The tripod head is mounted directly to the tripod body and supports the camera. Tripod heads can be spherical or three-way, plus there are special heads designed for video capture. They differ mainly in the way you snap them on and how you set the individual axes. What should you focus on when buying a tripod head?
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First choose the type of the tripod head
- Ball tripod head - small and compact, lightweight, and easy to use. Allows you to quickly set up the desired position. This type is especially suitable for sports, nature, and animal photography.
- Three-way tripod head - allows more precise adjustment of the camera in individual axes. These tripod heads are larger and heavier compared to ball heads. They are perfect for architecture and product photography or macro photography.
- Video head - notable for the ability to move in both axes at the same time, this type allows smooth and accurate object tracking. Ergonomically adapted for video recording.
Ball Tripod Head
Three-Way Tripod Head
Video Head
Other key parameters
Load Capacity
- 3.5 to 6kg – sufficient for a mirrorless camera or DSLR camera with a basic lens.
- over 6kg – for a DSLR with a heavy telephoto lens and accessories.
Quick release plate
Most tripod heads come with a quick-release plate to help you quickly change your equipment. This allows you to replace the camera in seconds without having to mess with a thread mechanism. Simply attach the camera on the plate and then lightly snap on the plate on the tripod mount. Tripod heads with a quick-release plate are generally more expensive than heads with a 1/4" thread.
Tripod head material
Tripod head material directly impacts the weight of the entire tripod, so consider carefully how you are planning to use your tripod. With nature photography, every extra gram counts.
- Magnesium and aluminium head - notable for low weight and high durability and load capacity.
- Plastic head – significantly less costly than magnesium, but also not as strong or durable.