Arca Swiss P0?

anyone have one of these yet?
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ball_P0_with_Pa​nning.html

That looks sweet!

I like the ring tightener, particularly because it applies even pressure to the ball but I'm trying to figure out the implications of the lower rotating point. Just thinking out loud, if the pivot point is further from the camera, to reach a given angle, the camera has to move further along a bigger arc. Sounds like it would smoother and easier to make adjustments to the camera angle. I think I would like this design better than a conventional ball head.

The price for a complete system is higher, though. Amazon has the Monoball with Quick Release for $289but the special Quick Release Plate is another $48.

At $228, it sounds pretty good (I'm still thinking of the Smith Victor BH8 at $58 (the price of the Arca QR plate!) or the Vanguard SBH-300 for $100 as two less expensive alternatives. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that I need an $800 tripod setup but I am headed in that direction.

well, it's $228 for this -vs- $290 for the acratech GV2 I already have. Both were sold w/o clamps...

I tried one and really didn't care for it. However I did buy it used but it appeared to be in perfect condition. My main dislike was the fact that it had an annoying amount of rotational play in the mechanism, a degree maybe or even less but annoying. I questioned the original owner about the play, he agreed that the play was there and that he always applied slight pressure to one side to eliminate it. My other dislike was that it was difficult to get under your gear to release tension and when you did it was often hard to keep the camera upright not having 2 hands. Long story short, it wasn't for me. Maybe the play wasn't supposed to be there but the fact that it was turned me off. Whether this is a characteristic of this BH, I wouldn't know. I would think not considering the great reputation enjoyed by ARCA SWISS.

Gene

Thanks Gene, great information - you just saved me $225. At least until I get tired of the bargain ball head I'm going to order.

cacawcacaw wrote in post #11850040
Thanks Gene, great information.

+1

except now I'm more curious to try one....

Another thing I didn't like about it. When you relax tension with the locking ring, it doesn't release immediately, you have to turn it like almost a turn for full release. It releases gradually. The feel of the ring is such that it feels like there are small gears inside, like a planatary gear system. It's not smooth at all and just felt like it lacks refinement.

Gene

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11847368
anyone have one of these yet?

the aspect of it that I really like is that there are no knobs really. That silver ring is the only knob on the head for locking the ball and because it's a ring it's always accessible? I like that a lot honestly.

I tried one out at B&H. As the picture shows its quite compact and light. With the ballhead unloaded I wish it moved a bit more smoothly. This characteristic was also commented upon by a few Adorama customers. Perhaps I needed to unscrew the main tension more. That ring controlling the main tension could have been made wider, there is not a lot to grip on to. I was not at all attracted to the siderail clamp that it normally ships with. I have really come to like the RRS lever clamp.
If compactness and light were the priority, I think I might be more attracted to this ballhead as its a innovative design. Perhaps the larger P1 would be more my cup of tea.
Mike K

GeneC wrote in post #11850433
Another thing I didn't like about it. When you relax tension with the locking ring, it doesn't release immediately, you have to turn it like almost a turn for full release. It releases gradually. The feel of the ring is such that it feels like there are small gears inside, like a planatary gear system. It's not smooth at all and just felt like it lacks refinement.

Gene

right, but that's part of the idea that I like? Instead of 2 knobs on a normal ballhead, one for the drag and one for the release, this combines both into one no? So release it a little and it moves but not freely, release it a lot and it's loose?

but again, that's why I need to see one IRL to see if I'd like it myself... I like my acratech GV2 a lot and it's light, but this is smaller/lighter w/o decreasing the load and it's removed all but ONE knob form the head. I can't tell you how often I setup my head aimed the wrong way and end up blindly feeling for the knobs in the dark... Yes I can rotate it to fix that, but having the only knob be 360º around the head might be a better solution for me.

Mike K wrote in post #11850921
That ring controlling the main tension could have been made wider, there is not a lot to grip on to.

yeah, that's also a concern with me, how easy would this be to grab in the cold with gloves on? Does it need a lot of pressure to rotate when loaded?

exactly, but that's why I'm all over the $230 option, I'd put my RRS lever clamp (that's on my GV2) on this in a heartbeat. I DO NOT LIKE KNOBS!!!!

this is my current setup:

Well, I admit, the concept is good, my argument is with the excecution and lack of refinement. For one, you loosen the ring a little and not much happens. That's why I mentioned that the ring needs to be loosened a lot before it is loose unlike most any other BH. It doesn't have a tactile feel like you are in control. How hard will it be to loosen the ring in the winter with gloves? I'd say, hard. Also, you do realize that there is no drop notch right?

I would say give it a go, who knows, it might be your cup of tea. What I have said is all based on my personal feelings, my comparisons are based on what I now use which is an Arca Z1 and Markins M10.

GeneC wrote in post #11854452
Also, you do realize that there is no drop notch right?

but there is one drop notch?
not that it matters though, I'm an L-bracket guy? (I do use the notch very rarely when shooting at a very odd angle...)

as you said on the amount of turns to loosen it, I'd agree, but I'd also have to see for myself how much turning gets you what results. That's why I'm so interested. There's probably a 50/50 chance that I'll either agree with you and like the concept but hate the implementation, or that I'll actually like it...

Nope, not even one, it's dropnotchless. As I recall the tilt was less than 45 degrees but I could be wrong there. You are definitely going to need your L bracket.
It's not actually turns to loosen it, just a lot more than typical. The feel in mine anyway was far from nice. You'll have to try it, it may be just right for your needs. I guess it depends on what you are used to as well. For me it was a wierd duck!

it definitely has a drop notch:

I know, but I had one to play with for 3 days. Oh well it's been 6 months

OK, so I bought one and got it this week. I've got it mounted up with my RRS lever clamp. Used it for the first time tonight and so far I like it a lot. I've got to learn which way is tight -vs- loose (from sailing, shrouds are backwards there, so it's just an issue from dealing with that a lot in the summer for me) but otherwise I LOVE having just one knob. I'll be keeping my acratech GV2 for a long time though since I also like it, but so far the P0 is a very nice option. It's .05lb light (both w/o a clamp, .70 -vs- .75). The way the knob/dial works, is from full loose it's around 1/3 of a turn to be tight enough to hold a 5Dii w/17-40 and filters, but you have a full turn until you can't go anymore. So as I use it more if I get to trust it it'll be SUPER fast, but right now I'm tightening all the way. I love the way my hand naturally cradles the whole thing as I adjust it though, and no more fussing with where the knobs are.