What makes the Cube so wonderful?

[kdphotography]

Am I spokesman for the Cube? No, but if they ever ask I would be

I hear Arca-Swiss has a position open for AS Cube Master Assimulators....

:ROTFL:

 

[gogopix]

well, I guess I could 'gift myself' if it were my birthday (nah.. don't celebrate any more )

or christmas.....

....say it IS CHRISTMAS!.....


Dave/ Steve, any cube's in stock?

:angel:

 

[Dale Allyn]

Heck, I'd volunteer to build them a website! It would take about thirty minutes to put up a simple site (OK, a little longer for styling it), and that's hand-coding (not using some WYSIWYG app.)! Or maybe they could get the folks at Photoclam to build them a simple site. (sorry )

Doesn't seem like Don should have to rep. for them without a decent web presence.

 

[dougpeterson]

Dave/ Steve, any cube's in stock?

:angel:

We have an order of four coming in a few weeks, three are spoken for.

Doug Peterson (e-mail Me)
__________________
Head of Technical Services, Capture Integration
Phase One, Leaf, Cambo, Canon, Apple, Profoto, Eizo & More
National: 877.217.9870 *| *Cell: 740.707.2183
Newsletter: Read Latest or Sign Up
RSS Feed: Subscribe
Buy Capture One at 10% off
Personal Work

 

[Wayne Fox]

I have been assimilated, and must admit my new cube totally rocks.

mmmm, that doesn't sound right for something that supposed to not rock

 

[hcubell]

Howard, the Cube sits no taller than any equivalent ballhead, so is NOTHING like extending the center column. Also, a tech camera with movements allows you to tweak composition while maintaining camera level through the rise/fall/shift adjustments.

To add to Don's and my pano comments, here is my regular set-up with the Cube, complete with sliding RRS rail plate with SCREW down clamp, which I prefer to QR clamps. I simply slide to rail in or out to achieve the nodal or null parallax point point for the stitch:

Thanks. Your setup looks very solid to me, Jack. Have you ever tested the Cube against a really solid ball head to see if there is any difference in results with longer lenses? Also, do you use a levelling base for your tripod with the Cube?

 

[Jack]

Thanks. Your setup looks very solid to me, Jack. Have you ever tested the Cube against a really solid ball head to see if there is any difference in results with longer lenses? Also, do you use a levelling base for your tripod with the Cube?

Well, with up to 300's it's been fine. For big glass, as I said above, I generally prefer the Wimberley.

I actually had a Gitzo leveling base on my tripod when I first bought the Cube. Figured it would be really cool to be able to level-level, but in reality I never needed or used the leveling feature of the base, so sold it to lighten and simplify the tripod. Bottom line is once the Cube is leveled, you can pan at the top which is of course also level...

Here's another pic of it with my Phase and Mamiya Zoom mounted. This set-up is totally rock solid, and the sliding rail also lets you center the mass directly over the center of your pod, so it's not just there for panning convenience. Also makes tweaking focus and/or subject size for macros really easy

 

[Don Libby]

Oh good camera/cube porn! Here’s and example of the movements with a Cambo attached.

Rock solid

Don

 

[tetsrfun]

Oh good camera/cube porn! Here’s and example of the movements with a Cambo attached.
*********
Are all movements geared and lockable??

I know it's a long shot but is there an owner's manual on-line??

Steve

 

[Jack]

NO user manual anywhere, Arca is pre-stone-age regarding websites -- they don't have one. The roll and pitch movements are geared, and have friction adjustments that will lock them, but it's not necessary --- the whole benefit to geared heads is they stay put WITHOUT being locked down. The pan movements are not geared, so friction and are lockable. There is also a gross angle track that you can see extended in Don's shot, and it is friction and lockable. End of the day, this design is also very light for what it is at just over 2 pounds.

 

[tetsrfun]

NO user manual anywhere, Arca is pre-stone-age regarding websites -- they don't have one. The roll and pitch movements are geared, and have friction adjustments that will lock them, but it's not necessary --- the whole benefit to geared heads is they stay put WITHOUT being locked down. The pan movements are not geared, so friction and are lockable. There is also a gross angle track that you can see extended in Don's shot, and it is friction and lockable. End of the day, this design is also very light for what it is at just over 2 pounds.

