Pan Head vs. Ball Head Tripod

[harshit8]

Which tripod is suited for wide field DSLR astrophotography using a 18-55mm kit lens with a Canon EOS 1300D

A ball head or a pan head tripod

[billyharris72]

Hi Harshit,

Both would be suitable for wide field DSLR with short exposure times. The main thing is just to make sure your tripod and head are strong enough to hold te camera nice and stable. For mounting a scope or similar I find a pan-tilt head much better, but for photography I don't think you will find much difference.

Billy.

[DorsetBlue]

I started with this pan head tripod:

Horizon 8115 2-Way Heavy Duty Tripod

When I bought my Star Adventurer, I unscrewed the Pan Head from the tripod and directly attached the SA to the tripod. 

So in my case, I started out with a pan head and ended up (after a few months of experimenting) using the same tripod as a tracking ball head.

[MARS1960]

I tried both and didn't get on great with either so switched to a geared head.

I bought this Manfrotto junior 410 geared head off ebay for around £120, it's ideal for fairly accurate repositioning after taking a few subs.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-manfrotto-410-junior-geared-head/p10890

 

[harshit8]

http://www.amazon.in/AmazonBasics-50-Inch-Tripod-with-Bag/dp/B00XI87KV8/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491363101&sr=1-2

Is this tripod a good choice ?????

[DorsetBlue]

All the comments about lightweight and troubled by wind would worry me personally.

[Peter Drew]

A geared head is better than either. IMO.   

[frugal]

I have the Manfrotto geared head, and a ball head. I use the geared head most of the time as it is very stable and you can make small adjustments in all 3 directions.