Arca Swiss D4 head variants?

[xoda]

I see there are 3 variants for the Arca Swiss D4 head:

(1) Classic (i.e. screw)

(2) MonoballFix

(3) FlipLock


I have the classic version of the p0 head, and know it works with my RRS L brackets. Do the Monoball Flix & FlipLock versions also work with RRS L brackets? What's the difference Monoball Flix & Fliplock?

 

[Required]

Classic and FlipLock works with RRS L brackets.
MonoBallFix do not!

Remember that RRS Arca Dovetail is wider then the oroginal Arca-Swiss brackets, so if you have a mix of RRS brackets and brackets from others, the FlipLock is tricky as you need to constantly fineadjust the width of the FlipLock device. In these cases the Classic or more convenient.
I sold off my RRS brackets due to this and have a Arca-Swiss only collection nowadays.

Quick set devices & camera plates

www.arca-shop.de

 

[weldonbrewster]

The Monoballfix is quite a bit cheaper than the other versions. Years ago I bought that version and replaced the Monoballfix clamp with a RRS clamp. It works great, I use it almost every day with RRS L brackets. I remember there being some blue Loctite on the clamp I removed and I used it on the new RRS clamp.

 

[Rand47]

Another vote for the RRS lever clamp swap on the D4 (also did it with my Cube). None of the Arca clamps worked well for me, not due to fit problems, but due to fiddlyness. In my case, having been warned about the possibility of damage due to industrial strength locktite, I sent both of my heads to Precision Camera Works (an authorized Arca repair facility) to do the swap.

PCW

www.precisioncameraworks.com

 

[rdeloe]

I have both Monoball fFix and standard parts. I don't like lever clamps. My favourite part is the Arca-Swiss screw clamp that has both monoball fix and standard A-S clamp. It's reasonably priced and rock solid.

 

[akaru]

I’m a huge fan of monoballfix. I feel like I’m the only one.

They’re so small, work directly on AS rails, and I never worry that I’m going to inadvertently unlock it by mixing it up with the other levers. Makes me think I should post a WTB and take other’s unwanted plates…

 

[Steve Hendrix]

The Monoballfix is quite a bit cheaper than the other versions. Years ago I bought that version and replaced the Monoballfix clamp with a RRS clamp. It works great, I use it almost every day with RRS L brackets. I remember there being some blue Loctite on the clamp I removed and I used it on the new RRS clamp.

Good heads up Weldon, on the Loctite, and as some have said, sending to Precision Camera may be advised when modifying a top. The Monoball Fix versions are sometimes less than the Classic and Fliplock, but sometimes more, it is not consistent. For instance, the L60 heads, the Monoball Fix costs more than the other two tops. But for D4, it costs less.

Our team has differing preferences on the tops. Brad prefers the Fliplock, because he knows that if he visually sees it in the correct position, that camera is locked on. I'm less trusting, and I like the Classic because it forces me to make sure it is tight and locked, you can't assume based on the visual appearance (I'm odd, that way).

https://digitalback.com/collections/arca-swiss-heads/products/arca-swiss-d4-geared-gp-geared-panning

https://digitalback.com/collections/arca-swiss-heads/products/arca-swiss-l60-leveler


Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[Rand47]

Horses for courses, to each his own, etc. I find the double-jaws of the Arca screw clamp very “kluge” feeling. And their flip-lock even worse. And I used to dislike the “idea” of lever clamps - until I used an RRS lever clamp. I’ve used them in all kinds of conditions, in some precarious setups, and have never had an incident of any kind, of it trying to unlock, or being unlocked accidentally. It takes some effort to unlock it, and even at the first “unlock” position, the plate does not fully release. They make my Cube and D4 a joy to use.

Rand

 

[Alan]

besides the normal benefit of working with both Arca rail sizes, I like the classic two-step clamp for this:

The extra depth allows easy portrait-orientation tethering - no fussing with sliding out the L-bracket!

 

[FloatingLens]

I’m a huge fan of monoballfix. I feel like I’m the only one.

MonoballFix and FlipLock it is for me.

