Which tripod head for large format photography

[Otto Seaman]

Most of the tripods mentioned here are overkill for a light 4x5 - most people end up getting a dedicated tripod for 8x10 and a lighter version for 4x5.

I use a RRS ball head and legs for 4x5. It works very well if you read the instructions and use the ball head with enough drag to give yourself subtle control.

For 8x10, it depends on the camera design but the large, low-profile Gitzo 1504 3-way head with the large platform is great for flatbeds. The Ries, Sinar, and Linhof two-axis heads are also very nice and sturdy without being too heavy.

[Tin Can]

OP wants it for his new 8x10.

[Ari]

You must know a lot of curse words, Ari!

Yes, but they all have to do with film scanning, or "New Country" music.

Ari's is a hybrid: It's a ball head where you can lock one axis independently of the other.

Peter, while that's true, I've found that using the right amount of friction is just as effective as having the tilt lock.

[Robert Langham]

I think I'm using a Gitzo #4 pan-tilt head. Nice for holding large format. I tried several ball heads and just couldn't make them go. It's heavy, but really pretty good. I use a little level from home depot. Carbon fiber legs. I carry it a good bit but rarely more than half mile.





You don't want to over-kill it....but you do want to kill it.

[Lenny Eiger]

I carry my camera on the tripod over my shoulder while on a trail. One thing that's nice with the Gitzo head is that there are 2 screws. This keeps the camera from spinning off. The plate I had on my Canham only had one screw hole and I took it to a machine shop and got another one drilled. So much more stability. I love it.

I had a ball head for it, but I found it quite untenable, when dealing with a ground glass with lines on it, to line up things. I could never get the tension just right. It was much simpler for me to use the three-way head.

I love my Gitzo's...


Lenny

[Alan Gales]

Yes, but they all have to do with film scanning, or "New Country" music.

"What they call country music today is sort of like bad rock groups with a fiddle." (a recent Tom Petty Quote)

I think he summed it up pretty well!


Of course rock is dead also.

[Alan Gales]

I suppose I did not know better and just made it work for me.

Hey Vaughn, whatever works for you. My way is the right way for me but not everyone!

Of course, you all ready know that.

[Michael Graves]

I think I'm using a Gitzo #4 pan-tilt head. Nice for holding large format. I tried several ball heads and just couldn't make them go. It's heavy, but really pretty good. I use a little level from home depot. Carbon fiber legs. I carry it a good bit but rarely more than half mile.





You don't want to over-kill it....but you do want to kill it.

Ditto...the Rationale 4 is an older model that holds up well to time and can frequently be had inexpensively. I am a big fan of ball heads for small cameras, but like the OP found that they were untenable for use with an 8x10. I dropped a #4 onto a 4042 Berlebach (I think I have the model number right) and a have a tripod that weighs under 10 pounds, including head, that will take my Toyo 810M to a height that requires me to stand on a step stool in order to focus. And I'm 6 foot 4. I turned it into a quick release by adding a Cambo QR adapter plate and putting a 3\8" plate on the bottom of the camera. It works great.

[Drew Bedo]

In 3x5 I put my zone VI on a CF Velbome light weight (dunno the model) mounted with a Velbon PH 263 magnesium alloy ballhead.

In 8X10 I mount my Kodak 2-D directly onto a Burlibach tripod with a leveling center colume. This provides ehough movement for most of what I do. This also reduces the carry-around weight of the kit by eliminating several pounds of tripod head.

[Robert Opheim]

I also use a Gitzo #5 flat profile 3-way head for 8x10. It is light fairly compact. I use it with my 4x5 Technikardan on series 3 Gitzo legs - which is over-kill. I use is with my Calumet C-2 Black Monster with series 4 legs. It supports the Black Monster quite well. Relative to other heads that have a large base plate it is fairly light. I found mine used in a shop for $75 dollars - they can be found reasonably priced.