Tiny ballhead?

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Archive 2009 · Tiny ballhead?

JohnJ80
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p.3 #1 · Tiny ballhead?

Smiert Spionam wrote:
Real standardized, repeatable data would be nice, though it's tough and there are many variables. Some of what passes as "reviews" here, though, are really just a bunch of pictures and someone saying how good it looks. At minimum, it would be nice to have some reports of how the equipment actually performs, including focal lengths and shutter speeds.

Exactly.

Most of the reviews are also written in the first 48 hours that the user has had the device while they are still euphoric about getting it. Key phrase, "I just got....". Those reviews I highly discount.

The whole tripod and ballhead industry would greatly benefit from a common sent of specifications and testing conditions. Then we might actually have something we could use instead of just ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the paint jobs. A good paint job but crappy internals is the hallmark of the knock-off industry.

J.

Oct 25, 2009 at 02:19 AM

E-Vener
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p.3 #2 · Tiny ballhead?

justruss wrote:
E-Vener wrote:
Just saw the Arca-Swiss PO (zero) head at the PhotoPlus Expo on Thursday; very small, very very strong, very impressive. And not a bad price.

Huh, that is interesting indeed. If anyone picks one of these up, I'd love to hear how it performs.
i think I am going to get one. It is an interesting idea. The internal workings are very different from every other ballhead ( three planetary gears apply pressure directly to the elliptical ball instead of tension being set indirectly to a cupping device like every other ball head uses) and I like the idea of no big protruding pressure control knob. It is also a bit smaller than heads of similar load capacities.

Oct 25, 2009 at 03:25 PM

bp044
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p.3 #3 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
justruss wrote:
E-Vener wrote:
Just saw the Arca-Swiss PO (zero) head at the PhotoPlus Expo on Thursday; very small, very very strong, very impressive. And not a bad price.

Huh, that is interesting indeed. If anyone picks one of these up, I'd love to hear how it performs.
i think I am going to get one. It is an interesting idea. The internal workings are very different from every other ballhead ( three planetary gears apply pressure directly to the elliptical ball instead of tension being set indirectly to a cupping device like every other ball head uses) and I like the idea of no big protruding pressure control knob. It is also a bit smaller than heads of similar load capacities.

I too saw it at the show and like what saw . However, I could not an answer as to if it has a separate tension control.

Oct 25, 2009 at 04:57 PM

Smiert Spionam
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p.3 #4 · Tiny ballhead?

If the ad copy is correct, only the larger P1 has a separate tension control. The P1 has been out for a while, so there should be some reviews. The P0 looks like a more fully realized design, especially the version with an integrated clamp. The P1 seems cobbled together by comparison.

Oct 25, 2009 at 06:29 PM

E-Vener
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p.3 #5 · Tiny ballhead?

there is a separate tension control on the P0

Oct 25, 2009 at 08:22 PM

Jan Kristensen
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p.3 #6 · Tiny ballhead?

I use a Novoflex 30 ballhead on my light travel tripod, very happy with it. No grease or oil for sand to get stuck in and it only weighs 8 oz. I have mainly used it with a 40D + 10-22 combo but it will hold a 70-200 f/4 if it really has to. Think I paid about 120 bucks at B&H.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jan

Oct 25, 2009 at 08:51 PM

bp044
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p.3 #7 · Tiny ballhead?

E-Vener wrote:
there is a separate tension control on the P0

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.

Oct 26, 2009 at 12:46 AM

Roland W
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p.3 #8 · Tiny ballhead?

I am totally sold on larger Really Right Stuff ball heads, and have just noticed that they sell a new model, a BH-30. It is between the BH-25 and the BH-40 in size and price, and may be worth considering for your needs. I have not seen any reports on them yet, and would love to see some posts from anyone that has experience with one.

Oct 26, 2009 at 02:27 AM

Smiert Spionam
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p.3 #9 · Tiny ballhead?

Hey, that looks cool. Nice mate to a Gitzo traveler, among other things.

Oct 26, 2009 at 02:41 AM

E-Vener
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p.3 #10 · Tiny ballhead?

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.

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:57 AM

bp044
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p.3 #11 · 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 #12 · 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 #13 · 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 #14 · Tiny ballhead?

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

bp044
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p.3 #15 · Tiny ballhead?

Oct 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

E-Vener
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p.3 #16 · 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 #17 · 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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