httpwww.photo.netphoto1664879310

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!!!

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