Ball Head for Large Format?

[Ari]

8x10 requires a very good-quality ball head, save your pennies and get the best head possible.
One good ball head is worth four mediocre ball heads, so there's no point in trying to get by with the cheapest option.

[Drew Wiley]

Snipe back at me if you wish. But I happen to have a ballhead that makes even a movie fluid head look like a toy. I use it for yaw correction on the lens standard
of my 8x10 color enlarger. But it's micrometer-driven (all axis) machined forged solid bronze, that was intended for calibrating BIG gun aim in WWII, so well built is an understatement. Would cost a small fortune to make today. But I got it for free, military surplus.

[David Lindquist]

Snipe back at me if you wish. But I happen to have a ballhead that makes even a movie fluid head look like a toy. I use it for yaw correction on the lens standard
of my 8x10 color enlarger. But it's micrometer-driven (all axis) machined forged solid bronze, that was intended for calibrating BIG gun aim in WWII, so well built is an understatement. Would cost a small fortune to make today. But I got it for free, military surplus.

Well I'm certainly envious Drew. Please don't tell me that you also own a Norden bomb sight lest I turn an even deeper shade of green.

Any markings as to who the maker was? A picture would be nice.

David

[Drew Wiley]

There were no markings at all. I didn't even know what the hell it was, though it looked like exactly what I needed. I showed my dad, who was a ship inspector in
WWII, and he identified it. Yeah, the thing is heavy, but probably less heavy than fluid heads or some official ballheads intended for big camera, and it sure as heck would adjust more easily and precisely. It had been painted typical military green, though I repainted it to match the rest of my enlarger with some super
duty black machinery stuff that I can't get anymore due to smog regulations. But heck, maybe there are some more of these things out there that someone could
use on a tripod!

[Alan Gales]

8x10 requires a very good-quality ball head, save your pennies and get the best head possible.
One good ball head is worth four mediocre ball heads, so there's no point in trying to get by with the cheapest option.

You are right.

Building an 8x10 camera outfit is like building a house. You want to start with a firm foundation. Without a firm foundation you have nothing. I'd rather own an 8x10 with one lens and a good tripod and head then a camera with 3 or 4 lenses with a lousy tripod and/or head.

[StoneNYC]

Well I'm certainly envious Drew. Please don't tell me that you also own a Norden bomb sight lest I turn an even deeper shade of green.

Any markings as to who the maker was? A picture would be nice.

David

Drew will never show a picture, you'll get used to it, he's met presidents and owns every lens you could ever imagine, he is never wrong and knows more about printing than all the kodak people combined.

This is sarcasm, and don't believe 1/10th of what you read on the Internet, and less from this Wiley Coyote... It's all a big farce.

[Drew Wiley]

You're back on Ignore for awhile again, Stone. Probably not for long. Just depends..... Get out and take some pictures and do some printing yourself. Maybe you'll
learn something useful.

[StoneNYC]

You're back on Ignore for awhile again, Stone. Probably not for long. Just depends..... Get out and take some pictures and do some printing yourself. Maybe you'll
learn something useful.

From last week's batch of 8x10



Printed recently

FB



RC



A lot of my printing lately has been smaller than large-format, but I've still been shooting and printing...

Now show yours

EDIT: both prints from 4x5 negatives, and all using a 3 axis non ball head... To keep the post semi-relevant.

[Ari]

Stone, I used a 3047 for a while, and liked it; then I got the 229, which I really liked.
It all comes down to personal preference with a ball head, some love it, some hate it.
Which brings me back to my original answer to the OP's question:

Ball heads are smaller, lighter and less bulky than 3-way heads; if a ball head can do a good job of keeping things steady, then it's a matter of personal preference whether or not to use a ball head.
I used a Manfrotto 229 for many years, and loved it, but once I found the right ball head, it added to my enjoyment of shooting, since I could now take the tripod/ball head anywhere, and carry it for hours without complaint as to weight.

With respect to LF, having a ball head that can move one (or more) axis independently is priceless; as far as I know, FLM and Arca-Swiss are the only manufacturers to have introduced such equipment.

[Sal Santamaura]

...A lot of my putting lately...To keep the post semi-relevant...

Is golf even semi-relevant?