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Thread: 3 way head, which to choose?

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2007
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    3 way head, which to choose?

    hi,
    after 15 years using the berlebach levelling head i want to buy a 3 way head.
    i would love to buy a geard head like the manfrotto 400 but its to expensive for me.
    alternatives are,

    1. manfrotto 229
    2. gitzo 1570
    3. manfrotto 160

    i will use it with a heavy field camera and long tele lenses.
    can somebody compare between them? what would you buy.
    thanks, boris

  2. #2

    Join Date
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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    The one on the far right looks like the renamed and renumbered version of a Bogen 3057 head I used with an 8x10 Deardorff. It was an excellent head, very sturdy with the 4" square base. The only downside was its weight. I'd cetainly recommend it to anyone using a 12+ pound camera who wasn't planning to hike long distances. I don't know anything about the other two. I've had several that looked like the one on the left (mine were Bogen 3039 and Bogen 3047) but I'm not sure the one you picture is either of those. If by chance it is then the one on the right would be a better choice IMHO for a heavy (12+) pound camera.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  3. #3

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    the first on the left is a bogen 3039 (manfrotto 229) load capacity 12kg.
    the far right (#160) is rated till 10kg.
    why would you choose #160

  4. #4

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    Quote Originally Posted by boris View Post
    the first is a bogen 3039 (manfrotto 229) load capacity 12kg.
    the far right (#160) is rated till 10kg.
    why would you choose #160
    Because the Bogen 3057 I had felt sturdier, more solid, and had a larger base that seemed like it would support an 8x10 camera better than the Bogen 3039 I had (though I never used the 3039 with an 8x10 camera).
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  5. #5

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    thank you brian.
    i would like to buy the manfrotto 160 (bogen 3057) because of the comparative short handel. i was just unsure because of it's rarity. b&h doesn't sell it..
    boris

  6. #6

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    If they're not still made, it might be possible to find a 4"x4" plate for the 3039 on the left. I know that Bogen made them at one time. Having a 26lb capacity makes it one of Bogen's most sturdy heads. I have this head and really like it. It's kind of an upgrade to the 3047 that was such a great head.

    As to the best of the three, I've only used the two on the left. While a great head and relatively lightweight, it's a pain to be constantly attaching and unattaching the camera to and from the middle head. It sounds like Brian has had experience with both the outside heads. I'm pretty sure that the one on the left is the 3039.

  7. #7

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    I would go for the Gitzo because it's a low profile head and will not flop around like the other two. The range of movement is less with the Gitzo but it still gives you plenty of movement to level side to side and full movement to point the front down or up. Have a nice day.

  8. #8

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    The Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 is and has been for many years, the de-facto standard three way head for 4x5 and 5x7.

  9. #9

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    Quote Originally Posted by BradS View Post
    The Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 is and has been for many years, the de-facto standard three way head for 4x5 and 5x7.
    Perhaps one, but it is not the "de-facto standard". There are other choices, like the Linhof 003663 3-way leveling head. Different price points however.

  10. #10

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    Re: 3 way head, which to choose?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon - HP Marketing View Post
    Perhaps one, but it is not the "de-facto standard". There are other choices, like the Linhof 003663 3-way leveling head. Different price points however.
    as a matter of form. i will include the linhof option..
    1. once upon a time i had the linhof profi III ( first picture). 1900$, load12kg, weight 3,4kg. just a great head, if you don't look at the price
    2. the linhof 003663 (second picture) 850$, load 5kg, weight 0,8 kg. linhof recommend this head for 4x5. 1,8 lb is to light to support a 16lb camera.
    3. while browsing the linhof site i found a third optionis. very nice indeed. 1000$ load 10kg, weight 1,2kg. very low profile! height is just the half of the manfrotto 229!
    two things that cause confusion regarding the third head.
    1. i just miss the pan looking screw
    2. i suspect that it will not pan on every tripod, because of the two metal rods going well below the base of the head. it will work well on studio stands, or a extended central column. i do not use a center column so this head is not an option for me.
    boris

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