p.1 #1 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
Hello,
I have zeroed in on buying a Arca Swiss P0 ball head and am also looking to order a canera plate with it.
P0 itself comes in many configurations, one with classic quick release built in and one without it. I am going with the former, though I don't fully understand the implications. There is one Slidefix version as well, which is cheaper, lighter but has a very limited set of plate options available. It's incompatible with the classic Arca style plates.
Plates, BH video shows a universal plate which is bigger and a smaller plate meant for 35mm DSLRs. The later is slightly cheaper and also twist locked. Then, there are Oben and others too. I guess best plates will be customised for the camera itself, in terms of size. But i would rather go for a plate which i can use on my 5D4 as well as a back up mirrorless body in future.
p.1 #2 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
I bought P0 with quick fix system, it can't accept std AS plate but the system is pretty good in term of usability, stability and the camera locked in good. But the plates are pricey, you might want to consider the classic sys or twist lock sys.
p.1 #4 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
The classic quick release is good. That's how it a) became a classic, and b) still is made and sold in masses.
The P0 head is my head since a couple of years. I don't see you going wrong here. You _can_ remove the classic QR and replace it with another clamp. But why? It would be a better idea to just bye the bare P0 head.
Arca-Swiss isn't cheap but they are good. There are a lot of good clamps out there though and my advice is to buy the bare head and then you buy clamp and plate(s) from any well known company of your choice (RRS or Kirk for example) to get the best possible fit between clamp and plate.
Arca-Swiss compatible stuff most often work but they are often a little different in some way or another. For example: The RRS plates are a little wider than the A-S plates. Doesn't matter with the twist lock clamp but with the QR version you may have to adjust the clamp a little if you switch between different plates.
The quick fix system is cute and works well but it is not made for bigger cameras or lenses. Chose the standard golden standard.
I have decided to buy a P0 Hybrid head further down the road. Expensive stuff but at least it tells you I trust A-S and their P0 solution.
p.1 #6 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
I second the non-clamp version. I put a RRS lever clamp on mine, but if I did again I would put an Acratech lever clamp on it. You can't go wrong either way.
I am an Arca Swiss fan but I don't care for their quick release clamps and they really mucked it up with their new design.
Now, what are the disadvantages of the classic clamp monoball? Is the clamp not good? If its good, I won't replace it.
Bare monoball: I understand that this is good if you already have clamps or prefer lets say RRS clamps. I won't be able to remove the screws etc so here my question is, is there a good quality clamp which fits as it is without any alteration...?
Coming to plates: basically whats the difference between these 2 products from Arca:
p.1 #10 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
Regarding clamps, the Arca-Swiss branded classic clamp is functionally the same as the other zillion brands and non-brands of "Arca-Swiss style" clamps. The geometry of the jaws and the plates vary slightly and are made at different tolerances. But the beauty of the system is that for screw clamps, they are mostly interchangeable. So you can get the P0 head with the Arca-Swiss brand clamp pre-installed. Or you can get one without a clamp, and pick one ala carte.
Lever clamps are a bit fussier, as they have one ideal distance the clamp jaws are set at with a particular clamping force. So unless they are adjustable (the distance between each jaw), you would be best served to buy plates and brackets made by the same manufacturer as the clamp.
As far as the two plates you linked. The anti twist has two small flanges, and the slotted screw can lock down anywhere in the slot. The advantage of this one is that the distance from a tripod mount from the back of a camera is variable across cameras. You would line up the flanges to the edge of the camera body, front or back, then tighten the screw. If you exert twisting motion on the camera while mounted to the ballhead, in theory the camera won't twist on the plate as the flanges stop motion in that direction. On the other plate you linked, it relies on friction between the rubberized material and the base of your camera to resist twisting. This doesn't usually work as well.
The best solution is to get a plate (or L-bracket) designed for your particular camera. These essentially mesh with the shape of the bottom of your entire camera and are much more resistant to twisting than even a universal anti-twist plate. They will also typically allow access to all ports, the card slot, and the battery slot.
p.1 #12 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
I have the bare PO and use either AS-compatible units from RRS and Sunway or the larger square Manfrotto click-lock clamp & plates (can't recall model #) depending on use as have a mix of both systems. The Sunway gear works well.
p.1 #13 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
Sunwayfoto is great. I use a couple of their panning clamps for my pano head. They have a dedicated clamp for the p0 head in addition to the one linked above.
p.1 #16 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
uscmatt99 wrote:
Sunwayfoto is great. I use a couple of their panning clamps for my pano head. They have a dedicated clamp for the p0 head in addition to the one linked above.
Here's another vote for this Sunwayfoto discal clamp. As noted, they made this clamp specifically for the P0 head. Has worked perfectly for me and it's hard to beat the value.
This guy explains how to replace the bolt of P0 (plain version) to be able to put RRS clamp on it.
Just to be sure, the sunwayfoto clamps listed by you, do not require that procedure, right? Espcially the dedicated one from sunway.
uscmatt99 wrote:
Sunwayfoto is great. I use a couple of their panning clamps for my pano head. They have a dedicated clamp for the p0 head in addition to the one linked above.
p.1 #20 · Which Arca Swiss P0 monoball version and plates?
To be a little contrarian - I have some of the Sunwayfoto clamps and they are fine - but aesthetically they are not quite like Arca or other premium brands. They do suffice so if the main budget goes to the ballhead and you just want a competent clamp then there is nothing wrong with Sunwayfoto.
However, a lever clamp is much nicer to work with. I would get this one from Acratech:
I also have a RRS lever clamp and in fact that is what I have on my P0. They are excellent but I like the mechanism better on the Acratech which is also a bit less beefy and more in line with the relative heft of the P0. However RRS does have some smaller clamps than the B2-LR2:
