Arca Swiss system

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18351859
. . . then why not just screw on an Arca clamp?

The only Arca Swiss clamps I have ever seen are those that are "built into" tripod heads, such as my Enduro Ballhead and the Wimberleys. I didn't realize that you could get an A.S. clamp separately and then screw it onto another kind of head. Heck, until Sunday I didn't even realize that there were other kinds of heads or mounting systems.

That hex thing looks unusual. It is not what my young friend had on his tripod; his was more squarish, not hexagonal. I think I'll stick with the Arca Swiss stuff that I've gotten used to - they are quite secure, and I can't imagine that the hex plate system is as sturdy when 17 pound camera/lens combos are used on them.
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I will say, I switched to an Arca style clamp a few months ago and absolutely love it. A little nervous the first time using it because I thought the camera would just slide right off, but the clamp has a built in post to stop that from happening. Plus with all these companies/people making mounts/clamps the combinations are endless!

I bought a clamp from Kirk for my Hexplate head on an old Bogen 3021. Now I'm ordering one for the Manfroto geared head I have coming.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18351897
The only Arca Swiss clamps I have ever seen are those that are "built into" tripod heads, such as my Enduro Ballhead and the Wimberleys. I didn't realize that you could get an A.S. clamp separately and then screw it onto another kind of head. Heck, until Sunday I didn't even realize that there were other kinds of heads or mounting systems.

That hex thing looks unusual. It is not what my young friend had on his tripod; his was more squarish, not hexagonal. I think I'll stick with the Arca Swiss stuff that I've gotten used to - they are quite secure, and I can't imagine that the hex plate system is as sturdy when 17 pound camera/lens combos are used on them.
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G-Sep wrote in post #18351916
I will say, I switched to an Arca style clamp a few months ago and absolutely love it. A little nervous the first time using it because I thought the camera would just slide right off, but the clamp has a built in post to stop that from happening. Plus with all these companies/people making mounts/clamps the combinations are endless!

I worried about the A-S plates slipping at first too. I bought my Kirk BH-1 probably around 15 years ago (I now have an Arca-Swiss Z1 with a RRS lever clamp), and it had no safety stops at all, but clamped down so tightly that I never once had any concern once I saw it in action.

Regarding the hex plates, they held my 400mm f/4, TC and Minolta body without any problems at any angle. The Bogen 3038 head I had was super strong. The 3038 head had plenty of issues, but strength wasn't a problem. The head weighed 4 lbs, it shifted on lockdown, wasn't very smooth, and the plates are clunky! But I never worried about it slipping.

My Acratech GP Ballhead has a locking lever that I don't have to worry about getting bumped open or coming out of!

Like many of us, I have had the experience of spending money on cheap tripods only to find the limitations. I have been very frustrated with my tripod equipment. On the positive both tripods cost less than $75 each. But I am determined to not step into the next level of hundreds of $ to then still be frustrated with the equipment. So I have been looking into Gitzo and RRS tripods. I had seriously considered the BH-55 ball head, but I am now considering the Arca Swiss Monoball P0 ball head. My heaviest lens currently is the Tamron SP 70-300mm, but I am considering the SP 150-600mm. I also use the Peak Design systems - straps, plates, etc. so quick release from straps to tripod is important. I am also tall, over 6', and will get a longer tripod to accommodate.

I am interested hearing about the compatibility of the Monoball P0, with RRS tripods or Gitzo tripods, and the Peak Design systems. Any experience with the BH-55 vs. the Monoball P0 would be helpful too. Thanks

You can mix and match the ballheads and the tripods without major issues because they all use 3/8"-16 threads. The only consideration is clearance, such as mounting a smallish ballhead on a wide tripod base. Attached is an image of my Arca-Swiss Z1 (RRS lever clamp) on a Gitzo 3530.

I don't think I would use the P0 with the large tele though.

Image hosted by forum (858239) © sawsedge THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

P0 indicates 44lbs, P1 indicates 66lbs (both B&H website) and BH-55 indicates 50lbs (RRS website). How much camera & lens are too much for stability concerns? Canon 80D plus Tamron 150-600 weigh about 6.5 lbs. even if flash and converter are added weight could be about 10 lbs. how would I assess actual weight to max weight load, considering wind, and getting very secure and stable? Any thoughts?

Unfortunately, there is no standard for how heads are measured for strength. For reference, Arca-Swiss states my Z1 can handle something like 130 lbs, yet I felt my Kirk BH-1 locked more tightly and that is rated at 50 lbs according to Kirk...

