Hi,

I'm looking for a ball head(or others) for Leica tripod, I like the tripod for it's rotating legs can be fixed at any point. I know Leica's ball head is a good match for the tripod, but for the price and weight, I would like to know any other choices.

I don't use tripod with my M6 and M4 outfit, but I do like to bring a small table top with me when I need it once a while.

I like QR feature for my "real" tripod(have QR plate on my SLR all the time), but I realize it's just not practical for such a small table top, but I'm wondering how do people use tripod without QR when in a crowded street screw in and out for just one picture.

Thanks.

-- Fre O. (yo5454@yahoo.com), March 27, 2001

Answers

For about $20 (last time I checked), SLICK made a very small ballhead that would be perfect for the Leica tabletop tripod. KALT also makes a few small and inexpensive ballheads. Neither of these is what I would consider "high quality", but they should serve the purpose for occasional use.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 27, 2001.

I forgot to add that I don't use a tripod when I'm shooting on the street, so a QR setup is not needed. For the rare occasion where I might want to mount my street camera to a tripod (time exposure?), I'll just screw it in the old fashioned way ;-) My SLR and view camera have "Really Right Stuff" custom bottom plates, which mount into my NPC QR dovetail head.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 27, 2001.

I would recommend you purchase the Leica B & S head if you can. The ridges on the ball portion lock so tightly that I have used it with an R3 w/90 Summicron + TC at 1/2 second and found it held admirably. The only downside is that the design of the ridges means you cannot get the smooth panning action that a true ball head gives. A less expensive alternative that is nearly as good in my opinion is the Giottos 1003 ballhead. Very small and compact it would easily work with the M camera, and they do make an accessory QR that is quite handy.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), March 27, 2001.

Yes, I recommend the Leica B&S too. It holds an R6 +180mm OK too (although you have to arrange the ttt legs carefully!). The smaller B & S head that you can buy secondhad is also a good head, but I do prefer the larger one as you can then use the head and legs combination as a chest pod.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 27, 2001.

The current Leica ballhead's greatest shortcoming is the 1/4" screw at the bottom, which is quite small to take that much shear stress from the leverage on it. I prefer the 14121 ballhead, which was made in medium and tall lengths, or the KGOON. Both of these types have provision for switching either end to 3/8" and 1/4", so they work equally as well on the Leica table tripod, or a standard tripod or the extremely compact Manfrotto table tripod, which has only a 3/8" stud. Another solution is the Slik Compact Ballhead, which (unlike many compact ballheads) actually locks down very tightly. Any of these can be adapted instantly for use with QR by the addition of Kirk Enterprise's smallest Arca-style clamp. From experience I would avoid the late-model (black) small Leica ballhead, as it lacks the milling on the ball that helps lock it up tightly.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 27, 2001.

The best is still Leica ball and socket head Mine is more than twenty years now, still looks like new

It has the Leitz logo instead of Leica.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 27, 2001.

Thanks all your replies. Just one more question, what about Bogen's ball head? does anyone have experience with 3262, 3055 or 3026 with a tabletop tripod?

Fred O.

-- Fred O. (yo5454@yahoo.com), March 27, 2001.

Those Bogen ballheads will fit on the Leica table tripod (the latter two will need reducing bushings, the 3262 has one built-in) but they're going to dwarf the tripod and certainly make quite a bulge in your pocket. The Bogen Mini Ballhead (the one that comes with their mini table tripod) doesn't lock down very securely.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 27, 2001.

Leitz used to make a smaller version of the ball and socket, about half the height.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 27, 2001.

I have the Leitz ballhead # 14105, and Leitz tabletop legs. The ball head was just dandy for some years, until one day it popped apart into two pieces. The forces resulting from tightening the ball with the thumb lever will force the assembly apart. I can force it back together (it's an interference fit), but the next time I use it, it pops apart again. The chrome upper part pops off of the black body part. I don't own any heavy M lenses. Maybe I tried to use it with the Nikon and a telephoto, I don't remember. I may try to superglue it or drill a hole and put in a pin or setscrew or something. In the meantime, if you get a 14105, don't put anything heavy on it!

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 27, 2001.

I think my 14105 must be the half-height version Martin mentioned.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 27, 2001.

The 14105 (previously coded FOOMI)was a short, all-chrome ballhead. If yours has a black base, it's a 14119, which was the last short- body ballhead Leitz produced. It lacks the milling on the ball surface, and doesn't lock down as solidly as the others. It is a light-duty ballhead. I've got several of them, so far none has popped apart, but it wouldn't surprise me. The tendency is to really try and honk down on the locking key, but no matter, it still can be moved about.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 28, 2001.

It seems that the small Leica ball head is not that durable

There is a small Leica ball head with broken ball on ebay

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 28, 2001.

It seems that the small Leica ball head is not that durable

there is small Leica ball head with broken ball on ebay

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 28, 2001.

Sorry didn't get the image URL right

Try again

The ebay seller wrote that the ball need to be replaced

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 28, 2001.

Martin, it would appear from the photo that the broken ballhead is from the 50's. in my opinion, if a piece of equipment such as a ballhead sees any heavy use at all (which of course we can only assume), that to break after 'only' 50 years is not an indication of inherent weakness ;-)

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), March 28, 2001.

My small black Leitz ball head (god knows what the serial number is) is very well made-- I cannot imagine this ever coming apart - the whole thing is some kind of forged/machined steel and it is very good, but the larger one is better for an R user and for use as a chest pod. This smaller one, it could well be argued, is better for an M. I use it with my CL. They were made until reasonably recently (1990?) and can easily be found secondhand. I would say it is more indestructable than the larger head. It would survive a nuclear cataclysm...

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 28, 2001.

I haven't ever handled a Leica tripod, but they do look like they're high quality. However, there is the price... I have used a Bogen table-top tripod with the Bogen Mini-Ball head for several years. I've put some ridiculously large things on it. Like a Nikon N90s with 80-2000/2.8 and an SB-26! It was servicable. For a Leica, no problem. For the price of the Leica, you could buy 2 or 3 and keep them convenient, plus take the family out for Spaghetti. ;-)

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), March 28, 2001.

"Like a Nikon N90s with 80-2000/2.8 and an SB-26!"

Holy smokes, Dan - a Nikon "80-2000"?!?!?! The visual image stuns me.

I use the large ball head for my M's. I use the small ball head for my screw mounts (no big lenses) or my Digilux.

For SLR equipment I use a Gitzo #2.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), March 28, 2001.

I was shooting birds nesting in my back yard. I set up the camera on the little tripod and used a long remote cable so as not to spook the little dritters :-)

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), March 29, 2001.

I've been quite pleased with my Bogen mini table tripod with a 3009 mini-ball head. I haven't seen the Leica, and I've used it primarily with my Hexar, with no complaints.

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

The manfrotto table top tripod and ball head combo isn't bad at all if it's portability you're after. I've had mine for about 5 years and it is just so tiny it lives in the side of my Billingham Hadley front pocket without a problem. The largest lens I've used is a 90mm f 2.8 however. I've just succumbed to a s/h Leitz combo with the older large head - beautifully made, but twice the size/wieght. Will I use it tho'?

-- chris vincent (candhvincent@btinternet.com), July 02, 2001.