Time to Meet Platyball.
Platyball presents a new, revolutionary way to level. Featuring an inverted design, single handed ergonomics and a unique twist-action Arca compatible clamp, we have literally taken the classic tripod head design and turned it upside down. Redesigned from the ground up, the Platyball becomes an extension of your hand and allows you to quickly level your camera better than ever before. It is heavy duty and accurate to 0.5 a degree.
Industry veteran Jay P. Morgan gives you HIS take on the new product here.
You can learn more about the Platyball over at Kickstarter.
I have known Larry Tiefenbrunn and his family for several years. They are simply the nicest people in the world.
Larry “Dr. T.” has been a pediatrician for over 35 years and a photographer for more than 45. In his photography he attempts to capture the “ordinary” and to help others, especially young people, to see the world in an extraordinary way. Motivated by his desire to look at objects from different perspectives, especially the low-lying child’s view, he designed the perfect compact mini tripod, the Platypod, in a flat and sturdy design. Larry’s quest to perfect the ergonomics of camera support has now led him to this new redesign of the tripod ball head, the Platyball.
I was allowed to give Larry feedback on this product early in the development cycle and am proud to see that he implemented it. I am absolutely sure that this ballhead will revolutionize the industry and I hope you’ll consider supporting the project. He blew by his initial goal and if he is able to raise more money, he’s gonna be set.
Once you watch the videos I am sure that you will be hooked. Just like I was. From it’s innovative upside down design to the one-handed operation, there’s nothing like it. I am looking forward to getting mine and encourage you to follow suit.
2 Responses
I ordered one while Dr. T. was doing the Scott Kelby show. BTW, Dr. T. is a very nice man, I got to meet him at the Out of Chicago show a few years back when he had come out with the original Platipod.
I do have a question for you. I sometimes use my AcraTech ball head in what I call my poor man’s gimbal. Basically, I attach the foot of my 300 to the ball head, loosen the collar, ball and rotation clamps; then flop it over on its side. Its not as free moving as a gimbal of course, but its a lot better than you would expect. Some ball heads I’ve tried this on bind up to much to do it.
So my question is, how well will this work with Plattyball. The up/down motion should be a lot better since you’re eliminating the friction of the ball. But there is more friction in the side to side motion, I suspect that its going to be an overall improvement over even the AcraTech.
Thoughts?
Hi Bob I am not sure I understand how you use the other ballhead but I can tell you that using the Platypod as a poor man’s gimbal is certainly possible. That is part of the reason for the design. When you get yours, try it out and let me know how it works for you in that manner.