From: Sandy King (sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Date: 05/03/01-12:19:01 AM Z
Michael,
You will probably get all manner of comments on this inquiry. It seems to
be there are two reasonable alternatives to consider: 1) use the sturdiest
head and tripod available, irrespective of weight, or 2) use the lightest
combination that does the job. Choice of aluminium versus wood seems
irrevelant to me, except for romantic considerations.
For my own work with the 12X20 camera I have found that the Manfrotto 3039
head on a 3036 tripod base provides adequate stability and rigidity for all
of my landscape work. I am currenlty using a Canham 12X20 (about 17 lbs)
but have also used this combination for another heavier 12X20 with no
problem. I use a quick releasse with the 3039 head, 4", which I keep
permanenlty attached to the camera base.
Regards,
Sandy King
>Hello group,
>
>I recently purchased a Phillips 12x20 camera. The camera weighs about 21
>pounds, has a 39" bellows, and the filmholders are about 4 pounds each.
>All told, the tripod head will need to support 28-30 pounds without
>drift or risk of 'flop'. I shoot for platinum/palladium, and intend to
>use this camera for landscapes and urban landscapes primarily.
>Architecture will also show up as a subject from time to time.
>
>This camera is substantially heavier than the 7x17 that I use, and I
>feel that I need to get a large tripod head to use the camera. I
>currently use a Kirk Ball head for all my cameras up to the 7x17, but I
>can't imagine using any ballhead on something as large as the 12x20. I
>know that people use the Majestic heads and the Ries A250 for these
>large cameras, however, these are exceptionally large and heavy heads,
>and I would like to keep the weight of my system down if possible.
>
>I also would like to use a quick release with the camera. The camera
>came with a 'Cine 60' QR plate and the QR mechanism, which seems
>perfectly suited for this large camera, however, mounting this to an
>A250 or Majestic head would seem to negate half of the point of these
>large heads (with their large camera mounting plates). While the
>precision of a geared head like the Majestic might be nice, for my
>purposes, I don't think that I need that feature.
>
>The archives have precious little discussion on this topic, so I thought
>I might get a poll going of the heads that you use or feel are suitable
>for the large 'alt' cameras like my 12x20 Phillips.
>
>Thank you for your thoughts.
>
>---Michael Mutmansky
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