4x5 Norma Leitz Tiltall inspired by Julius Shulman

Nokton48 · Aug 19, 2022

Eff64 · Aug 20, 2022

Dennis-B said:
I own a Leitz Tiltall that is not painted black. This one has a very matte aluminum finish to it.

View attachment 297810

I have this exact model myself. They were only made for a short time in the mid-70’s. I know that because the only problem I ever had was the threads at the top of the leg, where it attaches to the head, stripped on one leg. Not only was the OE leg not available, the threads were different between these and the plain aluminum ones, so the repair shop had to replace the piece at the top and the leg. So yes, mine has had 2 pearl finish legs and 1 smooth aluminum finish ever since.

They are rock solid, and although I wouldn’t be comfortable shooting anything larger than 4x5 on this, I did use it for a 4x5 for many years and it was just fine!

The lousy blue material they used on the camera mounting platform went bad after only a few years, partially coming unglued from the Tilt-All, and also not really providing enough grip to keep the camera from rotating in the vertical orientation. I found a link back then to Sherry Krauter’s website, and she sold these rubber replacements which did the trick. I have probably had mine for 25 years, and it is just as good as ever even today.

The black ones were coming onto the market in the late 70’s IIRC.

el_37 · Aug 20, 2022

I never used a Tilt-All- is the head permanently mounted or can you change it? I am such a fan of the Sinar Pan Tilt head and I am curious if that could be fitted.

Nokton48 · Aug 20, 2022

I'm sure it is doable. Know a good machinist? I think the older silver ones are better made, myself.

Tiltall Replacement Parts with Order Details and Inquiry Link

INQUIRY/ORDER Link below. Please review the following before placing an order. Please include your address with your order - an address ...

tiltallsupport.blogspot.com

Check here. Many have modded Tiltalls here.

Nokton48 · Sep 30, 2022

4x5 Plaubel Peco Profia 90mm F6.3 Komura Original 90mm Komura Hood by Nokton48, on Flickr

The lens hood cost nearly as much as the lens! LOL

Plaubel Peco Profia 4x5 ready for shooting architectural, Profia Bag Bellows, ingenious clamping 4x5 film holder (best I have seen!), Profia Monocular Magnifier/Bag Bellows on the back for stylish comfortable viewing. In the original Profia catalog is the 90mm F6.3 Komura in Seiko Shutter. The Lenshood for this lens is humungeous and attention getting. The Julius Shulman inspired modded Leitz Tiltall tripod is perfect, quick and dependable to use, quite solid after a few seconds. Sharp enough to make big prints. I also have the matching 75mm F6.3, the humungeous companion to this lens. Both of these lenses recess into the Profia Recessed board, this board will also accomodate all of my Makiflex boards, and also my Peco Jr boards, with the additional stepdown board, which I cobbled together with stuff from the parts box.

Nokton48 · Nov 10, 2022

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Julius Shulman inspired modified Leitz Tiltall model one, heavy aluminium machined block bolted to center column. Camera locked down with 9/16" closed end wrench. Rock solid light as a feather. Uber solid medium format monorail technical camera. With the Sony E series mirrorless attached to a flat board, I have a "poor man's digital mini-me view camera system". So far I have ten of the original lenses ready to test. Four have been freshly overhauled by Camtronics. The Monocular Viewer swivels left and right to see the groundglass uber clear magnified with fresnel, can easily assess sharpness critically with this setup. This back is matched to original 6x9cm and 6x6cm Plaubel Makina 120 Backs, which I have been using all along in my two Makinas II and IIIR. So rolls get finished up and move around, these are a bit finicky to use, but doable and gets easy to do with time. Also fifty 6x9cm Plaubel Sheet and Glass Plate holders. Add Sony digital and it's pretty versatile for cheap money

Nokton48 · Jan 15, 2023

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Using Brass Hobby Modeling Screws I bolted a Plaubel 120x120 Adapter Board, to a Sinar Norma Uber Heavy Metal Homemade Machined Norma Board (heavily used) LOL. Always wondered what I would ever do with this thing LOL. So now all my Plaubel Junior mounted boards fit onto the Norma, which I can go up to 8x10, although with these 4x5 will do it nicely. This is the Schneider 135mm F3.8 Schneider Xenar, a not often seen lens, in the F3.8 version. Great to look through on the 4x5 Norma. The tripod is Shulman-inspired Leica Tiltall, modded with aluminum block. This tripod is in Shulman's books on Architecture and Interiors, which I studied intensely back in the Eighties.

