A monopod can be a very useful tool for your photography, but you have some choices regarding the type of head on the monopod. The head can influence how the monopod is used and the quality of your shots in certain circumstances. Is a ball head a necessity on a monopod, or can you take good photographs without it?
A ball head on a monopod is not a necessity to use the monopod, and it is not necessary for all forms of photography. A ball head is useful when you need to move the camera and change the orientation for the shot but don’t want the monopod to move with the camera, such as panning for a shot.
Photography is a gear-intensive activity, but not all gear is necessary for every type of photography. Getting only the gear you need can save costs in the long run and make your photography affordable. Let’s examine ball heads on monopods and see if this is something you need.
Is A Ball Head Necessary With A Monopod?
Monopods are a great option to provide support for your camera and lens when you are out and about shooting all day, require extra stability, or have heavy equipment.
Monopods have several advantages for photographers.
- Easy to use. Monopods are easy to transport and simple to use.
- Fast to deploy. A monopod is faster to deploy than a tripod when time is of the essence to get the shot.
- Small footprint. Monopods require less space on the ground, giving you support in tight spaces.
- Versatile. The versatility of monopods and the variety of heads available make them versatile photography tools.
The interchangeable heads on monopods make them suitable for many different photographic situations and increase their versatility.
A ball head on a monopod is not a necessity, but it is an option that can help a lot with certain types of photography.
A monopod can be used with a rigid plate that screws directly into the camera housing, but this method has some limitations.
The monopod has to move with the camera and cannot stay in one position while the camera moves. In some photographic forms, such as portraits or stills, this is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.
In these types of photography, a ball head is not needed on a monopod, and a fixed head mounting will be sufficient for your needs.
When Is a Ball Head and Advantage on a Monopod?
The ball head mounted on a monopod has some advantages that can make using a monopod easier for certain shots or types of photography.
If the monopod is fitted with a fixed head mounting, the monopod must move with the camera. This limits the camera’s movement, which can be restrictive when taking dynamic shots, tracking a moving subject, or changing orientation for a more creative picture.
A Ball Head on a Monopod Assists Horizontal Camera Movement
When swiveling the camera to get a different angle, the monopod turns with the camera. This can cause the monopod to hop on uneven ground and blur your shot.
With a ball head fitted to the monopod, the camera can be moved smoothly in the horizontal plane to track a moving subject without the twisting monopod potentially ruining the shot.
The types of photography where this is useful is tracking a fast-moving subject such as a car, motorcycle, flying bird, or running animal to obtain a shot that portrays motion with a blurred background.
A Ball Head Helps With Changing the Camera’s Vertical Angle
Moving the camera off the vertical axis for a creative shot is not easy with a fixed head on a monopod.
If a fixed head is fitted, the foot of the monopod will flip up in the opposite direction the camera is tilted. This is a problem if there are obstacles in the way or if people are standing next to you.
Most people will not take kindly to being struck in the shins with a metal monopod, so you can get your creative shot. Not to mention the sudden stop of the monopod, causing you to miss the opportunity or drop your camera and cause damage.
A Ball Head on a Monopod Helps for Fast Angle Changes
The photography I enjoy most is wildlife photography, which, in my experience, requires quick reactions to change the camera positions to get a great shot.
The wildlife subjects will not wait for you to get into position and take your photo. A ball head on a monopod helps to quickly change the camera position without knocking grandma’s false teeth out if she is standing within reach of your monopod!
With a quick twist of the friction lever on the ball head friction lock, you can maneuver your camera in the blink of an eye to capture your subject.
When Is a Ball Head on a Monopod Not Recommended?
There are occasions where a ball head on a monopod is not advised, and an alternative head or no head at all would be a better option.
One of the biggest problems with ball heads is when they are used with heavy and, needless to say, expensive cameras and lenses.
The same mechanism that makes a ball head useful and versatile can become a danger to your expensive gear.
In most cases, the mechanism that holds the ball in place is a friction lock lever. If the friction lock is not robust enough, it can come loose, especially under the weight of a heavy lens and camera.
Should this happen, the lens and camera will flop down suddenly, slamming your expensive gear to the ground, into the leg of the monopod, or any other obstacle in the way. Just thinking about this happening makes me break out in a cold sweat! This could be a costly accident.
If you want a movable head on a monopod with heavy camera gear, a tilt head would be a more appropriate and sturdier option. Some tilt heads for monopods come with a swivel baseplate, which gives you almost the same versatility as a ball head.
Conclusion
A ball head on a monopod is not necessary, but it is useful for certain photographic situations and with certain types of gear. You should always weigh up the needs for the shoot or the type of photography you do, as well as the weight of the lens and camera you use.
If the situation is right and your gear is safe on a ball head, it can help a great deal to get some great photos!
