"Choosing a tripod head is probably one of the most challenging purchases a photographer can make as it is usually an exercise in balancing tradeoffs. If you want very sturdy it is usually also going to be heavy; if you go for the silky-smooth to operate, that usually means it will be expensive; if you opt for a design that is fast to reposition, then it will often be difficult to make fine adjustments on it. So what do you choose, a pan-tilt, ball or geared head?
Most photographers serious about getting the best images from their cameras will want to carry their tripod in the field and will usually migrate to a quality ballhead at some point in time..........However, they are not without their own set of drawbacks, the biggest one being the inability to easily fine-tune adjustments on the separate axes independently.
Now there is a new kid on the block, the multi-axis geared Arca Cube. Weighing in at just over 2 pounds, the Arca Cube is about the same weight as a medium ballhead.....
I do have a few complaints with the Arca. The first is simply the price. This head is ridiculously expensive at its retail price of $1,499. It does come packaged with a fancy leather carrying case, though why remains a puzzle to me since I don't know anybody that carries their tripod head separate from their tripod… Maybe I'm exposing my lack of certain etiquettes, but personally I would have rather had a padded wrap supplied instead. I assume Arca feels the useless leather case somehow helps justify the Tiffany's price-tag."
Joby Gorillapod Original
