In The Field: How To Use A Panning Ballhead
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Күн бұрынReally Right Stuff BH-40 Panning Head, amzn.to/2LTYFM3
Today’s field outing is all about panoramas. I took my new Really Right Stuff BH-40 panning head out for a test drive. And what better place in San Diego for a panorama than a view of the downtown skyline.
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@TheSmartWoodshop 5 жыл бұрын
Scott, I have been using RRS for panning a long time. Instead of the panning head, I used their leveling base to get the same results, then I discovered the Arca-Swiss Monoball a few years ago. I got one and was so impressed after a few months of use, Chris got one as well. We sold off two RRS BH-55, plus leveling bases. We travel a lot so weight and size are a big deal. The RRS BH-40 supports 18lbs and weighs 23 oz and costs $530. The Arca-Swiss supports 44lbs,, weighs 9.3oz and costs $279, plus it is much smaller. For us, it was one of those less is more propositions. No need to get the legs perfect, just level the camera and the rotation is level all around for a good pano. I love the solid quality of RRS, so much so that we had 6K in RRS support gear, but their size and weight were too much and we sold off all of it for equal quality, but smaller and lighter. We still use RRS clamping bases on the Arca-Swiss mainly because I had a dozen of them😎
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
Hey Ron! I am enjoying the BH-40. Although, I'll admit I prefer the larger knobs on the BH-55. As your experience shows, a bunch of it comes down to what works for you and what your overall needs are.
@TheSmartWoodshop 5 жыл бұрын
Yep! for us, it was our need for stability plus minimal weight and size. Our big heavy RRS worked well but was too big and heavy for travel. I still have a big carbon Induro with a Manfrotto 405 geared head for our commercial work, but for travel, landscape, and our daily use we each have a Sirui N1205X set of carbon sticks and the Arca-Swiss moonball. I could have saved a lot of headaches and $$$ if I had discovered this kit before I spent all that cash on RRS. Weight and size aside, I like this set up better than any I have owned. When I hike 8 miles up a mountain for a shot, I really like it.
@abacab1701 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Scott. did you ever do that comparison video between panning head & levelling base?
@ScottDavenport 3 жыл бұрын
Hi James ... ya know, I never did. Having used both for a couple of years now, I like the panning head for filming. For panoramic photography, I prefer the leveling base.
@glenndeguzman 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Scott! Great video! I’m actually thinking the same ball head setup (RRS BH-40 plus panning base). It’s one expensive setup but it makes shooting pano easier. Other than the cost involved, do you see any disadvantage of having such a setup? Is it really worth the price to get a panning base?
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
If you're doing anything more than the occasional, casual panorama, you'll be well served by either a panning head or a leveling base. For the BH-40, the uplift is about $150 for the panning style clamp. Check and see if your tripod has - or can be outfitted with - a leveling base. If it can, measure the cost differential and that'll guide you on what to do :-) Like all things, there are some tradeoffs. Cost, as you know. The panning style clamp is nice because the ballhead is self-contained for panos. You can easily move it to another tripod, which may not be as simple (if at all possible) for a leveling base. Conversely, a leveling base is (in my opinion) a better choice if you are doing multi-row panos. Hope this helps.
@steveb013 4 жыл бұрын
hi scott, do you find something about the tilting of the camera with the panning head, is just panning at level ( with the tripod unlevel ) do the job very well ? do you had to crop the panorama because of the corner
@ScottDavenport 4 жыл бұрын
The panning head works great when the horizon is in the center of the frame. Tilting the camera up or down will mean more trimming (or boundary warp) to deal with gaps.
@steveb013 4 жыл бұрын
Scott Davenport Scott Davenport will it do the job very well with the nodal slide , i think that i will not to do a lot of boundary wrap in LR a little but not a lot like if i was shooting like you do in your video with the camera placed on the panning ?
@ric8167 4 жыл бұрын
Hey Scott, Richard here from Brazil. From what I understand, there´s really only one way of doing these panoramas in a simple way, and that´s with the horizon in the middle, either using levelling bases or panning heads like the one you use. Like you said, if you were to use a levelling base with the ball head on top, in theory you would be able to tilt up and down the camera, but would have issues with perspective and what not, unless using specialized lenses. I´m not an expert, but that´s my 2 cents anyway, haven´t really tested it all the possibilities. One thing I would like to ask if you don´t mind, is there any disadvantage in using this RRS ball head with the panning clamp instead of the regular clamp apart from weight and price? I see RRS sell the ball heads both ways. With the regular clamp one would need to buy the panning clamp separately or else buy a levelling base. Thanks!
@ScottDavenport 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Richard ... wrt tilting up or down with a leveling base, I've had pretty good results with pano blends, so long as I don't tilt too dramatically. For the purchase, if you got the head without the panning base, I'd opt for a leveling base later. One advantage of a leveling base is you can swap the ballhead and still have the leveling capability.
