Ball head adjusting knobs - 2 or 3 better?

[chankp]

There are ball heads with 2 adjustment knobs and others with 3.
I am confused as to which one provides better control practically.
Your kind advice is greatly appreciated.
TIA.

 

[user111]

more knob more time spent to set up but more versatility

 

[zekai]

Just 1

 

[mpenza]

the simplest ballhead will just have one. the additional ones are for tension control and panning if I'm not wrong and may not need adjustment most times.

 

[zac08]

Prefer to have one for ball control and one seperate one for panning control.

 

[Deadpoet]

There are ball heads with 2 adjustment knobs and others with 3.
I am confused as to which one provides better control practically.
Your kind advice is greatly appreciated.
TIA.

One is the best

 

[digisnap]

A seperate knob for panning is good so you avoid any tilt if you just want to pan (if that's what you want)

 

[Hitz]

I prefer to operate ball head without touching any knobs, using friction control only. That requires a decent ball head (Arca Swiss, RRS, ...) with a tension control knob, which you preset once and rarely touch again. This knob is in addition to the main knob, which you use to lock/unlock the ball. Although you don't have to lock the ball when using friction control. That makes it two knobs. Only very basic "miniball" head, which lacks friction control, would have one knob.

Now having a separate knob for panning is handy in many situations.

That makes it 3 knobs.

 

[chankp]

Thanks a lot guys for the info.
Appreciate it very much.