Lightest tripod/head for Chamonix?

[jimi2]

I have a Chamonix 45-f1 (3.5lbs) that I want to take on some more substantial hikes this summer and fall. Unfortunately I was recovering from an injury most of last year and am really out of shape, plus I’m used to carrying a minimalist digital mirrorless setup, so the transition to hikes with LF gear could be hard. So I’m looking to cut weight where possible, starting with my support setup. I have a carbon fiber Feisol carbon fiber tripod that only weighs 2.5lbs, so realistically I don’t think there’s any weight savings to be had there. My Manfrotto three way head, however, might be able to be downsized, as it weighs in at 770g, around 1.7lbs. I’m thinking I might give my old Vanguard ball head a try, as it comes in at 450g, but I’d prefer a three way head. I’m not finding much out there though. How light is the lightest you would go on a head (or legs), and what if anything is out there?

[rfesk]

You may want to look at the Manfrotto 056 head. I have the Bogen 3028 (old model old name) and find it ok for a light 4x5.)
I use mine with a 2.5lb Gitzo carbon fiber. Under windy conditions I may hang some weights under the centerpost.

On ebay the Bogen 3025 heads are listed with or without the quick release provision. And are very inexpensive IMHO.

[jimi2]

You may want to look at the Manfrotto 056 head. I have the Bogen 3028 (old model old name) and find it ok for a light 4x5.)
I use mine with a 2.5lb Gitzo carbon fiber. Under windy conditions I may hang some weights under the centerpost.

Thanks, looks like that may be one of the lightest three way heads out there. Only 100g heavier than my ballhead. My Vanguard at least has an independent pan knob, but it may still be pain to use with a view camera.

[Larry Gebhardt]

I don’t think this is the lightest, but my favorite solution is the acratech panoramic head on a leveling base. It’s much lighter than any sturdy ball head I’ve used and much easier. I have a feisol with a leveling base built in. I don’t know if yours does.

[willwilson]

For ball heads it's all about the size of ball. I have gotten away with a hi quality 25, like the bh-25 for light weight 4x5 setup.

https://reallyrightstuff.com/bh-25-ball-head/

I usually go bigger though for stability and usability. Feisol makes decent affordable ball heads. Their 40mm is my current go to for 4x5.

https://www.feisol.net/heads/ball-heads.html

-=Will
www.willwilson.com

[jimi2]

For ball heads it's all about the size of ball. I have gotten away with a hi quality 25, like the bh-25 for light weight 4x5 setup.

https://reallyrightstuff.com/bh-25-ball-head/

I usually go bigger though for stability and usability. Feisol makes decent affordable ball heads. Their 40mm is my current go to for 4x5.

https://www.feisol.net/heads/ball-heads.html

-=Will
www.willwilson.com

The bh-25 looks a little too small, as my camera is 3.5lbs, lenses 1 lb, and I’m often using rollfilm backs that come in around 1.75lbs. But that Feisol 30mm is well within capacity and only weighs 290g. I may just pick that one up, as Feisol seems to make pretty good products. I’ve had my legs for 15 years now.

[Tin Can]

I was taught here on LFPF to not use any head

Adjust the legs

or use a 1/2 Ball Head

[Alan Klein]

I was taught here on LFPF to not use any head

Adjust the legs

or use a 1/2 Ball Head

Why adjust the legs? Seems like a lot of work. Then you have to make a last minute adjustment.

What's a 1/2 Ball head?

[Tin Can]

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adapter-Convert-8-inch-Manfrotto/dp/B07PFTJ3YT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2EDX8XVIW77FZ&keywords=half+ball+tripod+head+75mm&qid=1689420984&sprefix=haif+ball+tripod+head+75+mm%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-3


Why adjust the legs? Seems like a lot of work. Then you have to make a last minute adjustment.

What's a 1/2 Ball head?

[Tin Can]

BING is fighting my searches for B&H!

[Greg]

When I had a 4x5 Chamonix I used a Linhof Levelling head.

[Jeff Keller]

I also like the Acratech panoramic head for both ease of use and rigidity. I use mine on a lightweight Novoflex tripod with a built-in leveling head.


I don’t think this is the lightest, but my favorite solution is the acratech panoramic head on a leveling base. It’s much lighter than any sturdy ball head I’ve used and much easier. I have a feisol with a leveling base built in. I don’t know if yours does.

[nitroplait]

I was taught here on LFPF to not use any head

Adjust the legs

or use a 1/2 Ball Head

Exactly. Just omit the head.

[Doremus Scudder]

I got a Bogen/Manfrotto 3025 head years ago and never looked back. It's a three-way head, but smaller and more compact than those with long arms on the knobs. Plus, with its design, you can unlock all three knobs and position it just like a ball head, or just unlock one or two as you need. See the thread here https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?173882-Bogen-3025-tripod-head-customization for Ulphot's modification (replacing some knobs with levers).

I think the current number for Manfrotto is 056, or you can find it under 3D Junior (although there's nothing really "junior" about it - it holds my Zone VI camera at full extension with a 450mm lens just fine). I think there are quick-release versions of this type of head as well, if you like quick releases (I don't - I simply flip up the camera plate to the vertical position and screw in the mounting screw that way; no accidental releases that way with the camera ending up on the ground).

Best,

Doremus

[Alan Klein]

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adapter-Convert-8-inch-Manfrotto/dp/B07PFTJ3YT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2EDX8XVIW77FZ&keywords=half+ball+tripod+head+75mm&qid=1689420984&sprefix=haif+ball+tripod+head+75+mm%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-3

My 3-way head does the adjustments. The bowl you recommend is good if your shooting videos.

