Pondering on a ballhead

[Jochum]

Yes, for the camera, ...I have now a very good panohead Manfrotto 410 that I can adjust the position exactly, however, it is a litte heavy and the knobs peaks out and comes into the picture so I have a little more to retusch away, so therefore I ponder to buy a smaller ballhead, a manfrotto like this for an example:
http://www.cyberphoto.se/?http://www.cyberphoto.se/info.php?article=683506

My question is if anyone know if it is hard or easy to position the camera and everything in exact horisontell position with a ballhead? Or with PTGui maybe this is not importent anymore so it is just to put it on the ground and shoot and not having to think about horizont or anything? Is it an idea to buy this or should I stick to what I have? :)

[HansNyberg]

Yes, for the camera, ...I have now a very good panohead Manfrotto 410 that I can adjust the position exactly, however, it is a litte heavy and the knobs peaks out and comes into the picture so I have a little more to retusch away, so therefore I ponder to buy a smaller ballhead, a manfrotto like this for an example:
http://www.cyberphoto.se/?http://www.cyberphoto.se/info.php?article=683506

My question is if anyone know if it is hard or easy to position the camera and everything in exact horisontell position with a ballhead? Or with PTGui maybe this is not importent anymore so it is just to put it on the ground and shoot and not having to think about horizont or anything? Is it an idea to buy this or should I stick to what I have? :)

There is no need for anything at all below the panohead.
I just mount it directly on top of the centre column.
The less you have the more steady your setup is.
I just use the legs to adjust levelling. When you done it a couple of times it is easy. Depends of course a little on what locking mechanism the legs have.
Fine adjustments is also so fast in PTGui that it is not that important.

I also have at tripod which I can adjust to a very small footprint. In reality the only thing I get in the Nadir is the rotator.

Hans

[Jochum]

Okey, thanks, been some progress on the software front I see. Okej, maybe a simple ballhead are of no harm since my tripod isn't that high, so I would not worry about doing wrong with a ballhead. A cheaper one maybe.

Cheers!