How is fluid head different from a ball head?

4 years 5 months ago #664699 by Nancy Hait
Are fluid heads the same as a ball head?  Just another term for it?  


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4 years 5 months ago #664701 by Nikon Shooter
The real keyword here is damping, motion damping.
One type is mechanical — friction damping — that is
the used type on the heads I use. An other type uses
hydraulics to achieve the motion damping. Way bet-
ter in terms of control but not in terms of action.

For the use I have, speed is everything. It is perfect for
video production that won't need to move as fast.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 5 months ago #664708 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Nancy

Although it's been a long time since I looked at this topic - I think that a fluid head floats in a small pool of oil, and as such, the head with camera attached can rotate sideways [ie: panning] with almost zero friction taking place

Memory says that it was used years ago for many movies where the camera needed to follow high speed movement from almost horizon to horizon without any wobble or jerkiness permitted in the film. Others here may have more information

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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4 years 5 months ago #664716 by garyrhook

Nancy Hait wrote: Are fluid heads the same as a ball head?  Just another term for it?  


Nope. Normally you see a fluid head with a long control arm, which allows for panning and vertical movement. Ball heads have no such thing.

As stated, fluid heads are generally meant for video work.

Do you have an application, or is this just a general question?


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