FLM tripods and ballheads

[Thomas Greutmann]

By coincidence I stumbled over a not-so-well known brand for ballheads and carbon tripods and gave it a try. FLM is a small German manufacturer, they make a variety of ballheads for quite a while now and have adde carbon tripods recently - or so their website says: http://www.flm-gmbh.de/index.html. They have an English version of the website although translation is poor.

I got me a medium size friction ballhead (the model is called 38FT) plus a medium height four-segment carbon tripod and had a chance to use it extensively over the last weeks during a holiday trip with my Linhof Master Technika. I have to say I am very pleased with the whole design and usability, everything is very light and yet robust. What more can you ask for from a tripod, I guess.

What I particularly like is the very unique camera adapter plate system (called PRB and PRP, look for the accessories). The only thing that goes on to the camera is a very small metal plate (measure is maybe an inch by half an inch). That is an ideal fit for a field camera like the Linhof Technika, indeed I have fitted two adapter plates to the camera, one on each adapter hole, so I can switch the tripod position depending on the lens I want to use. As far as I can tell the system might work with other tripod heads and that may be a nice add-on for other field camera users who care about weight and size.

I am not affiliated with the company by any way but since I really like their ingenuity and since I haven't found many references to FLM over the web I want to let others know about them. I don't know if they are readily available in the U.S. where most forum users are located but it is certainly something to look into if you are in Europe.

Greetings, Thomas

[cowanw]

It is probably to much to ask, but, are the plates Arca swiss compatable?

[dave_whatever]

Coincidentally Thomas I bought a 38F ballhead last week as a head for a lightweight 2-series gitzo where I don't fancy carrying the manfrotto 410 head on a 3-series systematic. There's not much info or feedback on the net about them. I've not used it in anger yet but initial impression is its very good and frankly unbelievable value for money. German engineering at far-east prices anyone? 10 year warranty?

The build quality is fantastic, you can feel the quality. Its locks down rock solid and handles my heaviest setup I can muster (RSW45 with a 6x17 back and a super angulon 90/5.6) absolutely fine. Friction control seems easy to work with. I opted for the version that just comes with a disk and standard tripod thread stud, where you can remove the disk bit and screw your own clamp onto - in my case an arca-compatible clamp. If I stick a 300mm lens on there and look at the ground glass I detect a bit of movement when you lock it down, but we're talking a point on the ground glass moving about 2-3mm. So probably not the head for ultra-macro shots, but seems on a par with other quality ballheads.

In the UK these are currently £125 from speedgraphic.
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/ball__...d/17498_p.html

Thomas how do you find the tilt locking function works on yours? I opted for the version without.

[Thomas Greutmann]

Bill: I am not sure what kind of Arca compatibility you are looking for. The PRB/PRP system is definitely unique and not compatible with any other plate system that I have seen.
However, the FLM ballheads and the PRP/PRB clamp/plate system can be bought separately. So you can mount the FLM clamps on other tripod heads or mount other brand clamps/plates on FLM ballheads - as long as they have standard 3/8 threads/screws.

Dave: I haven't used the tilt lock feature yet. I was looking for a 38 series model and got a deal on a used head on Ebay. I could do without tilt lock just as well. I just use the friction feature, which I really like.

Greetings, Thomas

[cowanw]

On the other hand on page 8 of the product catalogue it states, referring to the QR products
"Our plates our compatible with all common dovetail plate systems"
It looks like Arca Swiss style plates (many companies; such as really right stuff, or Acratech) may be compatable.

[Jeff Keller]

Just looking at the pictures it looks like the quick release clamp has one edge rotate down and towards the plate rather than a simple screw mechanism to bring the edge of the clamp up tightly against the plate. Knowing how sensitive RRS, & Arca Swiss lever releases are to slight differences in plate designs, I would want an answer from the factory about compatibility of the clamp with other vendors plates.

(Do others interpret the clamping mechanism the way I do from the pictures?)

Jeff

[Daniel Stone]

youtube has a few videos on the ballhead/qr plate schtuff:

-Dan

[Peter J. De Smidt]

See: http://www.flm-gmbh.de/en/article2.html, and in particular: "The fast change system from FLM is compatible with ARCA and Novoflex."

[dave_whatever]

Just to clarify any confusion, FLM appear to have two types of quick release:

One is the PRB type as referred to by Thomas in the original post. This looks to be a very small type of QR presumably designed for smaller compacts, micro 4/3rs etc. Seem to be available in two clamp widths but its the same plate system:
http://www.flm-gmbh.de/en/product_show4c9.html

The second type is an arca-compatible clamp with a lever lock. Again seems to be available in two clamp lengths. Like all lever-locking clamps there could well be some incompatibilty between plates from different manufacturers what with the tollerances being critical, you'd have to try it to be sure.
http://www.flm-gmbh.de/en/product_show4c11.html

Or the third option is to screw your own clamp onto the ballhead using the supplied 3/8" stub, which is what I've done with a decent quality simple chinese screw-type clamp.

[Thomas Greutmann]

Dave: you sum it up nicely, thanks.

Just one comment to the PRB type system: it looks tiny and flimsy, but it can definitely hold a field camera rock solid. I use it with my Linhof Technika.

Greetings, Thomas