Thanks:

That what I guessed looking at the pics and reading the comments about Arca's web-site.:>)

The tendrils of the Cube are dragging me toward assimilation.

Steve

 

[PeterA]

Looking at the setup of the Alpa with the Cube, two thoughts occurred to me. First, there is a lot of "stuff" between the platform of the tripod itself and the base of the camera. I would expect that the best solution in terms of rigidity would be to attach the camera directly to the platform. That's obviously not practical. However, you would generally not want to use a center column to raise the camera above the tripod platform. The Cube at least appears to violate that principle by putting the camera up there on a perch with lots of "stuff" to vibrate. Second, one of the major advantages cited for the Cube is the ability to precisely compose your photograph. With a tech camera, you have no ability to compose accurately anyway, unless you remove your digital back each time you frame a shot.
It would be interesting to see some careful comparisons of 60mp shots with longer lenses(200mm or 300mm) using the Cube v. a regular RRS ballhead.

I posted the pic to show what a Cube looks like in repsonse to the thread starter's question. Apologies if you dont like the pic of a cube with an Alpa on it. Dont know whatyou mean by the term a lot of stuff - the cube is no larger than a RRS large ballhead and a lot more useful to me - becaue it allows me to get a level - a lot of people have used all sorts of words to repeat the gist of what I said with far less words tpeople in this forum oftetn just liek to say stuff dressed up to make themselves sound important or knowledgeable to themselves.

1. it is easy to get a level which for some anal types ( like me) is important when using a tripod
2. it provides a steady base for heavier gear - if matched to a nice tripod - sorry if you dont like my tripod - it works for me as do all my other tripods.
3. it looks good.

4 the most other value added in the thread is Jack's pic of the RRS extension bracket to allow for nodal point adjustment.

5. The Cube is a useless device ofr any wildlife shooting incorporating the need for panning quickly - just as is most any other form of sturdy head. - but then agan you dont need a PHD from a reputable place of learning to figure that one out.



Pete

 

[Jeffg53]

I've just ordered my Cube but please spare me the assimilation witticisms. I found all that crap completely off-putting. Thanks to the folks who provided valuable information.

I am immediately suspicious of any product that seems to have religious fervour attached to it.

 

[GrahamWelland]

No religion - the Cube just does what it was designed for better than any other head. It is a precision tool for a particular job, i.e. landscape/architecture/still life etc.

One thing to remember when you get the head is to be careful not to undo the QR adjuster too much other wise you'll be picking up washers ...

 

[Jeffg53]

Thanks Graham. I'm surprised that Arca still has that problem. I can see now why it is such a good thing. Like all ballhead users I have struggled with precise composition. It look like I should be able to sell my levelling base now along with the B1

 

[carstenw]

I suspect you might want to keep one head with freer movements for situations where you don't want to gear around.

 

[GrahamWelland]

Thanks Graham. I'm surprised that Arca still has that problem.

If Really Right Stuff used the same kind of adjuster they'd do the sensible thing and (a) engrave a legend to tell you which way to turn it & (b) put a locking mechanism on the adjuster so that it doesn't pop apart throwing washers everywhere. :deadhorse:

 

[Don Libby]

I posted the pic to show what a Cube looks like in repsonse to the thread starter's question. Pete

Peter, Thanks again for posting that image. I just think there’s an “old school” look to the whole setup. I don’t get to see many wood tripods however I did see one being used just last week while at the South Rim.

Don

 

[Jack]

If Really Right Stuff used the same kind of adjuster they'd do the sensible thing and (a) engrave a legend to tell you which way to turn it

Easy --- you turn the knob the same direction you want your bubble to move

 

[Don Libby]

The Cube won’t make you a better photographer nor will it cure the common cold. It will assist in making sure you get your camera as level as can be in a very short time thus allowing you to capture better images. The Cube works best on landscape and static shots however will suck if you attempt to do any wildlife; for that you need the fluid function of a ballhead.

Just my 2 cents worth …

Don