Tripod head for 4x5 field cam- Recommendations please

Grafmatic · Jul 24, 2025

Just bought the following:

Leofoto LM-324CL X Version Tripod with 75mm Bowl+Platform

2024 New Release Reach for the top with the Leofoto LM-324CLX Summit Series Carbon Fiber Tripod. The brand-new design highlights upgraded angle stops meticulously crafted for enhanced ergonomic performance. The new angle stop design allows for one handed operation for convenience while ensuring...

leofotousa.com

Also LB-75 leveling base w/handle which fits 75mm bowl furnished with tripod

Also a late version, Bogen/Manfrotto head 3047 head which weighs almost 4 pounds, making it suitable for use with an 8 x 10, something I have practically no likelihood of ever doing. I didn’t realize the late versions were that much heavier than the one I had way back when I got my first zone six field camera so I’m looking for a pan/tilt head compatible with the above. I don’t need to turn the camera on its side like I might with a DSLR so I think a two way will work with the leveling base.

Payload is an Intrepid 4x5 and my heaviest lens is probably a 120 Fujinon.

Requesting recommendations. Pre-owned fine. TIA

djdister · Jul 24, 2025

I have that same tripod, which I matched with a Sunwayfoto DT-03R Tilt Head with 360 Degree Panoramic Arca Swiss Clamp. You'll want to get an extra quick release clamp without the bump on it for the 4x5.

Grafmatic · Jul 25, 2025

I had noticed this one….You’re saying this will handle a lightweight 4x5 without difficulty? My 120mm is fairly heavy… There are more than one version of plate?

Ian Grant · Jul 25, 2025

I use Gitzo heads, my 10x8 Agfa Ansco sits on this one.

I prefer the longer control arms it is far easier to set up my cameras, I have 2 more a slightly smaller R,No.2 and a more modern G 1370 which is more compact in terms of height. The other advantage is the quite large tripod platform.

With a 10x8 camera sat on a tripod, short tripod arms are very awkward to use, it's harder to make fine adjustments.

Ian,

fdonadio · Jul 25, 2025

Ian Grant said:
With a 10x8 camera sat on a tripod, short tripod arms are very awkward to use, it's harder to make fine adjustments.

I find this even with my Sinar F 4x5 camera.

cjbecker · Jul 25, 2025

I have tried and tried to use tripod heads, I have finally just accepted I much prefer using a tripod headless. A leveling base would be the only add on for me. I use a gitzo 1228 with my 4x5 mounted right to the top, and use the legs (extend or adjust angle) to level the camera. Fast, easy, less bulk, less weight, and sturdier. It works for me.

djdister · Jul 25, 2025

Grafmatic said:
I had noticed this one….You’re saying this will handle a lightweight 4x5 without difficulty? My 120mm is fairly heavy… There are more than one version of plate?

Yes it handles lightweight 4x5 without a problem. Your biggest problem with a heavy lens on a lightweight 4x5 is the stability of the front standard with that heavy lens. In addition, the Sunwayfoto head is a good match with the tripod - for example, I wouldn't put a heavy geared head or a large pan head on those Leofoto legs. As for the plate - you can buy any arca compatible QR plate without the front bump and it fits in the Sunwayfoto clamp. For my Fuji GFX, the L-bracket fits directly into the top of the Sunwayfoto clamp.

That Leofoto tripod is not for use with 5x7 or larger cameras.

Grafmatic · Jul 25, 2025

djdister said:
That Leofoto tripod is not for use with 5x7 or larger cameras.

Got the recommendation as to the suitability for lightweight 4x5 from Leofoto directly. No plans to use anything larger.

Wish I hadn’t sold my 115mm Caltar (Grandagon) back in the day. That lens was smaller and lighter than this Fujinon. But those rarely if ever turn up used. They seem to be made of unobtainium.

villagephotog · Jul 25, 2025

Grafmatic said:
I had noticed this one….You’re saying this will handle a lightweight 4x5 without difficulty? My 120mm is fairly heavy… There are more than one version of plate?

