Tripod Head for 8x10… Ideas any one?

Gatsby1923

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OK I have a nice heavy duty tripod and a manfrotto 3030 head that should be fine for the weight of my Kodak 2D 8x10. The problem is the Camera is so big it acts like a wrench against the tripod head, and well that is just not good. After pinching my fingers pretty badly the other day when the camera started to fall forward I decided it was time for a new head. I am thinking some thing along these lines:

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But want your opinions before I drop 100-200 dollars on a tripod head.

In the mean time I might make up my own mounting plate and attach it directly to the tripod using the legs to level things out.

Dave M
 

David A. Goldfarb

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When shopping for a smaller ballhead once, I thought Giottos had a nice smooth panning base, but the ball seemed small for its rating--I went with a Linhof.

That said, other than the Arca-Swiss B2 (which is really a pan-tilt head in the guise of a ballhead), I can't say that I really care for ballheads for LF.

For a large flatbed camera to go into the field the Gitzo G1570M low-profile pan-tilt head works well for me. If that's more than you wanted to spend, look for an earlier version, which will be a few ounces heavier for less money.
 

StreetShooter

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Dave,

Tried a ballhead with my 8x10 for a short while and absolutely hated it. It lasted for a couple of weeks before I dumped it in favor of a Manfrotto 400.

However, the 400 is a heavy beast and is great if you're only using it in the studio. For field work... way too heavy!

For field use, I went with a Manfrotto 405. Very, very usable and is easy to handle out in the field.

Both of these heads are geared heads and, therefore, you can make adjustments on one axis without disturbing the other.

I love both of these geared heads!

Cheers

PS: The 400 will run you about $400 or $500 while the 405 will run you about $200 - $250, or thereabout, on the auction block.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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I'll second David's recommendation of the Gitzo 1570M head - I got mine as a store demo from Henry's in Toronto on their Ebay store - they have GREAT prices for these things on Ebay, but high prices on their own website. Give them a look-see at what they have in open-box/store demo models. Mine looked like it was still new, and I got it for less than $200 I think.
 

mediumformatphoto

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Get a geared Majestic 1200 with the 6x7 platform - can easily hold 35lbs if needed. You can find used Majestics for $50-$100.

R.J.
 

Donald Miller

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I used a 3047 on Deardorffs for years. I got the Majestic geared head when I went to 12X20 and kept using it thereafter...now I use a 3047 again...simply because it is lighter. I personally hate ball heads because they seem difficult to control the three axis precisely enough for LF work.
 

Roger Hicks

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Dear Dave,

The only way I consider a ball head above 4x5 inch is if I can hang the camera from it, i.e. on a studio stand. Then it's GREAT. On a tripod -- forget it! For 8x10 and above I prefer either a big Linhof P/T or a standard Gandolfi head (tilt only, pan via rotating the camera on the big, flat platform).

Cheers,

R.
 
OP
OP

Gatsby1923

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OK Ball head is out. I will check out what is in the Ebay World, and in the new world I think this might be the best I can afford.

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TheFlyingCamera

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Gatsby-

I have that same head, and while it is a good head, I would not use it for 8x10- the hex-plate quick release is too small a contact patch for most 8x10 cameras. Actually, I wouldn't use anything with a q/r plate with 8x10, period. You want something with a nice flat large platform for the head. You MIGHT be able to find a used Ries like Walt (Pinholemaster) suggested within your budget.


Here's the stuff ! - Gitzo 1570M head, like new, $160-

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gitzo-G1570M-3-...4QQihZ014QQcategoryZ30095QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You should quit shopping Adorama - they're "challenging" to deal with at best. Most folks I know will only buy from them if they can actually see the item they're buying before they leave the store with it.
 

Harrigan

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I think you can get mounting plates for the 3039 that are hex to fit the head with a big flat plate on the top. I use a regular 3047 for my 10 pound 8x10 and never ever had a problem with stability and i normally shoot outdoors with barrel lenses to boot. I dont understand the problem in fact constantly screwing the camera to the tripod really stresses the old cameras at the connection point.
 

Tom Hoskinson

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Arca Swiss B1 Ballhead with QR clamp. I've been using it with my 8x10 Wehman and my 5x7 Deardorff for 3-4 years. Heavy and expensive, but I Love it!

I have a Really Right Stuff MPR-1 anti-twist 6-inch QR mounting rail installed on the baseplate of each camera with two
socket head screws - my cameras don't twist!
 

resummerfield

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I agree with Tom mostly........ The RRS MPR-1 plate with two screws is the strongest method I've found. But as to the B1 head, I use instead the B2. It has individual controls for pan and tilt, and I'm not coordinated enough with a heavy camera to use a combined pan/tilt as on the B1.
 

Peter De Smidt

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I have that camera. Here's what I recommend. Get a Gitzo series 5 rational three way head. An old one is fine. Mine is from around 1970. This head has a plate that's approximately 4 inches wide by six inches long, with a long slot down the middle for the mounting screws to go. Take a hack saw and cut out the small bit of metal at the back of the slot, such that you can mount one of the screws on the camera, slide the screw right into the groove, and tighten. This is very fast and secure! Now to keep the camera from moving. The 2D should come with a tripod mounting block. If yours has two threaded holes for the bottom, great. Get another mounting screw. Put both on the camera and slide them both into the slot in the tipod head. Tighten. It will now be impossible for the camera to pivot on top of the head. If you don't have two threaded mounting holes on the 2D's mounting plate, put in (or have Richard Ritter do it) another one. Or if your squeemish, get a piece of baltic birch plywood, and machine another mounting block. Move the hardware from the origianl over to the new one, and put in your two threaded inserts. If you ever want to sell the camera you can always move the metal gear back to the original plate. It's just screwed on. Maybe tomorrow I'll take a picture if I have time.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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I have a Majestic head on my studio stand, and it is indeed very solid and a good bargain (if you find one that mounts on a tube, you can buy an adapter for a 3/8"-16 screw), but it is also quite heavy for field use.
 

Harrigan

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I also have a majestic 1200 head and it cost only 20 bucks. The head is approx 4 pounds on the bathroom scale but I still use the hex plate on a 3047 for the 8x10. The camera doesn't torque on the hex plate unless you reef on it. I never remove the plate and it's quite well attached although you must use the bogen mount plates. Off brand 3047 plates are not good and wobble on the tripod.

My 14x17 is only 15 pounds and with a hex plate bolted through the 2" camera rail it doesn't torque on the plate although the 3047 head is not stout enough for this camera. Being a monorail the majestic 1200 head isn't so great for this but if you want super stout buy an entire majestic tripod they go for under 100 bucks frequently.
 

htstanley

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The geared Majestic 1200 really is rock solid with a large platform. Look for one on eBay. To fit it to any tripod with a 3/8" stud (most), order the tripod adapter from the manufacturer (who has the rights to Majestic) Bencher Inc in Antioch, IL phone 847-838-3195, photo on their web site at http://www.bencher.com/photo/accessories_majestic.php
You'll want the "802 Adapter" 1-7/8" dia. It's a "top-hat" machined plug that attaches to the tripod, and the Majestic head strongly attaches with a large set screw. This item also avail at B&H and Calumet. Al in all, inexpensive and solid. --HTS
 

htstanley

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May I add that the Majestic teams up well with a used Manfrotto/Bogen 3036 pod. -- HTS
 

kirkfry

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I will put one more vote in for the Majestic Head if weight is no object. k
 
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