing small subjects on a tripod. Having a lens with a tripod collar is also much better for this type of photography.
Thank you so much Stephen - that is really useful information. I did not even know about these heads so that is so great, you are taking your time to explain. I will try to look it up:)
Just looked it up, and now I understand. It was just a matter of translation. Yeah I do have such a head, but never use it. Now I understand, what is is really good for. Thanks Stephen.
Yep, a geared head and a macro rail so [should you choose to] you can stack.
Such a brilliant video, so much honest and useful information - Thanks very much for taking the time
Interesting Morten.
Nice to know your findings with the different heads. The BH55 certainly looks like the best 'All rounder' for most of us.
I use a geared head for landscape work, but always return to my Giottos ball head for most of my work.
Thanks Paul - yeah that makes sense. Kind of you to write.
Hey Morten. I use the same Manfrotto Head with the same disadvantage of having a different quick release plate, so i took a MENGS CL-120 Arca Base and adapted it onto the Manfrotto plate. Now the problem is solved and it works fine for me.
Alex
Morten I started to follow your channel because I wanted to learn something about wildlife photography. Its not that I don't learn anything, far from that - but I keep coming back not because of the photography. I keep coming back because you are so passionate, honest and so very open in all your videos an there is something warm and magical about them for me. Thank you for that and please keep it up. On a side note, heavy coffee drinker here as well, I just wondered what coffee brand do you personally prefer :)
Watching your videos, I always have ready my cappuccino coffee. Thank you your videos are very informative.
Thank you so much for the informative video. I just found your channel and have already watched a couple of your videos. I’m looking forward to watching many more.
Would have subscribed twice once I heard you talking so passionately about being involved in primitive skills and teaching.
Your adventure on Monday sounds fascinating. I'm sure the children will have fun and hopefully learn about living with and in nature. When I was in my teens I wanted to run away to the woods and build myself a shelter and live in nature. The only thing that kept me at my parents house was my electric guitar! :-)
Great comment regarding arcade compatibility
RRS prices are going through the roof, just bought myself a Leofoto LH-55 ballhead and all I can say is, "wow, wow, wow! Extremely well built and sturdy. 10 years guarantee and... a at least a third of the price of the BH-55!!!
Just had a coffee and watched this Great video really nice
great video, love it 📸
I'm the same way with my Gimbal head. It just makes adjusting the zoom on my 200-500mm easier without obstructions.
Thanks for a good and helpful video Morten
Very helpful, thank you
I’m glad I stayed and listened to the rest of your video. It’s good to know you are so multitalented! Thanks for the advice about tripod heads as well. I just bought the Tamron 150-600 and I want a different tripod head. I’ll probably buy the gimbal head to accommodate that lens. Otherwise I have a collection of ball heads including 2 inverted ball head designs.
I’m following for the coffee oh the advice might be useful too 👍
Excellent. 100% excellent..!
Nice and useful video Morten, you have a very engaging style
Well done!!! Many usefull informations. I also use the video head for bird photography.
Great video again! Good luck with the kids and maybe you share also with us some of your other passions, I would be very interested to see that. Thanks again for the great content!
If you're willing to lose pan/tilt resistance adjustment, you can get the MVH500AH fluid head and the Kirk replacement top plate that converts it to arca swiss style. The clamp on the Kirk plate also rotates, so it can be used with L brackets and long lenses. It should also make it possible to balance long lenses. You could also probably keep your fluid head and make a new top plate pretty easily with a sturdy piece of aluminum with an arca style clamp attached to it. If it's built the same as the MVH500AH, there are just 4 bolts that hold the whole top plate on.
Great video!
How wonderful Morten to hear about what you are teaching children, most interesting and thanks for your very useful information about gimbals and ball heads. I own a Manfrotto fluid head and haven't used it to its full potential but seeing how you use it encourages me to use it more often. I was in the market for a gimbal but been unsure if its an overkill, your video helps a lot.
You're a good man, Morten. Have fun playing Stone Age Man for the children!
Thank you for the excellent video, it really helped me understand the whole ball head vs gimble head vs video head thing. Question for you if youve got the time, what type of head would you suggest for a spotting scope? The spotting scope I have would basically be the same weight as a Canon 80D or 90D with a typical standard lens on it. Im getting confused because everywhere I look everyone has their own opinions and most are saying to use a 3 way pan/tilt because a ball head wouldnt be stable enough. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Un buen café, saldos artista.
Awesome as usual, are you planning a film about the flint napping? I think the idea of getting the kids involved is so good. Keep it up, cant wait for the next video
Fantastic video! Hugs from a Brazilian's fan!
Hi, Morten 👍🏻👍🏻 I am enjoying your photographers Friday, I look forward to seeing more adventures, also I’m still trying to decide on a tripod I have been looking at the different Manfrotto carbon fiber tripods for my Canon 80D. Thanks for sharing, enjoy and have a Great weekend !!! Danny
Ah you just mention ball head as bh55. Once again I didn’t wait for the end...really cool that you wild craft food and work work with kids and do flint knapping.
the fire is off!
First of all, great video!
Did you use the Acratech in winter time (snow etc)? can it be handled well with gloves like the rrs (bh-55)?
Great helpful video again Morten, Hey I used to use both a Wimberly and a large ball head but I switched over to th UniqBall UBH 45X Ball Head a year ago and have not looked back, does it all and really well..
Coffee time 👍😉
Yes it is:)
Did you see the fake sound bite he put in "pouring.wav"
I hate try hards