Top Rated Tripod Heads : A Comprehensive Buyer's Guide

Top Rated Tripod Heads : A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide

Read update

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated the pick for the best tripod ball head.

Tripod heads may not seem like the most important piece of a photographer’s kit, but the best ones help you get the perfect shot. From ball heads to geared heads and everything in between, here are the best.

UPDATE: 12/29/2023

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated the pick for the best tripod ball head.

Benro GD3WH 3-Way Geared Head

Best Geared Tripod Head
$192 at Amazon

Manfrotto 502HD Pro Video Head with Flat Base

Best Tripod Head For Video
$229 at Amazon

3 Legged Thing AirHed Pro Tripod Head

Best Tripod Ball Head
$153 at Amazon

SmallRig Mini Ball Head

Best Compact Tripod Head
See at Amazon

Pergear TH3 Ball Head

Best Budget Tripod Head
$29 at Amazon

Why Are Tripod Heads Important?

If you’re just starting out and building your kit , you may wonder whether you should bother with a tripod head. Some tripods come packaged with one, while others are designed to work with various options depending on the intended use. Do you really need a tripod?

To get the most out of your tripod, you’ll want to invest in a good head to pair it with. A well-engineered tripod head allows a photographer or videographer to get the angles they need and lock the camera securely in place without hand-holding.

You don’t have to spend over a grand on one, but it’s worth it to put a little money down, especially if you know you’ll be using a tripod often. Landscape photographers, wildlife shooters, and people that do a lot of night photography can all benefit from a sturdy tripod head.

Like any other piece of kit, a tripod head is a tool. Which one you need comes down to what and how you shoot. If you’re shooting in the wild regularly, you’ll want something sturdy to handle a rugged environment and a heavy camera setup. Videographers might want to check out fluid heads with their smooth pan and tilt action for buttery, jerk-free camera movement.

Keep your existing gear in mind, too. What camera setup do you have? Most tripod heads will list their weight capacity on the product page, so know roughly what your rig weighs and whether the tripod head you’re considering will be able to support it.

Make sure the head you want works with your tripod , and that your tripod is sturdy—there’s no point in pairing an expensive, well-designed head with a cheap and flimsy base if the tripod legs can’t support your gear. If you know you’ll be switching back and forth between a tripod and handheld shooting often, get a head with a quick-release plate.

There are multiple types of tripod heads, from geared to ball heads to fluid heads. There’s usually overlap in their capabilities that allows for multiple shooting types. Still, if you do one genre of photography more than another, it makes sense to buy a tripod head made for that photography, with other uses being a secondary bonus.

Geared tripod heads, for example, have multiple knobs that let you dial in the angle of your camera with a fine degree of control—something very advantageous in a studio setting. A ball head that lets you swivel your camera without making adjustments, however, might be better for the wildlife photographer.

Build quality and weight are also important. A tripod head is a small piece of kit, but it can add up when you pair a heavy tripod head with a bunch of other gear you must haul around all day. Look for something light, strong, and the right size for your needs.

Now that we’ve gone over the relevance and potential uses of a good tripod head, let’s look at some of the best ones you can buy.

How Did We Research
Models Evaluated	Hours Researched	Reviews Analyzed
40	4	55

How-To Geek’s product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Geared Tripod Head: Benro GD3WH 3-Way Geared Head

Benro

Pros	Cons
✓ Solid build quality	✗ Not for fast-paced shooting
✓ Three gears allow for fine adjustment
✓ Includes an Arca-Swiss quick release plate mount

The Benro GD3WH tripod head is a solid entry from a trusted manufacturer that allows for very fine adjustments via three geared knobs. While the Benro may be slightly cheaper than other leading brands—but not inexpensive, as it’s still over $200—it maintains a similar level of quality.

For example, an included Arca-Swiss mount means compatibility with a wide range of quick-release plates for those that like to switch between tripod and handheld shooting. This is perfect if you need to get just the right angle on a shot and holding the camera is the easiest way to do it.

Benro’s tripod head has a sturdy magnesium alloy build—lightweight but tough—and the included bubble-level helps line up those shots that need to be straight.

While the GD3WH is not what you’d want for fast-paced shooting, this tripod head is great for studio and architectural photography.

Best Geared Tripod Head