Ball head or geared head for a 4x5 camera?

[bobwysiwyg]

Back when I shot 35mm cameras I always thought a ball head would be nice. I thought it would be easier and faster to use. I finally bought a used Gitzo ball head for my DSLR and found out the opposite was true. I't turns out that I'm a one axis at a time kind of guy. I can't imagine using one with a large format camera. I favor my Ries double-tilt heads.

A lot of people like ball heads so to each their own. My suggestion is to try both and see what works for you.

Ditto. When I first started with 4x5 postings seemed to suggest that ball heads were the way to go. After struggling to control it I gave up and switched to a two way head. Much happier! Yes, they tend to weigh more but worth the extra few ounces in my book. As suggested, try both if you can.

[Robert Langham]

I tried ball heads- totally uncontrollable for my view cameras. For me at least. I'd go with a used Gitzo pan/tilt of some sort and a few hardware store levels in the bag.

[Anil Kalagatla]

Yup, this is the OP, I will be going with the 410 :-)

There was a minor furore that erupted last time someone asked about "Pan-Tilt vs Ball Head" so I hope by now the OP has settled on buying one or the other.

[Vaughn]

I was very happy with my Gitzo Ballhead #2 on a #300 Gitzo Studex (for landscape). I had a very lightweight 4x5 and used it and the ballhead for many years. Like anything else, once one gets use to something, it can be very fast in use. Fortunately I did not know better, so was quite happy with the set-up. I still find a relatively short tripod and a ballhead very nice for my Rolleiflex (waist-level finder).

But for 4x5 and 5x7 I now have a 200 series Gitzo (Reporter) with a Bogen 3-way pan head, and a set of 300 series Studex legs if I need a heavier pod for short hike or car use.

I have used a Majestic gear head. I think you will like the 410, its beautiful step-sister.

[Steve Goldstein]

Can the 410 or 229 be easily adapted to the Arca-Swiss system?

[WayneStevenson]

I use a Manfrotto 029 pan and tilt with 4x5.

[Peter De Smidt]

Can the 410 or 229 be easily adapted to the Arca-Swiss system?

Yes, you can put an Arca clamp on top, which is what I do when I use my dslr or fuji rangefinders with the head. Hejnar makes an Arca clamp that replaces the Manfrotto plate that's more elegant than my solution.

[Cletus]

Well, since I tend to be a bit of a contrarian anyway, I'll emphatically vote for the ballhead, but not just ANY ballhead. I've used several P-Ts (never a 410 though) and I still believe that a properly adjusted Arca B1 or Z1 is the pinnacle of control and stability for all but the very largest and heaviest of ULF cameras. In those cases I would defer to those mounting directly, or using heavy Ries gear.

I have and used a BH-55 for some time, with the belief that it was the best all-around head available, but IMO the Arca Z1 is superior still, and by no small margin either. I use it regularly with a 9lb Shen Hao 8x10 and prior to that, a 15lb (with lens) Sinar 8x10. As improbable as it is, given its size and weight, the Z1 is so 'dense', solidly damped and greasy smooth in motion that when properly set, you can move the camera on any axis, in increments of millimeters with zero chatter, bounce, skip, jump, whathaveyou. Once locked, the ball unifies with the base and the housing to the point the camera literally becomes one with the tripod. Like sitting on granite.

So I would recommend the Arca Z1 or B1 (or B2 if you can afford it) above all else. And at the risk of taking the minority position in this argument. :-|

[Drew Bedo]

I haven't read the whole thread . . .so I recognise that am coming late to the party.

With respect for the OP: I do not quite understand why this question needs to be asked in the first place. Why not just get one or the other (ball-head or geared head) based on availability and cost—and see how it works out. If you are not comfortable working with whatever you have, dump it and get the other.

Myself: I use both a ball head and a pan head at different times. My 8x10 Kodak 2D is often mounted directly (no ball head or pan head at all) to a wooden tripod with a self-leveling cemter post.

[Drew Wiley]

Yeah... I prefer neither. In fact, my favorite kind of tripod head for large format is none at all. Works great for me. But when I just have to use one, it's always a
solid pan/tilt. As far as I'm concerned, ball heads are the root of all evil when it comes to view camera stability, though might be OK is you have an especially well
built one paired to a lightwt 4x5 with modest bellows extension. Just doesn't make sense from the common laws of physics standpoint. ... the weak point in the
whole support system.