The Physics of Putting a Pan Base at the Top of Your Tripod Head

[Larry Huppert]

Thanks for all the responses. I've decided to punt, and go the traditional route. I've ordered the Gitzo leveler. At $135, the Gitzo leveler is 1/3 the cost of the Foba experimental solution. I still think it will be interesting to see the Arca Swiss adapter once they bring it to market. They tend to do everything rock solid.

I second Ellis's recommendation for the B2. Although it's large compared the the B1, it's still much smaller, lighter and more stable than other heads with similar load bearing capability.

[Rob Tucher]

I should check out the B2, because I've never even seen one. I have a very old Arca Swiss Monoball, which is rock solid but was designed long ago and doesn't even have a vertical position or pan. It's purely a ball with a tripod screw. But it is the only thing to use in certain situations, as with a field camera clamped inderneath a bridge.