@Nualchemist 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Scott, how do you attach the camera vertically to the ball head. Any ball head can hold cameras vertically? I normally use a head with pan handles so I'm not familiar with ball heads.
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
Hi... I have an L-bracket (or L-plate) attached to my camera. The plate is what allows me to quickly switch between horizontal and vertical mounting. Get a plate that matches the mount of your ballhead (ex: Arca-Swiss compatible) and you’re good to go.
@Nualchemist 5 жыл бұрын
@@ScottDavenport That's great info! I will look for an L-bracket on Amazon. Thank you so much!
@sunny784u 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Scot, liked the video, please also make a video for panning head. I have a manfrotto 3 way head pro on the top planning to fix a adopter where i can attach a nodel rail and L bracket. Will i be able to click panaroma from different angles (top and bottom angle). looking forward for reply
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Harpreet... I'm not sure I follow your question. This video shows a ballhead with a panning plate. It seems you already have a ballhead. If your ballhead doesn't have a panning base, you might be better served with a leveling base for your tripod. I have a different video about leveling bases here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nLGHgM1nmKrSpGg.html
@sunny784u 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Scot, sorry if i was not able to explain you in my query. let me try it again. I have a manfortto 3way ball head, link given below www.amazon.in/MANFROTTO-XPRO-3W-NEW-WAY-HEAD/dp/B00K5J3BZW?tag=googinhydr18418-21&tag=googinkenshoo-21&ascsubtag=42a4a2f8-bbc6-4ad7-8b66-8d8adbf53c0f I want to click panaroma. for which i have bought tripod leveling base and a swiss arca nodel rail to attach on the top of manfrotto ball head. which i will be using along with L Bracket. Please tell me if the 3 way head will be able to click upward and downward panaroma along with this attachments.
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks... the picture helps :) With a leveling base, you should be just fine. Once the leveling base is level, you'll be able to tilt upward/downward and still pan evenly.
@sunny784u 5 жыл бұрын
@@ScottDavenport thank you so much for the reply. Appreciate your support 😊
@harrykitch9239 5 жыл бұрын
Wouldn't an "L" bracket and shooting vertical help avoid the need to tilt the camera up/down in most (many) cases?
@ScottDavenport 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Harry... framing up vertically is a best practice for panos in general. And you're correct... framing vertical and zooming out a bit is a workable approach for single row panos. The implication is you're cropping away parts of the scene you don't want... and perhaps not framing in as tightly as you might want to. I don't think it's viable for multi-row panoramas (and admittedly, it's rare to never I personally do multi-row).
@John_McFadden 5 жыл бұрын
Hi Scott - following on from Harry's question - if you were using the camera on an L bracket, couldn't you just swivel the camera on the L bracket to tilt up or down slightly? The base of the bracket would still be level.
@tjmanou6422 Жыл бұрын
Hi. So you dont need a leveling plate? Im looking at Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball Head with Lever-Release Panning Clamp. Will this be similar to what you explained? thank you very much
@ScottDavenport Жыл бұрын
Hi TJ ... yes, it's the same.
@tjmanou6422 Жыл бұрын
@@ScottDavenport I guess the only issue would if you want to tilt the camera down to include more of foreground and do panorama? Will ball head still be on or you need a leveling head? Thank you
@ScottDavenport Жыл бұрын
Correct. Up/down tilt is the limitation with a panning head. I use a leveling base with one set of tripod legs, which is more flexible. I use the panning head more for filming/ video.
@steveb013 4 жыл бұрын
hi scott, i would like to buy the bh-55 and my question for panoramas, is it necessary to have a level on the leg AND on the panning head ? or just a level on the panning will suffice to make the job done for panoramas ?
@ScottDavenport 4 жыл бұрын
For panos, it’s the level on the head you want. Get that level and your pano will be smooth.
@steveb013 4 жыл бұрын
@@ScottDavenport ok thanks so its necessary to have the panning head with the bh-55 ?
@steveb013 4 жыл бұрын
another question too, I read that many peoples who bought the lever option instead of the screw-knob option who have for example arca swiss plate ( wimberley of jobu ) when the lever is tighten the plates are not fully tighten they are loose is it better the have the screw-knob option ?
@ScottDavenport 4 жыл бұрын
For panos, I suggest either a leveling base or a panning head. Separate the level plane of the camera from the legs. Otherwise, you spend a lot of time fiddling with the legs to get things level. Doable, but time consuming. When I got my BH-55, I did not get a panning head. I added a leveling base to the tripod later.
@ScottDavenport 4 жыл бұрын
I prefer the lever. Once fully locked, I’ve never had an issue with slippage.
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