My .02:
D4 is a fine head, but IMHO is Arca's answer for an economy Cube. It's both taller and less rigid, so the added height magnifies the lesser stability. On the upside, it is lighter in weight and cheaper.
Linhof. Great head, but the limited tilt movements drove me nuts, seemingly always occuring when I had no other way to get the shot. IIRC, it was heavier than my Cube by a fair amount and had knob access only on one side, not both as does the Cube. It may also have been even more rigid than my Cube -- if I shot view cameras larger than 5x7 where I rarely needed more than a few degrees of tilt, I would re-investigate it. But I'd probably still stick with the Cube for it's added flexibility.
Cube is not perfect either. But it is the closest tripod head to perfection out there for tech shooters. Period. Take that to the bank. Smooth, rigid, reliable (even in sand and wet) and yes, expensive. But buy it once and smile and pat yourself on the back for making such a smart purchase every single time you use it
D4 is a fine head, but IMHO is Arca's answer for an economy Cube. It's both taller and less rigid, so the added height magnifies the lesser stability. On the upside, it is lighter in weight and cheaper.
Linhof. Great head, but the limited tilt movements drove me nuts, seemingly always occuring when I had no other way to get the shot. IIRC, it was heavier than my Cube by a fair amount and had knob access only on one side, not both as does the Cube. It may also have been even more rigid than my Cube -- if I shot view cameras larger than 5x7 where I rarely needed more than a few degrees of tilt, I would re-investigate it. But I'd probably still stick with the Cube for it's added flexibility.
Cube is not perfect either. But it is the closest tripod head to perfection out there for tech shooters. Period. Take that to the bank. Smooth, rigid, reliable (even in sand and wet) and yes, expensive. But buy it once and smile and pat yourself on the back for making such a smart purchase every single time you use it