 

[Required]

MonoballFix and FlipLock it is for me.

Same combination for me!

 

[dougpeterson]

lol. Forum admins won’t even let me mention the most comprehensive write up of Arca Heads because it competes with Capture Integration, even if I don’t link to that article

what a joke

admins: please feel free to delete my account and all previous posts if that’s your position

 

[xoda]

This may be a little off topic in relation to my original post, but has anyone compared the Arca Swiss D4 head to something like the Leophoto G4 Pro head? I haven't tried the Arca Swiss yet because there isn't a deal with stock locally. But I tried the Leophoto G4 Pro and found it a bit lacking because the knobs/screws don't turn as smoothly as I had hoped for

 

[Steve Hendrix]

lol. Forum admins won’t even let me mention the most comprehensive write up of Arca Heads because it competes with Capture Integration, even if I don’t link to that article

what a joke

admins: please feel free to delete my account and all previous posts if that’s your position

Your company has had opportunities to contribute financially to this forum and you have chosen not to. This forum is largely here today because of the financial contributions of Capture Integration. As a non contributing equipment dealer, you cannot promote your business on this forum, and yet you have continued to do so.

Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[Ray Harrison]

lol. Forum admins won’t even let me mention the most comprehensive write up of Arca Heads because it competes with Capture Integration, even if I don’t link to that article

what a joke

admins: please feel free to delete my account and all previous posts if that’s your position

How about DT get out their checkbook instead instead of getting out the delete hammer? Smaller contributors like me and others, along with Dave, Steve & crew at Capture Integration on the high-end believe in the forum. DT does have interesting perspectives and information to share. Add some $.

 

[dougpeterson]

How about DT get out their checkbook instead instead of getting out the delete hammer? Smaller contributors like me and others, along with Dave, Steve & crew at Capture Integration on the high-end believe in the forum. DT does have interesting perspectives and information to share. Add some $.

DT provided financial support for many years as a site sponsor. For most of the life of the forum many sponsors were allowed simultaneously - we were one (as was CI).

I’ve also personally spent a thousand or so hours participating in discussions here, racking up ~4000 posts.

But in the 2020 pandemic when forced to choose between firing employees and cutting our advertising budget we made the only reasonable choice, and I don’t regret that.

CI then became the sole sponsor – fully exclusive. That almost surely saved the site. But as a result other vendors are no longer allowed to support, sponsor, or participate.

Good for CI. Not so good in my opinion for the vibrancy, diversity, and technical depth of the forum, but I guess I’m biased.

I do miss my friends here. Hope you are all well in this increasingly crazy world.

 

[Dave Gallagher]

vendors are no longer allowed to support, sponsor, or participate.

Good for CI. Not so good in my opinion for the vibrancy, diversity, and technical depth of the forum, but I guess I’m biased.

I heard that there was a debate going on that involved CI so I hope you don't mind that I chime in here.

Let's go over a little history. CI has been working closely with GetDPI since 2008. At that time, Doug worked for Capture Integration and Steve Hendrix was OUR competitor! It's crazy to look back at. This was long before other dealers and long before GetDPI was accepting sponsorship. We helped Jack, Guy, and Bob with their workshops and it quickly became a wonderful working relationship. We became their first paid sponsor a few years later and have been dedicated to this forum ever since.

If you remember in April 2020, Jack announced that GetDPI was shutting down due to the lack of time and funding. The years of content, honest sharing between photographers, and wonderful camaraderie was going to be lost. Luckily, Olaf Sztaba stepped in and saved it. It was at this point that Olaf reached out to CI about sponsorship. There were offers from manufacturers to come in and push their single content, but no vendors like us stepped up besides us. I don’t want to speak for Olaf, but it seemed like he wanted a more open and honest approach rather than pushed by a single manufacturer and he asked us to be the exclusive sponsor.

That is the history. We, as the exclusive sponsor, recognize all the strong content that has been created here over the years. We have directly requested not to delete content or memberships even from our competitors. In our eyes, it was important that GetDPI does not restrict anyone from participating or supporting its users or this site. Capture Integration simply asked that our competitors were restricted from "promoting" their company on this site when they have not stepped up financially as we have since 2008. It's that simple and nothing nefarious whatsoever.

