Thanks for demo and your take on the Cube! I was so taken with the head that I contacted the US Arca Swiss rep and purchased it and the quick release system! As they say, cry once! Loving it! A wonderful piece of kit!
One big plus about the Cube head that's rarely mentioned is that the main panning base is the last in the chain up the head before the camera. That's very important for precise framing because it's often the case that you simply want to rotate the camera just a touch after it's adjusted to be perfectly vertical. That lets you crop out distractions on the left / right side of the frame before shooting. But with a 3-way head where the pan base is at the bottom of the chain, any panning done after the vertical adjustments will throw the vertical alignment out of whack. That requires you to re-adjust all 3 knobs just a bit to get back into vertical alignment before shooting. With the Cube, you level the top plate using the 2 lower sections' knobs, and you're finished. You can then pan rotate the camera freely knowing it will stay vertical in any direction you choose to point. It is surprising in real-world application how useful that one small feature really is, especially when shooting on un-level ground with one tripod leg at a different length than the others. It's a huge time-saver.
Excellent point! It's definitely great to have that top panning base along with the bottom one. It took me some time getting accustomed to it, but now that I'm familiar with it, it would be tough to to back to one without those two separate controls.
Thank you so much for this video! I’m definitely in the 1% of the 1% who actually needs a head like this and your detailed overview was exactly what I was looking for before pulling the trigger.
Excellent review, thank you. After having used one for several years, I still picked up a couple of nuances from this video. BTW, the ARCA Swiss clamp that the cube comes with is very poorly designed. One day, mine just fell apart, literally into pieces. I was VERY lucky that I did not have a camera drop. I strongly recommend replacing the stock clamp with the infinitely superior B2 PRO II clamp from Really Right Stuff. The knob version works better with the cube, but the knob sticks out a little. The quick release clamp version is more form-fitting, but at times, it crosses path with the upper panning lock lever, which is not a big deal. Either one will do, it's an individual preference. But I highly recommend replacing the stock clamp on the cube before disaster strikes.
Thanks for your input Roy! On your cube, did you have the lever clamp or the twist knob? I have the one with the twist knob and haven't had any issues, but I am not a big fan of the lever clamp from Arca-Swiss.
Great video and demonstration of the Cube. I think it's genuinely accurate regarding its build quality and performance. Glad to see you on the Arca train, Ben!
Nice one...I hadn't seen the "big release" section at the bottom, it's kind of hidden from a casual look, but really extends the flexibility of the head!
like I told Simon Baxter it's like having a fine artillery piece to truly hone in to your subject. It's beautiful and I wouldn't keep it my tripod either if I were ever to have one
It sure is a wonderful piece of equipment. I love how it can give both an 8x10, and a SLR or mirrorless camera a very fine degree of finesse when setting up a composition.
Hi Ben. Wow! NOt only am I impressed with your review of the C1 Cube, but your 8x10 camera is awesome as well! I'm reminded of my old 4x5 Toyo View Camera with Nikon, Rodenstock, Schneider, and Fujinon large format optics back in the day! (I still have the large Gitzo leds and two robust old Gitzo pan and ball heads that I used with that gear)...Now, it's quite "overkill" for my smaller, lighter Fujifilm X-System kit, for which I found an awesome "Travel" tripod in the FLM CP26. This travel tripod is pretty awesome too, and with a load capacity of 26 lbs, would hold those large format cameras quite nicely (especially with FLM's larger ball head, the CB-58 FTR, with a max load capacity of 132 lbs)! Thanks again, sir, and Happy Holidays!
Ben Horne Hi Ben I’m told the AS Cube is prone to being scratched very easily. Re the top plate have you had problems of the paintwork being scratched off from contact with the camera plate constantly making contact with the head? I know there’s a RRS replacement top plate but isn’t something you can replace easily without the use of a soldering iron which invalidates the warranty. I’ve placed my order in hold until I can figure out how prone the top plate is to being heavily scratched from contact with the plate for the D850. John
I have had my Cube for 1.5 years now, and it still looks brand new. That being said, I do baby it quite a bit. The head is removed from my tripod with the Arca Swiss Quick-Link system, and stored in a soft pouch in my camera bag when not being used. I can see how it could scratch and lose that wonderful black coating if it were to rub up against something, especially with those sharp corners and edges. Mine still looks great though.
How much thought do you put into leveling your camera? Do you level the tripod before anything else? So you have a flat base to start with? Do you level with the cube? Have you ever considered using a leveling base?
I think this new set up is going to be a real bonus for you. Maybe best of all is the fact that you can now set up and then take your camera back to camp not needing to leave it overnight.
Thanks Terry! I'm really looking forward to working with this complete setup in the field. It is very intuitive, and easy to use which is great. This bad boy definitely won't be left on the tripod overnight at full height. If I can't hike it back to my truck, I can put it on my flattened 0 series tripod with just an arca swiss clamp on the top. This bad boy won't be hitting the ground anytime soon.
Arca actually use this head for their mono-rail LF cameras, also some photographers who use a Phase One XF camera system use this too, and considering the weight and cost of this system ($60,000 AUD) + lens, this SHOULD be more than safe for a field camera. as a side note, CR Kenedy sells the Phase One systems in Melbourne Australia, and they even put one of these XF systems on an arca-swiss P0 (pee- Zero) head- a ball head, quite a lot smaller than the c1-cube, and they say this works fine.
@@BenHorneyes!, but as the English camera store "Robert White" says in their video take on the P0, "....an Iron fist in a velvet glove", so be gentle on the tension ring!! it is a planitary gear set inside, so develops a heck of a lot of force.
Thanks for an interesting demo Ben. My Manfrotto Junior Geared Head cannot handle the weight of my pre 1984 Arca Swiss 8x10 model C so I have to screw the rail directly onto the tripod mount which is far from ideal. This looks to be the best solution for a heavy monorail. Maybe I can re-mortgage the house :o)
Ben 's going to have to sell a few more portfolio books this year to break even on the $8,600+ he put into the new camera and this head. Manfotto sells ( used to sell?) a larger verison of the "junior" geared head, which would probably handle whatever camera the "junior" head would not. The manfotto heads have the disadvantage of being about 30% larger than the Arca, but that comes back as larger (easier to reach and use) control knobs and are geared in all three dimensions, not just the two axis of the Arca. The Manfrotto is well sealed against wet and grit in the gears; clearly, the Arca - not so much. Finally, the Manfrotto costs about 25% of the Arca, so you keep about $1,200 for more film. No doubt the Arca is smoother operating than the Manfrottos and the calibrated adjustments (lacking on the Manfrotto) might help setting swings and tilts.
They definitely are expensive heads, but hopefully it is something that I will be able to use for a very long time. It's a nice balance between size and functionality, and I think I'm already spoiled by using this head on my spring trip. I look forward to giving it a workout with the Arca-Swiss camera because that camera is even more solid than the Ebony when attached to it.
The new camera equipment definitely set me back quite a bit, but I'm hoping it will carry me forward for many many years to come. I see this stuff as an investment in the future -- let's just hope that they keep making color slide film. :-) I have worked with the manfrottos in the past, but haven't tried them with one of my view cameras. It really would be nice if they offered those heads with an Arca-Swiss style quick release. That would allow for an even more solid connection to the camera.
hey ben! was looking for arc swiss cube reviews and came across this! Just bought one yesterday. Nice to see your videos. Hope you are well! Robert Benson....
Thanks Ben for this and all of your videos! I enjoy them so much! Would it be possible to see how you would pack this set-up for your photo shoots? I'm curious on the logistics how you would get it out into the field. Thanks again for your hard work on your videos. Outstanding production quality!!! Looking forward to purchasing your next portfolio book. I have your last two and I enjoy them very much.
Thanks Trent! I have a video planned on this exact topic. Large format gear is tough to carry because of the awkward shapes of the equipment. I use a case from Tenba to hold my lenses, but finding a case for large format cameras is a bit more difficult. In particular, this camera is tough to store because the bellows extend beyond the metal frame of the rear standard, so they need to be protected. It's also an awkwardly shaped camera that needs to sit right side up so it doesn't put weight on the bellows. I was on a mission, and found a case that is a perfect match for the camera. I can put the camera + film holders in one case, and another for my lenses. Those cases drop into my hiking pack, and everything is well protected and well organized.
Yeah, that is indeed one of the most expensive heads that money can buy. It makes a RRS BH-55 look downright cheap! Did you consider the slightly more affordable Arca-Swiss d4 head as well? Having said that, the cube is totally worth it, because of what it offers...
I looked at the D4, but I figured I would need the beefiest head for the 8x10. The other one I considered was the Arca Swiss Z2+. I still want to try that head at some point and compare it to the Cube.
I've had a D4 for a few years, and just got a Cube to use with my 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. The D4 is great for 4x5; the Cube is a bit more solid with the 8x10. The knobs on the D4 are larger, which makes it a bit easier to manipulate (maybe I'm just more used to the D4). I can't imagine going back to a ball head for large format now that I have used geared heads, even a two-axis ball head like the Z2+
Thanks so much for posting this review. Just out of curiosity, do you have the model with geared panning option on the top of the head? I didn't know if you thought that option was necessary (it's an extra $300). Also, would you recommend this head for architectural photography with a DSLR, or would it be best to look at one of the other Arca Swiss models? Thanks again.
Great video Ben. I've admired your work for a long time. One concern I've heard about those turn style quick releases is they can be mistaken for a head knob. With a geared head with all those knobs, it could be a very expensive mistake. Maybe cover it with something after you set your camera up.
It really takes a very deliberate action to release the QR knob since it is tightened down in a different way. It's tough to describe, but they have a much different feel, and it takes much more work to loosen the one for the QR. I can see how it looks like that might be the case, but thankfully they designed it such that it would be tough to do that.
Amazing vdo the best with detail thank you. Do you ever use it for shooting people also ? or something but with some movement that you have to follow sometimes? could use it over the ball head ? or what ball of the arca swiss you would recommend if you would use one, Or this work also . Thank you
I absolutely love my geared head. It’s only really suited for subjects that are not moving. It gives tremendous control for fine tuning a composition. I’ve never shot people or anything else with it, just landscapes where I have time and am looking for precision. It also allows for those situations where you have the camera at a very awkward angle like shooting downward.
