Tripod Head Quick Adapters

Curt · Feb 1, 2007

This afternoon I was using a ball head with integral quick release shoe. The tightening know stripped out and the ball was stuck in one position. I am looking for a battleship style quick shoe head adapter.

Two questions; what is your favorite quick shoe adapter and what is your favorite ball head, with or without integral quick shoe?

battleship: built heavy duty, tough, and long lasting.

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 1, 2007

I have a few A-S style clamps, Wimberley, Kirk, and RRS. They're all well made. I think the Wimberley feels the most solid (I have the long one). Kirk offers a wider range of sizes than the others, which is nice if you are looking for a small clamp for something like a flash grip. I have a RRS lever-lock clamp, which is quick to use and handy for tripod heads that don't have enough clearance for a clamping knob, but it doesn't apply as much clamping force as the screw driven clamps.

Lee Shively · Feb 1, 2007

The Arca-Swiss style stuff is $$$. Especially when you have multiple cameras and/or lenses which require the mounting plates.

I have an old, discontinued Bogen ballhead that is a battleship. I don't remember the model number. It's huge, heavy, greasy and probably bomb-proof. It's not real smooth in operation so it doesn't get a lot of use. "Battleship-like" ballheads usually aren't noted to be very refined.

I mostly use a Gitzo 1377M ballhead. I bought it after reading a review on Moose Peterson's nature photo website years ago. He proclaimed it unbreakable. I wouldn't go that far but I do like it. It can be adapted to any style quick release you prefer. I use the big and clunky Bogen flat hex plates and a Bogen adapter on the Gitzo head. They're ugly but they attach very securely and the system doesn't cost a fortune.

Roger Hicks · Feb 1, 2007

Curt said:
This afternoon I was using a ball head with integral quick release shoe. The tightening know stripped out and the ball was stuck in one position. I am looking for a battleship style quick shoe head adapter.

Two questions; what is your favorite quick shoe adapter and what is your favorite ball head, with or without integral quick shoe?

battleship: built heavy duty, tough, and long lasting.

QR plates: Linhof. No contest.

Cheers,

R.

lightranger · Feb 1, 2007

Curt said:
This afternoon I was using a ball head with integral quick release shoe. The tightening know stripped out and the ball was stuck in one position. I am looking for a battleship style quick shoe head adapter.

Two questions; what is your favorite quick shoe adapter and what is your favorite ball head, with or without integral quick shoe?

battleship: built heavy duty, tough, and long lasting.

I use the Linhof 3 way leveling head with the Linhof Large Quick Release Plate. It's the best system I have ever used with my large format equipment.

naturephoto1 · Feb 1, 2007

I use Ball Heads with the Arca type QR clamps and Arca Type QR plates for cameras and lenses.

You may wish to consider the Markins Heads which are well thought of. I have a variety of Ball Heads by Arca Swiss, Linhof, and Markins. My favorite larger head is the Markins M20. I like it very much and will be getting their new Q3 Emille as my backpacking head. You may want to consider the Markins M10 or M20 which are available in a L (left) or R (right, regular version). They can be purchased from Marikins America or Nikonians. I would not suggest purchasing their camera and lens plates however, much preferring those made by Kirk or Really Right Stuff.

Here is a review from Nikonians:

http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/markins/markins_2.html

Here is the Link to Nikonians Proshop:

https://www.photoproshop.com/

Here is the Link to Markins America:

http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/index.php

Rich

jeroldharter · Feb 1, 2007

For the money, I like the Acratech.

Peter De Smidt · Feb 2, 2007

Really Right Stuff Ballheads with Really Right Stuff L-shaped quik release plates. Paul Butzi has a nice review on his website. www.butzi.net

Curt · Feb 3, 2007

The best one seems to be the Acratech and since the Smithsonian uses them I can't go wrong. Thanks Jerold, I hadn't even heard of them until now. Thanks all.

http://acratech.net/

resummerfield · Feb 3, 2007

I use several Arca-Swiss B1 and B2 ball heads, and have found nothing better. For plates I use the RRS variety, which have no equal.

seawolf66 · Apr 6, 2007

I like the Gitzo G1267M just got it and am enjoying it no handles just two knobs: thats it:

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 8, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
QR plates: Linhof. No contest.

Cheers,

R.

Linhof QR, I dumped mine long ago and replaced it with an Arca-Swiss QR system. The Arca-Swiss QR system has plenty of third party support (RRS, Acratech, Markins, Kirk, etc.) producing custom plates for various cameras, especially L-bracket style plates.

Reasons that I dumped the Linhof QR system:

Lack of anti-twist features on the Linhof QR plates.

Linhof QR Plates have sharp corners and edges, using the camera off tripod with a plate attached is unpleasant.

Also, IMHO, Linhof QR gear is way overpriced for what you get.

jstraw · Apr 8, 2007

I've never used a ball head. I have an aversion to them based on a non-empirical presumption that I wouldn't like a head that released in all three axis' at once. I can't imagine how I would control positioning other than one axis at a time.

Yet, a lot of you swear by ball heads. What am I missing here?

This is a sincere question. I'm not looking for contention or debate.

Ted Harris · Apr 8, 2007

I use the A-S system and have also used the Linhof. The Linhof may have a slight edge but, as noted, there is no third party support. I have A-S camera plates and RRS and generic. As far as I am concerned they all work fine and I use them on everything from a 'Texas Leica' through an 8x10. You can easily get the size plate that fits the camera which is a real plus. I have RRS and Generic and Foba clamps and again they all work equally well.

The Acratech is a great head for lighter cameras but it starts to get difficult to use with all but the lighter 4x5 field cameras. Right now I am using a Foba Mini Superball and a Novoflex Classic Ball 3. Both lock tight and stay tight, have good independent tension controls and work smoothly. The Foba has been going strong for ten years plus.

Roger Hicks · Apr 8, 2007

jstraw said:
I've never used a ball head. I have an aversion to them based on a non-empirical presumption that I wouldn't like a head that released in all three axis' at once. I can't imagine how I would control positioning other than one axis at a time.

Yet, a lot of you swear by ball heads. What am I missing here?

This is a sincere question. I'm not looking for contention or debate.

Consider an NPC ProHead -- advantages of both ball and 3-way.

I use ball heads in two situations: maximum grip for minimum weight/bulk AND upside-down, hanging 8x10 camera from ball head on studio stand.

NPC ProHeads are available with Arca-standard QR plates as well.

Cheers,

R.

jstraw · Apr 8, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Consider an NPC ProHead -- advantages of both ball and 3-way.

I use ball heads in two situations: maximum grip for minimum weight/bulk AND upside-down, hanging 8x10 camera from ball head on studio stand.

NPC ProHeads are available with Arca-standard QR plates as well.

Cheers,

R.

Ah, so better grip is one of the advantages of a ball head? I've never had the use of a studio stand, I can see how gravity can be your friend.

Tripod Head Quick Adapters

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