Quick release tripod heads

Looking for some advice on tripod heads. I have been looking at ball type heads, but don't know whether to go for the plain screw in type or the quick release type. I understand that the plate is fixed to the camera and then clamps/clicks on to the head instead of screwing the complete head on to the camera. Is the plate something you would leave on the camera permanently (I don't have a bettery grip)? Or is the quick release type only something you would buy if you were going to do a lot of tripod work?

I prefer the ones with a quick release plate. I don't leave the plate on the camera permanently, however I do fit at the start of any trip where the tripod might be used so it's always available.

My K10D is wearing a quick release plate at the moment and I don't find it gets in the way at all.

I prefer quick release (QR) plates. For long lenses however, you might need to remove the rubber pad that the lens/camera sits on as it can cause the camera/lens combination to be somewhat less than rigid. I had to do this in order to reduce the movement of my SMCP 135-600mm zoom. Its tripod mount is too far back and leaving the rubber pad in place just wasn't working.

I don't usually leave a plate on the camera but all of my lenses that have a tripod mount have their own QR plate permanently attached.

If you a swapping long lenses, having only one QR plate is about the same as having none.

The plate's normally on my camera, even when I'm not using the tripod, otherwise it's just something else to lose. I have the battery grip on my K10D, and the manfrotto QR plate I use (the common one) isn't big enough to cause a problem.

Definitely much better than screwing the camera to the tripod every time!

Dan

Once again, thanks for all the advice, it's much appreciated and very helpful. Looks like I'll be going for one with a QR plate.