Thanks Dominic! I don't believe those heads were on the market when I bought my cube. There are more options now which is fantastic. I'd love to get my hands on either of those at some point to try them out.
good for macro and studio work. i had it one day for a real estate shoot and sent it back. knobs were too tight and painful to fingers after shooting a home. well made but not for me
Hi Bill! I wonder if you had the friction control set to the max? If you do that, then yes it will be tough to turn, especially if you only turn one of the knobs. I find it's best to grab the knobs on both sides so equal force is applied, then set the friction control appropriately for the weight of the camera you have on it. I use this with both my 8x10 and smaller kits, and it works very well for both. Definitely slower than a ballhead, but far more precise.
Hello Ben Thank you for the wonderful explanation about the head, it’s really helpful. I’m considering to buy it long time ago like you did. I have serval Camera and the heaviest one is the XF especially with the 35mm, my mane work is commercial photography and i own already the Z1g+. My question for you is do you think it’s worth to pay the extra 380 USD for gear panning? Or should I stick with the normal one ? Best. David
Hi David! I personally don't think the geared panning is necessary, but I've never used that version. I find the geared movements to be most necessary on the two primary angles where the camera is being moved up or down, or leveled from side to side. The only time I could see the geared panning useful is if you had the head flopped off to the side so the panning base now represented an up/down direction. I haven't run into that situation with my camera, but I see how it could happen with a 35mm or medium format camera while shooting vertical without an L bracket, or something along those lines.
Dear Mr Thorne, thank you for your review. I just bought one and unfortunately it looks that the SInar + IQ4 is too heavy for the Cube. I couldn't lock it properly in when using the lower tilt and it's really not completely secured at none of the others positions due to the weight of the camera. This surprised me a lot considering it's supposed to handle 100 kg... What do you think ? Thanks a lot !
Something isn't right. I use the cube with my Arca-Swiss 8x10 which is a much heavier camera, and it holds the camera firmly. Make sure you have the friction knobs dialed all the way to the + side. Beyond that, if it isn't holding, it sounds like something is wrong with your head.
Not being able to lock down, or more correct, a friction mechanism which interferes with usage is a design flaw of this head. Notice how the Linhof 3D Micro uses worm gears which essentially are self locking, no friction adjustment of locking mechanism required on that head. I think Arca did notice the shortcomings of this head since their later designs both the D4 and the P0 Hybrid uses worm gears....
It would be nice if no slippage was built into the design with worm gears. Maybe that's something that will be incorporated into a second generation. The friction controls do stop the slippage completely, but I don't know how that will hold up in the long run. Even if the head didn't slip when the friction dial was on the negative side, I do prefer the feel of the head with the friction dialed up. It seems to better "balance" the heavy load.
The Arca-Swiss + Rail weigh in at 11.9lbs, and the Ebony weighs in at 11.2lbs. They are pretty darn close. It's all the other stuff that adds up in weight though -- film holders, lenses, etc. I just found an ideal case for the camera, and will do a video soon where I show how I carry all my lens and camera stuff in my backpack.
Great review Ben! Looking forward to seeing this entire setup in action. (Seems like somewhere, in a dream or over the rainbow, there was something about pushups and a drone. Whatever happened with that?)(Or was it just a dream?)
Hey ben just ordered one of these following your video Review for my Toyo VX125. Thank you - I'm curious which plate you recommend with it as the seller I purchased from does not include one? Thank you
Awesome! I think you'll really enjoy it. Does the bottom of your camera have dual screws, or a single one? Any Arca Swiss type plate will work. If your camera has dual screws, you'll want to get one that can take advantage of that so the plate won't twist. Really Right Stuff makes some great plates.
Hey Ben - Thanks for the reply. This is how the bottom of the camera looks. Not familiar with this setup but I think that plate to the right of the camera fits on the bottom with the 2 holes. See here: i.imgur.com/PcMkT8x.jpg
Here is the manual: Until I get the camera from China that I bought on ebay. This is all I can find on it: www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/toyo_view_vx_125.pdf
It looks like it has some sort of quick release clamp and plate built in. I can't tell if the bottom of the camera is threaded so you don't have to use that part though? If it is, you would just buy an Arca-Swiss type quick release plate, and attach it to the bottom of the tripod without having to use their plate design.
@ 13:42 do not do that, you will damage the gears because simply you slipped a gear with that motion and it could break a tooth in the gear cog, your point of showing it too us is well taken but at the expense of damaging gear…..No doubt your concern about lacking a lock on a position and relying solely on the gears and friction knobs is valid and it is a flaw in the design that should not happen for a $$$$ gear.
Hi William! The cube is definitely great for studio use, but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you about it not being ideal for outdoors. For me personally, the cube has been a game changer for me for landscape work. It allows me to dial in an incredibly specific composition, and is lighter than many ballheads that can carry the same sort of load. Much like the camera you put on it, it's a precision piece of equipment that needs to be cared for, but that's easy enough. The tripod head goes in my bag along with my camera while hiking. If you leave it exposed and bash it into trees, rocks and such, then yes, that isn't ideal, but when treated with the same level of care as a camera or lens, it's an incredible piece of equipment.
