BUYING: TRIPOD HEAD MANFROTTO XPRO MAGNESIUM

What is the best type of tripod head to get for general photography? Could you recommend a few options?

If you want to shoot many different genres, you might find that a simple ball head suits you. Ball heads are popular because of their ease of use and flexibility. The ball moves within a socket, enabling you to twist and turn the camera into all kinds of positions. I’d recommend taking a look at the Manfrotto XPRO Magnesium Ball Head, a smooth option that’s great value for money.

The right choice for you really depends on what sort of photography you’ll be doing most.

The major disadvantage of ball heads is that you can’t make small, precise movements in a specific direction, something you can do with a three-way head.

Although three-way heads are larger and typically more expensive, they’ll enable you to adjust the pan (horizontal), tilt (pointing the camera up and down) and camera orientation (shooting vertically or horizontally) separately.

BALL HEADS

Vanguard Alta BH-300 Manfrotto XPRO Magnesium

THREE-WAY HEADS

Gitzo Quick Release G2272M Vanguard Alta PH-32