Manfrotto 405 Geared Head + Sinar F/P/X

[TSSPro]

Morning APUGers! I hope that the weekend treated everyone well and that you got a chance to go shooting this weekend and make some new work!

The conundrum in which I find myself is one where I am deciding upon the next head to use for my 4x5 cameras. I have been a SINAR user for years, it's what I learned on in the studio as an assistant and it's like playing a piano under the dark cloth, don't look, just reach and adjust. I have, however, run across an issue in the field- I do a significant of amount of landscape and architectural work in the field and often work out of my car when on the road. I'm not heading into the back country with these cameras, I'm either in the studio or working out of the car, so size and weight won't trump controllability or built quality. My question is this: What geared heads would be recommended for accommodating a moderate/large monorail 4x5? I'm leaning toward a Manfrotto 405 because it seems like a good combination of price, build, and precision (and I can get it from my Manfrotto rep at 35% below MAP/cost for most products owned by Manfrotto, too) Also, I'd love an Arca Cube, but I don't think that I can justify the expense for the equipment without putting my hands on one to try it out and I haven't got a clue where to find one where I live.

Thoughts?

And thanks for advance for your insights and experience!

 

[faberryman]

I tried out the Arca cube, and while it is a marvelous piece of engineering and exquisitely made, the knobs are too small to comfortably adjust a heavy load. I was crushed.

 

[TSSPro]

That's a horrible disappointment about the cube....I had a lot of hopes for the product. Ran into Steve Gosling, one of the Olympus Ambassadors, and hung out with him at a talk in CO. He was a big fan of the cube, but he has since transitioned to an all digital work flow with med format equipment, so the size and weight thing probably wasn't an issue for him, then.

The negatives for the 405 have been it's a big and heavy head, but nothing about its build quality or useful/lessness.

 

[faberryman]

If you have the chance, check one out. You might come to a different conclusion. I also didn't want to pay more for the cube than I did for my camera and lenses.

 

[ruilourosa]

400 would be better!

 

[TSSPro]

400 would be better!

It may be, but is the 2x the price justified? What did you think after using the 400?

 

[ruilourosa]

405 is fit for MF up to a RZ, 400 is fit for all!

the price is not 2x is just a bit more expensive!!! and if you plan to pay 500 for a tripod head you are a very demanding professional or a passionate amateur and a few more dollars wont mind either case!

the only problem with 400 is the circular quick release that is a pain!

i have used all geared heads from manfrotto i find the 405 very good (maybe the best) but for large format is no good (at least for a 4+kg camera)

the more recent one made out of plastic is good only for up to 1kg ...

Cheers!

 

[TSSPro]

405 is fit for MF up to a RZ, 400 is fit for all!

the price is not 2x is just a bit more expensive!!! and if you plan to pay 500 for a tripod head you are a very demanding professional or a passionate amateur and a few more dollars wont mind either case!

the only problem with 400 is the circular quick release that is a pain!

i have used all geared heads from manfrotto i find the 405 very good (maybe the best) but for large format is no good (at least for a 4+kg camera)

the more recent one made out of plastic is good only for up to 1kg ...

Cheers!

Thanks for the heads up about the plate. I haven't used a circular plate before! Even if the 400 head is too expensive for some, if it solves the problems I'm having it may be worth not having a headache. My thinking was this- either I invest in another 4x5 system with geared movements, or spend the money on a head that could provide a similar type of control.

 

[LarsAC]

I used an F2 in 4x5 from an RRS BH-55 as well as from a 405 (refitted with an RRS-compatible clamp). Both worked, but the BH-55 was somewhat difficult in handling (small and precise changes were a challenge) with the weight of the F2.

This was much better with the Manfrotto 405. The combo seems reliable to me, but I did not work in rough conditions either.

Lars

 

[StephenT]

I like the Majestic heads. I have them both on Majestic tripods as well as some heavy Manfrotto's. The platform is especially convenient for field view cameras, but I also use them with my rail cameras.