Ball heads for LF

Dad used to use an old Gandolfi wooden tripod with a hinged "head". These days, I would say that a geared head would be the way to go, with Manfrotto's 410 being the most likely (affordable!) option.
 
, I would say that a geared head would be the way to go, with Manfrotto's 410 being the most likely (affordable!) option.

I've considered geared heads but they come with a weight tag!
The 410 weighs in 1200g and others that I've viewed are in the region of a kilo…..Add legs to that and the weight equates to about what I'm already carrying! ( 2.6kg

I won't benefit anything ( weight wise) which is why I'm considering the 3 legged thing…..it would be a kilo less on my back!
EQUINOX LEO KIT & ECLIPSE LEO KIT 1.44kg
 
I've got a ball head and a benro geared head which I use with my LF gear. I initially didn't like the ball head as I'm not used to them, but I'm coming round t it now. The main issue is keeping things level when adjusting in the other axis, with a smaller camera it's probably a bit easier but with a big 8x10 it takes some work to not shift the entire camera when you just want to change a bit of roll for example
 
The main issue is keeping things level when adjusting in the other axis,

That's what I'm thinking as I have tried a ball head before and I was all over the place with whatever camera was attached.

Ok it was on a monopod as opposed to a tripod with TLRs or occasionally 35mm kit but my first impressions were that it was quite difficult to operate.

To be fair, I didn't persevere and give myself time to adapt.

I now really need to get kit as light as possible but I wish to continue with LF.

The Tachihara that I recently bought has taken 1.5 kg off my back already but if I can get lighter with other items such as tripod then all the better.
 
How heavy is the Benro geared head, @raathistle ?

ETA it has the benefit of being an ARCA Swiss plate...
 
I didn't get on with ball heads for the reason Chris gave - the difficulty of adjusting just one plane. I then used a Manfrotto 3 way head for years, before switching to a geared head.
 
I then used a Manfrotto 3 way head for years,
Exactly what I use atm

I've looked at gear heads and been tempted but what I have works just fine so pointless changing it if I can't benefit weight wise tbh
 
I always used three way heads for large format. Balls are impossible to adjust sufficiently accurately. The smallest and lightest large format I used professionally was a MPP mk7. And the heaviest a plaubel monorail 10x8.. at college we used mostly Gandolfi cameras, which were very light in comparison, but their tripods weighed a ton.
My usual compliment included 24 fidelity double dark slides, which weighed more than most modern cameras.
 
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One of the reasons for my switch from a Manfrotto 029 head to their geared one was the smaller size of the control knobs to the long bars on the 029. I found it next to impossible to strap the tripod to my back pack and not have the handles catching everything including my neck. The smaller sized protuberences were much better for me regardless of the extra precision of the gears.

I still find myself missing the geared rise and fall of my first LF camera.
 
I’ve never used anything but ball heads and in my experience it’s been absolutely fine. My ebony is on the heavier end of field cameras as well, at 2.6 ish Kg, iirc.
 
I have a 410 sat doing nothing if you decide to go that route.
 
I use a ball head for my 5x4, the Tachihara and now my Linhof which is much heavier, around the same weight as Woodsy’s Ebony. I also use one for my 8x10. If I want to be a little more precise when adjusting along one axis I just turn up the friction and use both of my hands on the bed to adjust the camera.
 
The Manfrotto 460MG 3D head weighs in at 430g, and is said to be able to hold up to 3 kg. Funnily enough, I use it on my Manfrotto carbon fibre legs, but would tend to use the 055 with the 029 3 way head,(which is a lot heavier than the 460MG ) for my LF camera. Hmmm ....
https://www.wexphotovideo.com/manfr...MIm_e1utKB3gIVlOR3Ch3YuQuvEAQYASABEgLttvD_BwE

That head alone would knock off almost 400g off the weight even if I keep the 190XB legs ( present head is the 3 way 804RC2 rated for payload of 4kg)

If I come across a decent used one at a fair price I may well consider it.
 
I have one of these https://www.wexphotovideo.com/arca-...MIn6iS5tSB3gIVC53tCh1I4gzSEAQYAiABEgI9EPD_BwE
Should hold what you require solid enough, total overkill for my current lightweight kit.
It's attached to an older version Manfrotto 055 Pro and together they stay in the car should I ever need a tripod when I'm out and about

Is that figure of 60000 grams real or a typo??:wideyed:…..surely they mean 6000g ( 6kg)?

I am still very unsure about ball heads even though some LF togs apparantly use them without problem.
There again the only way I would build up confidence with a ballhead would be to actually use one in the field
 
Is that figure of 60000 grams real or a typo??:wideyed:…..surely they mean 6000g ( 6kg)?

I am still very unsure about ball heads even though some LF togs apparantly use them without problem.
There again the only way I would build up confidence with a ballhead would be to actually use one in the field

Have you seen one of these things, it's not a misprint and it's 60kg
 
Have you seen one of these things, it's not a misprint and it's 60kg

I'm gunna search one out if only to have a look at….I mean a ballhead that can hold upto 60kg …...it's near on unbelievable!
 
I'm gunna search one out if only to have a look at….I mean a ballhead that can hold upto 60kg …...it's near on unbelievable!

Not that unbelievable, this one holds up to 50kg http://www.markins.com/4.0/html_en/q20-q.php
I had the smaller Q10 or M10 as it was known then, that had a max of about 40kg if I remember correctly
 
Quoted from arca swiss website:

"vertical movements take advantage of the aspherical ball which leads to a progressive increase of the friction as the camera & lens is tipped forward or back. This increase makes our ball head the safest available — no flopping around!"

