Which is better, ball head or hydraulic head?

Abstract: PTZ can be divided into hydraulic PTZ and spherical PTZ based on the use environment and needs. Both of these are relatively common PTZ equipment. Although they are all gimbals, there are still certain differences in the applicable environment, such as functions, size, weight, principles, and applicable machines. Below, the editor will introduce to you the difference between a spherical gimbal and a hydraulic gimbal. I hope it will be helpful for you to choose a gimbal. The difference between a spherical pan head and a hydraulic pan head

1. Function

1. The principle body of a spherical pan head is one (or two) spheres, which are controlled by one or several rotating rods. Control the movement and tightening of the sphere. The advantages are quick angle adjustment and strong locking force. After determining an angle, the camera can be fixed with just one locking operation.

2. The principle of the hydraulic pan and tilt head is to rely on the internal hydraulic oil to provide evenly lubricated damping. The advantage is that it has strong load-bearing capacity and the process of adjusting the angle is smoother. It also has dynamic balance and gear-type damping adjustment.

2. Volume and weight

1. The spherical head is small in size, light in weight and easy to carry.

2. The volume and weight of the gimbal is larger than that of a spherical gimbal, and the greater the load-bearing capacity, the greater the volume and weight of the gimbal.

3. Applicable environment

1. The spherical head is suitable for quick adjustment when taking photos with lenses below 200mm.

2. The hydraulic head is more suitable for use with telephoto lenses of 300mm or above for sports photography such as sports and birds, as well as for use with cameras or SLR cameras.

IV. Maintenance

1. The movable spherical part of the ball head is easy to wear or get dust, so it needs to be cleaned and maintained frequently. For those who don’t have time or are not good at maintenance, For those who use a tripod and gimbal, it is quite time consuming.

2. The internal structure and principle of the hydraulic head are more complex, so daily maintenance work also requires special attention. In particular, some details during use require special attention. Avoid collision, water intrusion, load use, etc.

Which one is better, spherical head or hydraulic head?

1. The spherical head is suitable for quick adjustment when taking pictures with lenses below 200mm in daily life. The advantages are quick angle adjustment and strong locking force. . At the same time, it is lightweight and easy to carry. Note that you should buy a spherical head with a 360° horizontal adjustment on the bottom for easy connection. The better spherical head now is the Benro V series ball head with memory damping.

2. In comparison, the hydraulic head is more suitable for telephoto lenses of 300mm or above for sports photography such as sports and birds. It is also used when using a camcorder or SLR camera. The principle is to rely on internal hydraulic oil to provide evenly lubricated damping. The advantage is that it has strong load-bearing capacity and the process of adjusting the angle is smoother. The best model has both dynamic balancing and gear-type damping adjustment. In comparison, for better hydraulic heads, you can consider those from Vanden, Shaqiao, and Benro.

Principle of hydraulic head

1. Hydraulic head is a relatively common camera support equipment in photography and videography, and it is a type of tripod head. Compared with other types of gimbals, it has better feel and damping performance, greater load-bearing capacity, and stronger stability. It can adjust the angle in the horizontal and tilt ranges.

2. The principle of the hydraulic pan/tilt is to rely on the internal hydraulic oil to provide evenly lubricated damping. It has a dynamic balance system design and can stay in any position without the help of external force during filming. Suitable for SLR cameras, video cameras and large movie machines. Generally, hydraulic heads adopt a multi-speed damping design. If the gear is lowered, the device can be shaken quickly. The higher the gear, the slower it will be.