Please Recommend a Ball Head for 4x5

[Ari]

Hi,
I have an ultra-light CF tripod that I use for travel with the 4x5, a Technikardan 45.
Recently, I sold the chunky 3-way head to get something smaller and lighter, and I was thinking of a ball head.

I have always been dead-set against using ball heads with LF; I shoot quite a bit of architectural stuff, so the ball heads are/were poison.

But now I'd like to know if there is any ball head out there, small, compact that behaves somewhat like a 3-way head.
That is, can it be set to move in one axis only?
Would you trust it near your 4x5?

Please recommend anything you know of, regardless of price.

Thanks in advance.

[biedron]

I don't know if this qualifies as "lightweight", but the Arca Swiss Z2 has independent movements:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Ballhead.html

Perhaps only available used?

Bob

[Richard Wasserman]

It's not a ball head, which I don't care for with large format—I use a Linhof 3-way leveling head with a TK. It's about the same size as a ball head, weighs less than 2 pounds, has independent movements and is very solid. I like it a lot. They are pricey, but do show up on the used market.

[Peter De Smidt]

If Richard's suggestion appeals, check out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-3-Way...=item3f20a0005

[Walter Calahan]

I know you want a ball head, but in my experience of trying to level an LF camera with a ball head I've come to the conclusion that they are not worth using. That said, there are many fine ball heads out there. Good luck.

[Bill_1856]

If Richard's suggestion appeals, check out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-3-Way...=item3f20a0005

This may well be the world's best tripod head, but you'll have to spend another $50 for a 1/4" screw to use it with your camera.

[Ari]

Thank you, everybody.
The Arca head is pretty cool, but it weighs twice as much as my tripod
I love the Linhof head, I know about it already, thanks Peter, Richard and Bill.
I'd likely get it if I can't find an interesting ball head.

I'd like to find out something I don't already know in the realm of ball heads, so please, keep your suggestions coming.

Thanks in advance.

[Bob Salomon]

Check out the new Novoflex Classicball 3 II which can be used as either a ball head or a leveling head. This is not to be confused with the discontinued Classicball 3 which it replaced.
Also look at the new Arca compatible Linhof 3-way leveling head. This is an uodated version of the 003663 Linhof 3-way leveling head.
The new version is available with either an Arca top or a Linhof Quickfix top. It is not available with a thread top at this time.

[Joseph Dickerson]

I'm using the Really Right Stuff BH-55 with my Sinar F1 and it works great. I should point out that the Sinar cameras allow you to make port/starboard adjustments by rotating the rail in the tripod clamp, thus simplifying the leveling process.

JD

[Pawlowski6132]

I use ball heads exclusively and can't imagine one reason why anyone else shouldn't consider it.