Tripod and Head for Linhof Technika

[:Kraftakt:]

Hi there:)

I'm looking for a good and light tripod/head combination for the Linhof Master Technika with standard lenses.

I think I should go with one of Gitzo's carbon Tripods..I personally thought of the 2541L. What do the experts here think of that?:)

Concerning the head I thought of the Linhof ball head II or III. Or maybe one from Arca Swiss?

Do you have any other recommendations? It's such a huge choice:o


Cheers,

Toby

[Frank Petronio]

The Linhof 3-D head is ideal for a 4x5 Linhof, I think it is the very best tripod head for its size. Some people like ballheads and quick release plates but I do not. The Linhof camera screw is very secure and the quality is second to none.

I bought my second one for only $183 USd from eBay.de

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31373-REG/Linhof_003663_3_Way_Leveling_Head_I.html

These are also very nice for air travel with a tripod since the low profile knobs handle abuse better than the long handles of the Gitzo heads, while being less fragile than the delicate Arca-RRS-style ballheads.

I am not an expert but the #2xxx series Gitzo CF tripods are nice. I prefer the larger #3xxx if weight is not the primary concern.

[:Kraftakt:]

Jesus! 900$:eek: Well, I hope I can get one used:) What makes this head so special i.e. expensive?


Thanks and cheers

Toby

[Frank Petronio]

Have you seen the prices for a new Technika? Something has to be the best ;-)

But then you can usually buy used for about one-third of the price and then they are competitive with other cameras. Arcas and others also are very expensive new.

I use the head with the older #3 metal legs, also under $200 used. It's a nice compromise, a solid tripod that isn't too expensive.

[boris]

toby,
i always use levelling tripods without a head. berlebach, gitzo or manfrotto produce them. if money isn't a deal breaker try this, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/568862-REG/Gitzo_GT2540LLVL_GT2540LLVL_Leveling_6X_Carbon.html
if you need a head, look at the manfrotto 410.

[anglophone1]

I use either a tiltall or velbon carbon legs with a manfrotto 410 with my super tech V , no big money and do the job ( I didn't pay much for the camera either) more cash for film and processing.....

[Bob Salomon]

The Linhof 3-D head is ideal for a 4x5 Linhof, I think it is the very best tripod head for its size. Some people like ballheads and quick release plates but I do not. The Linhof camera screw is very secure and the quality is second to none.

Frank, that is all true. But inaccurate. The Linhof 3D head is the new geared head that began shipping yesterday. The head in the ad that you are referring to is the Linhof 3 Way Leveling Head. A very different animal. And one that is even more precise!

[Bob Salomon]

Hi there:)

I'm looking for a good and light tripod/head combination for the Linhof Master Technika with standard lenses.

I think I should go with one of Gitzo's carbon Tripods..I personally thought of the 2541L. What do the experts here think of that?:)

Concerning the head I thought of the Linhof ball head II or III. Or maybe one from Arca Swiss?

Do you have any other recommendations? It's such a huge choice:o


Cheers,

Novoflex Classic Ball 3 or 5 or the MagicBall.
Toby

[Brian Ellis]

I used a Gitzo 1325 tripod and a Manfrotto 410 geared head with several Technikas. It was a nice combination especially for architectural or any other kind of photography where you need to get lines perfectly straight. But the camera only weighs six pounds so there's quite a few different legs and heads that will work fine.

[kev curry]

Check out the legs and ball heads from ''Feisol''. Great products. I'm currently using there biggest legs and biggest ball head with a Tech V, overkill maybe but a supremely stable and bomb proof combination thats a joy to use. I have the choice of a Linhof 3 way head but that stays idle in favour of the far cheaper feisol ball head with their 100mm QR plate under the Tech.

[mpirie]

I have to agree with Kev (must be something to do with being fellow Scots) but I use a Feisol 3 section carbon fibre tripod with the Manfrotto 410 geared head on it with my MT2000.

I think it's a good compromise between stability and weight. The Feisol has a large table where the head screws onto so tilting back with the 410 is limited, unless I can find a spacer.

[Noah A]

I really dislike using ballheads for large format cameras, though some people swear by them. They are very solid, but positioning the camera is tedious if you're trying to get the camera level. I would think they would be best for landscape and maybe portrait work when you're not trying to keep the camera perfectly level.

I've been using a Manfrotto 410 and more recently a Linhof leveling head (on a benro aluminum tripod, which is junk and will be replaced by a gitzo when budget allows). I've used both with my Technikardan (which is probably more demanding on a head because of its higher profile) and with an MT2000.

The 410 geared head is very nice and it's not all that expensive. It makes leveling the camera very easy and precise, which is great for architectural and urban work. On the downside, it has a rather high profile and it's not as rigid as I'd like. I've used it for a few months now and I've made lots of sharp negatives with it, but I've had a few soft negs in tougher conditions that (judging by my experience) would have been sharper with a ballhead or more solid pan/tilt head.

The other big disadvantage for me is that the manfrotto has a proprietary QR system, and the QR clamp is built-in so you can't use any other method to mount the camera. It actually works well but I prefer the arca QR system.

The Linhof Leveling Head is much more sturdy. When it's locked in place the camera is much harder to move and I have more confidence that it will absolutely hold the camera steady. Mine came with a simple 3/8in. tripod screw, so you can use it without a QR or you can easily attach an arca clamp to it.

So the advantages for the 410 are the bargain price and the gearing which makes camera leveling very easy.

Advantages for the Linhof are that it is smaller, far more rigid and it's easier to use with an arca-compatible QR system if that's your preference.

I'm not sure which one I'll standardize on. For now I figure I'll use the linhof for travel due to its smaller size and simpler construction. I'll also use the Linhof for working in windy conditions or for long-exposure and night work due to it's increased rigidity. I may keep the 410 as a backup and for daytime, non-windy shooting since it's so nice to have the geared controls.

Of course, the Linhof 3d Micro would be the perfect solution, but the price is prohibitive and it'll probably be a good long time before they show up on the used market...

[Brian Ellis]

"The other big disadvantage for me is that the manfrotto has a proprietary QR system, and the QR clamp is built-in so you can't use any other method to mount the camera. It actually works well but I prefer the arca QR system. "

Kirk makes (and I assume still makes) an adapter that allows use of an Arca QR plate with the 410 geared head. I've used the adapter and Arca plates for years with my 410 head.

I've never had a soft negative that could be traced to the head with any degree of certainty. There are so many things that can cause a negative to be soft that it's hard to pinpoint the cause after the fact. But when I can I usually find that it's something I did rather than a fault of the equipment.

[Noah A]

"The other big disadvantage for me is that the manfrotto has a proprietary QR system, and the QR clamp is built-in so you can't use any other method to mount the camera. It actually works well but I prefer the arca QR system. "

Kirk makes (and I assume still makes) an adapter that allows use of an Arca QR plate with the 410 geared head. I've used the adapter and Arca plates for years with my 410 head.

I've never had a soft negative that could be traced to the head with any degree of certainty. There are so many things that can cause a negative to be soft that it's hard to pinpoint the cause after the fact. But when I can I usually find that it's something I did rather than a fault of the equipment.

Thanks for the heads-up about the kirk adaptor. The manfrotto QR isn't bad, it actually works quite well, but I like the arca system, especially the long RRS plate for my TK45S that lets me balance the camera better.

I'm fully aware that any soft negatives are my fault, in fact just shooting in conditions that are sub-optimal would be my error because I should know better:D . I often have no choice though, especially when traveling and shooting on a tight schedule.

When my MT2000 is on the 410 and I give it a light tap, it vibrates enough so that you can see it move. When it's on the Linhof head, it doesn't. I know my equipment and have enough experience with working in rough conditions to know that this could make a difference, though admittedly I haven't done scientific tests. It only really matters if you're shooting in windy conditions or if you're doing very long exposures, etc.

Having said that, I love the 410 and it's one of my two recommendations for a reasonably-priced head for field cameras. The Linhof can be found used for $3-400 but still, that's more than a new Manfrotto.

[p-trick]

I'd like to pick up this thread to ask a question of my own.

I recently acquired a Technika III, which I intend to use on a Manfrotto 055-series (15 year old model) tripod.

Since I only own a Manfrotto #222 Joystick head, I'm looking for a slightly heavier head for the Technika.

Does anyone know if a standard ball head like Manfrotto's "Midi Ball Head" is a reasonable option?