The Low Light Photography Field Guide

Heads: Range of Models

There are two basic designs of tripod head, but many individual designs, and some crossovers. The most traditional is a pan-and-tilt head, with each axis of movement kept mechanically separate (roll, pitch, and yaw, if you like).

The entire assembly rotates at the base, and this can be locked, usually with a screw knob. Two locking arms each control one of the other movements. Rotation, of course, is 360 degrees, and the advantage of this tried and tested design is that small adjustments can be made in a single direction without upsetting the others. This is important if you need to level the camera precisely.

Ball-and-socket heads, normally referred to as ball heads, have become increasingly popular, partly because they ...