Help with choice of Arca

I am looking to improve my support equipment. I see there are 2 Arca Swiss Ballheads available, a B1 & B2. I also heard the B1 tends to lock up occasionally. I am aware that the B1 is extremely popular, has been around for a long time and has proved it's worth to many photographers.

I'm sure many of you have experience with the B1 or B2. What are your suggestions? How about the Markins series? Has anyone practical experience with the Markins brand?

I should let you know my equipment!!!

EOS10D, EF100-400, 1.4x and 2x. I am seriously considering an EF300 f2.8

Thanks very much for your responses.

Latafat

Personally I wouldn't get either and get a Kirk BH-1 instead. It doesn't lock up and its tension control is much easier to use. But if you are hooked on Arca Swiss, your equipment including the 300 f/2.8 in your future calls for the B1.

Forget the B2, the B1 is the way to go. I have heard good things of the Markins, but have never seen one used in the field.

B1 or Kirk BH-1 is the current standard.

Best,

Chas

The b2 is not a ball head even though it looks like a ball head it is truely a pan tilt head. The b1 or the kirk would work fine.

I know very little about each one, but I hear the Kirk series is the way to go. I am considering an up grade my self and I am looking very hard and closely at the Kirk BH-1. That is what everyone is saying is the best right now.

Chas wrote:Forget the B2, the B1 is the way to go. I have heard good things of the Markins, but have never seen one used in the field.

B1 or Kirk BH-1 is the current standard.

Best,

Chas

I agree with Chas but strongly disagree with E.J.

The new B1's have solved the lockup problem.

The Kirk BH-1 is still a good ballhead but not as good as it once was.
Last year mine was stolen and I needed a replacement. Kirk was out of stock!

There were no Arca's to be immediately found but Arca offered to let me use one!

When my replacement Kirk arrived it looked shoddy -- like it was built in someone's garage -- and the once solid mounting plate was replaced with an open channel design. I sent it back and got the Arca.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still a Kirk customer but not for the ballhead. I find that they do not handle as nicely as the new Arca.

The Markins shows some promise but has to be ordered from Korea. With no support network here and the shipping costs, I would suggest the Kirk over the Markins and definitely the Arca over the Kirk.

As a compromise...you could order a Kirk without the mounting plate and get a flat mounting plate from Really Right Stuff.

The Arca hasn't solved my biggest gripe from what I can see - its still a total pain to do tension adjustments and the knob within a knob design just doesn't work very well for me. I prefer the open channel design of the clamp as it saves weight and there is no difference inworkmanship between the two. Something must have gone terribly wrong with the BH-1 you got!

E.J. Peiker wrote:The Arca hasn't solved my biggest gripe from what I can see - its still a total pain to do tension adjustments and the knob within a knob design just doesn't work very well for me. I prefer the open channel design of the clamp as it saves weight and there is no difference inworkmanship between the two. Something must have gone terribly wrong with the BH-1 you got!

I agree the knob within a knob is still a pain...but the new Arca is also better than the old BH-1 I had for five years (and which needed service a few months before it was stolen).

With the Arca you basically only have to use the one knob. It also has a higher load capacity.

I used to give the Kirk points for being more available than the Arca but that hasn't been the case recently. Also, I was very impressed with Arca's offer -- to, at that time, a non-customer -- to lend a ballhead for use after mine was stolen. Further. when I returned the replacement to Kirk because of the workmanship issues, instead of replacing it with a better unit I simply got a refund. (Things may be slipping a bit since Mike retired is my best guess.)

I am intrigued by the Markins but I think it's overpriced for a Korean knockoff and the lack of a North America dealer network is troubling. If they resolve those issues, I think both Kirk and Arca will have significant competition.

I used to recommend the BH-1 highly but cannot do so now.

The Acratech is still intriguing to me although I have never used one. I like the design principle behind it though.

E.J. Peiker wrote:The Acratech is still intriguing to me although I have never used one. I like the design principle behind it though.

I think with design modification it has potential. One thing I like about the Arca (and the Kirk, more or less) is the compactness. Makes flying much easier.

I carry a Kaiser medium ballhead with the old Kirk flat mounting plate as a backup ballhead (a practice I uniformly recommend). I'd like to replace it with the Markins if it was sold around here.

Nother vote for the B-1. I've had mine for a few years and it's never locked up! If I were to pick up a second smaller tripod, I might consider the Acratech ballhead.

I wouldn't pass on the B2 until you try it. Other than the Wimberley, it is the best I have used on big glass. You don't get the ball-flop with it that you get with a true ball head (the B2 is two concentric balls that operate independently). If you are committed to a true ballhead, take a look at the Foba superball. The locking levers are much quicker to use than those of any other ballhead I have seen.

This is a well-timed thread, as I am in the market for another ball head. I recently sold my Linhof Profi II, and I think I need 2 solutions: 1 for lightweight hiking landscape and travel, and 1 for longer lenses.

Here is what I am thinking:

Arca B1 or Kirk BH-1
Gitzo 1348

and

Acratech
Gitzo 1228 MKII

I have been leaning towards the BH-1 for longer lenses, mainly because of the ability to actually find one in stock. I am also scared to death of having a ball head freeze up on me in the field.

I use a BH-3 on the 1228 for my lightweight solution.

E.J. Peiker wrote:I use a BH-3 on the 1228 for my lightweight solution.

I have thought about that, but the Acratech comes in about 5 ounces lighter. I have head great things about both, but I am also considering getting a smaller tripod, too, like the 1127.

I can see it now, a closet full of 3 gitzo carbon fiber tripods, all for specific uses. Gosh, how we (I) have become equipment specialists.

LOL, I have 4 Gitzos:

1126 - which I use when I have to really keep my baggage to a minimum - its sturdier than the 1228 in my opinion but doesn't go up very high

1228 - my lightweight pod when I still have to be able to get higher than 4 feet

1348 - My mainstay for lenses from 14mm to 500mm with either a Wimberley, BH-1 or BH-3 attached. Also this one gets VERY tall

1548 - It has one purpose and one purpose only - the 600 f/4L IS wigh all the trimings (flash, battery packs, body, converter, etc)

Additionally I have a Velbon tabletop tripod and three monopods ranging from a super light Velbon to the BIG Gizo CF Monopod. Also many lightstands, a boom, etc - Oh no, I have too much stuff!!!

EJ, you crack me up.

Does anybody have any experience with the Velbom magnesium ball head? A friend had one on a recent hiking trip, and that sucker weighed close to nothing, and had built in bubble levels. Granted it had a crapp looking quick release system built onto it, but for lightweight travel needs, it could work wonders for some people.

BTW-I know of many who use the less expensive and lighter Gitzo magnesium ball head without fail. You can even put a Wimberley Arca type clamp on it or purchase with Gitzo's own Ara type clamp.

Chas

that's cool, Chas.

I just think of those few times that I get these amazing skies in the late afternoon on the Serengeti plain, and I don't have a sufficient stable platform to shoot from. Pretty much a 16-35mmL and a body is all that I would be looking to stabilize. A Gitzo 1127 and an ultra light head would be killer, as I could easily pack it into my checked duffel bag.

Chas wrote:BTW-I know of many who use the less expensive and lighter Gitzo magnesium ball head without fail. You can even put a Wimberley Arca type clamp on it or purchase with Gitzo's own Ara type clamp.

Chas

Chas is right. The Gitzo is a sleeper.

The only thing bad about it -- for traveling -- is size and weight. Bigger and heavier.

The Arca is a bit lighter and holds a bigger load than the BH-1. Go figure.