The best ball head for tripods is essential for many types of photography. Whether you’re shooting landscape, time-lapse, or food photography, a tripod ball head is exactly what you need. They are also a great tool when shooting video with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
The Neewer Tripod Ball Head tops our list as the best one. It’s a versatile piece of equipment with excellent build quality. It gives you fantastic flexibility when shooting. You get a stable platform to work from. And it offers great value for your money.
What Is the Best Ball Head for Tripods?
When attached to the tripod, the best ball heads give your camera smooth panning and tilting motions. The key is the ball joint that connects the head and the base of the tripod.
The ball gives you a smooth range of motion to get the perfect angle. And it also allows you to pan and tilt while recording videos.
A good ball head lets you pan the camera 360 degrees. It gives you a complete panoramic view. And you don’t need to remove and reattach the camera to change the angle.
Tripod ball heads also give you a wide tilting range. This varies from head to head. But it lets you shoot from different angles with the same level of stability. So it gives more creative shooting options.
Ball heads are essential in many types of photography. The flexibility is exactly what you need for food photography or when shooting products for commercial photography.
They’re useful in landscape photography. And a ball head is a must when shooting time-lapse videos.
Here’s a quick look at all the best ball heads for tripods. We look at each tripod head in more detail in the section after. And there’s an FAQ section at the end if you need more information.
- Strong aluminum alloy construction
- Max load capacity of 17.6 lb / 8 kg
- Arca-type quick-release plate
- Built-in bubble level
- Lightweight, portable, and affordable
- Max load capacity of 17.6 lb / 8 kg
- Three tightening knobs
- Dual bubble levels
- Lightweight magnesium body supports 33 lb / 15 kg
- Compatible with popular 200PL plate
- Triple-locking system ensures stability
- Fine adjustments with levelling bubbles
- Quick-release plate with bubble level
- 33 lb / 15 kg load capacity
- Triple locking system for complete stability
- U-shaped groove for vertical shooting
- Solid magnesium alloy construction
- Incredible 88 lb / 40 kg load capacity
- Three knurled locks for secure positioning
- Built-in bubble level
- Small and compact yet durable
- Cold-shoe connection compatible with most cameras
- Two secure twist locks
- Base screw compatible with a wide range of tripods
- All-metal construction that's strong and durable
- 66 lb / 30 kg max weight capacity
- Arca-Swiss quick-release plate
- Two built-in bubble levels
- Unique design gives you wider range of movement
- Made from aircraft-grade CNC-machined aluminum
- Universal quick-release plate
- Two built-in bubble levels
- Arca-Swiss quick-release plate
- Weight limit of 11 lb / 5 kg
- Secure twist locks for easy adjustments
- Lightweight and compact
9 Best Ball Heads for Tripods
The popularity of ball heads means there are plenty of options. But you need to ensure you don’t buy a dud for your tripod.
For your convenience, we’ve filtered through the chaff and compiled a list of the best ball heads. And we have tripod ball heads for every skill level and budget.
1. Neewer Tripod Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
NEEWER
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
6 x 4 x 8 inches / 15 x 10 x 20.3 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0.94 lb / 430 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum alloy
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
17.6 lb / 8 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Arca-type quick-release plate, panoramic base, three adjustment knobs, bubble level
|
| Best For |
Best For
Beginner to mind-range DSLR and mirrorless cameras
|
The Neewer Tripod Ball Head is a quality piece of gear at an excellent price. The build quality is fantastic, with an all-metal construction.
The aluminum alloy is strong and durable. And the coating allows you to work outdoors without the quality deteriorating.
It’s a strong tripod head that supports a load of up to 17.6 lb (8 kg). That’s enough for a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a large lens.
The head has a 3/8-inch screw mount. It allows you to connect it to many different types of tripods or light stands. It’s a universal screw, so it works with any type of tripod with this size screw mount.
The ball joint has smooth movement for pan and tilt. It rotates 360 degrees. And the head has a panoramic base for precision panning.
It also gives you a wide tilting range, letting you shoot from different angles. The built-in bubble level helps you keep it flat on uneven ground. And you have three locking knobs to hold it in position.
The camera connects to an Arca-type quick-release plate. It has a universal 1/4-inch screw that’s compatible with most cameras. And it’s quick and easy to attach and detach your camera.
This Neewer ball head is versatile and affordable. It’s a small investment that makes a huge difference to your photography and filmmaking. Every photographer needs one in their camera backpack.
2. Pergear TH3 Pro Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
Pergear
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
2.3 x 2.3 x 3.3 inches / 6 x 6 x 8 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0.61 lb / 300 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum alloy
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
17.6 lb / 8 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Three locking knobs, dual bubble levels
|
| Best For |
Best For
More compact DSLR and mirrorless cameras
|
The Pergear TH3 Pro is one of the most popular tripod ball heads with photographers. It gives you excellent flexibility when the camera is mounted.
It’s strong enough for most cameras. And it’s a good quality product for a reasonable price.
It’s a compact tripod head better suited to smaller tripods. And it’s compatible with most tripod bases, not just Pergear units. The screw in the plate is also compatible with most cameras.
It can hold a load of up to 17.6 lb (8 kg), which is more than enough for full frame cameras. But the camera plate is smaller than the one on the Neewer ball head.
That makes this one better suited to smaller camera models. Mirrorless cameras won’t be a problem. But larger DSLRs might be too bulky.
The ball joint gives you smooth movement for pan and tilt. And the U-shaped groove gives you a fixed position for portrait orientation shooting.
It also has three knobs for locking the head in position. And this can be adjusted gradually for more controlled movement.
The Pergear TH3 Pro Ball Head is ideal for mid-range cameras. Of course, entry-level cameras are no problem for this ball head. And it has the strength for heavier models.
But the size and build are perfect for enthusiasts with landscape or time-lapse tripods.
3. Manfrotto XPRO Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
Manfrotto
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
5.3 x 4.9 x 3.5 inches / 13.5 x 12.4 x 9 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
1 lb / 500 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum, magnesium
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
33 lb / 15 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Quick-release plate, triple-locking system, bubble level
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professional photographers
|
The Manfrotto XPRO is the best ball head for professional photographers. It has a unique design that offers excellent stability, even with heavy cameras.
It’s designed to give you more control for precision shooting. And it’s a top option for photography and videography.
It’s a strong tripod head with a max weight capacity of 33 lb (15 kg). That’s strong enough for full frame cameras with telephoto lenses. And it can hold videography cameras if you’re a movie maker.
The ball joint gives you 360 degrees of rotation. And thanks to the long neck, you get a wider tilting range than most ball-joint tripod heads.
It also has a U groove to fix the camera for vertical shooting. And the bubble levels help you achieve even-looking compositions.
The head has three locks to keep all parts in position. You can secure them as much as necessary. And they keep everything locked in position.
Or you can loosen them slightly for controlled panning and tilting movement. That’s ideal for cinematic panning shots.
The Manfrotto XPRO Ball Head comes with its 200PL quick-release plate. So attaching and detaching your camera couldn’t be quicker or easier.
You don’t have to worry about your camera coming loose. And it creates a strong and reliable connection.
4. K&F Concept 35mm Tripod Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
K&F Concept
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
3.9 x 3.5 x 2.7 inches / 10 x 9 x 7 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0.65 lb / 320 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum alloy
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
33 lb / 15 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Quick-release plate, panorU-shaped groove, triple locking system
|
| Best For |
Best For
Large DSLR cameras and heavy lenses
|
The K&F Concept 35mm Ball Head is the best option for DSLR cameras. The rugged build quality makes it one of the strongest on this list.
The 33 lb (15 kg) load capacity allows for larger DSLR cameras and heavy lenses. That makes it a great tripod head for wildlife photography telephoto lenses.
The panoramic base gives you 360 degrees of rotation. There’s also a wide degree of movement when tilting. And the U-shaped groove keeps the camera locked in a portrait-orientation position.
The triple lock system keeps your camera secure when attached. It allows for controlled movement when you need to readjust.
And it can hold the same position indefinitely when locked in. That’s helpful for time-lapse and long-exposure photography.
This K&F Concept ball head has the best ratio of price to weight capacity on our list. It’s a strong, affordable option. And it’s the best tripod ball head for a full frame DSLR camera.
5. 3 Legged Thing AirHead Pro Tripod Head
| Brand |
Brand
3 Legged Thing
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
6.4 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches / 16.2 x 16 x 16 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0.7 lb / 323 g
|
| Material |
Material
Magnesium alloy
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
88 lb / 40 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
QR-Octa camera plate, triple lock system, bubble level
|
| Best For |
Best For
Heavy gear and heavy-duty tripods
|
3 Legged Thing is quickly building a reputation for making rugged and durable gear. And their AirHead Pro Tripod Head is no different.
