Tripod heads for 4x5

[Dick Clark]

I've been reading the response to the "What head for 4x5?" and have received som e good advice on the side from some of you on this topic. Now I'm sure the Arca Swill and Linhoffs are wonderful heads and all but a coupl e things have me concerned:

1) They aren't that light in weight and are designed to hold 8x10 camers on up. This seems to me like overkill if one is using a field camera weighing less th at 5 lbs, kinda like buying a Mack truck for grocery shopping trips. If you're hiking or bakcpacking with the gear, the weight adds up all too quickly.

2) Also they are very expensive. For the price of some of these heads I could buy a new lense or about 350 sheets of velvia.

Isn't their a high quality, light wiehgt alternative designed for small 3x5 fiel d cameras? Someone mentioned Kack Dykinga uses such and such brand ... well, I' ve seen pictures of John Fielder with his camera and I'll be darned if that Linh off isn't sitting on what has to be a Bogen Super 3D head ( about $35), I can't imagine using this head but is stuff seems sharp. So I was wondering what else might be out there that can be recommended?

THX

T

[Bruce M. Herman]

Todd,

I don't recall if I contributed an answer to your original question - short term memory is one of the first things to go...

I've owned two Bogen heads - one was their original ball head and the second was one of their 3D heads. The 3D head was quite stable, but seemed heavy and clunky for the strength it had. As I recall, it didn't move smoothly either. I've seen the new Bogen ball heads and their new 3D heads, and still don't think much of their movements.

I sold it and purchased a Gitzo 500 series 3D head. Now this is overkill, as you say, even for my TK45 with my heaviest lenses (e.g., 600 mm Fuji tele). But the head is relatively light and has very nice movements over temperatures from -25 to +80F. I think that Gitzo has replaced this series of heads with different models, but I would expect the same high standard of performance. I don't recall that I paid all that much for it - $150 or so. I haven't priced the new Gitzo 3D heads, because mine is still going strong, despite exposure to sea spray, blowing dust, etc. You do get what you pay for. Bruce

[William Marderness]

I use a Gitzo 1570M low profile head for 8x10. It is light, being made of Magnesium. For a smaller head for 4x5, try a 3 series low profile head.

[Roger Rouch]

Todd, I don't want to side track your question, but it does seem like there is a general perception that as you progress in format size you must neccessarily increase the weight and sturdiness of the tripod and head. Even the Gitzo catalog somewhat supports this. As a hiker who wants to find a loophole in this to keep weight to a minimum, I have to wonder why the same sturdy outfit that would work for an F3 and a 105 lens at a little under four pounds would't work for a lightweight wooden field with a half pound lens at about 5 pounds. A respectful amatuer, Roger

[Masayoshi Hayashi]

Todd, a good candidate for the weight of your camera is Bogen Compact gear head 3275($140). It weighs 3.12lb according to B&H web site. (You may consider it not light weight.) Although I don't have a personal experience with this head, I have heard several positive comments in photo.net.

I'm not sure which way you're going, either a pan or ball head but as long as you have a bubble level (2 way, like a Hama stuff; or the one meant to level on tripod), a ball head is a good choice. B1 weighs only 1.7lb.

[Bob Eskridge]

A suitable ball head is probably the lightest and most compact head for backpacking 4X 5.

My favorite is the Standard ballhead from Benbo. It has a large 1.5" diameter head and weighs only 15oz in the non-panoramic version. I have used it with a field 4X5, Horseman technical cameras, and a Hassy with a 250 lens. B&H's catalog lists it for $65.95. I suspect that the Really Right Stuff quickrelease can be screwed right on the head after the "top plate" is removed.

The head tends to lock up when not used. That is easily remedied by thightening the locking screw even harder and the backing off. Also, I had to tighten up the base screws.

The focal length of the lenses being used are just as important and the weight of the camera on determining the strength of the tripod/head combo needed.

[Daniel Taylor]

after packing around my Technikardan and Arca Swiss, I quickly realized that ball-heads don't do well with LF. at least not for me. I bought the Bogen 3275 geared head and love it. the secret was purchasing the RRS plate, which allows me to slide the center of gravity over the head. much smoother and much greater stability. this too, is an overkill for backpacking. you just have to make compromises somewhere to keep the weight down, and I would select the new Bogen magnesium mount. costs $30 as I recall, and nothing fancy about it, other than two axis lightweight attachment to your tripod. understand these constraints, work within them, shed the weight.

[Struan Gray]

If your camera has a rotating (or switchable) back and you don't mind fiddling with the tripod legs while setting up you can replace the head with a ball-leveller or even a simple tilting plate. On my Gitzo the top platform can rotate if I loosen the locking nut, so for many shots I can get away with no extra hardware at all. With my Benbo, the centre column has plenty of degrees of freedom (too many for some :-) and I attach a Manfrotto hex plate adapter directly to the end of the column.

[Ron_673]

Todd... I will add another perpective to your tripod head inquiry. I currently use a Schoon ballhead which is very suitable for 8X10. I also use a head call a Giotto MH1001 ball head to support a Linhof Technika 4X5. This is a very very good low cost head. I think I paid about $85 for it new. I have used a number of the Bogen heads and i keep coming back to the ballheads. If you are on a budget, buy the Giotto. If you are not on a budget, buy the Schoon, Linhof, Arca, Brom or Gitzo heads. Good luck!

[David L. DuPuy]

I do have experience with the Bogen geared head, #3275 ("410"), and it's an excellent head for 4x5. I especially like the gear drive on all three axes, with a quick release on each axis. I'm not quite so fond of the quick release plate that screws to the camera, but it works well enough. It's plenty sturdy for 4x5, and it's lightweight. David