What tripod head and legs do you use for your RB67 in the field?

[Certain Exposures]

So far, budget tripod legs and heads have been a disappointment (not a surprise). I have killed a few and lost my marbles trying to make do with others.

Are you using a combination that works well for travel? I realize 'RB67' and 'travel' is a poor pairing. I plan to do a decent amount of walking with the RB67, the prism, and a 250mm lens.

I have been debating selling a kidney, my first born, and my possibly my dignity to get the Arca Swiss C1 Cube and Gitzo Series 3 Systematic Carbon Fiber Tripod combination that seems so popular for the large format crowd.

Please let me know if there is an option that comes close to the same performance with a friendlier price.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Look at the Manfrotto X-Pro tripod head. It's a 3-way head, not a ball head. Personally I prefer 3-way heads to ball heads. And to get a quality ball head costs much more than a qualtiy 3-way. Ask around about how well the X-Pro would handle an RB67. I've used it with Fuji GFX100s, a rather heavy digital camera setup, along with a variety of lighter medium format setups, with no signs of stress or overloading. I put an Arca adapter onto the Manfrotto plate since I prefer that system.

I have it paired to a Feisol legs. That's a whole other topic that I'll let other more recent purchasers discuss, but over maybe 15 years no issues with the Feisol.

 

[moggi1964]

For my RZ67 setup, I use the Feisol Tournament CT3442 and a Markins M ball head. I use the same setup for my MPP 4x5 setup and it works fine for that too.

I would like a decent 3-way for the MPP setup.

 

[xkaes]

I used a Gitzo Reporter Performance with a Gitzo ball head (175???) for years with no problems -- backpacking with a RB76 Pro S from Canada to Mexico.

I still have the Gitzo -- but now I use it with my Toko (NOT Toyo) 4x5" field camera.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Look at the Manfrotto X-Pro tripod head. It's a 3-way head, not a ball head. Personally I prefer 3-way heads to ball heads. And to get a quality ball head costs much more than a qualtiy 3-way. Ask around about how well the X-Pro would handle an RB67. I've used it with Fuji GFX100s, a rather heavy digital camera setup, along with a variety of lighter medium format setups, with no signs of stress or overloading. I put an Arca adapter onto the Manfrotto plate since I prefer that system.

I have it paired to a Feisol legs. That's a whole other topic that I'll let other more recent purchasers discuss, but over maybe 15 years no issues with the Feisol.

I also prefer a 3-way head and use it from Manfrotto on their heavy tripod, as well as on a studio stand for my Hasselblad kit, without complaints.

 

[MattKing]

When I had my RB67, I was content with the results I obtained with my old, fairly heavy Bogen 3221 legs - I'm not sure what the equivalent Manfrotto model number would have been.
I used a mid-size Manfrotto ball head on them that used the small 200PL quick release plates.
Among the current offerings, it looks like the XPRO Ball Head in magnesium with 200PL plate is similar.
Admittedly, the 140mm macro lens was the largest I used.
A three way head of similar strength would probably be better, but I am space constrained - particularly with respect to transport- and a ball head suits my needs for basically one-handed operation.
The combination required care in use - particularly with respect to the tension adjustment - but with that care the results were excellent.

 

[mshchem]

I would find a set of 40 year old Gitzo aluminum legs and a decent used Manfrotto head (3047?). These days Gitzo is just a brand on crappy Chinese product.

Need to be careful, high price doesn't mean high quality.

 

[mshchem]

RRS ball heads are great too. Pricy

 

[GregY]

I would find a set of 40 year old Gitzo aluminum legs and a decent used Manfrotto head (3047?). These days Gitzo is just a brand on crappy Chinese product.

Need to be careful, high price doesn't mean high quality.

Yes if you can carry an RB/RZ.....you don't need a carbon fibre tripod

 

[itsdoable]

... These days Gitzo is just a brand on crappy Chinese product.

Need to be careful, high price doesn't mean high quality.

Gitzo's are made in China now? Thats news to me!

Not that the manufacturing country detremines quality...

"High prices doesn't always mean high quality" - thats true regardless of manufacture origin.

 

[reddesert]

Something like: Bogen 3021 legs (Manfrotto equivalent is the 055; the Bogen 3221 MattKing named is the same thing but in black), Gitzo 2 or 3 series legs, and a decent pan head; or a Tiltall, which has its own 3-way head. You could probably use a slightly lighter pair of legs than a 3021 if you give up some max height. Of course, the center column has to stay down for stability.

IMO, ball heads have to be really big and pricey to handle big heavy cameras like an RB67 or 4x5, and are still tippy, and a pan head is likely better. There was a period where photo propaganda said "You must have an Arca Swiss B1," which I think was driven to a large degree by 35mm wildife photographers quickly panning around 300mm tele lenses. The needs of someone with an RB67, or a 4x5 monorail, are different.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

With my RB67, I use an old Gitzo Studex Pro series 3 and their three-way head. The tripod, release, and head weigh around 9 pounds, but I've used it for 40 years. I'd probably get a carbon fiber today. Tripod extends to 75" to eyepiece without center column extension. Solid as a rock, even with my 360mm lens. I never tried a ball, but the three-way allows unilateral control in each of the three planes, making small adjustments easier than a ball, which moves in all directions at once, leading to drift into other planes. The 3-way has a tension adjustment that allows movements without slippage.