Pricey at over $1500, but you get what you pay for and this is an excellent head if you want to fine tune your compositions. Maybe i'll start saving up for one in the future......or maybe not, great vid. ;0)
Thank you for this review Ben, I haven't seen anything to better this review of the Cube.👍 It's undoubtedly the best geared head available and whilst it is very expensive it's beautifully made and will last a lifetime. I imagine that it's the perfect partner for the large format set up and looks superb when attached to your new camera! How heavy is the Cube? I'm really looking forward to the review of your new camera, it looks very 21st century, Darth Vaderesq even! If you haven't already christened the new camera I bet you can't wait! Take care mate and stay safe.🍀👌
Thanks Andy! I'm certainly hoping it will last a very long time. The cube looks like a beast, but it weighs about the same as a strong ballhead. It is 2 lbs. It's funny that you mention the Darth Vaderesq look of the camera. That's what I thought when I saw them the first time. Throw in the Borg look of the tripod head, and we have are uniting the world of science fiction villains.
Err... I kind of like that GITZO head!!! Better for me, I think... The Bogan, like the Archa Swiss is pretty expensive, but maybe that Gitzo Geared head would work ON TOP of a video pan tilt, to make those fine adjustments to the "Tilt" axis, that are so hard to make when fully zoomed in at 20X power... The cinematic options are pretty pricy also, but that Gitzo might do the trick!
The Gitzo pan tilt head is the strongest head I have used for large format, and a heck of a good value. I just wish it was a bit more compact, and featured an arca swiss style quick release.
@@BenHorne I think the Gitzo head is not that strong. With a 8x10 Toyo on, it can almost not handle the weight. It begins to fall back easily. It is one of the main reasons we are looking at the Arca Cube.
Yay -- I love reviews of good gear. I see a new contender that would be fun to compare -- the Alpa GON www.alpa.ch/en/article/alpa-gon-tripod-head and its associated tripod components.
Yup. It's a very expensive head, but it's the sort of piece of equipment that you buy once, then keep for the rest of your life. The fact that it's so compact, yet it can hold a mirrorless camera or a massive 8x10 camera is impressive. Many people will be using this head with cameras that cost 2x this head, and replace those cameras every few years or so. So yeah, there's no getting around the fact that it's an expensive head, but considering what it does and the price of the gear people use it with, it's a long term investment to feel good about.
That is one of the current 3 series systematic tripods. With a turn of a lever and the press of a button, you can release the top plate. It's a pretty cool feature.
Heavy and expensive... couldn't you just crop that tree in post maybe? i think this is useful for real estate and architecture more. Just cant justify the price :( thank you for the video
It might look heavy, but it's actually a lot lighter than it looks. It is on par with the weight of a sturdy ballhead. You're very correct that it's extremely expensive though, and there's no way around that. That being said, you get what you pay for. It's an absolute joy to work with, and if something were to happen to mine, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.
Just get a Benbo levelling base and a smallrig arca swiss quick release plate... You'll have 20 degrees of movement, which is plenty for LF work. For less than $200.00 in the head and still be under a pound. Your welcome
I actually have one of those same Benro leveling bases. I use it for my slider when doing video. For many photos, that setup does indeed work well and it's rock solid, but since I do enjoy photographing intimate landscapes at my feet, it does limit me somewhat. I suppose a leveling base with a 90 degree swivel would be a very solid and useful head design.
Thank Ben for this DETAILED video DEMONSTRATING how to use the Arca-Swiss C1 Cube.
Thanks for demo and your take on the Cube! I was so taken with the head that I contacted the US Arca Swiss rep and purchased it and the quick release system! As they say, cry once! Loving it! A wonderful piece of kit!
One big plus about the Cube head that's rarely mentioned is that the main panning base is the last in the chain up the head before the camera. That's very important for precise framing because it's often the case that you simply want to rotate the camera just a touch after it's adjusted to be perfectly vertical. That lets you crop out distractions on the left / right side of the frame before shooting.
But with a 3-way head where the pan base is at the bottom of the chain, any panning done after the vertical adjustments will throw the vertical alignment out of whack. That requires you to re-adjust all 3 knobs just a bit to get back into vertical alignment before shooting.
With the Cube, you level the top plate using the 2 lower sections' knobs, and you're finished. You can then pan rotate the camera freely knowing it will stay vertical in any direction you choose to point. It is surprising in real-world application how useful that one small feature really is, especially when shooting on un-level ground with one tripod leg at a different length than the others. It's a huge time-saver.
Excellent point! It's definitely great to have that top panning base along with the bottom one. It took me some time getting accustomed to it, but now that I'm familiar with it, it would be tough to to back to one without those two separate controls.
Thanks for this specification. That is indeed important in real photography.
So... I just looked up the price on B&H. I'm sure my vision will come back later this afternoon....
Slightly shocking isn't it?
