Acratech Ultimate: does it shift/creep when tightened?

Hi,

Does the Acratech Ultimate creep or shift when tightened?

I currently have an RRS BH-40. I love it. I do a lot of macro work in the field. I like the open design of the Acratech Ultimate, and I also like the extra range of motion (in one direction) by the angled/45 degree design. I am thinking of selling the BH-40 and getting the Acratech. From what I can make out, the Acratech Ultimate is a solid and dependable ballhead. My concern is the shift/creep. Anyone have any experience? For those who have had the opportunity to compare the Ultimate with a BH-40 or Markins, how does it measure up in terms of smoothness?

I've been using an Acratech Ultimate for almost a year, it's definitely reliable. I think its 38mm diameter ball will handle the lenses in your list including the 100mm macro. I don't do macro but I haven't noticed any discernible movement after lockdown. The heaviest camera I use is an all-metal panoramic Fotoman 617 and the ballhead handles it with ease.

I've gone through three small Markins heads and I've had issues with them. I finally replaced them with the Acratech last winter when I experienced lockup in cold weather. The Markins have great build quality and they're beautifully finished, but they are a bit finicky in use. They are very smooth but to be honest I haven't noticed a difference in that department since switching to the Acratech.

The Ultimate isn't that much bigger than a Q3T as you can see from the pic below and it's basically maintenance free because of the open design, you can use it in extreme environments and then run it under a faucet if it gets mucky. So far I'm pleased with mine.

I have used both the BH-40 and Acratech GP-ss (nearly same as the Ultimate just not angled), and just want to point one thing out, the screw-knob for the Acratech is horrible compared to the flat lever-style knob on the BH-40. It is a personal preference, but after using the BH-40, it really spoils you, the knob on the Acratech just isn't as ergonomic to use.

As a side, I also felt the GP-ss isn't as strong as the BH-40, because of the open-design of the Acratechs they actually have a significantly smaller surface-area with which to lock-down the ball. I feel the BH-40 can lock down more and is just stronger overall.

With regards to the creep question, the GP-ss didn't creep vertically, but it did rotate the frame slightly to one side while tightening (rotation direction depends which side the knob is on) and Bryan Carnathan noticed it as well with the GV2 here is the part of that review:

"Physically, the Acratech GV2 Ballhead has a lot going for it. Going into the field, the first thing I noticed was that my framing moves slightly to the right when I lock down the main friction control knob. I tried a wide range of minimum friction/tension settings with no change in this behavior. With a Sigma 120-400mm DG EX HSM Lens set to 400mm, my framing moves about 1" (254mm) at 15' (4.6m) when the GV2 is locked down. There is no elevation drop as is common with cheap heads, but the rightward movement is definitely the biggest negative attribute of this otherwise great ballhead."
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …-GV2-Ballhead-Review.aspx

I wouldn't replace a RRS head with an Acratech. Just one opinion though. I have since returned the Acratech and gone all RRS.

Thanks for the responses, all.

peter_n wrote in post #16506173
I've gone through three small Markins heads and I've had issues with them. I finally replaced them with the Acratech last winter when I experienced lockup in cold weather.

I like the Markins --- it is compact, smooth, and strong --- but apart from the the reports of it failing during the cold, I think the panning base cannot be locked, only tightened for a high drag. This is essentially a deal-breaker for me, at the angles that I use the head (e.g., sticking out laterally on a Gitzo Explorer).

koala yummies wrote in post #16506427
I have used both the BH-40 and Acratech GP-ss (nearly same as the Ultimate just not angled), and just want to point one thing out, the screw-knob for the Acratech is horrible compared to the flat lever-style knob on the BH-40. It is a personal preference, but after using the BH-40, it really spoils you, the knob on the Acratech just isn't as ergonomic to use.

I hear what you are saying. BUT on my BH-40, I have the screw clamp and not the lever clamp, so I will not know what I am missing in either case!

koala yummies wrote in post #16506427
As a side, I also felt the GP-ss isn't as strong as the BH-40, because of the open-design of the Acratechs they actually have a significantly smaller surface-area with which to lock-down the ball. I feel the BH-40 can lock down more and is just stronger overall.

This makes sense. Have you experienced this or seen any evidence of this actually happening?

koala yummies wrote in post #16506427
With regards to the creep question, the GP-ss didn't creep vertically, but it did rotate the frame slightly to one side while tightening (rotation direction depends which side the knob is on) and Bryan Carnathan noticed it as well with the GV2 here is the part of that review:

"Physically, the Acratech GV2 Ballhead has a lot going for it. Going into the field, the first thing I noticed was that my framing moves slightly to the right when I lock down the main friction control knob. I tried a wide range of minimum friction/tension settings with no change in this behavior. With a Sigma 120-400mm DG EX HSM Lens set to 400mm, my framing moves about 1" (254mm) at 15' (4.6m) when the GV2 is locked down. There is no elevation drop as is common with cheap heads, but the rightward movement is definitely the biggest negative attribute of this otherwise great ballhead."
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …-GV2-Ballhead-Review.aspx

So I called Acratech and spoke to Chris and Abe. Both really friendly and helpful people. I was told that any ballhead that tightens on one side as it locks down will lead to some amount of rotational shifting, and this will be especially evident under high magnification (e.g., long telephotos or > 1:1 macro). I was told that Acratech can specially modify the ballhead so that it tightens on boths sides as it clamps down, and this will avoid the shifting.

The fact that the ballheads can be modified to avoid the shifting while locking down, and that the kind folks at Acratech were willing to do this on request is, to my mind, fantastic!

jeetsukumaran wrote in post #16506560
I hear what you are saying. BUT on my BH-40, I have the screw clamp and not the lever clamp, so I will not know what I am missing in either case!

I wasn't referring to the clamps on the top of the ball heads, I was referring to the main knob that actually tightens down the ball head, the main friction knob. They are both very different and one might have a preference for one over the other, for example having used both I dislike the main friction knob on the Acratechs and much prefer the RRS. The main friction knob being a small flower-like shape on the Acratech, and the RRS having a large flat lever style knob, once again, talking main ball-friction knobs, not the clamps on top of the ball heads.

jeetsukumaran wrote in post #16506560
This makes sense. Have you experienced this or seen any evidence of this actually happening?

Yes, from the first use I noticed it which is why I brought it up when you asked about creep. It's one of the reasons I decided to let the Acratech go.

jeetsukumaran wrote in post #16506560
I like the Markins --- it is compact, smooth, and strong --- but apart from the the reports of it failing during the cold, I think the panning base cannot be locked, only tightened for a high drag.

It's actually a brake and not a lock. Unfortunately the manual that comes with their ballheads calls it a lock and so users very reasonably expect it to lock.