It’s the strongest tripod head on this list by some distance. It’s solid and secure. And it’s the perfect partner for a heavy-duty tripod.
It has an all-metal construction. And while it is heavier than most other tripod heads, the aerospace-grade magnesium alloy gives it incredible strength.
The maximum weight capacity is a whopping 88 lb (40 kg). So it can hold any amount of gear you can put on it.
There are three knurled knobs for tightening the joints. That makes it easy to tighten and untighten when necessary. And they allow you to get a really strong fix in any position with any load.
The top plate has a bubble level built in. And there’s a knob at the top that tightens the plate clamp. The QR-Octa plate isn’t quick-release. But it is compatible with Arca-type plates.
The 3 Legged Thing AirHead Pro Tripod Head is ultra-strong. And it gives you fluid-like movement. Plus, it can hold any set of equipment, including cinema-level videography gear.
This is one of the pricier options on our list. But it’s well worth the money!
6. Ulanzi H28 Mini Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
ULANZI
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
2.7 x 2.3 x 2 inches / 7 x 6 x 5 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0.22 lb / 100 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
5.5 lb / 3 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Cold-shoe mount, panoramic base, screw knob, universal screw
|
| Best For |
Best For
Small cameras and mini tripods
|
The Ulanzi H28 Mini is the best tripod ball head if you need something small. It’s a compact head that works well with all the best mini tripods.
The value for your money is excellent. It gives you exactly what you need if you’re working with a small camera with a load capacity of 5.5 lb (3 kg).
That doesn’t sound like much, especially compared to the AirHead Pro. But it’s enough for compact and APS-C cameras. It can even support full frame mirrorless cameras with lightweight lenses.
The tripod has a 1/4-inch universal screw. So you can connect it to a wide range of tripods, not only Ulanzi tripods. The top plate has a cold-shoe connection compatible with most cameras.
You get 360 degrees of rotation and a wide tilting range. And there’s a U-shaped groove for vertical shooting. That makes it a good companion for your vlogging camera.
Ulanzi’s mini ball head is small but versatile. It’s ideal for social media content creators, especially vloggers.
But it’s also fantastic for tabletop photoshoots with product or food photography tripods. It’s a small price to pay for such a versatile piece of equipment.
7. Vanguard Alta BH-300 Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
Vanguard
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
4.2 x 4.2 x 4.6 inches / 10.7 x 10.7 x 11.7 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
1.4 lb / 600 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
66 lb / 30 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Arca-Swiss quick-release plate, triple lock system, two bubble levels
|
| Best For |
Best For
Experienced photographers with heavy gear
|
The Vanguard Alta BH-300 is another strong and durable tripod ball head. It has a solid aluminum construction and can hold any amount of gear you need.
Vanguard knows how to make pro photography gear. And this ball head is an excellent example.
With an all-metal construction, it can hold anything up to 66 lb (30 kg). That’s enough for wildlife photographers with the biggest wildlife photography lenses.
And it can hold a heavy camera for hours on end. So it’s perfect for time-lapse photographers and long movie shoots.
There are three locking knobs for total control. They lock everything in position with no movement or slipping over time.
The U groove allows for vertical orientation. And there’s an Arca-Swiss quick-release plate at the top. Plus, you also have two bubble levels for accurate composition.
The Alta BH-300 is a robust piece of equipment. It’s not only strong. But the build quality also allows you to work outdoors in any weather.
There are no deterioration or damage issues, even over time. So it’s built to last. And that saves you money in the long term!
8. ProMediaGear BH1
| Brand |
Brand
ProMediaGear
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
10.4 x 6.2 x 4.5 inches / 26.4 x 15.7 x 11.4 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
2.65 lb / 1.2 kg
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
50 lb / 22.7 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Universal quick-release plate, panoramic base, two bubble levels, horizontal and vertical mounting
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professional photographers and videographers
|
Professional photographers will love the ProMediaGear BH1. It’s one of the more versatile and reliable tripod heads available.
It’s a robust bit of gear, being one of the heaviest heads on our list. But the wide range of movement and mounting options also make it great for creative filmmaking.
The head is set on a panoramic base that allows 360 degrees of rotation. And the unique design has the ball joint sitting on a horizontal plane.
This gives you an even wider range of movement for tilting. And the strong twist lock allows you to set the camera in any position you need.
