Arca D4 Users, looking for your feedback

[Eric Mansour]

I’ve spent most of my career on a 410, but as I run out of gear to buy, I see the D4 calling. Truly the only current reason I’m considering it, is the form factor. The 410 gets 95% of the shots done, and if it starts sticking or slipping - Getting another on eBay is dead cheap.

But packing and traveling with the 410 is a nightmare(being hyperbolic of course). It fits well in approximately nothing, and airlines think it’s a weapon if it’s out of your bag.

So I’m asking for any feedback you have on the D4, and which version you see as the best purchase. Rod Klukas is always fantastic with responding to emails, but I’d love to hear all your unaffiliated thoughts.

I recently picked up a p0 and am quite impressed. For context, I’m shooting on an Rm3di/XF/5d4

Thanks

 

[Mexecutioner]

I’ve spent most of my career on a 410, but as I run out of gear to buy, I see the D4 calling. Truly the only current reason I’m considering it, is the form factor. The 410 gets 95% of the shots done, and if it starts sticking or slipping - Getting another on eBay is dead cheap.

But packing and traveling with the 410 is a nightmare(being hyperbolic of course). It fits well in approximately nothing, and airlines think it’s a weapon if it’s out of your bag.

So I’m asking for any feedback you have on the D4, and which version you see as the best purchase. Rod Klukas is always fantastic with responding to emails, but I’d love to hear all your unaffiliated thoughts.

I recently picked up a p0 and am quite impressed. For context, I’m shooting on an Rm3di/XF/5d4

Thanks

When I demoed the XT my dealer had it mounted in a D4 and I was impressed by its capabilities and ease of use. I’m certainly interested in hearing what other users have to say as I’ve been contemplating adding a cube to my kit, but the D4 may suit my needs just fine.

 

[Eric Mansour]

I’m not certain what kind of work you do, but I was talking to a repair specialist once upon a time who recommended the D4 over the cube if you do anything outside. He said he saw more cubes in for cleaning/service than any other item. Certainly something to consider.

When I demoed the XT my dealer had it mounted in a D4 and I was impressed by its capabilities and ease of use. I’m certainly interested in hearing what other users have to say as I’ve been contemplating adding a cube to my kit, but the D4 may suit my needs just fine.

 

[GrahamWelland]

I have both CUBE and D4 heads. I would agree that the D4 is more robust in many ways than the CUBE and other than the vertical flip for extra movement, addresses everything I need in the field, plus you can disengage the lock for more rapid adjustments.

A lot less susceptible to dust/gunk in the gear mechanism and lighter and smaller too. If I hadn’t already had the CUBE, I’d have bought the D4 instead vs adding it. Obviously using a Goniometer vs a multi-axis tilt head is a different experience but the end result is the same IMHO.

We’re talking Audi vs Mercedes Benz here, not Ford Fiesta vs Porsche.

 

[Mexecutioner]

I have both CUBE and D4 heads. I would agree that the D4 is more robust in many ways than the CUBE and other than the vertical flip for extra movement, addresses everything I need in the field, plus you can disengage the lock for more rapid adjustments.

A lot less susceptible to dust/gunk in the gear mechanism and lighter and smaller too. If I hadn’t already had the CUBE, I’d have bought the D4 instead vs adding it. Obviously using a Goniometer vs a multi-axis tilt head is a different experience but the end result is the same IMHO.

We’re talking Audi vs Mercedes Benz here, not Ford Fiesta vs Porsche.

Thanks for the information Graham, seems that the D4 is a better all-rounder and the robustness of it compared to the cube sets it ahead for filed use in dusty / dirty environments.

 

[Geoff]

The D4 is my go to gear head. Use it all the time - fast and accurate. A bit large, a bit heavy but works well. Also have a Linhof 3D, an alternate to the cube. It has finer gears, but use the D4 in the field.

 

[Greg Haag]

I have the Arca-Swiss d4 with a Classic Knob Quick Release (Geared) and really like it, especially with a technical camera. For how I shoot it seemed like the best option and is what I would buy if buying again today.

 

[Steve Hendrix]

The D4 is my go to gear head. Use it all the time - fast and accurate. A bit large, a bit heavy but works well. Also have a Linhof 3D, an alternate to the cube. It has finer gears, but use the D4 in the field.

What I like about the D4 is that you have 2 heads in 1 (geared and ball head), which is nice.

I also like the Linhof (or Alpa version) of the 3D Geared Head, in fact I think of the dedicated geared heads this way:

Cube - at the top, with the most expansive gearing, and best ability to maintain camera position when gearing (but largest/heaviest).

