Arca Swiss Monoball B1-FL (Flip-Lock) and Really Right Stuff B2-Pro LR Clamp

Does anybody have any experience with the B1-FL (Flip-Lock) version

of the Arca Swiss Monoball B1 ? I haven't been able to find any

information on this specific version, although some European shop

have started selling it (see for example <A

HREF="http://www.isarfoto.de/EN/">Isarfoto</A>, follow the links to

products -> photographic equipment -> tripods -> ball heads).

<P>I suspect the B1-FL's clamp is similar to the Really Right Stuff

<A

HREF="http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/clamps_and_knobs/index.html">B2-

Pro LR clamp</A>.

<P>Can anyone tell me how these two systems compare to each other,

and how they compare to the standard Arca-Swiss clamp on the B1 ?

Does the plate fit equally tight in these clamps ?

<P>Thanks for any comments on this,

<P>Stefaan

Arca-Swiss is sending me one to review. I'll let know what i think about it when

it gets here and I've worked with it for a few days.

I have the RRS B2-Pro LR and have been using it for a few weeks now. I will

attempt to answer Michael Spinak's concerns:

1) Like most good lever clamp designs, the actual clamping force is applied

through a spring. This allows the clamp to apply roughly the same force over

a range of positions. This should accomodate small variations in plate size,

wear, and temperature changes.

2) The lever sits so close the clamping plate and camera/lens that it seems

unlikely that you wouuld catch anything on it in a way to release the clamp. I

would not hike through dense underbrush with a camera or lens on this

clamp, but I probably wouldn't do that with any clamp.

3) See #1

4) I don't have a screw based clamp for side by side comparison of clamping

strength. The text on the RRS claims a clamping force of 70 lbs for the lever

clamp, but implies that their screw clamps can exert more force. In my

experience it is certainly enough for a 300mm lens, teleconverter and 35mm

camera. It would probably hold larger lenses, but I don't have any experience

with this.

Does anyone have further info on the Arca Swiss Monoball B1-FL (with Flip-Lock)?

-Dennis

Some one did a research and here are the results:

http://www.liaoyusheng.com/arca/

Personally I would stay with the screws.

Leping

After reading a lot of possitive report on the Arca-Swiss Monoball B1, I bought one which cost me close to US$500.00 including shipping.

After two weeks of receiving it, I was on an assignment and I had mounted the B1 on the Gitzo 1325 tripod and place them on the back seat of my car. When I had to suddenly apply the break to my car, the tripod with the B1 fell to the floor of the car. Upon inspection, I found that the Flip-Lock handle on the B1 had broken.

First and foremost, a professional level Ballhead has no business being so fragile. Secondly, they should have better customer service. I am so fed up with the Arca-Swiss people!! They dont reply to your request for help. I am willing to pay for the part .. but I need the Flip-lock replaced. However, after one reply, the Arca-Swiss people simply wont reply to my mails. Can it get any more frustrating??

I think there are equally good ballheads out there ... so my advise is that you should not buy Arca-Swiss since their after-sales is simply terrible. I certainly wont be buying!!

I got one mail (attached bellow) .. after that I have no response from them since the last one month.

Yeshey Dorji

BHUTAN

-----------------------------------

arca-swiss@wanadoo.fr

Dear Yeshey

Where to you live ?

UK ?

You can either send your head to us or we can send you a spare flip-lock handle though this will require some mechanical kow how.

Plrase advise

Best regards

ARCA-SWISS International

Martin Vogt

Dear Yeshey Dorji

You've contacted us on the 22nd of July, we've answered the same Day. The 23rd you

informed us that you are in Bhutan and asked if we can send the part to Switzerland. The

25th to informed us about the address to send the part in Switzerland. The spare was sent

free of charge to Switzerland the same Day just before our Business Vacation.

(1.8.-22.8.2005) We've received on the 8.8.2005 during the Vacation one e-mail if we did

dispatch the part which we did. We have not received any other e-mails or information

from you if you have gotten the spare part we regret.

Yours Sincerely

ARCA-SWISS International

Martin Vogt

Arca Swiss does have very good after sales service, as I managed to get FREE replacements for my 4x5 f-line axles when they were broken during shipping as I bought them used. As for my AS B1, I have got 3 of them and only one developed a problem, becoming very stiff, as it endured a very hard fall on a concrete floor.

IMHO, the service quality is great, but you may have to wait if there is no incountry distributor. Product quality is also great and I have not had to fault it.. After all, if you dropped a precision item, can you complain if it does not work as before? Try dropping your lens and see if it is just as good!

Disclaimer: I am not associated with Arca Swiss in anyway other than as a satisfied customer.

Actually I did drop my lens - Canon 135mm f/2L USM. I was on an assignment to shoot some wild elephants. The elephants were too close - so instead of the Canon 500mm f.4L, I mounted my 135mm f/2L and got a very good image of the elephant. But after few minutes I tripped and the lens hit a boulder and the front part of the lens (the portion where the filter screws in) came off - screws and all!! But amazingly, the lens still works beautifully. I have not bothered to send the lens for repair since it is working fine and I love the lens so much - I cant be without it for more then a day.

I am not saying the Arca-Swiss Monoball is bad .. I am simply saying that I have not been served well during a time when I was desperate.

UPDATE: I have since sent my ball head to USA and had the RSS people replace the flip lock assemly. They work beautifully and the person at the RSS was so prompt and knowledgeable! Now I am waiting for the Ballhead to come apart .. so I can buy the RSS Ballhead!!!