Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/12/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been using a lightweight Arcatech GPSS ball head for some time now on the rare occasions I use a tripod, replacing my RRS BH55 as my kit got lighter. The big advantage of the Arcatech GP series is that if you reverse mount it, it functions as a gimbal head well enough to be useful. Did I mention that the GPSS weighs less than one pound? The Arcatech gets paired up with either my Gitzo 3 series, or more likely the Sirui 2204 (I think) which can take a 26lbs load while weighing just 3lbs. If I were buying a heavyweight tripod today, I would never look at Gitzo/RRS, Sirui is the brand I would buy - incredible bang for the buck and robustly manufactured. Cheers Jayanand On Wed, Dec 18, 2019 at 1:57 AM Frank Filippone via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote: > I have the delight of living in Southern California. While on the search > for a new Ball Head for travel, I considered Markins and ARCA Swiss and > ACRATECH. > > The driving specs were... Light weigh, stability, and cost. > > > > I have had a ARCA B1 for several years. It is great, except that it weighs > almost 2 pounds. ( 800g). It is rugged, stable, and can be pretty > infinitely adjusted. But it is heavy. > > > > When you consider that my tripod legs weigh 3-3 1/4 pounds, adding 2 pounds > was a lot. ( the fact that I own a travel tripod with a total weight of > 3.2 > pounds with head, makes a 2 pound head seem pretty heavy.) > > > > Markins have a nice travel head, the Q3. Unfortunately, I have never seen > one. nor does my local store ( Samys ) have one to examine... > > The ARCA P0 is a nice, upside down head. The panning function is right > under the camera. Level the camera then pan to wherever you want, it is > still level. You can not do this on a regular B1 or similar ball head, > unless you level the legs.. Which is an additional and unnecessary step, if > you have the panning just below the camera. I trust ARCA. They are made in > Switzerland ( or is it France?). > > I kept looking towards handling a ACRATECH. They are pretty esoteric ,and > therefore pretty hard to find one, no less trying out all their models to > find the one I preferred... > > > > I finally called up ACRATECH, located 20 miles from the house.. I was > invited over to try them out, side by side... > > > > Long story short, I was treated as visiting royalty. which is how you are > supposed to be treated when purchasing anything... I met the owner, Scott > Dordick, his wife Patty, and several employees. > > I spent the better part of an hour with all their heads, asking all kinds > of > questions, trying out one then the other... I finally decided that I wanted > one more feature, the ability to turn the head on its side, and use the > head > in a gimballed method. I selected the model they call the GPSS. Weight, > just under 15oz ( a bit less than 380g). 35mm Ball diameter. The top > quick release comes off, and can be bolted back onto the bottom to give you > an upside down ball head.. > > > > Then they gave me a great tour of their factory.. Ever been in a machine > shop? It is a dirty place. Lots of people. Lots of noise, lots of oil... > Not this place. A few employees, CNC machines everyplace, and the nicest > attitude I have seen in a long time. > > > > Now for the Secrets.. > > They make EVERYTHING in house. Bushings, aluminum CNC parts, plastic > coated > knobs ( both the metal part as well as the plastic overlays)..amazing. all > MADE IN USA. > > They have a cabinet full of cosmetic seconds... and they sell them at a > nice > discount... REAL NICE DISCOUNT! > > > > They look strange, they work pretty normally, with an ease of changing the > tension on the ball that is amazing and sensible. > > > > They also make ARCA compatible lens and body plates. > > > > If you are looking for a ball head, consider ACRATECH.. > > > > Frank Filippone > > > > Red735i at verizon.net > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >