Man I love Acratech

^Acratech
For the 2nd time in the last 6 months I own a Acratech Gv2 Ballhead. Thought about getting something different just to try something else. Arca-Swiss, RRS, Kirks, Markins, ext, but REALLY just love the design and quality of this ballhead. Weighing just under 1lb, it goes perfect with my Sirui N1004 legs which weight only 2.6lbs. For $460 I really cant think of a better setup.

Pros:
Total weight is 3.6lbs
Folds to 21 inch or 17inch reversed
Holds 26 lbs
Very sturdy
Both Acratech and Sirui have outstanding warranties.

Cons:
Not Carbon fiber (I personally didn't see the value of spending another $250-$300 or more for CF just for vibration dampening.

I'm becoming a bit of an Acratech fan too. I've replaced a Markins Q3T on my travel tripod with an Ultimate. Weighs less than 1lb and looks like a piece of surveying equipment but I'm about 4 months into use with it and so far no problems. What I like about it is the open design, doesn't freeze up in severe cold and if you get sand or muck in it just run it under the faucet.

I'm considering the GV2 or the GP-S, but I haven't decided on legs yet. This will be my first tripod, but I want to get a nice setup now, rather than starting cheap and wanting to replace it shortly thereafter.

Does the Sirui N1004 fit over the GV2 ballhead when the legs are reversed?

i am am interested in the GP. gonna look at them when i got to NYC next week. i love my markins/RRS, but the grass is always greener

pdrober2 wrote in post #15979837
i am am interested in the GP. gonna look at them when i got to NYC next week. i love my markins/RRS, but the grass is always greener

I'd say go for it. I'm quite happy with my GP:

IMAGE LINK: http://500px.com/photo​/32728987

So can any of you explain the virtues and nuances that define the GP vs. GPs Vs. GPss vs Ultimate?

Other than the "Ultimate" being the most affordable (and the oldest design) I can't see how one makes a choice? Looks like GP is the better choice, and the "s" version is just a variation. Hands on, any explanation for your preferences?

I believe one would decide between GP, GPs and GPss simply based on size requirement, probably staying with the largest that will fit properly with their legs/base diameter.

Here's how I understand it:

Ultimate -> Simplest and least expensive offering. Appears to have reduced range of motion compared to the others and has no drop or "gimbal" slot (since it already angles downward).
V2 -> greater range of motion than the ultimate, but the drop slot goes past horizontal by a bit (NLA?)
GV2 -> V2 with more precise drop slot (90* / horizontal) and bearing surface to fit that slot
GP -> GV2 plus a leveling option (flip the head upside down and it can be leveled for panoramas.
GPs -> smaller version (base diameter) of GP, relocated knob
GPss -> smaller still

I think the ball is the same diameter on all of them.

After posting I went to the site. They compare the GP models here

The GP models seem to differ only in size and in the case of the largest (GP), location of the pan knob is different. That *may* interfere with folding some tripods (those that fold back on themselves, around the head), as I read on someone's blog, somewhere, sometime ago.

I'm deciding between the GV2 and GPs, mainly because I am trying to decide if the leveling option is worth stepping up from the GV2. I've heard from some users that it may be handy, but it's not a true replacement for a leveling base.

Thanks for the strong recommendation.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #15979930
So can any of you explain the virtues and nuances that define the GP vs. GPs Vs. GPss vs Ultimate?

Other than the "Ultimate" being the most affordable (and the oldest design) I can't see how one makes a choice? Looks like GP is the better choice, and the "s" version is just a variation. Hands on, any explanation for your preferences?

The Gp is the "top of the line", working as a pano head, gimbal and regular ballhead. If you look at the bottom you'll see that the GP line has degree markings in both orientations around the base. This is so the clamp can be attached to the bottom and the head inverted to be used as a pano head. There is also a bushing on the ball stem under the clamp that the stem rotates in when used as a gimbal. The ability to get it wet/dirty and then just rinse it off is quite nice as well. The Gp-S and SS are slightly redesigned to be smaller (and smaller still) and accommodate travel tripods. I don't have a reversible travel tripod so the S and SS weren't even a consideration for me.

The Ultimate doesn't do the gimbal feature, and you can't reverse it for panoramics. Outside of those two features it will do everything the GP does.

Of course there is always this video that gives the visuals (I hope you're not sleepy):
http://acratech.net/pa​ges.php?pageid=9

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #15979930
So can any of you explain the virtues and nuances that define the GP vs. GPs Vs. GPss vs Ultimate?

Other than the "Ultimate" being the most affordable (and the oldest design) I can't see how one makes a choice? Looks like GP is the better choice, and the "s" version is just a variation. Hands on, any explanation for your preferences?

All I needed was the simple Ultimate, actually it's an Ultimate II as they brought out a second version a while back.

I don't need a gimbal (no really long lenses), panning (I use a 617 panoramic camera), or the upside-down leveling base function. I've yet to encounter the reduced range of motion, but if/when I do I will spin the base through 180º which is the workaround for that limitation.

I do need a basic light ballhead that won't lock up in serious cold, and one that doesn't have to go back to the manufacturer if the tripod gets kicked over on the beach. When I bought the ballhead online from the Acratech web site, one of the pages in the click-through had this text: "The Acratech Ultimate Ballhead is designed to be a light weight sturdy ballhead for use in extreme outdoor environments." That's what I wanted and I think that's what I got.

thanks for the input Peter. Without ever having one in front of me to try, I wondered how the range of motion on the ultimate would work out.

I like the simplicity of them and the all-weather/conditions design and lightweight aspect are the main draw for me.

To chime in, the locking lever is simply brilliant. No need to ever worry about it accidentally opening up. I also use the gimbal feature on both my GP-s and Ultimate bullheads regularly.

Blubayou wrote in post #15980221
I like the simplicity of them and the all-weather/conditions design and lightweight aspect are the main draw for me.

Me too!

Blubayou wrote in post #15979735
I'm considering the GV2 or the GP-S, but I haven't decided on legs yet. This will be my first tripod, but I want to get a nice setup now, rather than starting cheap and wanting to replace it shortly thereafter.

Does the Sirui N1004 fit over the GV2 ballhead when the legs are reversed?

yes it does, but the GPs is made for the reversed legs. So I would assume the GPs would be slightly narrower where the legs meet the head. GV2 is about the same size the entire length of the legs. If that makes sense.