Does anyone make a “plain” 3 way head...

[Bob S]

I just had to find something stable for my new old Sinar F2. I finally relented and bought a Berlebach Ash wood tripod and one of their 3 way heads: 3D Super Spezial. The Spezial has a 100mm round mounting plate and no video grip that extends out. I love it. It has no QR, just a screw. It feels rock solid. They also offer a 2D version. And the normal 3D version with detachable, long video grip and a square non QR plate. 60+ x 80+ mm.

The base plate that mounts to the tripod is 89mm, I believe. It works with the 75mm, 15° leveler of my tripod. Just...

I had the combo out, yesterday and there was some wind and a few gusts (sunny weather, probably thermals). The camera didn't visibly move. For the exposures I still waited for a short lull and later it died down. At night the big storm that hit the northern half of Europe arrived here and is still somewhat going.

The report series or the Uni series from Berlebach?

 

[lantau]

The report series or the Uni series from Berlebach?

Report 362with the 75mm Leveler (wooden grip sticking out below). Don't want to carry around a Uni.

Edit: The head requires a Uni if you want to fully accomodate the 89mm base. There is a 100mm leveler for the Unis.

 

[BradS]

Sounds like it might be too big for the OP's application but the Ries tripod head(s) are "plain".


EDIT: although, I guess they are technically only 2-way not 3-way.

 

[Bob S]

Sounds like it might be too big for the OP's application but the Ries tripod head(s) are "plain".


EDIT: although, I guess they are technically only 2-way not 3-way.

So are some Berlebach heads. They make 2 way, 3 way, leveling heads, etc.
If you haven’t seen current Berlebach Report tripods they come in both 2 and 3 section legs, of various lengths and accept various interchangeable columns, levelers, flat plates, etc. like the Uni series.

 

[wiltw]

Respectfully, in 40 years of using Bogen/Manfroto equipment, I have never had any head randomly fail.

I've seen failures where the equipment was abused and/or overloaded (especially in student check-out scenarios in University environments), but none from just normal use. I can understand if you simply don't like their styling or configurations; some of their combinations are rather clunky, but they are generally sound in operation as long a they are treated with some degree of responsibility.

I know you didn't ask but I find quick release systems dicey at best for long term viability. I'll take the extra hit on time to secure the camera to the tripod via a screw, but that's just me.

Respectfully, in living with Manfrotto for over 20 years, I did have an accidental release of the camera from the Manfrotto QR clamp simply because the QR clamp lever was PARTIALLY opened when the lever got bumped. Fortunately I was not foolish enough to rely solely on the QR, as I had the camera strap looped around some body part, keeping the camera and lens from falling to the ground. After discovering, at home, that the accidental release was all too easy to replicate at will, I used that as a reason for replacing the Manfrotto head+QR with a Linhof Profi II with QR. No more accidental releases after that.
When I sold the Manfrotto tripod, I kept the Linhof Profi head, but only as a backup, mounting on the new tripod an RRS head with QR system, due to the popularity of the Arca-Swiss compatible products, particularly L plates. Each step was an improvement; I have zero reason to upgrade again.

 

[AgX]

I did have an accidental release of the camera from the Manfrotto QR clamp simply because the QR clamp lever was PARTIALLY opened when the lever got bumped.

The Manfrotto safety-lock does not allow the lever to be turned enough for the plate to get loose.

Thus either:

-) you did not activate the safety lock
-) your receptable did not have such lock
-) the lock was defective
-) the bump on the lever forced that lock (just a guess, I would have to investigate further on this)

 

[wiltw]

The Manfrotto safety-lock does not allow the lever to be turned enough for the plate to get loose.

Thus either:

-) you did not active the safety lock
-) your receptable did not have such lock
-) the lock was defective
-) the bump on the lever forced that lock (just a guess, I would have to investigate further on this)

There was no safety lock on head or QR clamp on the Manfrotto heads back in 1990. And unlike other lever QR systems of the time, a partial release could be easily accomplished...other QR systems had better safety design. It took Manfrotto a while to catch on.

 

[AgX]

Yes, here the older and newer version of the head 168, without and with safety lock: