Bah! Gitzo.

[false_Aesthetic]

So I sent my Gitzo ballhead back for a repair (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/562405-REG/Gitzo_GH1780_GH1780_Center_Magnesium_Ballhead.html).

it took FORRREEEVEER to come back and its still kind've wonky (still wiggles and the ball slips even when its cranked down)

I think I'd like to go back to a 3-way head but I'd also like it to be light. Suggestions?

[wmsey]

I use both Pan (or three way) and ball heads on 4x5 and Canon 1D (so heavy enough). Although I exclusively used an Arca B-1 for years it would be hard to go back to that heavy a head. It would also be hard to "just" use a pan head.

I mused about this last year: http://www.twentymillionthings.com/2010/10/15/three-lightweight-ball-heads/

The Gitzo Pan head is nothing special, up to the task but not exceptional - but it does just fine shooting buildings. The post I've referenced talks about three light-weight ball heads. I've developed a wrist issue after 30 years of setting things on Tripods and weight has begun to matter.

And if you have a car to sell or don't mind a second mortgage: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/arca-cube.shtml.

William

[cdholden]

It depends on the camera, but without knowing that, I'd say a Manfrotto 405.

[J. Fada]

Take it apart and clean it yourself!

I have the big Foba Superball that gets "mushy" every few years. I cleaned it recently for the first time in about 4 years and it went from "mushy" (with a firm pressure required to lock it down) to rock solid with a flip of the finger. The cleaning also got rid of the starting friction when moving it from a locked position. It took a while because I was thorough. The Gitzo you have looks like it would be a lot simpler to do.

You don't say what you are plopping on the head. Personally I would prefer a geared head to the Foba I currently have for LF because leveling a 4x5 on a ball head is a bit of a pain and I don't really like 3 way pan heads. For smaller formats the ball head is the best.

I would love to get that Arca Cube.

[Noah A]

Friends don't let friends use ballheads for view cameras!

Seriously, I hate them. They're amazing for small format cameras, or for shooting work where you don't care if the camera is level. They're also extremely solid when locked down. But it's difficult to level them in one axis without affecting the other. I used one at first when I switched to 4x5 and I was extremely glad to switch.

It depends on your camera of course, but I have two favorites. The Manfrotto 410 is geared and extremely easy to use. It works great with 4x5 field cameras and maybe some larger cameras, but no huge studio monorails or 8x10s. For architectural or urban work it's a pleasure. The only real disadvantages are that it might not last forever, since I've heard the gears wear (but it's relatively affordable so you can always buy another). And I hate the Manfrotto QR system. The plate, when used the way I like to use it which makes the camera more centered over the tripod, interferes with the drop bed on my Technika. It's secure but I vastly prefer either no QR or an Arca-style system. Somewhere I saw an adaptor plate to convert the manfrotto to an arca clamp, so that would help. It bolts in place so it should be solid.

My other favorite is the Linhof 3-way leveling head. I got it as a bonus when I bought my Technika and I've been using it most of the time since I got it. I do miss the gearing of the Manfrotto, but the Linhof is more solid, more compact and feels like it is made to a higher standard of quality. I like it for travel since it's not much bigger than a ballhead but just as solid. It also is a very simple design and it seems like not much could go wrong. I may get an arca clamp for it but now I use it without a QR. The only real downsides are the lack of gearing (but it's still easy to level the camera since each axis locks individually) and the price. New, they're about a grand, but they pop up used in the $300 range from time to time. Mine looks like it's been to hell and back but it still works perfectly.

In a perfect word, I'd get the Linhof 3d Micro. But $2200 buys a lot of film...

[false_Aesthetic]

I'm shooting with a Canham MQC 5x7 (6 lbs) and a 150mm Super Symmar HM (1.75 lbs). I cant imaging using a heavier lens.

I bought the ball head with a focus on weight. As mentioned, I'd like to keep the weight down but I'd also like something that works. I don't think I'd need something that's geared but QR would be nice.

Thanks guys.

[Brad Rippe]

Definitely check out an Arca B-1 ballhead. I've used mine for over 25 years with various 4 by 5 view cameras, and with a quick release, always works flawlessly. I keep it clean, but thats all it requires. They come up used here occasionally. Mine weighs 1.75 lbs with the quick release.
-Brad

[Frank Petronio]

My other favorite is the Linhof 3-way leveling head. I got it as a bonus when I bought my Technika and I've been using it most of the time since I got it. I do miss the gearing of the Manfrotto, but the Linhof is more solid, more compact and feels like it is made to a higher standard of quality. I like it for travel since it's not much bigger than a ballhead but just as solid. It also is a very simple design and it seems like not much could go wrong. I may get an arca clamp for it but now I use it without a QR. The only real downsides are the lack of gearing (but it's still easy to level the camera since each axis locks individually) and the price. New, they're about a grand, but they pop up used in the $300 range from time to time. Mine looks like it's been to hell and back but it still works perfectly.



Amen to that, it's the best head for a 4x5 field.

[Ari]

I have a Manfrotto 229, 329 and 3047; all three perform admirably and I wouldn't trade any of them for the slickest ball head ever made.
Even the compact and lightweight 329 handles my heaviest camera (a TK45) easily.
They cost me about $70 each.

[Ben Hopson]

First off, opinions are like...well, lets just say we all have one. Personally I have had several 3-way heads, the last being the Manfrotto 808rc4. All the heads I have owned have worked fine. At present I am using a RRS BH-55. It is smooth, very solid and I have no problems with it at all. It locks down securely with little tightening. I use it for digital, medium format and 4X5.

[Vaughn]

I got to really love my old Gitzo #2 ballhead with my Gowland Pocketview (lighter than most 35mm and MF cameras). To each their own -- tho I doubt I would like a ballhead with the 8x10.

[false_Aesthetic]

OK,

Lemme start over:

Recommendations for lighter weight 3-way heads that'll hold 10lbs. OR a ball-head that has one of those collars to keep everything straight and nice.


Ideally I'd love to walk around with the camera still attached to the head BUT I'd also consider a QR plate that's not one of those 6-sided Bogen ones...


Ready.
Set.
GO!

[Ari]

OK,

Lemme start over:

Recommendations for lighter weight 3-way heads that'll hold 10lbs. OR a ball-head that has one of those collars to keep everything straight and nice.


Ideally I'd love to walk around with the camera still attached to the head BUT I'd also consider a QR plate that's not one of those 6-sided Bogen ones...


Ready.
Set.
GO!

Manfrotto 329.

[Michael Lichter]

Hi there. (I don't see your name listed). I saw your post that you cleaned your FOBA Superball but don't see any info on how you did this. Mine is so "stuck" right now, that I haven't used it for a long time. Any suggestions? Thanks, Michael




Take it apart and clean it yourself!

I have the big Foba Superball that gets "mushy" every few years. I cleaned it recently for the first time in about 4 years and it went from "mushy" (with a firm pressure required to lock it down) to rock solid with a flip of the finger. The cleaning also got rid of the starting friction when moving it from a locked position. It took a while because I was thorough. The Gitzo you have looks like it would be a lot simpler to do.

You don't say what you are plopping on the head. Personally I would prefer a geared head to the Foba I currently have for LF because leveling a 4x5 on a ball head is a bit of a pain and I don't really like 3 way pan heads. For smaller formats the ball head is the best.

I would love to get that Arca Cube.

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to large Format Photography Forum

[Jim Noel]

I'm shooting with a Canham MQC 5x7 (6 lbs) and a 150mm Super Symmar HM (1.75 lbs). I cant imaging using a heavier lens.

I bought the ball head with a focus on weight. As mentioned, I'd like to keep the weight down but I'd also like something that works. I don't think I'd need something that's geared but QR would be nice.

Thanks guys.

If I had cameras that light I would go to the Manfroto 410 geared head. I borrowed one to use under an 8x10 Phillips several years ago, and nothing could have been smoother.
I am one of those who would never put a ball head under a camera larger than 110. They all have serious problems eventually,and usually while the owner is 300 miles from home and 140 miles from a camera store.

[thomasfallon]

The Cube is a fantastic head. Love it for fine adjustments, especially macro. I have no doubt that it is a creative tool helping me get better images easier. All the benefits of a geared head and not very heavy. To me that is worth the cost. I am concerned about getting too much dirt in it. Fot the beach, I have a beater head that I can just scrap if it gets balky.

[Scott Davis]

I know you were expressing doubt, or at least meh-ness over the Gitzo pan-tilt heads, but I have two of them (the 12 series and the 15 series). The 12 series gets used for anything smaller than 8x10, and the 15 series takes the 11x14 through the 14x17. They do a good job, they never fail, and they're light for their size. The other solution I can think of is the Gitzo side-arm ball head that gives you a lot more discreet control over which axis you're changing while still being a compact lightweight ball head. They're available with and without quick release plates, and the plates are square/rectangular so NOT the dreaded Bogen hex plate.

[Drew Wiley]

I don't have any problems with ballheads - cause I never ever use them!

[djdister]

The OP lost interest in this thread in 2012...

[J. Fada]

Hi there. (I don't see your name listed). I saw your post that you cleaned your FOBA Superball but don't see any info on how you did this. Mine is so "stuck" right now, that I haven't used it for a long time. Any suggestions? Thanks, Michael

I have the large one. The small one might be different. Take the screws out from around the base and the head should come apart. I know there are some other things to do as well but it has been a couple years since I last did it so I don't remember them exactly. If you can knock it loose then try lubing it without taking it apart. I use dry teflon bicycle chain lube. That works well and doesn't accumulate dirt. Some ball head manufacturers say to use WD-40 sparingly but that just seems dense to me. The last thing you want is gunk to build up and any type of wet lube will promote that.

[seezee]

I use an Arca-Swiss P0 ballhead with my Wista 45DX. It has a capacity of up to 44.1 lbs (20 kg). I've written about it here. (http://mercury-photo.com/2012/08/29/hands-on-with-the-arca-swiss-p0-tripod-head-panning-system-slidefix-qs-quick-release/) Sounds like it would be more than enough for your setup.

The only real drawback to the P0 ballhead is it requires specialized plates (QS a.k.a. Slidefix) for the QR system — they are narrower than the standard Arca plates.

[seezee]

Friends don't let friends use ballheads for view cameras!

And, though I recommended a ballhead in my last post, I agree with Noah — other types of heads are probably better suited to LF cameras.

[Kirk Gittings]

Friends don't let friends use ballheads for view cameras!

Seriously, I hate them. They're amazing for small format cameras, or for shooting work where you don't care if the camera is level. They're also extremely solid when locked down. But it's difficult to level them in one axis without affecting the other. I used one at first when I switched to 4x5 and I was extremely glad to switch.

It depends on your camera of course, but I have two favorites. The Manfrotto 410 is geared and extremely easy to use. It works great with 4x5 field cameras and maybe some larger cameras, but no huge studio monorails or 8x10s. For architectural or urban work it's a pleasure. The only real disadvantages are that it might not last forever, since I've heard the gears wear (but it's relatively affordable so you can always buy another). And I hate the Manfrotto QR system. The plate, when used the way I like to use it which makes the camera more centered over the tripod, interferes with the drop bed on my Technika. It's secure but I vastly prefer either no QR or an Arca-style system. Somewhere I saw an adaptor plate to convert the manfrotto to an arca clamp, so that would help. It bolts in place so it should be solid.



I have three 410s at the moment-all converted to Arca plates. My favorite head. On two I used Hejnar adapters (I think I have a thread on here somewhere about it) and on the third I adapted (filed down) the 410 RC4 clamp base down flat and bolted a Kessler Video Arca plate clamp to it http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1088258-REG/kessler_crane_mg1001_kwik_release_receiver.html. The Kessler is heavy but bullet proof. Doing it this way without the Hejnar adapter saves a lot of weight.

[Michael Lichter]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write back. I also have the large one. I'll give your technique a try when I get back from this out-of-town shoot. Michael



I have the large one. The small one might be different. Take the screws out from around the base and the head should come apart. I know there are some other things to do as well but it has been a couple years since I last did it so I don't remember them exactly. If you can knock it loose then try lubing it without taking it apart. I use dry teflon bicycle chain lube. That works well and doesn't accumulate dirt. Some ball head manufacturers say to use WD-40 sparingly but that just seems dense to me. The last thing you want is gunk to build up and any type of wet lube will promote that.