Looking for a new tripod head

[Deesk06]

Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum, so try not to rip me a new one just yet.

I am using a ball head currently on my crown graphic, and while I like being able to move it in any direction, its really not easy to do so. I unlock the ball head and I completely move my position, and making small adjustments is difficult.

I just ordered myself a Sunwayfoto GH-PRO II - its geared, but I am not sure how well its actually going to work with the weight its going to have on it. and I am not confident about it

Im interested to see what other people here use, as I am probably looking to order a few and seeing what I like best. I would like it to be geared, or at least easy to make small adjustments.

Thanks!

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I use a Manfrotto (formerly Bogen) 3025 three way head. It works similarly to a pan/tilt head, but is designed without handles and, more importantly, so it can be used like a ball head if desired.

I can loosen two, or all three of the lock-down knobs and easily position the camera like one would with a ball head, or I can loosen just one at a time and use it like a pan/tilt head. The absence of handles makes it compact and a bit lighter. It works fine for my wooden field cameras, even with longer lenses.

Do a quick Google search. There are lots for sale used for cheap.

Doremus

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio!
And you needn't worry about people being critical of newcomers. We try to keep Photrio a friendly and civil place that is welcoming. If you post consistent with that, but should go astray in any way, we will do our best to assist.

 

[blee1996]

It also depends on what kind of photography you do.

1) If you use your Crown Graphic is all kinds of photography that needs full 3D movement of the tripod head, then 3-way head or low-profile ball head.
2) If you do mostly landscape, you might only need pan and tilt (2-way head).
3) If you just want to level the Crown Graphic and do all the other movements in camera, then you only need a leveling base.

And independently if you want precision movements on any axle, find the geared heads.

 

[Paul Howell]

I shoot with a Crown, I use a bottom feeder ball head, have for years, and your right a geared ball head will provide additional find adjustments. Sort of ironic that the Sunwayfoto GH-PRO II will cost almost as much as decent Crown.

 

[eli griggs]

I like ball heads with 180⁰ bubble levels, camera mounted and once I have my basic composure just focus on the level bubble being centered.

It's fast and vertical and horizontal lines take care of themself.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I use a three-way pan and tilt head for my 4x5 and medium format cameras. That way, I can lock in 2 of the positions and just move the third position simply a little at a time. You really can't do that with a ball head.

 

[Jarno]

I came across some (used) oversized professional ball heads on eBay and that got me thinking, then I checked out Amazon and saw that they have some there which are maybe a bit less durable, but new and at half the cost.

ARTCISE Laagprofiel Camerastatief Kogelkop, 56mm Metalen Panorama Kogelkop Compatibel met Arca 1/4" Snelkoppelingsplaat voor Statief Monopod Slider DSLR Camera Camcorder, Draagvermogen: 40kg/88lb : Amazon.nl: Elektronica

ARTCISE Laagprofiel Camerastatief Kogelkop, 56mm Metalen Panorama Kogelkop Compatibel met Arca 1/4" Snelkoppelingsplaat voor Statief Monopod Slider DSLR Camera Camcorder, Draagvermogen: 40kg/88lb : Amazon.nl: Elektronica

www.amazon.nl

It's giant and quite solid on top of my beater Manfrotto 055
Could have done without the panning functionality though, you really need to tighten the screw or it will move, and I never ever use panning (because it is a lot easier to loosen the ballhead and point the camera another way, and obviously it'll only pan correctly if you have correctly leveled the tripod and then you do not really need a ball head anymore).
Not sure that a geared head would be easier to use or sturdier, the ball head I have is a really compact/stiff and sturdy unit, there simply isn't anything that can bend. But it'll depend on the tripod also, obviously. Quickly found out that the K&F carbon tripod was not up to the job, so now lugging around a 9lbs tripod rather than 1.5lbs

 

[Rick A]

I tried using a ball head with my 4x5, dumped it foe a 3-way pan head and never looked back. Ball heads might be okay with smaller formats and light weight cameras but IMHO are too awkward with large format cameras. I use a Benro HD3A for my 4x5 and 5x7 cameras, rated for over 26lbs sitting atop my Benro TMA37AL Long Series 3 Mach3 Aluminum Tripod.

 

[StefantheHun]

I have two suggestions:

1. Novoflex MagicBalance (270g). It is more than a levelling base and less than a ballhead and allows for 20 degrees movements. It allows for small movements without losing your composition. Combined with a 1-1.5 kg carbon fiber tripod a lightweight solution.