The third lock fixes the camera plate in position. And the BH1 comes with a universal plate that’s compatible with most DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
It’s also a quick-release plate. So mounting and unmounting are done without much fuss.
The ProMediaGear BH1 will add some heft to your camera bag. And it’s one of the pricier tripod heads. But its quality and flexibility are worth the extra cost.
It’s a worthy investment for more professional still photography and video shooting.
9. SmallRig Tripod Ball Head
| Brand |
Brand
SmallRig
|
| Dimensions |
Dimensions
2.9 x 2.7 x 2.3 inches / 7.4 x 7 x 5.8 cm
|
| Weight |
Weight
0-43 lb / 195 g
|
| Material |
Material
Aluminum alloy
|
| Max Load Capacity |
Max Load Capacity
11 lb / 5 kg
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Arca-Swiss plate, panoramic base, U-shaped groove, three lock system
|
| Best For |
Best For
Beginner and casual photographers
|
The SmallRig Tripod Ball Head is a great option for photographers with little experience. It couldn’t be more simple to use.
It’s lightweight and compact. But it’s well made and can hold most entry-level and enthusiast cameras.
The aluminum alloy makes it a strong piece of equipment. And it can hold a total weight of 11 lb (5 kg). Most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras don’t come close to that. So you can use larger lenses too.
The ball joint gives you smooth tilting and panning motion. And the twist locks prevent it from slipping when the camera’s attached.
There’s a U-shaped groove if you need to mount your camera in the vertical position. And the head has an Arca-Swiss plate that allows for quick release of your camera.
The camera plate has a universal 1/4-inch screw. That’s compatible with most major camera brands. And the 3/8-inch screw on the base allows you to connect it to all the best photography tripods.
SmallRig’s tripod ball head is a great place to start for beginner photographers. It’s a great product at a fantastic price. And it’s a versatile tripod head you can use with tons of other equipment.
FAQs About the Best Ball Head for Tripods
We answer the three most frequently asked questions about ball heads for tripods. Hopefully, they helps you in your buying decisions.
Why Choose a Ball Head for Tripods?
Ball heads have become the most popular head type for tripods for good reason. A camera plate sitting on a ball joint allows for smooth tilting and panning movement.
You can rotate the camera 306 degrees. And you have a wide tilting range.
With a tripod ball head, making major or minor adjustments is easy. You can tweak your camera position, pan or tilt just a fraction. Or you can completely change the composition of your shot.
Tripod ball heads are popular in wildlife photography. You can track your subject as they move. And you don’t need to move or reposition the entire tripod.
That’s why they’re also useful for sports photographers. And the unique mounting options make them a good option for time-lapse photography.
Are Ball Heads Best for Videography?
Ball head tripods are a great choice for many types of videography. You can use them to shoot social media videos and vlogs, especially if they have the U groove for vertical shooting.
You can also use them for high-end video making. The pan and tilt capabilities allow you to shoot smooth panning and tracking shots with control.
And fluid head tripods are also popular with movie makers. You can read our article on the best video tripods.
What Should I Look for in a Ball Head for Tripods?
Build quality is always important with tripod heads. Thankfully, there are affordable ball heads that are tough and durable.
Always go for an all-metal option. Plastic is too unreliable when you’re working with expensive camera gear.
And always check the maximum load capacity. You need a head that can support the weight of your camera and lens.
If the ball head can’t handle the weight, it will collapse, and your gear will break. So it can be a costly mistake.
A ball head also needs strong locks. Twist locks are often the best for ball heads because it’s easy to firmly tighten them. They also allow for minor, controlled adjustments for panning and tilting.
A quick-release camera plate is always useful. It allows for quick and easy mounting and unmounting of the camera. And every second may count when you’re taking pictures.
You should also check the size of the screw mount on the base of the head. Make sure it’s compatible with the tripod you have.
The same goes for the screw on the camera plate. Although, all the major camera brands use the same size cold-shoe screw mount.
Conclusion: The Best Ball Head for Tripods
The best ball heads give you incredible flexibility when shooting with a tripod. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, a ball head gives you the power to pan and tilt without adjusting the tripod. It will revolutionize the way you shoot. And you’ll never go back to a static tripod head.
The Neewer Tripod Ball Head is our top option. The build quality is excellent, especially if you consider the affordable price. It can hold most mirrorless and DSLR cameras. And the locking system is completely secure. It’s a great option for anyone from beginner to pro.