Douglas, I have to respectfully disagree that this simple request to not promote a competitor changes the “vibrancy, diversity, or depth” of this forum. If someone chooses not to post or be a part of this forum, it is their individual choice and not regulated by either its owner or its sponsor.

Dave Gallagher
CEO - Capture Integration

RIT Alumni Board of Directors
Phase One Partner of the Year

 

[dougpeterson]

All of that history is accurate – some great memories there. The forum owes CI for supporting it during the pandemic.

I guess we disagree about where a reasonable line is to draw on what constitutes commercial promotion vs informational answers. The admins deleted my post where I referenced (without even linking to) a thorough write up on Arca Swiss Heads that happens to be on our website. It’s a highly informational write up and I think the most detailed run through of the topic anywhere. If that article were on any other website it would not have been flagged. If it were linked to by anyone else it would not have been flagged - others here post links to our website all the time when it contains information relevant to someone’s question or issue. But I cannot? Under such limitations it’s not reasonable for me to participate.

That to me literally decreases the depth of information being provided to the person that posted.

But you’re the exclusive sponsor and get to set the rules. So my disagreement doesn’t amount to much.

 

[Steve Hendrix]

All of that history is accurate – some great memories there. The forum owes CI for supporting it during the pandemic.

I guess we disagree about where a reasonable line is to draw on what constitutes commercial promotion vs informational answers. The admins deleted my post where I referenced (without even linking to) a thorough write up on Arca Swiss Heads that happens to be on our website. It’s a highly informational write up and I think the most detailed run through of the topic anywhere. If that article were on any other website it would not have been flagged. If it were linked to by anyone else it would not have been flagged - others here post links to our website all the time when it contains information relevant to someone’s question or issue. But I cannot? Under such limitations it’s not reasonable for me to participate.

That to me literally decreases the depth of information being provided to the person that posted.

But you’re the exclusive sponsor and get to set the rules. So my disagreement doesn’t amount to much.

Capture Integration has been supporting this forum for 16 years. Capture Integration also went through the pandemic. We did not fire anyone nor did we cut advertising budgets. In fact, we increased our advertising budget. The ownership of this forum was looking for a single sponsor to work with and offered an exclusive single sponsorship to numerous participants for a substantial annual cost far beyond anything any previous "sponsor" had contributed. Let me tell you, it's not just a few thousand bucks. They needed it to keep going. We made the investment.

No dealers or competitors were kicked off the forum. We respect the contributions that other dealers have made over the years. The exclusivity only refers to other dealers not being allowed to promote their business. You say your article would be allowed on another website. There is no relevance there to this situation. You say that others post content from your website, but you cannot. Correct. "Others" are not competitive dealers.

If you have something valuable to say about Arca Swiss tripod heads, by all means offer your perspective. If you cannot do so without promoting your competing company, then you can choose not to participate. The vast majority of my posts do not even possess links to CI content. There is input, opinions, technical information, all manner of contributions and methods of participating, where I am not even promoting our business, though I have every right to do so in a more self serving manner.

Nothing stops you or any other dealer from doing the same.


Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[dougpeterson]

“Nothing stops you or any other dealer from doing the same.”

Steve, would you personally continue to actively participate at the same level if the forum was exclusively sponsored by your competitor and you were not allowed to do anything that sponsor vaguely perceived as competitive?

Can you point me to anyone else that has a competitive nature to CI that participates in any meaningfully active manner since you took over?

Over most of that 16 year history this forum was vibrantly filled with highly informed technical information from experts in commercial companies. It led to some of the greatest threads and most interesting discussions this forum had had. Once you took over that ended. Maybe you can cherry pick some small number of examples over the past four years, but we both know how it compares to the past. Your rules prevent it.

Again, you saved the forum and get to set whatever rules you want. I’m glad for you, and for the forum, that you didn’t have to make the choice that we did. But don’t be disingenuous to what those rules mean. Of course it prevents me and anyone “competitive” to CI from meaningfully participating.