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Arca-Swiss vs Markins ballheads?

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Samuel Pondue

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Which is better? Arca-Swiss B1 retails for around 450 euros, while Markins M20 is around 380 and M10 around 350 with the shipment.

I know the specs, weight/max load is slightly better for the Markins heads, but I wonder what is a better quality heads? I hope I will be able to get a head that will function very smoothly for many years.

Sam

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Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
Thanks, but I would rather buy a ball head somewhere in Europe, since I live there. A good deal of a good ball head somewhere in Europe would be nice, but it seems that the ball heads are all priced quite high.

Sam

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Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
I own the Arca-swiss, which RRS recommended before they represented their own, great unit, highly regarded and simple to use.
 
Samuel Pondue said:
Which is better? Arca-Swiss B1 retails for around 450 euros, while
Markins M20 is around 380 and M10 around 350 with the shipment.

I know the specs, weight/max load is slightly better for the
Markins heads, but I wonder what is a better quality heads? I hope
I will be able to get a head that will function very smoothly for
many years.

Sam

--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
Click to expand...
The A/S B1 ballheads are the only ones on the market with non-spherical (elliptic) ball. This means that your load won't flop over as easily as with spherical ballheads once you have set the right amount of tension. As an owner of the A/S B1, I think this feature is somewhat overrated.

Some people will tell you that the slightly non-spherical shape of the ball can cause lock-up of the ballhead under certain conditions, which I have never experienced in 7 years of use. I would have no hesitation in buying the A/S B1 again today.
 
I prefer the Arca-Swiss on my G-1325 and the smaller/lighter Markins M10 on my smaller/lighter G-1228. If you're only buying one, I think it depends on how you plan to use it.

Cheers,
JB
Samuel Pondue said:
Which is better? Arca-Swiss B1 retails for around 450 euros, while
Markins M20 is around 380 and M10 around 350 with the shipment.

I know the specs, weight/max load is slightly better for the
Markins heads, but I wonder what is a better quality heads? I hope
I will be able to get a head that will function very smoothly for
many years.

Sam

--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
Click to expand...
 
I´m going to get the Gitzo 1325. It is only 2 kilos, and if I will later need something lighter I will just get some travel tripod. The stability and the weight of the 1325 is very appealing.

Sam
jb_va2001 said:
Cheers,
JB
Samuel Pondue said:
Which is better? Arca-Swiss B1 retails for around 450 euros, while
Markins M20 is around 380 and M10 around 350 with the shipment.

I know the specs, weight/max load is slightly better for the
Markins heads, but I wonder what is a better quality heads? I hope
I will be able to get a head that will function very smoothly for
many years.

Sam

--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
Thanks!

This sure looks tempting since it is so relatively cheap!

Sam
--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
--Hi Sam,

i recently bought the rss.

i also live in europe. No problem at all. it's a very reliable firm and the keep you informed very good about the shipping status.

It's expensive but worth every penny. It's a wonderfull piece of equipment

Happy Shooting

alex from holland

http://www.pbase.com/alex28

'You don't take a picture, it's given to you'
 
I have had an Arca-Swiss B1 for about two years but am now having problems with it. It has never been mistreated but has started locking up on a regular basis. I have tried the remedy suggested on various websites of tightening the control knob, rather than loosening it, but to no avail. The only thing that will free the ball is hitting it hard with a rubber headed mallet. That frees it completely for a short while but then it starts sticking again.
--
bankend
 
I had exactly the same experience. I sent it in to Precision Camera Works and they fixed it free under warranty. Seems to be fine now.
 
It seems to be around 100 euro cheaper than the RSS, and AS is available here in Europe, so I don´t have to wait as long. However, I don´t know which plate to buy if I go the AS route. Are there any good plates available except for the RSS plates? I own the great D50...

I have changed my mind on the legs. I think that Gitzo 1340 is a better deal than 1325, since it is only 900gr heavier and 180 euros cheaper....

Sam

--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
Sam

I really think you should consider the Giottos. At a minimum try it out and compare it. I really think you'll find the price for performance ratio very good. As for plates. Here is what I found out.

1. If you start going down the path of plates you'll find that RRS and the others only offer custom plates. As in a plate for each camera body.

2. You can also look at L brackets. Again customized for each camera.

3. You can choose to opt for a universal plate; Wimberely makes one.

Options 1 and 2 offer better performance but, are certainly pricey. New plate for every new camera. L brackets offer better performance than regular plates, but again are pricier.

It's an expensive business my friend!

My setup is:

Giottos MH3000
RRS B2 LLR Quick Release Platform
Wimberley Universal Plate

All totaled up I've spent just under 300.00.
--
Patiently awaiting the first Nikon FF DSLR, while enjoying my current gear.
http://www.kmiecphotography.com
http://kmiecmonster.blogspot.com
 
I read some user reviews about the Giottos that they are not very durable. The Arca-Swiss are the benchmark for stable heads, so I think they are my best bet.

There are no L plates for D50, so that is out of the question. I´m just a bit worried about the plates....if I buy the Arca-Swiss, I would like to get a plate that is good enough...or are they all fine?

--
Smugmug 5$ discount coupon: AsRXJW1lZWbt2
 
Arca-Swiss makes also the B2 (about twice the price of the B1) and a "cube", the C1 which looks very complex( and expensive :twice the price of B2). Has anybody an experience of these equipments? Particularly, can the c1 be used for panoramics (I suppose that some specific plate must be made to be able to rotate the camera around the nodal point)?
--
Francois
 
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