And the P0 may be OK, I really don't know. I was speaking my gut but I may be wrong. Your best bet would be to try one in a store if you can. I err on the side of overkill with tripods and heads.

sgrundle wrote in post #18368139
-300mm, but I am considering the SP 150-600mm. I also use the Peak Design systems - straps, plates, etc. so quick release from straps to tripod is important. I am also tall, over 6', and will get a longer tripod to accommodate.

I am interested hearing about the compatibility of the Monoball P0, with RRS tripods or Gitzo tripods, and the Peak Design systems. Any experience with the BH-55 vs. the Monoball P0 would be helpful too. Thanks

I just read an article on the web that comments, "The 801213 includes the new Arca Swiss Slidefix QS Quick Release which is not compatible with RRS." So that prevents you from getting RRS anti-twist plates and L brackets and using it with the P0, unless you buy the P0 without QR clamp, (801211, $70 cheaper and does not include the Quick Release clamp).
Then buy from RRS the "the smaller BR-LR which I found to be a perfect fit for the p0 and which doesn’t have a threaded center hole. If you do this modification yourself make sure to order the version with the 6mm metric screw. The model number is B2-40-LR-M6."

sgrundle wrote in post #18368167
P0 indicates 44lbs, P1 indicates 66lbs (both B&H website) and BH-55 indicates 50lbs (RRS website). How much camera & lens are too much for stability concerns? Canon 80D plus Tamron 150-600 weigh about 6.5 lbs. even if flash and converter are added weight could be about 10 lbs. how would I assess actual weight to max weight load, considering wind, and getting very secure and stable? Any thoughts?

As already mentioned, weight claims are rather meaningless in the face of zero industry standards against which to measure all heads.

Furthermore, manufacturer stated claims vs. the tripod/head's actual ability to withstand a certain load is somewhat disconnected, as well...when Lester Bogen was alive and pictured in his ads in magazines for Bogen tripods (Manfrotto) which his company distributed in the USA, he was pictured sitting atop one of his tripods with a bunch more of his tripods in his arms and lap, and I am certain he never claimed more than 50lbs. load limit for the very sturdy tripod upon which he was pictured. (I have the very beefy 3036 which is possibly what is pictured in his lap, and he claimed 26.5 lbs. for that!)

G-Sep wrote in post #18351916
I will say, I switched to an Arca style clamp a few months ago and absolutely love it. A little nervous the first time using it because I thought the camera would just slide right off, but the clamp has a built in post to stop that from happening. Plus with all these companies/people making mounts/clamps the combinations are endless!

I'm a lot more worried about a cam type plate letting go all at once than I am of an Arca Swiss plate sliding off, especially one with a spring loaded safety pin.

Since I switched to Arca Swiss mounts, I haven't had any problems at all, in contrast to the cam type plates that my now retired ProMaster ballhead used. The plates weren't even consistent between each other, the supplemental plate (correct part #) I bought being loose and requiring a shim to keep it from moving.

I just made the move to all arca and am buying extra plates to leave on my cameras.

In case anyone happens to know... RRS used to make a plate specifically for the Canon 70D, model B70D. It seems to have been discontinued. Anyone have any idea if the new model for the 80D would work on the 70D. The style looks different enough that I am afraid it might not, though it seems it still works with the BG‑E14 grip so maybe?

sgrundle wrote in post #18368139
I have been looking into Gitzo and RRS tripods. I had seriously considered the BH-55 ball head, but I am now considering the Arca Swiss Monoball P0 ball head. My heaviest lens currently is the Tamron SP 70-300mm, but I am considering the SP 150-600mm. I also use the Peak Design systems - straps, plates, etc. so quick release from straps to tripod is important. I am also tall, over 6', and will get a longer tripod to accommodate.

I am interested hearing about the compatibility of the Monoball P0, with RRS tripods or Gitzo tripods, and the Peak Design systems. Any experience with the BH-55 vs. the Monoball P0 would be helpful too. Thanks

The RRS BH-55 is unfortunately a bit of a heavyweight, compared to Markins equivalent head. I have said the RRS BH-55 needs to 'go to the fat farm' for years.
The problem if heavy head is not so much overall weight to carry, but one of creating a portability issue in causing the tripod+head to hang downward by the head because it so outweighs smaller, lighter tripods. So keep that weight BALANCE consideration in mind when choosing. The BH-55 might work reasonably well on a Gitzo 3 series- but not so well on a Gitzo 1-series or 2-series tripod, for example, from an overall balance point of view.

Wilt wrote in post #18483936
The RRS BH-55 is unfortunately a bit of a heavyweight, compared to Markins equivalent head. I have said the RRS BH-55 needs to 'go to the fat farm' for years.

Well they heard you! My BH-55 weighs 1.96lbs and the current version (with the new logo) weighs 1.6lbs.