2. Arca Swiss Cube (around 1 kg). Self locking three way movements - and each individual movement does not destroy the other two way adjustments (!). So simply turn three knobs and your’re there. High asking price, but your level of satisfaction will compensate for the low balance in your account after purchase. Combined with a 2 kg carbon fiber tripod gives an excellent system you can no longer blame for faulty shots.

 

[thinkbrown]

I found a Leofoto G2 on sale and I'm a big fan. I use it with both my Mamiya Press and my Sinar Alpina and it works fantastically.

 

[villagephotog]

I'm currently going back and forth between two systems for my Intrepid 4x5, which is a little lighter than your Crown Graphic.

Lately, I've been using it with an Arca-Swiss P0 ball head. This is an asymmetrical-ball, inverted ball head that I use more or less like a leveling base when I'm shooting 4x5. I can quickly level the head, mount the camera, and then pan very easily and precisely without skewing the horizon. For modest looking up or down, I use the camera's rise/fall. (Not sure how much rise/fall is available on your Crown Graphic.) The head's asymmetrical ball resists free-flopping when moderately loose, and it's super easy to tighten securely. It's the best ball head I've used.

But if I have to point the camera significantly up or down (i.e. I don't have enough rise/fall in the camera), then I have to loosen the ball and it becomes a hassle with most of the drawbacks of a regular ballhead.

The second system is copied from the way cinematographers handle their cameras. You use a leveling base in combination with a 2-way pan-tilt head. Depending on the leveling base, you can level the system in 3-4 seconds regardless of tripod leg positioning, and it keeps the roll axis fixed and level. Then you can quickly and fairly precisely control the pan (yaw) and tilt (pitch) axes separately in order to zero in your composition. It's not quite as precise as a geared 3-way head, especially in the pitch axis, but it's close, and generally faster.

There's a lot of different ways to do the leveling base, from video bowls to standalone leveling bases. Too many to mention here.

Sunwayfoto makes a pretty solid 2-way pan-tilt head that doesn't cost a fortune, called the DT-03. The gold standard in 2-way pan-tilt heads is the Acratech Panoramic head, which does cost a small fortune.

 

[blee1996]

I think @villagephotog summed up really well.

I also tried the several combinations he mentioned. In the end, my most used combo is iFootage Gazelle TC7 CF tripod with fast video bowl plus the Sunwayfoto DT-03 pan-tilt head. This combo gave me both speed and stability up to a light Korona 5x7 view camera. My main use case with large format is landscape, thus I don't need the flexibility of a ball head.

For 135 and medium format, a hefty ball head like the Arca Swiss B1 is still my go-to head.

For 8x10, I prefer just a leveling base.

 

[Ardpatrick]

I use a three-way pan and tilt head for my 4x5 and medium format cameras. That way, I can lock in 2 of the positions and just move the third position simply a little at a time. You really can't do that with a ball head.

FLM CB - 43 FTR II ball heads and related sizes, have a unique Tilt lock feature that allows them to be locked to pivot vertically along an axis. They also have a much more common pan function:

CB-43 FT II

FLM CB-43 FT tripod head for photography.

english.flm-gmbh.de

It works and I find it a useful feature.

 

[MTGseattle]

What spilled me into the weeds was trying to get a quick release that worked for everything from 35mm up to 8x10. In theory, I have it figured out now, but in practice, time will tell.
My first day out with 8x10 on a ball head definitely gave me some things to ponder.

 

[StefantheHun]

I use an Intrepid Arca plate which has a large surface area to contact the field camera bottom. Since the screw always came loose (and the plate was too small to use the provided second screw as well) , I used strong Locktite to hold it in place, and it works nicely.

 

[carverlux]

What spilled me into the weeds was trying to get a quick release that worked for everything from 35mm up to 8x10. In theory, I have it figured out now, but in practice, time will tell.
My first day out with 8x10 on a ball head definitely gave me some things to ponder.

The one will give you a new sense of security is the Linhof 003668 Leveling Pan/Tilt Head 90. originally designed to clamp onto Linhof view camera rail dovetails. They make a mounting plate 003853 for 1/4 and 3/8 camera mounting. It has worked for me reliably holding my hefty p2 8x10, yet it is not too cumbersome for a 35mm. It's blocky, not light at over 3 lbs, nor cheap. But it is buttery smooth to pan, very secure when tilting and locking forward and a cinch to accurately level. Its base has a 3/8 but will also fall into and can be tightly clamped by Linhof tripods with the 90mm interface. As the saying goes - Buy once, cry once - I did.