Inexpensive Tripod Head for 4x5?

[AutumnJazz]

I'll be jumping into LF soon (late December!), and all I that I have not really decided on is a tripod head (and darkcloth, but a good one should be easy to find). I have a tripod head now, but it is puny and not even recommended for use with MF.

Quick-release would be awesome, but not required...Although I'll probably go for a QR in the end. I know brand loyalty is stupid, but I've never had a bad Bogen/Manfrotto product.

So, can anyone recommend anything for me? I would really only consider a ball-head or a geared head (which seem expensive). I'll be using a Gandolfi Variant 4x5".

Thank you guys!

[Vaughn]

For small cameras like 4x5's, I do like ballheads -- I used a Gitzo #2 Ballhead with both a Gowland PocketView (very light) and a Deardorf Special clone (set up for 5x7), and it worked very well with both. But this was 15 years ago, and there seems to be even better on the market now. Ballheads seem to be one of those types of equipment that people either like or hate.

Photo Clams on Kerry's site http://reallybigcameras.com/ look pretty nice, but I have not handled one. But for about $200, you can get one that handles about 10 times the weight of your camera, yet weighs less than a pound (w/ QR).

I have used an older Bogen Ballhead for 4x5, I had bought it for student use -- it was difficult to use and I have mothballed it. The latest ones are quite different, but are over twice the weight as the Photo Clams.

Good luck in your search! There are some other excellent ballheads out there, but they get pretty pricey!

Vaughn

[AutumnJazz]

I have a ball-head right now, and I like it. But it just isn't strong enough for 4x5.

[Alan Davenport]

I'm not sold on ballheads for LF, not even for 4x5. They just seem too difficult to get everthing lined up in all directions and keep it there when you lock it down.

Best of all, IMO, is a geared head like the Manfrotto 410. That may be the best head around for 4x5. A friend has one, but he develops a strange temporary deafness whenever I suggest he give it to me.

Personally, I'm still using a Bogen 3030, which is pretty good for 4x5. It isn't as precise as a geared head, but at least I can adjust it in one axis without having everything else change at the same time. The 3030 uses the smaller rectangular QR plates, which may seem small but they work fine with both my field camera and with a 12 lb monorail.

[weasel]

Bogen 4047 if you don't mind a little weight. You should be able to find one cheap.

[eddie]

i use a bogen 3047. they are very cheap most of the time. i got a 3021 tripod and the 3047 head with plate for less than $100. keep your eyes out. i perfect setup IMO.

[Peter De Smidt]

Bogen 410, as long as your camera is fairly light. If you want a ball head, check out Photo Clam ball heads that Kerry at Really Big Cameras has listed on the resources section of this site.

Otherwise, you can get used heads very reasonably. For large field cameras, for example, I use a Gitzo rational series 5 head from about 1970. It works great. I prefer a pan/tilt head without huge honk'n handles that get caught on everything.

[Frank Petronio]

They really named their ballheads "Photo-Clam"? OMG that's great

[AutumnJazz]

Photo Clam is the brand. They also make a geared head.

I already have an amazing tripod...the 4-section carbon fiber one. It weighs less than my 35mm camera!

[walter23]

I use something like this as well. Mine has slightly different handles and a rectangular plate instead of a hex plate, but same idea. Simple, not too expensive ($75 or so in CAD), relatively sturdy:
http://shop.haroldsphoto.com/images/..._pods/3047.jpg