Looking for good Ball head w/o quick release

[Greg]

Looking for a Ball tripod head but without a quick release. Just want a plain old interchangeable 1/4" or 3/8" screw top. Able to hold steady a 4x5 field camera. To me, seems like everything out there now has quick release heads. Need not to be new. Discontinued OK, since I will just search for a used one. Have and now use a Kirk BH-1 with a Kessler quick release top. Would prefer the smaller Kirk BH-3 but with a top screw which unfortunately, for me, is not offered. Very open to suggestions....

[CreationBear]

Off the top of my head, FLM and Novoflex would be the spendier options--Cullman and probably Uni-loc quite a bit cheaper. I've personally only used the Uni-loc that came packaged with the tripod I bought, but it seemed quite serviceable.

http://www.uniloctripod.com/ball-socket-heads.html

[BrianShaw]

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/prod.../tripod-heads/

[Tin Can]

Lots of options.

I actually read reviews.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...op+Nav-Search=

[Bob Salomon]

Linhof Profi II or III, Novoflex Magic Ball or Classic ball heads.

I do have a Giottos 3000 if you want an economical one.

The Linhofs, the Novoflex Classic balls and the Giottos all have both ¼ and ⅜” dual threaded top plates.

[Corran]

I liked my Linhof Profi until the internal rubber or whatever "gasket" just tore into pieces.

[esearing]

Giottos 3000 +1. It is solid and will hold just about anything, but weighs a ton. I put a 4" video QR system on top of mine and it gives much more stability and locking for LF. I was never afraid to walk with my camera on it the way I fear these small QR systems. It's also a good ball head for bird-in-flight shots with a long lens with good tension control.

[Bob Salomon]

I liked my Linhof Profi until the internal rubber or whatever "gasket" just tore into pieces.

They are easily replaced, that is what lubricates the ball.

[Pere Casals]

Kirk BH-1 with a Kessler quick release top. Would prefer the smaller Kirk BH-3 .... Able to hold steady a 4x5 field camera.

BH-1 is 0.8kg and BH-3 is 0.5kg, IMHO this is for ULF !!!

IMHO for 4x5 we can save weight and money.

I've been very concerned about vibrations for 8x10, so I got two cheap tools to learn exactly what happens, IMHO when one has to make decisions about tripod/head it can be recommended to get first those two cheap tools (total $10):







For 4x5 you may check how the thing goes with a light head for DSLRs, just attach the laser to the front standard, you'll see at what wind speed you have problems. You'll see how much it takes to stop vibration after inserting a holder, and (principal) see if the tripod returns to the same direction after inserting the hoder, this is critical when a tilt is there because a change in the direction changes completely the focus plane.


Even one may calculate/learn what optical performance can be lost from vibrations in different wind conditions, this is measuring the laser spot vibration a ta distance and applying magnification, so we would know the spot blur on film for a long exposure, (if shutter speed is high then the loss is lower).


What I learned from experimentation is that for 4x5 steadiness it's easier than it looks, it is for 8x10 that the thing is more challenging when wind blows.

IMHO checking steadiness with the laser is what allows an optimal weight-steadiness balance.

[Corran]

They are easily replaced, that is what lubricates the ball.

Okay, where can I buy the part?