Re: [Leica] Re: Ball & socket heads

["Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>]

It seems like maybe you could use a small fluid-head like those sold for
camcorders.  You set the tripod itself level then you have fluid-dampened
drag in the horizontal and vertical directions.  It seems that would be
easier than having something that moved in all directions.  I don't know how
the size will compare to the ball & socket head.  I'm used to the large ones
for broadcast type video and film cameras.  It seems like one that was
scaled down would work well for still work.
Mike D

- -----Original Message-----
From: Doug Richardson <doug@meditor.demon.co.uk>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 7:13 AM
Subject: [Leica] Re: Ball & socket heads


>Mention of ball & socket heads in my posting re Florence and Venice
>reminds me of a question:
>
>Does anyone make a good quality ball & socket head similar in size to
>the Leica one but with a controllable degree of friction rather than a
>simple locked/unlocked adjustment?  I've often thought that a head
>which can be moved against a good degree of friction when setting the
>camera angle would be easier to adjust than one where undoing the
>screw suddenly releases the weight of a heavy Leicaflex.
>
>BTW, while visting a photo store in London a few months back I was
>able to buy a small accessory-shoe-mounting spirit level - an ideal
>aid to getting the camera level when mounted on a ball & socket head.
>The Leitz one is a collector's item, but this little gadget was about
>$5, and much more practical and - two little spirit levels embedded in
>a block of clear plastic.
>
>Regards,
>
>Doug Richardson
>
>