[Alan Klein]

I got a Bogen/Manfrotto 3025 head years ago and never looked back. It's a three-way head, but smaller and more compact than those with long arms on the knobs. Plus, with its design, you can unlock all three knobs and position it just like a ball head, or just unlock one or two as you need. See the thread here https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?173882-Bogen-3025-tripod-head-customization for Ulphot's modification (replacing some knobs with levers).

I think the current number for Manfrotto is 056, or you can find it under 3D Junior (although there's nothing really "junior" about it - it holds my Zone VI camera at full extension with a 450mm lens just fine). I think there are quick-release versions of this type of head as well, if you like quick releases (I don't - I simply flip up the camera plate to the vertical position and screw in the mounting screw that way; no accidental releases that way with the camera ending up on the ground).

Best,

Doremus

I wound up using my Gitzo with three-way head from my medium format Mamoya RB67 equipment which weighs slighyly more than my Chamonix 4x5. 45H-1

[Drew Wiley]

The lightest AND most stable option by far is NONE - no head at all. I've haven't used a tripod head for decades with any view camera. They're totally redundant in most cases. Old time surveyors were expected to do it all with leg adjustments only; and they had to be far more precise than photographers, often in quite precarious places. With some practice, it's actually quick and easy to do.

Wobble-bobble ball heads with their projecting stems are the root of all evil when it comes to vibration. But this newer half-ball concept, where a hemisphere is tightly seated in a scooped out part of the tripod top, makes a lot of sense. I'd buy one if I wasn't already so comfortable doing things the headless manner.

[Tin Can]

Agree

[darr]

My travel tripod for my Ebony RSW45 is an RRS series #1 tripod with an Acratech Leveling Base with Quick Release Clamp (https://www.acratech.net/leveling-products/leveling-base-with-quick-release-clamp).
I prefer a leveling base for 4x5. Similar to just the legs but with a quick way to balance the load.

The larger tripod that stays in the studio is an RRS series #2 with an Acratech Leveling Base (https://www.acratech.net/acratech-leveling-bases-fast-tripod-leveling/) (no QL) and a Panoramic Head (https://www.acratech.net/acratech-panoramic-head-can-be-used-like-a-long-lens-head/).

I swapped out all RRS ball heads but my BH30 (on a Gitzo 1550 for APS-C traveling) after realizing leveling bases work the best for me.
I also attach a FotoPro E6 Gimbal to the leveling base of series #1 for stitching digital files out in the landscape.

Here is a page on my website with pics and info about my tripods, heads, leveling bases (https://photoscapes.com/cameras/tripods/), etc.

[Alan Klein]

Does a leveling head create a problem such as: You want to lower the view. So when you release it to move the camera to point down, there's some shift left or right. In other words, unlike a three-way head where you can control motion only in one of three directions, the leveling head allows unwanted shifting in a second direction?

Do ball heads create similar problems?

[faberryman]

I second the use of a leveling base. If you set up your tripod properly, you only need to make minor adjustments. I don't remember what brand leveling base I have, but it works fine.

[JefW]

Does a leveling head create a problem such as: You want to lower the view. So when you release it to move the camera to point down, there's some shift left or right. In other words, unlike a three-way head where you can control motion only in one of three directions, the leveling head allows unwanted shifting in a second direction?

Do ball heads create similar problems?

Yes, that's the main disadvantage of the leveling head-- lack of control of a single plane at a time, if you intend to use them for something other than just leveling.

[Larry Gebhardt]

Yes, that's the main disadvantage of the leveling head-- lack of control of a single plane at a time, if you intend to use them for something other than just leveling.

That’s why I added the panoramic head to my leveling base. It allows tilt and rotation from the level attachment to the leveling base. The acratech panoramic head also has the best bubble level I’ve found on a tripod head so far.

[faberryman]

Yes, that's the main disadvantage of the leveling head-- lack of control of a single plane at a time, if you intend to use them for something other than just leveling.

I don't have difficulty moving in one plane at a time, and find making fine adjustments easier. Of course, if you are making gross adjustments, it is not the optimal tool because a leveling base does not have wide ranges of movement. It is just a different tool.

[esearing]

I am using a Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with my 4x5 and 5x12. Its great for shooting downward and making easy small adjustments in any direction. The only negative is the small QR plate but it does lock down well and is secure. You can get similar models with the Arca-type QR systems. I will carry the 4x5 attached while hiking but not the 5x12 for fear of the camera coming off. What ever system you pick that has a QR system - buy extra plates, one for each camera.

[Alan Klein]

I am using a Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with my 4x5 and 5x12. Its great for shooting downward and making easy small adjustments in any direction. The only negative is the small QR plate but it does lock down well and is secure. You can get similar models with the Arca-type QR systems. I will carry the 4x5 attached while hiking but not the 5x12 for fear of the camera coming off. What ever system you pick that has a QR system - buy extra plates, one for each camera.

Not all Arca plates from different manufacturers match the QR plate from another even though they're advertised to be a standard. I had that problem with a Arca type plate for a Mamiya RB67 that didn't work with the Arca type QR plate from another manufacturer

[Tin Can]

Chamonix also makes ULF, they are heavy and well made

Tiny anything is a bad thread title

[Axelwik]

I don't use a head on my Ries - simply screw the camera on and level it with the legs. If it needs to pan a little I simply loosen, pan, tighten. Helps that there's a knob underneath. For my center post tripods that don't turn I've ordered a pan only plate.

[Tin Can]

Drew has many foliowing his lead

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