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Thread: Which ball head?

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Blue Ridge, VA
    Posts
    124

    Re: Which ball head?

    I will cast my lot with the others who have trouble using a view camera on a ballhead. When I shot medium format I bought a Kirk ballhead that is, in my opinion, second to none. If you are set on a ballhead, I recommend the Kirk.

    But when I started shooting 4x5 with a Linhof, getting everything level and plumb was an onerous task for me. Sort of like trying to keep a marble centered on a piece of wood you are holding in your hands; you can do it but in the end is it really worth the trouble? So I bought a second hand 3 way head from KEH and am a lot happier. Except on the rare occasions that I get the MF out; then I switch to the good old Kirk.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: Which ball head?

    I haven't been able to work with a ball head and view camera at the same time... but some people seem to be able to do it.

  3. #13
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
    Posts
    9,864

    Re: Which ball head?

    I think if you are coming from smaller formats and are used to a ball head you can use them fine. In my case I come from primarily using a VC and use even a DSLR like a VC and ball heads don't fit my MO. Even so I gave it a try a couple of years ago. The Manfrotto I have for sale is really first class but not for me.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  4. #14
    Landscape Addict
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    434

    Re: Which ball head?

    I used to use a 3 way pan tilt for DSLR/MF however I bought an RRS BH-55 on recomendation of a friend and have not looked back. The only thing that I find difficult with it is leveling up my Kardan Super Colour. Monorail cameras and ball heads are not friends.I sometimes just mount the camera straight onto the tripod. Having said that, 98% of what I shoot is landscape, and so geometry is not really important. I just make sure the horizon is level... Verticals don't matter unless you're in the forest, in which case Its not impossible, just time consuming.. With my old fotoman 617 the ball was a dream.
    Chamonix 045N-2 - 65/5.6 - 90/8 - 210/5.6 - Fomapan 100 & T-Max 100 in Rodinal
    Alexartphotography

  5. #15
    Alberto Bregani's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Dolomites
    Posts
    95

    Re: Which ball head?

    I was a very happy person with my ball head for my hasselblad
    this one Manfrotto 488 rc4 - just great


    when i bought my 4x5 Shen-Hao i tried to take photpgraphs without getting nervous; i failed
    Quite impossible to manage a 4x5 view camera on a ball head

    so i bought this one Manfrotto 410 junior three-way head


    Now i'm a happy person again...
    488rc4 for medium format
    410 junior for large format
    my two cents
    CIAO|
    Alberto Bregani | Mountain Photographer
    My starting page
    http://about.me/albertobregani

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