Arca-Swiss Monoball P0 Tripod Head Panning System and Slidefix QS Quick Release System

[gary payne]

<p>Does anyone have experience with the Arca-Swiss Monoball tripod head? I'm looking for a good head for my D700 for landscape and nature photography. I know the Arca-Swiss brand is top-quality, but the Monoball is less than half the cost of their other products, so I would be interested in your experiences and thoughts. My lens include the 24-70 2.8 and the 70-300 4,5-5.6. I don't anticipate buying a 400 or longer lens.</p>

[jose_angel]

<p>This is the head I currently use for the same gear, including a 70-200VR. I think it`s a good head.</p>

<p>My only issue is that is designed to be used only with their SlideFix clamp or directly with a 1/4" stud. Mine is the 1/4" version; you can easily remove the stud to attach any other clamp but <em>it`s not designed to do so</em>. The 1/4" stud is attached to the base with a standard 6M thread.</p>

<p>As I need a better&more reasonable clamping system, I have mine with a modified Markins clamp. A RRS clamp with non-threaded center socket + 6M screw is a better solution. You will need to drill a hole on the clamp to atach an anti-twist pin.</p>

<p>I don`t know about the longevity of this head, mine is almost new. It certainly looks more delicate than usual ball heads, but certainly holds a lot of weight (I also use a B1 and some Gitzos on other tripods).</p>

<p>It locks really tight, with a reasonable good smoothness. It doesn`t have a "friction control system" like the B1, but I don`t mind about it. I think it works very good. It is very different to other ball heads, is slightly shorter and wider than my other heads. It takes a bit of time to get used to this. You can use either hand, from any side; that`s great. The paning lock works better than I expected; at first the knob could look odd, but I prefer it to others. It`s easy to lock very tight (although it`s not needed).</p>

<p>Weight is 280grs on my scale, without screw and clamp. With the screw and Markins clamp is 385grams.</p>

<p>I like it, and it works for me. If you have any specific question, feel free to ask.</p>

[gary payne]

<p>Jose - thanks for the insight, and I'm happy to hear it will handle a 70-200 as well. I'm going to order one with the Slidefix clamps, so that is not an issue. Cheers - Gary</p>

[peter b in london]

<p>Hi, just wanted to check on something. I purchased the P0 and received today. The single adjustment ring has a bit of "play" vertically, IE I can shimmy it up and down a bit, which I didn't expect and it does not seem right. Is that the case with your unit or is it fixed with no movement aside from rotation?<br>

thanks<br>

Peter</p>

[arthur_gorham]

<p>According to the documentation, the adjustment ring is supposed to have some vertical play.<br>

I am planning on replacing the Slidefix clamp on my P0 with the RRS lever clamp so I can use RRS panning gear.<br>

But why do I have to drill a hole for an anti-twist pin - I haven't seen this feature on other heads although the P0 seems to expect it?</p>

[arthur_gorham]

<p>I have just mounted a RRS standard width lever clamp w/ a 6M screw on an Arca-Swiss P0 without any kind of anti-twist device - it works great - anybody interested in the details, let me know.</p>