Short handled pan tilt head like the Bogen 3030. I like being able to adjust the parametres separately; it is easier for me to level th camera and frame up the picture.

I get frustrated working with a pan/tilt head because it's too slow to work with. I like the degree of control and speed of working with a ball head. I own three for different weight camera/lenses and don't own any pan/tilt heads. It's a personal decision and you should try the different options at your local camera store.

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Do you prefer a ball head or a pan tilt head and why?

I perfer a pan tilt head for the ablity to adjust both movements independently. I designed a fast action head that uses levers similar to a pistol grip ball head. It is being built now.