Nokton48 · Nov 10, 2023

80cm Rokkor Cowboy Studios Gimbal Modded Leitz Tripod by Nokton48, on Flickr

80cm F8 Rokkor, Chrome SRT-100/Kangaroo Green, Cowboy Studios Gimbal Head, Modded Leitz Tiltall Tripod. Should be steady enough considering mirror lockup being utilized, and an SRT Cable Release as well. This lens will be coming up in my 800mm shoot-out. The 400mm Rokkor-X MD F5.6, with Matched 2X Converter, makes an F/11 aperture. This lens was a speed demon at F8 80cm One Stop Faster. The SRT100 only goes to 1/500 and no MLU, Will switch bodies to BD SRT101's. SRT100 is still my fave.

Rolleiflexible · Nov 10, 2023

Your images of the Tiltall make them look gorgeous -- the perfect complement visually to a Norma. I have a Tiltall, black, in storage up in NY. Honestly, I don't understand the Cult of Tiltall. It never locked down solidly, at least around the head, which wobbled a bit where it joined the center column. I threw it in a closet and have used Gitzo legs ever since. Maybe I should see about whether the black finish might be stripped off? And whether the head may be tightened or replaced?

Nokton48 · Nov 10, 2023

Well Thank You Sanders. The Tiltall is pretty light compared to my bigger Manfrottos, I needed something lighter to carry around with medium format and 4x5. The Tiltalls can be tightened up, and the Star D knockoff is even lighter still. And back in the 70s I used my StarD with SRTs and even carried it around with a cloth "Hippy Guitar Strap". So I am nostalgic about it. I've been able to order a few parts for it. Shulman's modification is a good one; I can carry my 4x5 Norma for a while no problem. I've even used it with my 8x10 Norma, that idea is also in one of his books.

Nokton48 · Jun 2, 2024

Leitz Tiltall Ball Head New Bubble Level by Nokton48, on Flickr

I JB Welded this small bubble level ($1.00 on Amazon). This adds a level of precision when adjusting the tripod. So Glad with these I ordered a bunch more.

eli griggs · Jun 3, 2024

This resembles my three section aluminum Gitzo Reporter, which I love except for the knob for arresting the central shaft.

I prefer the twist locks on the Tiltall and the Gitzo to the flip tabs on so many other tripods, including a large, heavy Bogen I had many years back.

I seem to be injured every time I get near a tripod with these nasty protrusions but I'd rather have a large, heavy Bogan, if I can't have a "Giant" Gitzo for 'high up' tripod work, like from a truck platform.

Did Tiltall ever make a Giant Type tripod, like the Gitzos?

Nokton48 · Jun 4, 2024

I have three or four Manfrottos around the studio, they are heavy to carry out in the field. Outside I prefer the original Leitz Tiltall, adding the beefier plate makes it totally suitable for 4x5.

So now I have three olde Tiltalls, to carry out in the field. If that tells you anything

MTGseattle · Jun 4, 2024

This is good stuff. I own that same benchtop drill press, and I feel like mine bogs down if I look at it sideways.
Those Julius Schulman links are great! We bought a copy of "Visual Acoustics" for our brother-in-law, I have no idea why we didn't buy a copy for ourselves too?

Nokton48 · Aug 23, 2024

Plaubel Peco Junior 100mm Bag Bellows Adjustable Viewing Unit by Nokton48, on Flickr

The lens is a 100mm Plaubel F3.9 Supracomar, it normally would be attached to a 9x12cm Avus folder. On the Peco Junior the circle is plenty big enough for full camera movements. The Adjustable Magnifer on the back, allows me to see right side brightly, or with a shift, left side brightly. Leitz Ball head attached to an early Leitz Tiltall, notice I JB Welded a Bubble level to help level the legs. I could hike for miles with this thing if I wanted to, folded up it's easy to carry around with one hand! A small padded bag for holders and backs, and I am set. I also have a custom made E Sony Digital APSC Back for this camera, which also works quite well in the field.

