Decent tripod head for LF press camera

[Rhodes]

I ask if this is a decent/good tripod head to use my speed graphic?
http://niobo.pt/shop/cabeças-c-54_615_617/walimex-pro-cabeça-de-rótula-alumínio-ft6665h-p-290.html

 

[Shootar401]

I've used my Speed on a head smaller than that and it was rock steady. You should have no problem.

 

[mgb74]

Good ball heads are expensive. So when I see a relatively cheap ballhead like the one you referenced, and a somewhat heavy camera with weight out front (when bed is lowered and front standard extended), I'm skeptical. I would definitely want a first hand report from someone I trust, or the ability to return it, before buying.

 

[ntenny]

Well, Manfrotto's similarly rated 488 head is quite adequate for a Speed Graphic, but I'd worry a bit about what corners might have been cut to achieve the lower price on this one. If you can stretch the extra few euros for a higher-quality head in the same weight class, I think you'd be fine; with this one you might be.

-NT

 

[nsurit]

I have a speed graphic and use it with a ball head primarily because thata is what I usually have with me. I personally find using a ball head with a heavy camera to be a little bit difficult and thing you could expect good results with a rhree adjstable like a good manfrotto or bogen.Guess my vote is a decent three way rather than a cheap ball head. Bill Barber

 

[Rhodes]

Thank you for all the replies!

 

[fotch]

Get a good used Arca-Swiss Monoball, you will never regret it.

 

[fretlessdavis]

I got one of the Dolica Proline el-cheap-o bundles a while ago when I was desperate for a tripod, with the intent of replacing it quickly.

So far, the ballhead on it has done better than my old Manfrotto did-- 494 I think? The legs are pretty crappy, but I'll be swapping the ballhead to some carbon legs soon.

To echo comments above, press cameras have a pretty good center of gravity. Unless you're using long and fast glass, the weight is going to be more or less centered over the ballhead. I get by with my B&J press camera on the above Dolica without issues, as long as I don't use my Ilex 215 f/4.8 on the front of it, and crank it all the way out. Ballhead locks down without much force, and it stays put while loading holders.

Not a good long term solution though... Either keep what you have and save up for a beefy Manfrotto or Arca Swiss, or sift through people's experience and get a cheap one that'll work now, while saving up for a nice one.

Also-- I have yet to find a ballhead under $100 that I would trust my ETRS fully loaded up with a long lens on it-- a lot more twisting force on a ballhead because of how off-center the weight is. With my B&J and 90mm Angulon or 135mm Optar, it's well-centered enough.

 

[BrianShaw]

I have never found a ball head useful with a view camera. Too hard to adjust and level. Three-way head much more useful to me. But if ball head works for you that is all that really counts. I have put my graphics on a Bogen/Manfrotto 486, which might even be a bit smaller than the one you are looking at, and never had a stability issue.

 

[John Koehrer]

Emo made a 2 way head, 3 way if you rotated the camera 90 degrees.
Two ball bearing races, one at top, one at bottom. Both top & bottom plates were removable and the pivot for tilt is removable, converting it to a ball head.
Made in Wetzlar & fit and finish looks like the old Leitz heads