Just seconding what djdister said. As I mentioned in a different thread, I have a Sunway DT-03 and an Intrepid 4x5 (although I haven't used the Intrepid on the DT-03 yet). There's zero doubt in my mind that the DT-03 is more than strong enough to handle the Intrepid. It's also fairly nice to use -- i.e. its tilt and pan motions are smooth yet fairly well damped. Lock levers are fine (the pan lock is maybe a little small, but not a big deal.)

I'm sure an Acratech Panorama head is nicer, but I like my DT-03 just fine, and I've used it with some reasonably unwieldy gear -- a Bronica GS-1 system -- with no problems at all.

abruzzi · Jul 25, 2025

I can't remember the name but I bought one of the chinese brand ball heads (Neewer, I think) In many ways its a nice head, but some of these companies have built in arca-swiss quick release clamps, and its sized wrong. When I try to attach my Arca-Swiss the clamp doesn't close enough to clamp it, and at full tightness the railslides through it easy.

This is not to say anything negative about Sunway or Leofoto, but just a comment to be sure to test the clamp if the head you're buying include a QR to be sure that it is in-spec. I also have clamps from RRS, FLM, and Kirk and they have not had any issues.

djdister · Jul 25, 2025

abruzzi said:
I can't remember the name but I bought one of the chinese brand ball heads (Neewer, I think) In many ways its a nice head, but some of these companies have built in arca-swiss quick release clamps, and its sized wrong. When I try to attach my Arca-Swiss the clamp doesn't close enough to clamp it, and at full tightness the railslides through it easy.

This is not to say anything negative about Sunway or Leofoto, but just a comment to be sure to test the clamp if the head you're buying include a QR to be sure that it is in-spec. I also have clamps from RRS, FLM, and Kirk and they have not had any issues.

There are no compatibility issues with the Sunwayfoto head - I've used a basic Oben arca plate and my Rogeti L-bracket in it and they lock in just fine.

As for my Leofoto/Sunwayfoto combination - below is the maximum weight load I have used on it. That's a Shen Hao TFC617-A camera with a Fujinon 180mm in the first shot and a 90mm Super Angulon in the second shot. This tripod/head combo also works well with my Wista 45SP and Horseman 45 Woodman, as well as my Fuji GFX.

Ian Grant · Jul 25, 2025

fdonadio said:
I find this even with my Sinar F 4x5 camera.

So do I with a field camera, but when I had a monorail it was worse.

Ian

IOWA CAMERA GUY · Jul 25, 2025

The Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 is a good choice, classic large format head.

In short, big, heavy, solid.....

I used to do astronomy, had a small refractor telescope. To add stability, I used a sledge hammer head, hung from the bottom of the tripod spider, to add mass and lower the center of gravity (the head was near the ground). Bring along a bag with some wire or nylon paracord, and hang a rock in the bag. Will do wonders for stability. BTW: don't carry a rock with you, find one at the site....in case you hadn't figured that out.

abruzzi · Jul 25, 2025

Ian Grant said:
So do I with a field camera, but when I had a monorail it was worse.

My first monorail was a Linhof Technikardan, and it was the camera that made LF "click" for me. One of the thinks that made it so easy was that every lock had a single lever--one direction locked and the other direction unlocked, and it was always consistent on the direction of the lock. The red levers go clockwise to lock and counter clockwise to unlock. The green levers spread away from the center pivot to lock and towards the pivot to unlock. That made working under the hood by feel extremely easy. Not all monorails are that simple, but I've found a lot of the more traditional wood-type field cameras are less simple and require me peeking out from under the hood to see what I'm doing.

Of course @B.S.Kumar just sold a Nikkor 890mm process lens in the classifieds. I doubt my arms could adjust front tilt on that even at infinity.

IOWA CAMERA GUY · Jul 25, 2025

I worked at a camera store in 1968 between college grad and Army.

Came back after Army 1971 and worked in another store on and off until 2018.

Managed and/or owned 1971 - 2018.

Photo was fun, we did everything in processing except Kodachrome and movie film.

Started out in Physics and Astronomy and ended up in Radio/TV track.

Every bit of the weirdo stuff I did in my life came in handy in photo, from the physics to the electronics, etc.