Slightly
That expensive eh
Quality engineering costs. I'm changing out my RRS for Arca-swiss
Thank you so much for this video! I’m definitely in the 1% of the 1% who actually needs a head like this and your detailed overview was exactly what I was looking for before pulling the trigger.
Excellent review, thank you. After having used one for several years, I still picked up a couple of nuances from this video. BTW, the ARCA Swiss clamp that the cube comes with is very poorly designed. One day, mine just fell apart, literally into pieces. I was VERY lucky that I did not have a camera drop. I strongly recommend replacing the stock clamp with the infinitely superior B2 PRO II clamp from Really Right Stuff. The knob version works better with the cube, but the knob sticks out a little. The quick release clamp version is more form-fitting, but at times, it crosses path with the upper panning lock lever, which is not a big deal. Either one will do, it's an individual preference. But I highly recommend replacing the stock clamp on the cube before disaster strikes.
Thanks for your input Roy! On your cube, did you have the lever clamp or the twist knob? I have the one with the twist knob and haven't had any issues, but I am not a big fan of the lever clamp from Arca-Swiss.
Great video and demonstration of the Cube. I think it's genuinely accurate regarding its build quality and performance. Glad to see you on the Arca train, Ben!
Nice one...I hadn't seen the "big release" section at the bottom, it's kind of hidden from a casual look, but really extends the flexibility of the head!
like I told Simon Baxter it's like having a fine artillery piece to truly hone in to your subject. It's beautiful and I wouldn't keep it my tripod either if I were ever to have one
It sure is a wonderful piece of equipment. I love how it can give both an 8x10, and a SLR or mirrorless camera a very fine degree of finesse when setting up a composition.
Hi Ben. Wow! NOt only am I impressed with your review of the C1 Cube, but your 8x10 camera is awesome as well! I'm reminded of my old 4x5 Toyo View Camera with Nikon, Rodenstock, Schneider, and Fujinon large format optics back in the day! (I still have the large Gitzo leds and two robust old Gitzo pan and ball heads that I used with that gear)...Now, it's quite "overkill" for my smaller, lighter Fujifilm X-System kit, for which I found an awesome "Travel" tripod in the FLM CP26. This travel tripod is pretty awesome too, and with a load capacity of 26 lbs, would hold those large format cameras quite nicely (especially with FLM's larger ball head, the CB-58 FTR, with a max load capacity of 132 lbs)! Thanks again, sir, and Happy Holidays!
Without doubt the best geared head in the market today. That said $3500 for a cube mounted to a 5 series Gitzo is a big commitment for anyone.
Very true! It's a very expensive piece of equipment. I ended up building up my kit one piece at a time, which makes it a bit easier to swallow.
Ben Horne
Hi Ben
I’m told the AS Cube is prone to being scratched very easily. Re the top plate have you had problems of the paintwork being scratched off from contact with the camera plate constantly making contact with the head? I know there’s a RRS replacement top plate but isn’t something you can replace easily without the use of a soldering iron which invalidates the warranty. I’ve placed my order in hold until I can figure out how prone the top plate is to being heavily scratched from contact with the plate for the D850.
John
I have had my Cube for 1.5 years now, and it still looks brand new. That being said, I do baby it quite a bit. The head is removed from my tripod with the Arca Swiss Quick-Link system, and stored in a soft pouch in my camera bag when not being used. I can see how it could scratch and lose that wonderful black coating if it were to rub up against something, especially with those sharp corners and edges. Mine still looks great though.
Fantastic review Ben. I think we will get one for our new Toyo 810 8x10. Our Gitzo head just cannot handle the weight.
How much thought do you put into leveling your camera? Do you level the tripod before anything else? So you have a flat base to start with? Do you level with the cube? Have you ever considered using a leveling base?
I think this new set up is going to be a real bonus for you. Maybe best of all is the fact that you can now set up and then take your camera back to camp not needing to leave it overnight.
Thanks Terry! I'm really looking forward to working with this complete setup in the field. It is very intuitive, and easy to use which is great. This bad boy definitely won't be left on the tripod overnight at full height. If I can't hike it back to my truck, I can put it on my flattened 0 series tripod with just an arca swiss clamp on the top. This bad boy won't be hitting the ground anytime soon.
Arca actually use this head for their mono-rail LF cameras, also some photographers who use a Phase One XF camera system use this too, and considering the weight and cost of this system ($60,000 AUD) + lens, this SHOULD be more than safe for a field camera. as a side note, CR Kenedy sells the Phase One systems in Melbourne Australia, and they even put one of these XF systems on an arca-swiss P0 (pee- Zero) head- a ball head, quite a lot smaller than the c1-cube, and they say this works fine.
I've been eyeing that P0 head lately. Looks like a fantastic head and very lightweight too.
@@BenHorneyes!, but as the English camera store "Robert White" says in their video take on the P0, "....an Iron fist in a velvet glove", so be gentle on the tension ring!! it is a planitary gear set inside, so develops a heck of a lot of force.
there are some videos on this head, try Robert White - English camera store, and Fred Newman s site "the view camera store" both are great references.
