Why would someone mount a ball head on top of a gimbal head?
Asked 12/31/2016
1 views
2 answers
0
In a bird photography video, the photographer mounted a Manfrotto ball head on top of a gimbal head. He mentioned it adds some height so the camera and lens can be more level with birds in a nest. Is there any real advantage to putting a ball head on a gimbal, or is it mainly just a way to raise the camera position?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
2
His words beginning at about 8:07 :
In the interest of adding a little bit more elevation to this particular head, I took this Manfrotto ball head, put it on top here and then what I'm able to do is actually raise it up... and the reason we do that is so the lens and the camera become what we call plano parallel or level to the birds in the nest... and that's what we want it to do. We want it to be as level as possible.
He's just stacking whatever he has on hand in an attempt to get enough height to get the camera to the position he desires. There's nothing intrinsic about using a ball head on a gimbal head. He's just trying to elevate the camera.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In this case, the ball head isn’t providing a special gimbal-related benefit. It’s mainly being used as a spacer to add height so the camera/lens can sit more level with the subject.
For bird photography, getting the lens more parallel to the bird’s eye level can improve the shooting angle and perspective. The photographer appears to be stacking gear he already has to reach that position.
So the practical answer is: no inherent advantage comes from combining a ball head with a gimbal head here beyond raising the setup. A gimbal is normally used by itself for smooth support of long lenses, while a ball head is a different type of support. Putting one on top of the other is generally just an improvised way to gain elevation, not a standard performance upgrade.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI9y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Do I need a ball head on a GorillaPod SLR-Zoom?
How do Induro PHQ pan heads compare with ball heads and gimbal heads?
Why won’t my Manfrotto ball head thread onto my tripod legs anymore?
Are hydrostatic ball heads meaningfully better than standard ball heads?
Can I reposition the locking lever on a Manfrotto compact ball head?