I've been using a Toho (not Toyo) FC-45X camera with an old Tiltall Professional tripod. The camera with my heaviest lens weighs about 4 lbs, so in terms of weight is more like a medium format camera than a large format camera. My tripod weighs about 6 lbs, and is more than adequate to handle the camera. But it is somewhat large and bulky.
I haven't been doing much photography of any sort for the past two years because of pain from spinal stenosis. But in January I had surgery which fused three vertebrae. I am still in recovery, but already I have much less pain, and in a month or so, I expect to be close to pain free. So I will want to be going out with my Toho again. To this end I am considering getting a Calumet Carbon fiber tripod weighing under 4 lbs. If I get a 3 way pan head, which is what I am used to, the result will weigh about the same as my Tiltall, but if I get a small ball head, adequate for the weight, I will save one lb. In either case the resulting tripod will be easier to pack and take up less space, but clearly the ball head will have an advantage.
I am nervous about switching to a ball head. The weight of the camera and lens is not an issue, but the question is how easy will it be for me to set up the camera. I am used to leveling the camera from front to back and then from side to side. Is there any danger of an accident of some sort because of failure to tighten the head?
So what advice can any of you offer, particularly those who use ball heads with a view camera.
Bookmarks