Thanks for an interesting demo Ben. My Manfrotto Junior Geared Head cannot handle the weight of my pre 1984 Arca Swiss 8x10 model C so I have to screw the rail directly onto the tripod mount which is far from ideal. This looks to be the best solution for a heavy monorail. Maybe I can re-mortgage the house :o)
Ben 's going to have to sell a few more portfolio books this year to break even on the $8,600+ he put into the new camera and this head. Manfotto sells ( used to sell?) a larger verison of the "junior" geared head, which would probably handle whatever camera the "junior" head would not. The manfotto heads have the disadvantage of being about 30% larger than the Arca, but that comes back as larger (easier to reach and use) control knobs and are geared in all three dimensions, not just the two axis of the Arca. The Manfrotto is well sealed against wet and grit in the gears; clearly, the Arca - not so much. Finally, the Manfrotto costs about 25% of the Arca, so you keep about $1,200 for more film. No doubt the Arca is smoother operating than the Manfrottos and the calibrated adjustments (lacking on the Manfrotto) might help setting swings and tilts.
They definitely are expensive heads, but hopefully it is something that I will be able to use for a very long time. It's a nice balance between size and functionality, and I think I'm already spoiled by using this head on my spring trip. I look forward to giving it a workout with the Arca-Swiss camera because that camera is even more solid than the Ebony when attached to it.
The new camera equipment definitely set me back quite a bit, but I'm hoping it will carry me forward for many many years to come. I see this stuff as an investment in the future -- let's just hope that they keep making color slide film. :-) I have worked with the manfrottos in the past, but haven't tried them with one of my view cameras. It really would be nice if they offered those heads with an Arca-Swiss style quick release. That would allow for an even more solid connection to the camera.
hey ben! was looking for arc swiss cube reviews and came across this! Just bought one yesterday. Nice to see your videos. Hope you are well! Robert Benson....
One dot is enough
Thanks Ben for this and all of your videos! I enjoy them so much! Would it be possible to see how you would pack this set-up for your photo shoots? I'm curious on the logistics how you would get it out into the field. Thanks again for your hard work on your videos. Outstanding production quality!!! Looking forward to purchasing your next portfolio book. I have your last two and I enjoy them very much.
Thanks Trent! I have a video planned on this exact topic. Large format gear is tough to carry because of the awkward shapes of the equipment. I use a case from Tenba to hold my lenses, but finding a case for large format cameras is a bit more difficult. In particular, this camera is tough to store because the bellows extend beyond the metal frame of the rear standard, so they need to be protected. It's also an awkwardly shaped camera that needs to sit right side up so it doesn't put weight on the bellows. I was on a mission, and found a case that is a perfect match for the camera. I can put the camera + film holders in one case, and another for my lenses. Those cases drop into my hiking pack, and everything is well protected and well organized.
Yeah, that is indeed one of the most expensive heads that money can buy. It makes a RRS BH-55 look downright cheap!
Did you consider the slightly more affordable Arca-Swiss d4 head as well?
Having said that, the cube is totally worth it, because of what it offers...
I looked at the D4, but I figured I would need the beefiest head for the 8x10. The other one I considered was the Arca Swiss Z2+. I still want to try that head at some point and compare it to the Cube.
I've had a D4 for a few years, and just got a Cube to use with my 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. The D4 is great for 4x5; the Cube is a bit more solid with the 8x10. The knobs on the D4 are larger, which makes it a bit easier to manipulate (maybe I'm just more used to the D4). I can't imagine going back to a ball head for large format now that I have used geared heads, even a two-axis ball head like the Z2+
Thanks so much for posting this review. Just out of curiosity, do you have the model with geared panning option on the top of the head? I didn't know if you thought that option was necessary (it's an extra $300). Also, would you recommend this head for architectural photography with a DSLR, or would it be best to look at one of the other Arca Swiss models? Thanks again.
Great video Ben. I've admired your work for a long time. One concern I've heard about those turn style quick releases is they can be mistaken for a head knob. With a geared head with all those knobs, it could be a very expensive mistake. Maybe cover it with something after you set your camera up.
It really takes a very deliberate action to release the QR knob since it is tightened down in a different way. It's tough to describe, but they have a much different feel, and it takes much more work to loosen the one for the QR. I can see how it looks like that might be the case, but thankfully they designed it such that it would be tough to do that.
Amazing vdo the best with detail thank you. Do you ever use it for shooting people also ? or something but with some movement that you have to follow sometimes? could use it over the ball head ? or what ball of the arca swiss you would recommend if you would use one, Or this work also . Thank you
I absolutely love my geared head. It’s only really suited for subjects that are not moving. It gives tremendous control for fine tuning a composition. I’ve never shot people or anything else with it, just landscapes where I have time and am looking for precision. It also allows for those situations where you have the camera at a very awkward angle like shooting downward.
I got curious and Googled the price of that head. You weren't kidding on the price! Nice video either way, Ben!
The price is somewhat science fiction, but the fact that it can handle the 8x10 with grace makes it a blast to work with.
have the 801113 Monoball Z1dp quickset classic. Is this good for architecture photography?