Arca Swiss Cube Classic

Linhof/Alpa 3D - very similar to Cube, finer gearing, and a bit more compact in size (less movement than Cube)

Alpa 3D Leveler/

Arca Swiss L60 Leveler - amazing size and density for a finely geared head (less movement than Cube)

Arca Swiss L60 Leveler


Some think of tripod heads as expensive, but considering that a really, really good head is something you will use for a decade or more, without the need to view new models every 18 months and agonize over the upgrade equation, IMO they're a bargain.


Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[JohnBrew]

I used one for several years. Fantastic piece of kit. When weight became my enemy it had to go. Now using the pO.

 

[Eric Mansour]

Thanks for all the input folks, glad I can get honest feedback on the device. Interesting that 2 people have mentioned size and weight - the two things I thought would be an improvement over the 410. Lots to consider...

I used one for several years. Fantastic piece of kit. When weight became my enemy it had to go. Now using the pO.

 

[Boinger]

Thanks for all the input folks, glad I can get honest feedback on the device. Interesting that 2 people have mentioned size and weight - the two things I thought would be an improvement over the 410. Lots to consider...

I have used a d4 for years. I love it.

I recently got that p0 hybrid ball head with the gniometer on top. Its a nice blend between weight and function.

The d4 is 2lbs the p0 hybrid is 1lb.

 

[Steve Hendrix]

Thanks for all the input folks, glad I can get honest feedback on the device. Interesting that 2 people have mentioned size and weight - the two things I thought would be an improvement over the 410. Lots to consider...

While it is not a small, light head, the way it is constructed makes it feel relatively compact, and it certainly packs more easily than a 410.


Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[GrahamWelland]

So many choices. Another +1 as Steve mentioned for the L60 + leveling base if you use a technical camera and don’t need all the extreme angles.

 

[DougDolde]

I have the non geared D4 but now that I'm shooting the D850 I hardly ever use a tripod. Its a good head though and I like it better than the Cube I had.

 

[Rand47]

I was using a RRS BH-55 until I saw a video of Charlie Cramer using a D4 Geared head. I was immediately a goner. When I received it I loved all of it.... EXCEPT the incredibly weird Arca-Swiss clamp. I’m sure there are advantages I never explored, but the two-tiered jaws were fiddly, and I just couldn’t get used to it.

So, after seeing a fellow on YouTube who had sent his D4 to Precision Camera in Illinois, for a clamp swap out with a RRS lever clamp, I promptly sent my brand new head to them for the conversion. (CAVEAT: There’s lots of speculation on when Arca started-stopped using the industrial strength thread locker on their clamps. Not wanting to risk damaging the head, and too chicken to take a heat gun to my brand new head, I decided to let the pros do it. YMMV).

I also didn’t care for how “low” on the base the rotation lock lever sat on my RRS tripod platform (it would not rotate below horizontal making locking/unlocking fiddly), so I added a Wimberly 1” riser that is exactly the same diameter as the D4’s base.

This head is a game changer for me. As much as I appreciated the build quality and beauty of the BH-55, and even with the “drag” set perfectly, maneuvering the the camera for composition and not having “post lock-down droop” proved both difficult and not at all precise. The D4 solves that. It is a joy to use and handles my medium format gear with ease. Spendy, but now that I’ve had it for a year, the price seems insignificant compared to my pleasure in using it.

Rand

 

[Dante Alighieri]

.... but as I run out of gear to buy, ....

Blasphemy!

Step up your game!

Dante

 

[bomzi]

The geared D4 is the best tripod head I have ever used. I used to have a 410 before switching to the D4.
It's fantastic!

 

[GrahamWelland]

Blasphemy!

Step up your game!

Dante

:ROTFL::ROTFL:

:watch:

 

[Berthold_Steinhilber]

Best tripod head I ever have used, even better that the ArcaSwiss Cube.
It is rock solid, very good to adjust, still lightweight in my opinion and the monoballFix plates are very small.
Ideal for all purposes - I like to work with the Arca Swiss L-Bracket for portrait format - you don't have to leave it on the camera (what I prefer) and with the additional Nodal Set you have a very compact stitching possibility.
Highly recommened, NOT cheap but much easier to work with than the Manfrotto 3D heads (I have used them before) - you're going to appreciate to work with the D4.

 

[GrahamWelland]

As much as I appreciated the build quality and beauty of the BH-55, and even with the “drag” set perfectly, maneuvering the the camera for composition and not having “post lock-down droop” proved both difficult and not at all precise. The D4 solves that. It is a joy to use and handles my medium format gear with ease. Spendy, but now that I’ve had it for a year, the price seems insignificant compared to my pleasure in using it.

Rand

Thats why I originally bought the Cube, and subsequently the D4 and L60 (and ALPA :facesmack