Tripod head

[Darryl Roberts]

Hi,

I have a wonderful tripod legs and a Mint Mamiya C220.

What tripod head do you recommend?

Advanced thank you

 

[BrianShaw]

This is a deeply personal decision that is, perhaps, best based in personal experience. For most applications I prefer 3-way heads but for waist-level finders I’ve evolved to using a ball head. Ball head is a bit fiddly to adjust but often quicker. I found a monopod to be quite effective in many situations rather than a tripod.

 

[Kino]

The Manfroto 322RC2 pistol grip head is a good compromise between a ball head and a 3 way head.

Wouldn't use it on a view camera, but for 35mm and Medium Format, it is fine with a 17 lb rating.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I prefer carbon fiber tripods rated at about twice the weight of the camera and heaviest lens. I found that the Induro tripods cost much less then the big names and use the same tripod quick releases such as Swiss Arca et al.

 

[Besk]

The Manfrotto 056 (formerly Bogen 3025) 3 way head is light, cheap and easy to use. They are cheapest on Ebay.

 

[MattKing]

The Manfrotto 056 (formerly Bogen 3025) 3 way head is light, cheap and easy to use. They are cheapest on Ebay.

For clarity - almost the entire world knows of that tripod under the Manfrotto name.
Bogen, the US importer and distributor at the time, insisted instead that US sales be under their name and designation.

 

[Pieter12]

Leophoto makes a decent (stolen) copy of the much more expensive RRS ballheads. If your ethics and pocketbook are short, something to consider.

 

[Dan Daniel]

I've been using a Manfrotto X-Pro 3 for a decade or so and enjoy it. I have an Arca adapter mounted in the quick release. It allows for setting tension on each axis so it doesn't flop away on you as you unlock. The handles slide in and out to become pretty compact. And I like 3-way heads, a matter of personal preference.

When I bought it, it was under $100. It went up to $110 for a few years. And now it is $199???? Wow...

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1034870-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_3w_3_way_pan_tilt_head.html

 

[MTGseattle]

I can't seem to find a combination of head or head/quick release system that doesn't cause me grief.
I should steal a page from @DREW WILEY playbook, and mount my 8x10 on my tripod legs without a head and quit whining.

That being said. A budget 3-way head would be simple and easy to use for you. The Mamiya C series are a bit heavier than some other TLR's, so perhaps a ball-head would serve you well?
There's also the Bogen/Manfrotto 410 junior geared head.

Another consideration is whether you will be using a prism finder or the waist level finder. It may turn out that one head works great for prism but not great for waist level. There are almost too many options and variables.

Do you have a head that you like with your other formats? Try that combo out and see how it goes.

 

[Vaughn]

I use a TLR with a waist level finder quite a bit. It is nice being able to use a short tripod. I use a ballhead. In most cases I find a 3-way to be over-kill for my light Rolleicord and the little bit heavier Rolleiflex. But some practice and patience is helpful dealing with more than one axis at a time.

 

[wiltw]

The Manfroto 322RC2 pistol grip head is a good compromise between a ball head and a 3 way head.

Wouldn't use it on a view camera, but for 35mm and Medium Format, it is fine with a 17 lb rating.

If one plans to cover sports, one might find a head which pans while locking in the other axes is necessary, and most pistol grips lack that capability, forcing a shooter to constants squeeze the trigger release in order to pan.

Wilth a square format camera, at least one also does not have to deal with a camera that is tilted into the other orientation of the frame, which is sometimes going to have pistol grips that slip when the body it tilted 90 degrees.

At one time (several decades ago) I owned a pistol grip for a period of time, and shot using a 135 format SLR, and discovered the issues that I mentioned above. And I tested a number of different pistol grips that I encounted in photography stores, to see how they did or didn't address the issues.

 

[blee1996]

I also find ball head plus Arca Swiss type quick release plate much easier to use with almost any camera, except maybe heavy 8x10. You can always use a 3-way spirit level on the cold/hot shoe for perfect alignment.

 

[guangong]

This is a deeply personal decision that is, perhaps, best based in personal experience. For most applications I prefer 3-way heads but for waist-level finders I’ve evolved to using a ball head. Ball head is a bit fiddly to adjust but often quicker. I found a monopod to be quite effective in many situations rather than a tripod.

Ditto. Trial and error and personal preference. The real difficulty is the disappearance of camera stores where one could try different camera supports with one’s camera, rather than buying online sight unseen.