Excellent video,thx! Did you try the AS 60 or 75 heads first?
Thanks Dominic! I don't believe those heads were on the market when I bought my cube. There are more options now which is fantastic. I'd love to get my hands on either of those at some point to try them out.
good for macro and studio work. i had it one day for a real estate shoot and sent it back. knobs were too tight and painful to fingers after shooting a home. well made but not for me
Hi Bill! I wonder if you had the friction control set to the max? If you do that, then yes it will be tough to turn, especially if you only turn one of the knobs. I find it's best to grab the knobs on both sides so equal force is applied, then set the friction control appropriately for the weight of the camera you have on it. I use this with both my 8x10 and smaller kits, and it works very well for both. Definitely slower than a ballhead, but far more precise.
Hello Ben
Thank you for the wonderful explanation about the head, it’s really helpful.
I’m considering to buy it long time ago like you did. I have serval Camera and the heaviest one is the XF especially with the 35mm, my mane work is commercial photography and i own already the Z1g+.
My question for you is do you think it’s worth to pay the extra 380 USD for gear panning? Or should I stick with the normal one ? Best. David
Hi David! I personally don't think the geared panning is necessary, but I've never used that version. I find the geared movements to be most necessary on the two primary angles where the camera is being moved up or down, or leveled from side to side. The only time I could see the geared panning useful is if you had the head flopped off to the side so the panning base now represented an up/down direction. I haven't run into that situation with my camera, but I see how it could happen with a 35mm or medium format camera while shooting vertical without an L bracket, or something along those lines.
Dear Mr Thorne, thank you for your review. I just bought one and unfortunately it looks that the SInar + IQ4 is too heavy for the Cube. I couldn't lock it properly in when using the lower tilt and it's really not completely secured at none of the others positions due to the weight of the camera. This surprised me a lot considering it's supposed to handle 100 kg... What do you think ? Thanks a lot !
Something isn't right. I use the cube with my Arca-Swiss 8x10 which is a much heavier camera, and it holds the camera firmly. Make sure you have the friction knobs dialed all the way to the + side. Beyond that, if it isn't holding, it sounds like something is wrong with your head.
@@BenHorne Thank you very much for your answer. I will redo a test monday and will let you know. And congratulations for your channel ;-)
Not being able to lock down, or more correct, a friction mechanism which interferes with usage is a design flaw of this head. Notice how the Linhof 3D Micro uses worm gears which essentially are self locking, no friction adjustment of locking mechanism required on that head. I think Arca did notice the shortcomings of this head since their later designs both the D4 and the P0 Hybrid uses worm gears....
This does use worm gears. But even with heavy loads, worm gears can slip. If it happens too many times, they strip out.
It would be nice if no slippage was built into the design with worm gears. Maybe that's something that will be incorporated into a second generation. The friction controls do stop the slippage completely, but I don't know how that will hold up in the long run. Even if the head didn't slip when the friction dial was on the negative side, I do prefer the feel of the head with the friction dialed up. It seems to better "balance" the heavy load.
A worm gear design does feel smoother, try the Linhof 3D Micro, however it's not a flexible in terms of reachable angles....
Great video. Many thanks for sharing. Very helpful indeed.
Thanks Ash!
Ben that camera looks massive next to you. How much does it weigh? Also you should do a video of how small it breaks down to.
The Arca-Swiss + Rail weigh in at 11.9lbs, and the Ebony weighs in at 11.2lbs. They are pretty darn close. It's all the other stuff that adds up in weight though -- film holders, lenses, etc. I just found an ideal case for the camera, and will do a video soon where I show how I carry all my lens and camera stuff in my backpack.
Great review Ben! Looking forward to seeing this entire setup in action.
(Seems like somewhere, in a dream or over the rainbow, there was something about pushups and a drone. Whatever happened with that?)(Or was it just a dream?)
I'm still working on those pushups. I've hit a plateau at about 40 pushups, but am going to the gym to try and get to 50. It sure is a lot of work!
Great review Ben, that does look like an impressive head!
It's very fun to work with. It's also great how small it is, and how I can easily store it in my pack with my lenses.
@ben you reckon this can carry a 14x17 wooden Field camera?
I suspect that camera would be a bit much for the cube. I'd look at some of the heads specifically designed for ULF.
What's your camera again? Nice Video... Thanks!
My primary camera is an Arca-Swiss F Metric 8x10. It's a great system to work with.
Hey ben just ordered one of these following your video Review for my Toyo VX125. Thank you - I'm curious which plate you recommend with it as the seller I purchased from does not include one? Thank you
Awesome! I think you'll really enjoy it. Does the bottom of your camera have dual screws, or a single one? Any Arca Swiss type plate will work. If your camera has dual screws, you'll want to get one that can take advantage of that so the plate won't twist. Really Right Stuff makes some great plates.
