Neewer Professional Metal Ball Head

From £24/$33 www.amazon.co.uk

he amount of tech you get for such a small outlay here is impressive: this is a well-constructed and durable ball head, able to handle a payload of up to 8kg. That’s more than enough for most serious setups, and advanced photographers and videographers may find themselves surprised by how well this head works, given how cheap it is.

You’ve got three adjustment knobs that independently control ball movement, a separate pan base, and the level of ball friction. There’s also a quick-release plate (although it’s not Arca-compatible) and you even get vertical/ horizontal spirit levels for accurate compositional setup.

The head really feels strong for the price – far better than you’d ever imagine for this kind of money. It’s not the toughest head here, nor the most sophisticated, but in terms of sheer value for money, the Neewer Professional Metal Ball Head is pretty much unbeaten. If you just need a spare head, or a simple one to throw into a travel bag and take on your adventures, this is a great buy.

TPROS Versatile max payload; unbeatable value for money; good quality for the price

CONS The quick-release plate is not Arcacompatible; the materials don’t feel long-lasting hile it’s inexpensive for a big-brand tripod head, the Alta BH-300 is still rated to support a whopping 30kg of kit. The build quality also feels reassuringly robust, although on close inspection we did spot the grey paint finish wearing slightly thin around the friction knob of our test sample.

Such a hefty payload capacity inevitably means that this isn’t the most portable option within this test group. It tips the scales at 600g and measures 119mm in height, but the overall shape is slim and should sit comfortably within a tripod with flip-up legs. The compact quickrelease top plate helps with this, yet it still sports two useful, visible bubble levels, and maintains Arca-swiss compatibility. The chunky, rubbercovered locking knobs Vanguard has used are all easy to grip, although the conventional friction adjustment dial isn’t as tactile as Manfrotto’s clicky design on the Xpro. We’ve got no complaints when it comes to smoothness, however: the decent-sized ball with its oxidized anodized finish operates as smoothly as you could want.

WPROS Very smooth; accessible price; solid build; slim form factor

CONS The friction system is not quite as finessed as on Manfrotto’s Xpro