Anyone Used Really Right Stuff Tripod and Head?

[Frank Petronio]

Frank -

I heard you mention using any camera with the BH55. I have one too, and I've always used it with all my cameras, didn't figure I'd ever have to get another tripod head. Ever. It's never done anything but inspire absolute confidence. Until now.

When I got my Sinar 8x10 a couple weeks ago, I set it up on my Gitzo S3 with the BH55. The setup was rock solid and I was happy and content.

Then I tried carrying this beast over my shoulder. Camera slowly flopped over. I made sure the rail clamp - and everything else - was tight tight and it flopped over again. On the BH55 ball! There's so much weight sitting up so high over the mounting point, that with the whole thing at a 45 deg angle over your shoulder the actual force on the ballhead must be way over its load rating. And I definitely don't like the idea of having to white-knuckle crank the knob down on my almost $500 ballhead.

Bottom line: I use the 8x10 on the Bogen with the PT head now, and everything else on the BH55. The PT head is quite a bit easier with the monorail anyway. I wouldn't hesitate to plop any lighter 8x10 field camera on the RRS head, but there just seems to be too much stress on it with the big tall monorail. And I'm afaid I'll prematurely wear out my BH55 is I keep cranking down on the ball like that. Don't you think that's bad for it? Usuall jus need the slightest little turn to lock it up tight.

I might try an Arca Z1 or something else with an 'aspherical' ball if I want to use a ballhead with such a heavy camera.

I should backpedal like a politician and say that yes, an 8x10 Sinar on a BH55 wouldn't be my first choice. Ballheads with view cameras in general are not ideal but if you want to use a ballhead, I doubt you could find a better one than the BH55 - and ballheads have advantages, namely low profile handles that make them easier to ship (airlines bend long handles) and they work really well for 35mm/DSLR.

I know David Goldfarb swears by his Arca B2, which is not a traditional ballhead and has a very high load rating - and he uses it with ULF cameras. I don't know of anything else similar.

But the short, best answer is yes, the lightweight, simple Sinar head is stronger and will hold an 8x10 Sinar very securely. That's why it has so many rabid fans and costs $300 for such a simple device - it is very well engineered. You don't need a lot of mass to be strong.

For other large cameras, the Ries two-axis design heads are similarly simple and strong. The Sinar design allows for three-axis movement though.

[Joseph Dickerson]

The RRS plate on my Sinar doesn't seem to have a model number, or it's hidden, but it is a lens plate, not a camera plate and measures 3 inches long. I actually took my Sinar tripod mount to RRS and they helped me select the best fit.

If you want to dedicate your tripod to the Sinar then the Sinar head is great, but if you want to use the tripod with other cameras as well I'd keep the BH-55. I use a Sinar head on a Gitzo tripod when I'm shooting with the Sinar very close to the car and it's fine but the combination weighs a ton. But when I'm traveling, usually with multiple formats, and only want to haul one tripod I use a RRS carbon fiber tripod with the BH-55 head. As I mentioned, it works great with the Sinar F1. But as Frank points out, I doubt I would trust it to an 8x10.

Call RRS and talk to Karla. Tell them I sent you.

JD

[RedSun]

For that plate, I just need a one with large surface. So it can hold the tripod base.

The Sinar head is great, but it is over priced ($300) in my opinion. The BH-55 is over priced too. I'm going to sell the BH 55 and get an old tilt head.