Tamerlin wrote:
I'll try to remember to post here after I have a chance to try mine out. I just got one recently because it's lighter than a Really Right Stuff BH-40 (which is already light!), and because the Slidefix clamp fits an Arca monorail directly, which eliminates some extra hardware from my kit -- and also makes the RRS panning clamp redundant, since the panning base on the Monoball P0 is on top of the ball. (So once you level the camera, you've also leveled the panning base.)
I haven't had a chance to try it out in the field yet, but I'm hoping to this weekend, over at Mount Saint Helens. I did try it out a bit at home, and it certainly feels sturdy enough with the Arca on it.
I believe that the main reason that ballhead vendors recommend larger balls for heavier camera/lens combos has more to do with the fact that the larger diameter ball makes the extra weight easier to manipulate. I haven't had any problems using a large lens/camera combination on my BH-40 though, and that includes a 6.5-pound Ebony 4x5 and a 500 mm lens racked out to nearly 18 inches. The closeup of the lava dome at Mount Saint Helens is one that I capture with this combination, and it was a 1-second exposure, and cropped a bit, yet still sharp enough to print with exceptional detail at 24x30. So the combo works -- and the Monoball P0 is even sturdier than the already sturdy BH-40, so I don't think that it will be a problem. ...Show more →
well looks like I beat you to the punch, now granted I've only tried it out for a few minutes but it seems that you were entirely correct in your guesses. It does seem to be able to hold a 5D2+300 2.8+1.4x TC at all sorts of awkward angles with ease and it's very easy and smooth to rock that combo all over and just a quick flick of the center spinner and it's locked tight and another flick and you can move it again. very nice.
anyway a couple minute try makes it seem pretty darn awesome (the p0)
very smooth whether loaded with a DSLR + a little 50mm or a giant super-tele
the locking is so quick and easy! just quick spin around the center spinner and boom locked tight, boom loose, etc. and it doesn't seem to shift around like my manfrotto 322rc2 does when tightening anything remotely heavy and any sort of an angle
i think i will like it way more than the manfrotto 322rc2 (which tends to stick and take a lot of force when set to max tension, which is required for the 300 2.8 and even lighter stuff and with the quick spin around the ball and the pan top you can slot the 90 angle slit of the arca p0 wherever you need it pretty quickly for the times you need to really angle the shot way up/down/side/jump to portrait; the 322 also is more of a pain in that it only corrects like 6 degrees to one side so you either need to play with legs or reset camera twisted around at times); luckily i got a good deal on a used 322rc2 so i should lose anything selling it
anyway maybe over time it will break down or after trying it more I find a bunch of gotchas but so far it seems to be pretty brilliant
only thing is I need to get a spacer (looks like manfrotto 120 1/4"-3/8" spacer adapter will do the trick) since my manfrotto quick release won't attach (the edge rivets hit); using the manfrotto QR instead because I have a nice little light manfrotto video panning head (and it doesn't at all hurt that it costs like 1/4 the price of the crazy expensive arca-suisse plates)
adam613 wrote:
It locks down tight, but it's hard to say how it would do under truly heavy loads...it would have probably done fine with my Sigma 100-300 f/4 when I had one. I can't imagine wanting to put a 300 f/2.8 on it, but if you can afford a 300 f/2.8, you can afford a p1
I've only given a quick couple minute test but well I DID want to put a 300 f/2.8 on it and I DID.
and it was brilliant, super easy to move it around, locked completely tight even at crazy awkward and steep angles (even had a 1.4x TC on it too for extra little bit of weight)
after you get a 300 2.8 you can no longer afford a p1 nor a slice of break for that matter
I didn't want the p1. It's more expensive, the p0 was pricey enough as is, it's bulkier which I did not at all want and I've heard that it can't tilt to as extreme as angles as the p0 either, which would not be good at all.
nikonem wrote:
Does the aspheric ball negate the need for a separate tension control? In other words, does the Arca Swiss P0 have a sweet spot even though there is no separate tension dial?
the locking spinner around the center appears to also act as a tension ring from my quick play with it
it also naturally gets a bit more tension when angled a lot
I tried it in the field over the weekend, with a 300mm lens on an Arca-Swiss 4x5, and it worked out very nicely. The ergonomics are excellent, and even with a moderately long rail, it was easy to maneuver and position the camera. I also like the SlideFix clamp, since it fits the rail directly, so I don't have to carry the Arca extension bracket and I also don't need a panning clamp, since the P0's panning base is on top of the ball.
You can get it with a SlideFix clamp, which is not compatible with existing Arca-Swiss style plates because it has a smaller channel, and you can also get it with no clamp at all or I think with a clamp that is compatible with current Arca-Swiss style plates.
I went for the SlideFix clamp because it would fit my monorail and therefore save me a bit of weight and bulk, no other reason.
Tomser wrote:
Did I get this right, the P0 is not compatible with Arca-Swiss(-style) plates, even though it's fairly large (to say the least) ?
it comes either with the new small-style clamp or no clamp
i got mine with no clamp so I could put on a manfrotto clamp to match my video tripod head (plus the manfrotto clamp is wayyy cheaper too, it does end up needed a spacer though because the bolt on the manfrotto hits otherwise but the spacer is a good idea anyway with my 190cxpro3 tripod since they, for some reason, put the level bubble on what becomes the up direction when you flip the tripod column over 90 degrees and that blocks the camera from attaining a full portrait mode unless you have a spacer on)
i'm almost postiive you can clamp on one of the old arca-swiss clamps if you like too
"Tomser wrote:
Did I get this right, the P0 is not compatible with Arca-Swiss(-style) plates, even though it's fairly large (to say the least) ?"
The p0's SlideFix clamp won't take the older and wider Arca-Swiss (and clone ) plates. There may be an optional A-S QR clamp that takes both sizes.
But if you think the p0 is a large head you are mistaken. Not sure where you got that idea. The p1 is larger and as a clamp that can use both the older design and SlideFix plates and rails.
in the case of this unit i'd lean towards the acratech clamp w/double speed screw clamp 3/8-16 using a SS reducer bushing and spin it on.
reason: to keep it light as possible while using the AS setup
the RRS threaded B2 LR II clamp is approx 5.6oz vs the 3.5oz of the Acratech threaded below
the RRS B2-40 LR is not threaded at all.
E-Vener wrote:
I don't think so but you'll definitely be adding bulk. Look at one of the shorter width screw drive clamps instead and ask RRS.
i have a rrs clamp mounted on it
it almost like it is made for the head, the pan lock works perfectly regardless of the position of the panning platform
himcheong wrote:
i have a rrs clamp mounted on it
it almost like it is made for the head, the pan lock works perfectly regardless of the position of the panning platform
actually the manfrotto quick release clamp is proving to be a pain to mount
the top of the arca p0 is very wide and the dumb manfrotto clamp has the level bolt jutting down so it doesn't attach and it turns out that the manfrotto spacer is just as wide as the arca so it won't even attach properly to manfrotto's only space plate, the new version manfrotto 3/8-1/4 adapter spacer plate also weighs nearly as much as the entire p0 head itself!
maybe i can double stack the smaller monopod top 3/8-1/4 adapters
or use one of the bolt type 3/8-1/4 adapters to get enough space and then add some rubber washers around it to give more of surface for the plate to rest on
However when the P0 is ordered with the panning system and without the slidefix QS, the head comes with a 1/4" 20 stud, totally different from the head with the slidefix. Presumably the idea was without the slidefix the photographer may screw the camera directly on to the panning base.
I would imagine any AS compatible clamp with a 1/4" 20 thread that is oriented so that it doesn't interfere with the panning knob and doesn't hit the tripod base plate when tilted at 90 degrees should work?
Mike K
There is a video on YouTube (in German, I think) showing the P0 fitted with clamps from both Kirk and Novoflex. The Novoflex looks particularly good as it is round and almost the same diameter as the top of the P0. I`ve used one of these for a few years and it`s a good clamp although some may not like the small locking knob, however i didn`t have a problem with it.
but the spacer is a good idea anyway with my 190cxpro3 tripod since they, for some reason, put the level bubble on what becomes the up direction when you flip the tripod column over 90 degrees and that blocks the camera from attaining a full portrait mode unless you have a spacer on)