Arca Swiss ball heads - lack of QC ?

[photo_color]

I owned/tried-out a variety of Arca Swiss heads over the years (B1,

B2, B1g). After a dry spell (using a 3-way) I decided to go back to

the Arca (for both small and large format cameras), and a tried two

B1s, one B1G, and a B2, one from Adorama and the others from B&H,

in November - early December 2004.

 

I returned all of them because, although the main ball was smooth,

neither panning control really locked tight. I.e. although I locked

the panning knob tight, I could easily turn the camera/head combo in

panning motion. While this is not that important for 35mm perhaps,

it is for large format (as when inserting a film holder I don't want

the camera to move). I did not have this problem with the several

Arca heads I used years before.

 

I heard that about 3 years ago or so, Arca was having a big problem

with quality control (more than, or other than, just the panning

lock), but that they improved in the last couple of years. Has

anyone else had similar problems to mine recently ? Maybe I was just

very unlucky, or maybe those two companies are getting seconds?

 

Thank you.

[ellis_vener_photography]

Arca-Swis had abad batch of heads with a supplier of faulty caliphers. The problem was

caught and fixed for those who had a problem with their heads. I have a pretty recent

Arca-Swiss B1 Monoball (as wel las a much older one and it doesn't have the problem you

are having.

[bob_k2]

I just checked my B1 panning knob and with just a soft tightening of the knob, the head doesn't budge at all.

 

Are you sure you had the ballhead screwed onto the tripod well and that the ballhead knob was tightened?

 

If there's a store nearby with new or used Arca-Swiss ballheads you might want to go in and ask a salesperson about it.

 

 

-

[rayn]

I have a B1 that is now about 10 years old. Still going strong. With the pan knob

tightened, I could not budge this in the pan direction if I grabbed it with both hands and

used all my strength.

 

The sample you had was defective. Arca-Swiss would fix it for free under warranty.