Perhaps they're not the first manufacturers to implement " a progressive increase of the friction" but it's a feature that interests me and could tempt me into a ballhead
 
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Quoted from arca swiss website:

"vertical movements take advantage of the aspherical ball which leads to a progressive increase of the friction as the camera & lens is tipped forward or back. This increase makes our ball head the safest available — no flopping around!"

Perhaps they're not the first manufacturers to implement " a progressive increase of the friction" but it's a feature that interests me and could tempt me into a ballhead

Not sure where you are based, but if it's anywhere near Cambridgeshire you are welcome to try my one out.
In fact would be happy to swap it for something a bit smaller and lighter, weighs more than the camera and lens it supports these days.
 
Not sure where you are based, but if it's anywhere near Cambridgeshire you are welcome to try my one out.
That's a really kind offer Rich.
Unfortunatley I don't live in the UK:(
Nonetheless your postings and links have given me an insight to other heads that may well work out well for me…..Many thanks!;)
 
That's a really kind offer Rich.
Unfortunatley I don't live in the UK:(
Nonetheless your postings and links have given me an insight to other heads that may well work out well for me…..Many thanks!;)

That's good, hope you find one that suits your purposes, the high quality ones are in a different league to the smaller lighter versions
 
the high quality ones are in a different league to the smaller lighter versions

Yeah that is becoming quite clear going on specs that I've already read this evening.

Sometimes there is simply too much choice ( not just with togging kit!):thinking:

Going through the different options keeps me out of mischief occupied :D
 
Just to chuck another option in these are my current favourite although I only use the small 32mm ball size these days
http://www.flmcanada.com/ball-heads.html
They are very good quality, made in Germany and have a wide range of adjustments, picking one should keep you fully occupied.
 
I use this one

velbon ultra rexi l

It is fairly light and packs down well and the plate is quite large enough for my Wista, it is also sturdy and not expensive. :)
 
I have also been pondering this question for my Chroma - I had my eye on one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00K0P0...colid=VFQP0QXBLM9W&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Will it suffice, do you think? I currently have a cheapo Jessops tripod with a single adjustment on it, and it probably won't do...

IAt first I didn't think it had a quick release plate on it, but checking the Manfrotto site I think it does, probably the RC2 system which I used for a long time and is possibly more secure than the Arca Swiss type I've converted to. I found the 3-way head a little difficult to use, but I suspect a younger more agile mind might be able to master it! There's 3 degrees of movement but only two levers; one has to be twisted as well, IIRC. Still might be easier to control than a ball head (as I've got). and a lot cheaper than a geared head (as @raathistle uses).
 
IAt first I didn't think it had a quick release plate on it, but checking the Manfrotto site I think it does, probably the RC2 system which I used for a long time and is possibly more secure than the Arca Swiss type I've converted to. I found the 3-way head a little difficult to use, but I suspect a younger more agile mind might be able to master it! There's 3 degrees of movement but only two levers; one has to be twisted as well, IIRC. Still might be easier to control than a ball head (as I've got). and a lot cheaper than a geared head (as @raathistle uses).

I was originally planning on getting a ball head tripod, but kept reading they were no good for LF... I use one at work with a DSLR and find them pretty easy to use. They might be lighter though. Decisions, decisions!
 
I was originally planning on getting a ball head tripod, but kept reading they were no good for LF... I use one at work with a DSLR and find them pretty easy to use. They might be lighter though. Decisions, decisions!
I did worry a bit that the one you chose might not be quite up to it. The load is quoted at 3 kg, and the Chroma plus lens and DDS will take up a chunk of that; with a bit of windage it might be an issue?
 
I did worry a bit that the one you chose might not be quite up to it. The load is quoted at 3 kg, and the Chroma plus lens and DDS will take up a chunk of that; with a bit of windage it might be an issue?
Oh really? Back to the drawing board then haha :)
 
Quoted from arca swiss website:

"vertical movements take advantage of the aspherical ball which leads to a progressive increase of the friction as the camera & lens is tipped forward or back. This increase makes our ball head the safest available — no flopping around!"

Perhaps they're not the first manufacturers to implement " a progressive increase of the friction" but it's a feature that interests me and could tempt me into a ballhead

It's a feature available on the Redsnapper RSH-12 Ball Head - head weighs in at 670g and has a max load of 10Kg. Price £60.
I've had one for years for DSLR use and it's a very well made piece of kit at a good price.
I'm a fan of Redsnapper as they do good quality kit at very reasonable prices compared to the likes of Manfrotto etc..

I also have their smaller ESH36 ball head - doesn't have the aspherical ball, weight of 385g and max load of 6Kg. Price £30.

Both have Arca style quick release and separate controls for rotating the whole head, friction adjustment for the ball, and locking/releasing the ball.
 
I've always used a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head for LF and never had an issue, you just have to make sure that you've got a good grip on the camera before you undo the knob to move it! I have never got on with the friction adjustment though so it's always as loose as it goes.

My Nagaoka only weighs 1.2kg without a lens etc, so a heavier camera might be more of an issue, although I did use my Arca Swiss monorail with the same ball head and I never had a problem with that either.
 
I've always used a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head for LF and never had an issue, you just have to make sure that you've got a good grip on the camera before you undo the knob to move it! I have never got on with the friction adjustment though so it's always as loose as it goes.

My Nagaoka only weighs 1.2kg without a lens etc, so a heavier camera might be more of an issue, although I did use my Arca Swiss monorail with the same ball head and I never had a problem with that either.

I've got an even smaller 494RC2 ball head, adapted to have an Arca Swiss plate. Yet to find out if it will work well with the Chroma. But I also had, for a short while, a ball head without friction control. All I can say is, I got rid of it quick and will never get one without friction control again!

ETA: a panning head is nice!
 
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