Tripod Head DIY [Archive] - Large Format Photography Forum

gphoto

4-Oct-2018, 12:19

I haven't found a head that I like yet, there's quite a few out there which would work but none had the combination of weight, cost and sturdiness that I was looking for. So, like the dumbass that my mother always knew me to be, I've started designing my own. It's super simple, all aluminum and should weigh around 3lbs. The main joint will have four nylon washers with adjustable tension placed on them to induce drag. The bottom bolt will clamp four composite washers to the side parts which, fingers crossed, will be able to hold my 16x20 camera and lens which weighs 40lbs and is 4' long.

I've got most of the parts water jet cut, still waiting on the main bottom piece but figured I'd share if anyone has any input on what could make this better. 182993

gphoto

4-Oct-2018, 12:19

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Tracy Storer

4-Oct-2018, 12:35

Looks like the pivot shaft may make tightening the camera bolt difficult / fiddly. I don't see any reason not to just use shoulder screws on both sides and leave the middle clear.
Otherwise? NICE !

Havoc

4-Oct-2018, 12:42

Ok, I like the look. But you only have a single axis up-down. How do you level the camera?

gphoto

4-Oct-2018, 12:43

Thanks Tracy,

There's at least an inch of clearance between the top plate and the center shaft which should be enough for the 3/8 bolt and a sizable locking nut. I had thought of leaving that center tube out but then I'd need to tighten each side individually. With the center in there tightening either side will clamp the opposite side as well. Same with the bottom clamping bolt.

The tripod mount is the pain in the ass at the moment, getting parts milled is so bloody expensive, even for something this simple. Been tossing around the idea of using flat stock and welding a 1.75" ID tube between them instead of machining out of billet but I think that may cause too much flex.

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gphoto

4-Oct-2018, 12:44

Bottom view
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scheinfluger_77

4-Oct-2018, 13:39

Looks nice. If it were me i would want wider knobs for a bigger finger hold.

David Lobato

4-Oct-2018, 14:04

A long (14 inch) handle attached to the pivot would help with say a 30 degree angle (up or down) with a 40 pound camera sitting on top. The stresses on the base would be significant with this scenario. A SST or carbon steel shaft would be nessessary to mount the head on.

Peter De Smidt

4-Oct-2018, 14:25

With big cameras, I prefer two screws that can be slid into a slot. That way, the camera cannot spin on the head, and it's fast to mount the camera.

gphoto

4-Oct-2018, 16:14

Thanks for the input.

Steve I'll probably put bigger knobs on it, these were just leftover from the camera build so will try them first.
David the camera is heavy but balanced on the head so the stress on the tripod shaft is pretty manageable. I've been using a Sampson tripod which has a 1.75" aluminum shaft and I think something else is going to break before that does.
Peter I've got two 5/16" posts which will come up out of the head plate and mate with two holes in the base of the camera to keep things from spinning and hold it in place while I fasten the bolt. I do like the slotted idea though, maybe for next version.

Peter De Smidt

4-Oct-2018, 17:32

It looks good! And I like your DIY spirit. It reminds me a bit of a Hercules head. Are the parts that slide against each other going to be polished aluminum?

DrTang

5-Oct-2018, 08:43

bigger knobs or knobs with a leverage bar or whatever it would be called..I'd want to crank that sucker down tight

love the look though

Jim Jones

5-Oct-2018, 11:44

Louis Pacilla

5-Oct-2018, 12:06

The barn door tripod heads of a hundred years ago were simple, inexpensive, rigid, and light. Back in the days of large cameras with slow film, they had to be good. Basic woodworking skills and hardware from the corner hardware store are about all one needs. Now we can make heads that are more convenient and certainly more elegant with perhaps a modest improvement in stability and a huge increase in cost.

I agree Jim but Giles is making this head to go with his BADASS 16x20 which is a water cut all metal rail camera of Giles creation and a wooden flip top head even the Professional model which is 12x12 inch and an awesome head w/ my 11x14 Rochester Optical Co Carlton & 11x14 Monitor but would look silly with his modern water cut metal rail camera.Just my opinion.

gphoto

6-Oct-2018, 05:37

Jim would you happen to have any links to that type of head? I think I know what you're talking about, hinge at the front with a shaft running vertically between two plates that gets clamped?

The barn door tripod heads of a hundred years ago were simple, inexpensive, rigid, and light. Back in the days of large cameras with slow film, they had to be good. Basic woodworking skills and hardware from the corner hardware store are about all one needs. Now we can make heads that are more convenient and certainly more elegant with perhaps a modest improvement in stability and a huge increase in cost.

Jac@stafford.net

6-Oct-2018, 08:12

Jim would you happen to have any links to that type of head? I think I know what you're talking about, hinge at the front with a shaft running vertically between two plates that gets clamped?

This is simple wooden type. (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-graflex-crown-tripod-head-1823608580)

Ries had an early metal version (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-ries-hollywood-model-212-1791710545) (and of course Ries has new versions (https://www.riestripod.com/products-2/heads).)

Len Middleton

7-Oct-2018, 12:19

Bob Salomon

7-Oct-2018, 13:33

Linhof's answer to that concept: http://linhof.com/en/levelling-pan-tilt-head/

I have an older version of the large one with the single strut and "top hat" removable plate.

Works well with the cameras I have.

I do like the design effort and execution of the work that you are doing...

Len, there was never an older version of this head.
There were two heads one for a drop in 77mm top plate and the other for a 90mm one. These were tan colored and made for Kardan cameras. They would tilt forward but not 15° side to side.

But I do agree, it looks like a very nice head that he is making!

Len Middleton

7-Oct-2018, 13:53

Len, there was never an older version of this head.
There were two heads one for a drop in 77mm top plate and the other for a 90mm one. These were tan colored and made for Kardan cameras. They would tilt forward but not 15° side to side.

But I do agree, it looks like a very nice head that he is making!

Bob,

I did not realise they changed the specification to allow the 15 degree side tilt. Thank you for the correction.

For the record, I have the one with the 90mm top plate and indeed Kardan is part of the designation on the tan body.

Best regards,

Len

gphoto

7-Oct-2018, 14:04

That Linhof design does look pretty amazing, particularly the leveling function. Might have to try something like that as well. Thanks fellas.

radii

12-Oct-2018, 07:31

Looks great !

Can't wait to see the final product.

gphoto

22-Oct-2018, 19:13

Have a few more bits to machine but the head is more or less together. It seems like it should provide a very stable base for the camera but we'll see how it holds up once I mount the big bastard. Weight is a touch over 3lbs which I think is reasonable given the size.

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Peter De Smidt

22-Oct-2018, 20:23

Looks terrific!

jon.oman

23-Oct-2018, 09:25

Well done!

Jim Jones

23-Oct-2018, 11:11

Having perhaps three tripod screw holes in a line from front to back in the top plate enables one to keep the camera better centered over the tripod when tilting up and down.

gphoto

24-Oct-2018, 20:10

Well it seems to hold the big bastard. Still have a couple of things to finish but it's definitely a huge improvement over my old head.

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