There is an RB67 quick-release plate for Arc Swiss releases. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2127-REG/Arca_Swiss_802224_Camera_Plate_for_Mamiya.html I tried it with the Kessler quick release, and it didn't fit properly, but it could work with another Arca-Swiss releases. My quick release is now a Kessler setup (not shown in the picture). Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Arthurwg]

I've been using a heavy-duty RRS tripod with a large Linhof ball head for both my RB67 and Hasselblad w/ 500mm telephoto, but I think I'd be much happier with a three-way head. Not sure which one.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I've been using a heavy-duty RRS tripod with a large Linhof ball head for both my RB67 and Hasselblad w/ 500mm telephoto, but I think I'd be much happier with a three-way head. Not sure which one.

Here's a link to B&H new ones available from them.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=three%20way%20head&sort=BEST_SELLERS

 

[smokeandnomirrors]

Not necessarily for medium format specifically, but I like the gear heads from Benro https://benrousa.com/gd3wh-3-way-geared-head/ and Leofoto https://leofotousa.com/products/leofoto-gw-01-geared-ball-head-with-plate-arca-swiss-compatible

I have L-brackets for my FF gear so they just slide directly into either head. For my MF gear I just buy additional mounting plates. I prefer the gear heads for almost everything, my second place is a pan head and far, far down the list are ball heads which I will never use voluntarily.

For tripods I have a bunch of Benros, I'm happy with them so I haven't looked further. The Benro Mammoth TMTH44C and Induro Classic CF 303 are some of the more heavy-duty ones I have, certainly plenty stout for MF gear. I can't remember if it's one of both of them that don't have enough clearance for the gear heads, I had to buy a spacer https://benrousa.com/gdhad1-tripod-spacer/ to get one or both of the heads to clear.

If you can afford RRS gear it's probably better from what I hear, but I haven't seen any here. I'm completely satisified with the Benros in terms of stoutness and build quality. Aside from needing the spacer, the only significant annoyance is the travel bags the tripods are sold with (which are quite nice quality) are not long/tall enough to carry the tripod with a gear head. Replacement bags have to be bought from some other company.

If you carry your gear in the field without a bag, these are worth looking into. If not, hmmm don't know what to say.

 

[Jim Peterson]

I use a Markins 10 ballhead and a Manfrotto 055CX Pro 3 carbon fiber legs for my RZ67II. The heaviest lens I have is the 180mm WN. So far so good. Would eventually like to get an Apo 250mm lens and not sure if what I have is adequate.

 

[MCB18]

I use a really old tripod for mine. Don’t remember what brand but it goes really freaking high lol. I hiked with it a couple weeks ago. It’s a heavy kit but well worth the effort. Of course it ended up being really sunny and f/11 @250th or 1/60th was common, so no need for it after all lol.

 

[Maris]

I use an old Velbon Sherpa tripod with its two way head and quick release plate.The tripod is very light but completely adequate because I leave the RB67 prism at home and go out with the Waist Level Finder. The WLF is much lighter than the prism but the key thing is the camera can be set about one metre above the ground instead of the 1.5 to 1.6m needed for the eye level prism. A "high" tripod demands a more weight and technology to be steady than a "low" one.

 

[epatsellis]

for the last 35+ years I've been using an original Marchioni Brothers Tilt-All.

 

[rulnacco]

I no longer have my RB67--but I do shoot with an RZ67 (and a Hasselblad V). The tripod I've used for the past decade with those cameras has been the Benro Mach 3 (I have this version, which is no longer available, but there are updated versions). It's been great: light but rugged, compact but able to be extended considerably, versatile leg set.

Mine came with a ball head that was pretty decent, but I eventually replaced it with an Arca Swiss BH-1 when I found a good deal on one. For me, it's been the perfect setup--I've never wanted anything else after getting this tripod and head.

 

[benderscameracorner]

Old Manfrotto three-way head I bought in 1998, though it's sitting on somewhat newer legs that I acquired from an exgirlfriend. Heavy but stable as.

I have used the RB67 with my lightweight carbon hiking tripod (Leofoto 255CEX) for certain trips (ie. the ones with a 1000m climb up a mountain at a 45-deg angle) and it actually held up fairly OK so long as the legs weren't at full extension. I often tension the head by running a line to a tent snow/sand peg underneath, an easier/less swaying option to hanging a bag when you're trying to limit movement in wind etc.

 

[Korbel]

I have rollei C5i, in my country currently available for ~80€

Arca-swiss, ball head, its possible to detach one leg and use it as a monopod.

I even got video shots on it and people asked me what fluid head I have.

With my 6+kg setup it has a little slack, but you could avoid it if you center the plate to weight properly.

Have it for 8 years, thousands of shots and it never failed me.

 

[thinkbrown]

I'm not using an rb67, but I do use a Mamiya press which I believe is a similar weight and even shares a plate. I'm primarily using an Oben CT-3565, and while the original ball head performed fine I've recently taken to using a Leofoto G2 geared head which I'm quite fond of.