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Archive 2009 · Tiny ballhead?

bp044
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p.3 #1 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
bp044 wrote:

The photo in the PDF shows the circular knurled ring which locks the ball. I don't see a device for the separate tension control.

the little flip lever locks rotation, the ring sets both tension and locks the tilt angle. I am going from my recollection from Thursday when I handled it.

I think you are corect , and the ring controls both actions. I would not buy this nifty little ballhead or any other that did not have a seperate tension control.
I have yet to hear an argument in favor of a ballhead without a seperate tension control. I would like to hear any contrary opinions on this subject.

Oct 26, 2009 at 01:31 PM

E-Vener
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p.3 #2 · Tiny ballhead?

There is a tension control built in. For starters there is Arca-Swiss' patented Elliptical ball shape which means that as the camera is tilted away from level the drag on the ball increases unless you have the head completely loose. While other companies have copied the overall look of the Arca-Swiss heads , both the early Monoball and the later B1Monoball, Arca-Swiss guards the patent on the elliptical shape pretty closely and no one else has copied it -- it is one ofthe reasons why Arca-Swiss heads are stronger than other heads ofthe same size. The tensioning mechanism -- really drag -- is part of the locking mechanism on all ball heads whether it is set via thumbscrew built in to the locking knob or a separate control.

or maybe we are talking about different functions but usingthe same word to describe them?

Oct 26, 2009 at 01:51 PM

bp044
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p.3 #3 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
There is a tension control built in. For starters there is Arca-Swiss' patented Elliptical ball shape which means that as the camera is tilted away from level the drag on the ball increases unless you have the head completely loose. While other companies have copied the overall look of the Arca-Swiss heads , both the early Monoball and the later B1Monoball, Arca-Swiss guards the patent on the elliptical shape pretty closely and no one else has copied it -- it is one ofthe reasons why Arca-Swiss heads are stronger than other heads ofthe same size. The tensioning mechanism -- really drag -- is part of the locking mechanism on all ball heads whether it is set via thumbscrew built in to the locking knob or a separate control.

or maybe we are talking about different functions but usingthe same word to describe them?

My goal is to set and forget the tension or drag to a level sufficient to support my light weight camera when i am between positioning for different shots. When I am ready to shoot I will use the locking mechanism to keep the camera fixed in place . It seems to me that the combined drag /locking device on the Bo requires extra fiddling as opposed to the separate drag knob found on the highly rated ballheads . I am open to opposing views

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

bp044
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p.3 #4 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
There is a tension control built in. For starters there is Arca-Swiss' patented Elliptical ball shape which means that as the camera is tilted away from level the drag on the ball increases unless you have the head completely loose. While other companies have copied the overall look of the Arca-Swiss heads , both the early Monoball and the later B1Monoball, Arca-Swiss guards the patent on the elliptical shape pretty closely and no one else has copied it -- it is one ofthe reasons why Arca-Swiss heads are stronger than other heads ofthe same size. The tensioning mechanism -- really drag -- is part of the locking mechanism on all ball heads whether it is set via thumbscrew built in to the locking knob or a separate control.

or maybe we are talking about different functions but usingthe same word to describe them?

My goal is to set and forget the tension or drag to a level sufficient to support my light weight camera when i am between positioning for different shots. When I am ready to shoot I will use the locking mechanism to keep the camera fixed in place . It seems to me that the combined drag /locking device on the Bo requires extra fiddling as opposed to the separate drag knob found on the highly rated ballheads . I am open to opposing views

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

bp044
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p.3 #5 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
There is a tension control built in. For starters there is Arca-Swiss' patented Elliptical ball shape which means that as the camera is tilted away from level the drag on the ball increases unless you have the head completely loose. While other companies have copied the overall look of the Arca-Swiss heads , both the early Monoball and the later B1Monoball, Arca-Swiss guards the patent on the elliptical shape pretty closely and no one else has copied it -- it is one ofthe reasons why Arca-Swiss heads are stronger than other heads ofthe same size. The tensioning mechanism -- really drag -- is part of the locking mechanism on all ball heads whether it is set via thumbscrew built in to the locking knob or a separate control.

or maybe we are talking about different functions but usingthe same word to describe them?

My goal is to set and forget the tension or drag to a level sufficient to support my light weight camera when i am between positioning for different shots. When I am ready to shoot I will use the locking mechanism to keep the camera fixed in place . It seems to me that the combined drag /locking device on the Bo requires extra fiddling as opposed to the separate drag knob found on the highly rated ballheads . I am open to opposing views

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

E-Vener
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p.3 #6 · Tiny ballhead?

Nope, no extra fiddling on the Arca-Swiss P0 -- I worked with it for about 5-10 minutes at the Arca-Swiss booth at PhotoPlus Expo -- it is at least as fast and far less "fiddlesome' than other ball heads I've either owned (Arca-Swiss B1, Graf Studioball, Gitzo) or reviewed including Novaflex magic ball, Foba Superball, Acra-Tech,) or looked at (RRS and Kirk) . The only thing faster is the Large Large Tabletop tripod Head -which lacks a panning base (top platform in the case of the P0 and when you loosen the leica head , it gets floppy real fast unlike the Arca-Swiss -- but the Leica head is still one of my all time favorite tripod heads))

In the brief time I was in the A-S booth I tried The P0 with a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark 3 and an Arca-Swiss 8x10 inch FC camera.

I don't work for, sell, distribute, or shill for Arca-Swiss or any camera or photo gear company, I am just reporting my impressions. You need to make your own mind up as to what will work best for you, all I am saying is that I've seen there is now a viable alternative to designs which essentially Arca-Swiss pre-B1 Monoball design from the 1970s. I suspect most criticism so far comes from people who haven't played with it. It is kind of hard to get it without playing with it. I know I had that problem.

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:30 AM

bp044
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p.3 #7 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
Nope, no extra fiddling on the Arca-Swiss P0 -- I worked with it for about 5-10 minutes at the Arca-Swiss booth at PhotoPlus Expo -- it is at least as fast and far less "fiddlesome' than other ball heads I've either owned (Arca-Swiss B1, Graf Studioball, Gitzo) or reviewed including Novaflex magic ball, Foba Superball, Acra-Tech,) or looked at (RRS and Kirk) . The only thing faster is the Large Large Tabletop tripod Head -which lacks a panning base (top platform in the case of the P0 and when you loosen the leica head , it gets floppy real fast unlike the Arca-Swiss -- but the Leica head is still one of my all time favorite tripod heads))

In the brief time I was in the A-S booth I tried The P0 with a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark 3 and an Arca-Swiss 8x10 inch FC camera.

I don't work for, sell, distribute, or shill for Arca-Swiss or any camera or photo gear company, I am just reporting my impressions. You need to make your own mind up as to what will work best for you, all I am saying is that I've seen there is now a viable alternative to designs which essentially Arca-Swiss pre-B1 Monoball design from the 1970s. I suspect most criticism so far comes from people who haven't played with it. It is kind of hard to get it without playing with it. I know I had that problem.

I was considering the Markins Q3. I think now I will wait until I get to handle the PO in a store before buying . Thank you for your input

Oct 27, 2009 at 01:35 AM


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