Tripod heads — ball heads, 3-way pan heads, fluid video heads and gimbal heads.
The tripod head controls how the camera moves and locks in place, so choosing the right head is as important as choosing the tripod. Ball heads are fast and flexible for photography, letting you move the camera in any direction and lock it with one knob. 3-way pan heads offer precise control of each axis, which is useful for architecture and product photography. Fluid video heads give smooth pans and tilts for video, and gimbal heads balance heavy telephoto lenses for wildlife and sports photography. Check the maximum load, the mounting thread and whether the head uses Arca-Swiss quick-release plates.
Plates: quick release plates.
Related categories: Tripods & Monopods, Tripods, Monopods