Just a note on the Z1. No Complaints.
The elliptical ball works as advertised. Smooth from top center to full tilt.
The reason for this post is to note differences in product images and reports.
I purchased the quick release (not the flip lock) from B&H.
The plate has two sizes of dove tails. The normal Arca and a narrower one in the center and a little lower. The images I seen only shown one set.
The pan lock knob is a small lever instead of the pictured round knob. At first glance I thought it was plastic but it's not. I read some user reports loving everything but the pan lock knob because it was small and seemed cheap and it would bottom out before locking as hard as they liked.
Not so with my copy. I admit I like the little lever better than I would the knob. The pan locks well before the screw bottoms out on mine.
The Z1 was out of stock all over the US until recently. Perhaps this is an updated version?
Since my next purchase will be a ballhead for my new Gitzo 2540 I am wondering why this would be better or worse (in a manner of speaking since they are both great ballheads) than the Markins M10
I had a Markins M10 and returned it, I did not like the play in the main knob and the smoothness compared to the Z1, plus the elipical ball on the Z1 works as advertised.
I did not say it was bad, just not my choice after having the two side-by-side and using them for a week. For others it clearly works. And in general, I don't make any final selections on what other people tell me, I buy them, try them in a very gentle fashion, and return the one I don't like as much. Markins took it back no questions asked and no restocking fee...assuming it was unmarked, which it was. They were helpful and professional.
Those of you who've used this head: What's the largest lens you've used on it? I'm wondering if it would be good for static shots with a 500 (no Sidekick) as a lighter and more compact alternative to hiking in with full Wimberley.
I've used the Arca-Swiss Z1 with the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS and 5D body on a Gitzo 1257 tripod with no problems. I received mine a few weeks back from B&H and is the same as stated by the OP. I'm very pleased with this ball head and went with it over the Markins Q Ball because of the elliptical ball.
Taken with the above setup when the moon was at perigee on Oct. 25th. Once you take your hands off the rig, its right where you left it. No slip, no play.
Dang. I guess I got mine just a little too soon, as I don't have that nifty clamp.
OTOH, it looks utterly useless for my purposes. I think the " camera rail system" refers to one of Arca Swiss' rail-type LF cameras, which I don't see myself buying anytime soon (never). Also, it would negate the safety stops on my Kirk plates, allowing the camera or lens to slide out of the clamp when loosened.
I got the DP version. I mainly wanted this so I wouldn't have to go through the fiddle of inverting the head when leveling for stitched panos, but now I'm wondering why all heads don't come with a panning platform on top. It adds very little to the weight, about 3/8 inch to the height, and worlds to the versatility. For following high-speed pans, just set the ballhead so the upper platform is parallel with the plane of your pan, lock the ball, and bingo--perfectly stable pans.
All the motions on this head are perfectly smooth, including the two pans. The upper and lower panning platforms feel like they're fluid damped! I was pleasantly surprised by the panning lock levers--they easily lock rock-solid.
With a 40D and the70-200 2.8L IS and a 300 4L IS it is fantastic. It can easily handle more.
Smooth.
In mounting the lenses to long-ish plate, maybe an inch or so longer then the Canon ring pad it allows me to balance a given combo. Once a fairly close balance is achieved the tension is the same anywhere you put it. I can push the rig with one finger from horizontal to vertical with no change in effort or slipping.
The tension knob is very predictable and the number settings repeat very well.
It's not obvious (at least I didn't notice it), but the new AS quick-release lever has two positions; 90* and 180*. At 90* the jaws only open up a little bit (not enough for my Acratech plate to be inserted), so I was irritated for awhile. Then I find out (not in the instructions) that you have to tug on the little barbed insert to move the lever to 180*, so that the jaws spring WAY open. Ahh, much better. With the lever dial adjusted to insert the plates at 90* you don't get much tension, readjusted for insertion at 180* it's solid when locked.
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