I've seen, at one time or another, almost everything, but not many process lenses, especially Nikons, that must be one huge piece of glass!

Thanks for sharing. RC

abruzzi · Jul 25, 2025

IOWA CAMERA GUY said:
I've seen, at one time or another, almost everything, but not many process lenses, especially Nikons, that must be one huge piece of glass!

Acording to Kumar's listing, it has a 200mm flange. And according to a datasheet:

3.6 kilograms!

I have the 610mm listed up there and its close to being too heavy to use! At least the 610mm will fit on a 140mm Sinar board.

xya · Jul 26, 2025

Since ages I use an old Linhof ball head. These are cheap as they are old, but this one carried my 8x10 configuration without any problems. It sits on an old Linhof large format tripod, cheap as well, sturdy as hell, huge, but not exactly lightweight.

MTGseattle · Jul 26, 2025

Manfrotto 410 maybe?

Grafmatic · Jul 27, 2025

abruzzi said:
My first monorail was a Linhof Technikardan, and it was the camera that made LF "click" for me. One of the thinks that made it so easy was that every lock had a single lever--one direction locked and the other direction unlocked, and it was always consistent on the direction of the lock. The red levers go clockwise to lock and counter clockwise to unlock. The green levers spread away from the center pivot to lock and towards the pivot to unlock. That made working under the hood by feel extremely easy. Not all monorails are that simple, but I've found a lot of the more traditional wood-type field cameras are less simple and require me peeking out from under the hood to see what I'm doing.

What a starter camera! It wasn’t my first. Wish I hadn’t sold it. An amazing piece of engineering. Not a very simple design IMJ, but very simple to use is how I would describe it. Fastest setup and operation of any LF camera I’ve used.

Grafmatic · Jul 27, 2025

This site has been a great find. I’ve gotten so much good info and guidance here. I’m going to order a DT-03 or 3R (and probably the OEM Intrepid Arca plate. Can any of the several people here who are familiar with the DT03/03R tell me what the difference(s) between the two models are? TIA

abruzzi · Jul 27, 2025

Grafmatic said:
What a starter camera! It wasn’t my first. Wish I hadn’t sold it. An amazing piece of engineering. Not a very simple design IMJ, but very simple to use is how I would describe it. Fastest setup and operation of any LF camera I’ve used.

It wasn't my first view camera, only my first monorial. I had a Shen Hao and a Master Technika prior to that, but LF never clicked with those. I need to sell them as I haven't used them since I bought the TK.

GregY · Jul 27, 2025

I'd be all over something from MTGSeattle's tripod madness for sale list here...

djdister · Jul 27, 2025

Grafmatic said:
This site has been a great find. I’ve gotten so much good info and guidance here. I’m going to order a DT-03 or 3R (and probably the OEM Intrepid Arca plate. Can any of the several people here who are familiar with the DT03/03R tell me what the difference(s) between the two models are? TIA

The DT03R has a panoramic arca head clamp, in addition to the panoramic base. The reason I got it was so that I could rotate the direction of the clamp independently from where the base of the head was pointing. I have some cameras where the arca plate will work better poining North-South and in other cases with the arca plate pointing East-West. Since B&H does not carry the DT-03R, I ordered it directly from Sunwayfoto.

Grafmatic · Jul 27, 2025

Thanks so much. Now to decide how useful that is for me. At present, I only anticipate using tripod with a 4 x 5 intrepid with their OEM Arca plate. I have a leveling base that the head will sit on. But who knows, that could change. Decisions, decisions.

GregY · Jul 27, 2025

Grafmatic said:
Thanks so much. Now to decide how useful that is for me. At present, I only anticipate using tripod with a 4 x 5 intrepid with their OEM Arca plate. I have a leveling base that the head will sit on. But who knows, that could change. Decisions, decisions.

G, we know we're not talking rocket science. How long does it take to set up a LF camera? Will anyone die if it takes a minute more? While i know some folks go headless....i'm in the moderate realm....but add a arca type plate, & a levelling base and you're adding weight...& things to check.... imo it's making things more complicated than they need to be. Didn't you buy the Intrepid because it was light??

Tripod head for 4x5 field cam- Recommendations please

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