Linhof 3-way heads now compatible with RRS plates!

[Henry Carter]

I just took delivery of 2 newly introduced Linhof 3-way tripod heads:

(1) Linhof 3D Micro Levelling Head with dovetail track (3662) - a fully geared precision 3-way head.

(2) Linhof 3D Head II with dovetail track (3666) - the next generation of the excellent 3663 3-way levelling head.

They are incredibly well made, a joy to use, and very compact. So compact in fact that that their height and footprint are similar to the venerable Arca Swiss B1 ball head (though functionally miles ahead). They are conservatively rated to hold over 20 lbs, and so are ideal for MF and LF (4x5, 5x7 etc).

The most exciting new development, introduced recently at Photokina and a new departure for Linhof, is that they are both available with dovetail tracks. This means that they are made to be used with industry standard Really Right Stuff (RRS) and other Arca Swiss compatible camera plates. This should make these heads extremely attractive to anyone who swears by RRS plates on their cameras, as I have for over 15 years.

My 4x5 Linhof Master Technika, with RRS plates in place, looks very happy on top of these heads.

Thank-you Linhof, and many thanks to Mike Boylan at Blazes Photographic in Toronto.

[Peter De Smidt]

Those look terrific! I wish that I could afford one.

[Bob Salomon]

They are each available in two types. Either with the Linhof Quickfix mount or the Arca compatible mount. The 003663 is also available with standard screw thread as before.

The new 3-way head is redwsigned versions of the older screw-mount style and also has built-in bubble levels as well as newly designed arms.

[Henry Carter]

Those look terrific! I wish that I could afford one.

Hi Peter,

The heads are not as expensive as the B&H site would suggest (US $2399 for the 3662 3D Micro with dovetail). Linhof & Studio, the official UK Linhof distributor sells the same head for 799 pounds (about US $1225), and the 3666 head for 550 pounds (about US $840):

http://www.linhofstudio.com/products...dsandheads.php

[David R Munson]

Bob - I'm actually pretty excited to see this. One question for clarification - is there a panning stage placed just under the QR clamp? It looks like there is, but I can't find the official specs.

[Henry Carter]

Bob - I'm actually pretty excited to see this. One question for clarification - is there a panning stage placed just under the QR clamp? It looks like there is, but I can't find the official specs.

Both heads have 2 panning stages, one at the base and one just below the QR clamp.

[Bob Salomon]

Bob - I'm actually pretty excited to see this. One question for clarification - is there a panning stage placed just under the QR clamp? It looks like there is, but I can't find the official specs.

The new versions, released at Photokina in September, as well as the older geared 3-D head with the Quickfix all have two calibrated pan stages as Henry noted. The original screw-mount version has just one pan stage at the base.

Here is our press release announcing the non-geared versions.

October 25, 2012 For Information Contact: Bob Salomon Contact Info: Office 800 735-4373 Fax: 800 282-9010 email: bob@hpmarketingcorp.com

NEW LINHOF 3-WAY LEVELING HEADS II

Linhof has developed a new version of their head that is based on their very successful 3-Way Leveling Head which now allows a tilt of more than 180° even with heavy cameras. Due to the panoramic top plate above the movement axis individual pictures destined for panoramic photography can be set very accurately. The scales allow for the control and repetition of any adjustment.
All 3-way movements can be controlled through the spirit levels. The position of the camera is defined by the base panoramic rotation. The clamping levers can be fixed in any desired position.
The 3D Leveling Head II was made to carry professional cameras with a weight of up to to 17.6 lb.
The new Linhof 3-Way Leveling Head II comes in two versions:
Code 003665: with a built-in Linhof Quickfix-Adapter I for quick mounting of the camera. The adapter-plate of the Linhof Quickfix-Adapter I is delivered with the 3D Leveling Head II, a 35-mm-plate can be ordered option- ally with code 003878.
Code 003666: this head has a dovetail-track and gives the possibility to use Arca compatible plates from Arca, Novoflex, etc.
Technical details
3D Leveling Head II with Quickfix I adapter Code 003665
Leveling and tilt range from -15 to + 90°
Measures 2.8x2.8x3.8” without knobs, 4.4x3.7x3.8” with knobs Weight 2.1 lb, Weight of Quickfix plate 2.3 oz
3D Leveling Head II with dovetail-track Code 003666
Leveling and tilt range from -15 to + 90°
Measures 2.8x2.8x3.8” without knobs, 4.4x3.7x3.8” with knobs Weight 2.1 lb

If anyone wants I can also add the release about the new geared Arca compatible version.

As a point of information the Arca type Linhof clamp was developed using Arca and Novoflex plates and not any of the American or Chinese plates. We have used Giotto Arca style plates with no problem and visitors to our booth that had RRS and Kirk plates all also fit but we can't guarantee that all RRS or Kirk plates will fit properly.

[konakoa]

Thank you for posting this! Those heads are really cool. I really like that the pan and tilt head doesn't have any protruding handles--much more compact and much less to snag on so it would make it all the better to take along on long trips-vacations. That 3666 head looks very, very nice. Probably couldn't get a US dealer to order one for less than a thousand dollars though.

I wish RRS would make a comparable pan and tilt head. I've been waiting years and years to see if they'll do it. They'll make anything else including a specialized safari rig, but no pan and tilt heads. (They can sell something for the African savanna but don't see a market for a pan and tilt head?) Their bread and butter seems to be ball heads and I just don't care for those. Loosen the lock on the ball to slightly tip the camera up or level the horizon and and the camera goes every which way but where you want it. Ugh.

[Bob Salomon]

For anyone going to either the CNPA or the NANPA shows we will show them there. Possibly also at WPPI. They will not be shown at PMA 2013.

[Henry Carter]

For what it is worth, I have a range of RRS plates on my various Linhof Cameras (4x5 Master Technika, 4x5 Technar, 612 Technorama, 2x3 Technika Vb), and they all fit very well in the new Linhof dovetail clamps.

I have several Linhof Quickfix plates and clamps, and after using RRS plates and clamps, I would be hard-pressed to ever want to use the Linhof Quickfix plates on any of the above listed Linhof cameras. All is not lost because they are well made and quite substantial, and I now use them in my office as attractive photo-themed paper weights.

I think that you can probably assume that the new Linhof dovetail tracks are compatible with RRS plates, and this opens-up a huge new market for these wonderful new Linhof heads with dovetail tracks. The number of cameras out there that have RRS plates permanently attached to them probably far exceeds the total number of Linhof cameras in use worldwide. Somebody at Linhof clearly saw that potential, and I hope that these new heads see widespread use despite US pricing that is out of step with other Linhof markets word wide. More competitive pricing would increase market penetration further, and open sales to not only more Linhof users but also to photographers who do not otherwise use Linhof products. Think about the possibilities!