What head will match nicely a wooden tripod?

[darinwc]

A recent thread gave me a terrible case of GAS and I ended up aquiring this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250076987743
It is a great sturdy tripod for my 4x5 and will be just right for my 8x10 when I can use it (my darkroom is dismantled right now) The wood is beautiful, allthough the cast metal plate looks crude.

Considering the size of the mounting plate is about 6 inches in diameter, a basic pan-tilt head will look silly on it. Also I dont need the full movements of most heads.

I think what i am looking for is something short, wide, and not too heavy.
Any suggestions?

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I think back in the days when wooden tripods were the norm, to work with wooden cameras..the camera was mounted directly on the top of the tripod as illustrated in your auction reference. The tilt was effected by either splaying the legs, or putting them at different heights.

 

[Donald Miller]

Depending on the stud size, you could probably mount any of the bogen heads. A 3047 should handle 8X10...I never had problem with one. Those heads come up on auction from time to time.

 

[ingobohn]

Well - what would better fit to a wooden tripod than a "wooden" head? Maybe something like this http://www.berlebach.de/inhalte/pro...hp?PHPSESSID=232337ae7768a205379ec6ad52c9c9ad from german manufacturer "Berlebach"?

 

[Pinholemaster]

http://www.riestripod.com/head.htm

 

[Terence]

Occasionally you'll find an old Burke & James book-style head. It looks like two boards hinged together on one end and with quadrant hinges along the sides. I have one, but the lower board is split at the tripod socket.

 

[Ole]

Most of the time, I use a Stabil wooden tripod with a massive ballhead on it. Sometimes I drop the head, and just use a panorama plate instead for better stability. I haven't tried using the book-style head yet - will have to try that. As soon as I've finished making some kind of camera mounting screw for the huge "doughnut head" on another tripod. It's a big "split doughnut" tilt thingy, with a large wooden plate on top. And then again I have an old Gandolfi tripod too, with a simple tilting mechanism and a big wooden plate. The same as is still on Gandolfi's website...

 

[epatsellis]

I had one similar one, though it was labeled Baco, with a largish Baco tilt head, similar to the Ries. Worked wonderfully...


erie

 

[jstraw]

I'd go for functionality over aesthetics. I need a three-axis controls and I have a major dislike for ball heads.

 

[JBrunner]

A Majestic gear head would be right at home. (price chart is in the catalogue link at the bottom, they are very affordable, even new.)

http://www.bencher.com/photo/gearheads.php

 

[Jim Noel]

On my wooden tripods I use a Bako head on the smallest one, a birds eye Maple Ries, and Otto two way heads on the others, both Otto's.

The modern Ries head is basically a copy of the Bako. The Otto head was made, obviously, by the makers of the Otto tripods which were lighter than comparable sized Ries, but just as strong.

If you are lucky enough to find an Otto head, they fit other tripods as well.

 

[darinwc]

Thanks
Looks like a Majestic or Ries head will be my best bet, especially if I use it for 8x10. I have also seen some Gitzo heads with really big tables on them.

I also like the idea of the book-style platform, but I havent heard of anyone using them.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I have a 3047 I use with my 35mm and it's great for that but I simply doesn't stand up to my 8x10. Get a Ries or a majestic... Looks like you got that for a song! Nice find. Best. Shawn

 

[darinwc]

Just an update.. As someone suggested I tried out using the tripod without any head, and just by mounting the camera directly on the pod. I used the leg extention to basically get the camera level. I used rise/fall top make small adjustments in the frame, and the camera swiveled easily since the tightening screw was easily accessible.

I was pretty happy with the setup. Most of my LF work is pretty level anyway. I'll still keep my eyes open for a good sturdy head for when I need more tilts.