any cheap tripod head for Sinar F2?

[danielmk2]

I got an Sinar F2 today and I'm going to use 90mm and 150mm lens on it. But when I was about to mount it on the tripod, I found my tripod plate is too small for the F2. I have to buy another tripod head for it.

I'm a student so price is very important to me, I've been searching a bit via internet but still have no idea, is there any very economical choice? Ball or 3-way head are both ok and I don't mind buying second hand or older type, if the head can hold the F2 it'll be good enough.

Much appreciated.

[Frank Petronio]

You can, of course, simply forget the head and screw the camera onto the tripod. Not only is it lighter, but it's a lot more solid. You can rotate the camera rail for yaw, adjust the leg height for tilt, and rotate the tripod for pan. The only thing it isn't good for is extreme downward shots.

When you can, save up for the wonderful Sinar Pan-Tilt Head to use with your Sinar.

[Bob Salomon]

"adjust the leg height for tilt"
And bump a leg accidently in this configuration and watch the whole thing fall over!

[rdenney]

"adjust the leg height for tilt"
And bump a leg accidently in this configuration and watch the whole thing fall over!

Depends on the tripod and the spread of the legs.

It's good for some tilt. But the F2 has adequate movements to simulate a fairly pronounced downward tilt by lowering the front, raising the rear, and tilting both standards to the same angle. Focusing will require a lot of readjustment, though.

For most landscapes, the rail will need to be level and you'll only need enough leg movement (or extension) to make it that way. After turning the whole tripod to point the camera in the right direction, rise, fall and shift can adjust the image in view.

A Bogen hex-plate with a 3/8" bolt is just big enough to barely seat well on the Sinar tripod adapter. The Bogen 3047 (Manfrotto 029) is the basic, very large 3-way head that was used on the big Bogen tripods for years. It takes the hex plates, and used ones are cheap and plentiful. Prices on ebay are all over the map, but under $50 for a decent looking example is common. You can often buy a big Bogen tripod (ex. 3036) with a 3047 for a hundred bucks or a bit more, and then sell the legs alone for the same amount. Or use it and sell your current tripod, which is probably not as big.

Edit: Bogen made a hex-plate with a 4" square platform. Probably hard to find though.

Edit Again: Yup. The wide hex plate is no longer available. But the standard hex plate with a flush 3/8" bolt is only $16 at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...k_Release.html

No ball head in the same price range as the 3047 will do, and this camera doesn't work wonderfully with ball heads in any case.

When you can afford the Sinar tilt head, buy it and sell the Bogen head. You'll probably get your money back.

Rick "for whom 3047 heads seem to multiply like rabbits" Denney

[danielmk2]

Thanks Frank, the tips is really inspiring me. I didn't realize I actually don't need a 3-way head because I can adjust the yaw with the rail and a pan-tilt head is good enough.

But I just tried it, the tripod mount is not big enough for the F2 base, That base is just so large and it's not a flat surface, the space between the screw hole and the outside rim is empty...

Bob, I think Frank means adjusting the leg of the F2 instead of the tripod leg.

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks Frank, the tips is really inspiring me. I didn't realize I actually don't need a 3-way head because I can adjust the yaw with the rail and a pan-tilt head is good enough.

But I just tried it, the tripod mount is not big enough for the F2 base, That base is just so large and it's not a flat surface, the space between the screw hole and the outside rim is empty...

Bob, I think Frank means adjusting the leg of the F2 instead of the tripod leg.

I am pretty sure he meant the tripod leg. The F2 does not have legs. It has uprights and they don't tilt.

[Joshua Dunn]

Listen to Frank. Get a Sinar head as soon as you can afford one. They are not cheap but once you use one you will understand. I have seen them go for as little as $250 (if you can call that little).

In the meantime what kind of tripod head do you have now? Do you mean by "my tripod plate is too small” that the tripod head will not physically fit the Sinar on it or the threaded screw is too small? Depending on the head you have you may be able to get a different screw to fit the Sinar rather than replacing the entire head.

If you can’t replace the screw and assuming the head / legs combination will support the Sinar than you can get a reducing bushing (like this one) that will allow you to use the smaller screw on the tripod head with the larger socket on the F2 rail clamp.

The only other thing I would add is if you do get another tripod head my experience is that ball heads are a real pain with large format.

Hope this helps,

-Joshua

[Frank Petronio]

It sounds like you have a seriously undersized tripod....

You need something starting with a Manfrotto 190, Tiltall, Gitzo #3-series... a little $39 plastic job won't cut it.

[E. von Hoegh]

It sounds like you have a seriously undersized tripod....

You need something starting with a Manfrotto 190, Tiltall, Gitzo #3-series... a little $39 plastic job won't cut it.

+1 on the Tiltall. Get a good used Leitz or better yet Marchioni for under $100. If you don't like it you can get your money back. I've been using one since the mid 1980s, yes the same one and it was old when I got it.

[Drew Wiley]

You can do everything with just the ordinary Sinar rail clamp except shoot straight
down. No need for a separate head. But if you do decide on one, the Sinar version
already mentioned would be the best choice.