Are ball heads just a new fad?

[ericantonio]

When I was assisting back in the 80's, nobody used ball heads with 4x5's and 8x10s. Well, it was 99.9% studio work anyway.
Now that I'm using these formats for my personal stuff, I noticed people with 4x5's really want to use ball heads. Is it just sexy to use? I try it on my Cambo 4x5 (its pretty light), but I really don't see much of an advantage.

BTW, I'm home from oral surgery and taking vicodin. Maybe I'm just being a little silly today.

[Daniel_Buck]

I love using a ball head on my smaller cameras, but on 4x5 and 8x10 it's just awkward.

[roteague]

I never use a ball head on any camera. Since I photograph the ocean quite a lot, I need to extra careful to keep the horizon level - something I have trouble doing with a ball head.

[Ole Tjugen]

I only use ball heads - for exactly the same reason that Robert states for not using ball heads...

[Ron Marshall]

For my lightweight hiking kit my 1 lb ballhead is great. For my 5x7 I use a sinar pan tilt that is wonderful.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think the attraction for the field and travel is the compactness and high strength-to-weight ratio of ballheads, which isn't as important in the studio.

[ericantonio]

I think the attraction for the field and travel is the compactness and high strength-to-weight ratio of ballheads, which isn't as important in the studio.

But I'll get a better workout if I use a 3 way head

[lenser]

Other folks love them, I don't use them even though I own a fine light weight Gitzo head.

Every time I try to adjust one axis, I mess up one of the others. It's seems like a never ending cycle.

The only thing close that I use is one of the Bogen hand grip types with the rotation at the base. That one I can use with smaller cameras.

The Gitzo head is relegated to a 1'x2' board for extreme low angle one the ground) shooting and I use that less than a hand full of times in a year.

I'm just better off with the handle and geared heads.

Tim

[mrladewig]

I use a ballhead because it is light and strong, but I prefer a panning head. I typically hike my camera to where I'm going to shoot, so the weight is important.

[roteague]

I only use ball heads - for exactly the same reason that Robert states for not using ball heads...

Good Point, Ole. One size doesn't fit all. Because it doesn't work for one person, doesn't mean it won't work for another.