Nokton48 · Dec 14, 2024

APSC Sony Nex C3 JB Welded to Peco Rear Standard Plate by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought this Nex C3 16mp Body for Fifty Bucks at World of Photography. Then I JB Welded it to a flat scrap black metal Plaubel Plate from my junk box. Then JB Welded the flat plate/APSC Back to a flat revesible Peco Junior Rear Plate. VOILA! "Poor Man's Medium Format Digital Back". Great for testing and trying different OLDE lenses. This one is historically interesting, it was on the cover of the Peco Junior literature I have. It's the Plaubel 150mm F4.2 Orthometar, it takes the stock Plaubel Makina Hood on the front. So fully tricked out for digital fun. I finished this with a rubber magnifying Nex 3 hood $10 from Ebay.

mshchem · Dec 15, 2024

Nokton48 said:
APSC Sony Nex C3 JB Welded to Peco Rear Standard Plate by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought this Nex C3 16mp Body for Fifty Bucks at World of Photography. Then I JB Welded it to a flat scrap black metal Plaubel Plate from my junk box. Then JB Welded the flat plate/APSC Back to a flat revesible Peco Junior Rear Plate. VOILA! "Poor Man's Medium Format Digital Back". Great for testing and trying different OLDE lenses. This one is historically interesting, it was on the cover of the Peco Junior literature I have. It's the Plaubel 150mm F4.2 Orthometar, it takes the stock Plaubel Makina Hood on the front. So fully tricked out for digital fun. I finished this with a rubber magnifying Nex 3 hood $10 from Ebay.

OUTSTANDING!!! JB WELD GOES DIGITAL. NASA AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON YOU!!!

MattKing · Dec 15, 2024

It is clear to me that it is a good thing that Nokton48 and Red Green have never got together .....

gorbas · Dec 16, 2024

MattKing said:
It is clear to me that it is a good thing that Nokton48 and Red Green have never got together .....

Where is here LIKE button?

Nokton48 · Dec 18, 2024

100mm F3.9 Supracomar Plaubel Peco Junior Sawed Off Baggie 16mp by Nokton48, on Flickr

Digital 16mp Sony Nex C3 JB Welded to flat Rear Standard Plauble Peco Junior Board. Handheld image with the Peco Junior 100mm F3.9 Supracomar, a collectable more normally found on a 9x12cm Avus Folder. Soft outdoor lighting fun to shoot handheld Mini-Me View Camera. Around 50 Supracomars were produced I've heard, a few went onto Plaubel Makinas. Just before the era of the 100mm F2.9 Anticomar came into production, I believe I've read. Glad I grabbed it, it came from the Ukraine.

DREW WILEY · Dec 18, 2024

Here you can run into trouble with the FBI if you're carrying something sawed off which shoots.

Nokton48 · Dec 18, 2024

Notice Drew I am extending the center column....... ^^^

DREW WILEY · Dec 18, 2024

That's the first thing which should have been sawed off.

I don't remember where my Tiltall went. Maybe I gave it away, or it might be still up on the storage loft. My older brother bought it well used around 1960, and then I inherited it when he passed away. He lived beside the beach, and too much salt water contact finally corroded it beyond the ability to salvage the threading. Aluminum and ocean water don't get along well. He mostly used it with his 4x5 Technika, but also with Rollei 6x6 SLR's. Plaubel seems to be a rarity here in North America, except for the Makina RF line.

Nokton48 · Jul 16, 2025

Hasselblad Quick Release Plate on Shulman inspired Letiz Tiltall by Nokton48, on Flickr

For Digital and Film Hasselblad Shooting, these Olde Leitz Tiltalls, modded and inspired by Julius Shulman, fit my needs greatly. I can use these on view cameras, it's pushing it but it works! But attaching two Hasselblad Quick Releases, these become about 1000 times more useful to me. Also I sawed a 9/16 round wrench in half, and attached it with white gaffer tape, to the tripod leg. So I have a way to tighten this up out in the field. Now this rig has no downsides and is super useful to me.

aconbere · Jan 23, 2026

Nokton48 said:
Hacked Tiltall Tripod No 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's Tiltall #2 which arrived yesterday from Tennessee. It took about twenty minutes to cut the holes and remount the other half of my aluminum block. To finish it I will enlarge the center hole for a 3/8" steel bolt, then the cleaning up of both tripods will be the final project. These hold up very well for their age and both of these fully functional (no broken or missing parts). Both of these are identical to the tripods in Shulman's book so the design has been time tested

When you modify the mounting plate like this, are you drilling through the original plate and bolting the home fabricated plate onto it? Or is there some other connection mechanism that I’m not understanding?

4x5 Norma Leitz Tiltall inspired by Julius Shulman

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