Hey Ben - Thanks for the reply. This is how the bottom of the camera looks. Not familiar with this setup but I think that plate to the right of the camera fits on the bottom with the 2 holes. See here: i.imgur.com/PcMkT8x.jpg
Here is the manual: Until I get the camera from China that I bought on ebay. This is all I can find on it: www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/toyo_view_vx_125.pdf
It looks like it has some sort of quick release clamp and plate built in. I can't tell if the bottom of the camera is threaded so you don't have to use that part though? If it is, you would just buy an Arca-Swiss type quick release plate, and attach it to the bottom of the tripod without having to use their plate design.
Ben Horne it just came today. I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks again Ben.
Nicely done.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@ 13:42 do not do that, you will damage the gears because simply you slipped a gear with that motion and it could break a tooth in the gear cog, your point of showing it too us is well taken but at the expense of damaging gear…..No doubt your concern about lacking a lock on a position and relying solely on the gears and friction knobs is valid and it is a flaw in the design that should not happen for a $$$$ gear.
The gears didn't slip, they turned.
its not a worm gear its a rack and pinion which is why they need the friction adjustment so it didnt slip the knob just turned
Great video, getting one asap
It's a killer head! I love mine.
I think it is a very nice piece of kit for a tabletop still life studio based photographer, but way over engineered for grunt work outdoors.
Hi William! The cube is definitely great for studio use, but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you about it not being ideal for outdoors. For me personally, the cube has been a game changer for me for landscape work. It allows me to dial in an incredibly specific composition, and is lighter than many ballheads that can carry the same sort of load. Much like the camera you put on it, it's a precision piece of equipment that needs to be cared for, but that's easy enough. The tripod head goes in my bag along with my camera while hiking. If you leave it exposed and bash it into trees, rocks and such, then yes, that isn't ideal, but when treated with the same level of care as a camera or lens, it's an incredible piece of equipment.
Pricey at over $1500, but you get what you pay for and this is an excellent head if you want to fine tune your compositions. Maybe i'll start saving up for one in the future......or maybe not, great vid. ;0)
It certainly wasn't cheap, but there's something about the design that's very intuitive to work with. On the plus side, it doubles as a weapon. :-)
Excellent video
Thank you! Sure is a great tripod head!
@@BenHorne great to know
Thank you for this review Ben, I haven't seen anything to better this review of the Cube.👍
It's undoubtedly the best geared head available and whilst it is very expensive it's beautifully made and will last a lifetime. I imagine that it's the perfect partner for the large format set up and looks superb when attached to your new camera! How heavy is the Cube?
I'm really looking forward to the review of your new camera, it looks very 21st century, Darth Vaderesq even!
If you haven't already christened the new camera I bet you can't wait!
Take care mate and stay safe.🍀👌
Thanks Andy! I'm certainly hoping it will last a very long time. The cube looks like a beast, but it weighs about the same as a strong ballhead. It is 2 lbs. It's funny that you mention the Darth Vaderesq look of the camera. That's what I thought when I saw them the first time. Throw in the Borg look of the tripod head, and we have are uniting the world of science fiction villains.
Ben Horne I wonder how many viewers will be "assimilated"!!!
Hi how did you stop it rotating at the thread on the tripod?
The lock on the panning base is quite strong. I haven't had any issues at all, even with the large camera I use with it.
Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE your Videos
Keep it up bro
Err... I kind of like that GITZO head!!! Better for me, I think... The Bogan, like the Archa Swiss is pretty expensive, but maybe that Gitzo Geared head would work ON TOP of a video pan tilt, to make those fine adjustments to the "Tilt" axis, that are so hard to make when fully zoomed in at 20X power... The cinematic options are pretty pricy also, but that Gitzo might do the trick!
The Gitzo pan tilt head is the strongest head I have used for large format, and a heck of a good value. I just wish it was a bit more compact, and featured an arca swiss style quick release.
@@BenHorne I think the Gitzo head is not that strong. With a 8x10 Toyo on, it can almost not handle the weight. It begins to fall back easily. It is one of the main reasons we are looking at the Arca Cube.
Great!
i think you will do well, whatever you do on camera. you have a magnetic presence. oh and the arca swiss is not for me. thanks.
Thanks so much Linda!
After seeing the head, I was thinking... so "it's a couple of hundred dollars" :p
It definitely isn't cheap, but it sure is a great tripod head.
seems like a 130 dollar video fluid head would be a better choice for most people.
Yay -- I love reviews of good gear. I see a new contender that would be fun to compare -- the Alpa GON www.alpa.ch/en/article/alpa-gon-tripod-head and its associated tripod components.
$1,572.00! and that is US.
Yup. It's a very expensive head, but it's the sort of piece of equipment that you buy once, then keep for the rest of your life. The fact that it's so compact, yet it can hold a mirrorless camera or a massive 8x10 camera is impressive. Many people will be using this head with cameras that cost 2x this head, and replace those cameras every few years or so. So yeah, there's no getting around the fact that it's an expensive head, but considering what it does and the price of the gear people use it with, it's a long term investment to feel good about.
Which Gitzo tripod is that with the quick release head?
That is one of the current 3 series systematic tripods. With a turn of a lever and the press of a button, you can release the top plate. It's a pretty cool feature.
Borg cube? 😂🤣👍
Haha! yup!
Heavy and expensive... couldn't you just crop that tree in post maybe? i think this is useful for real estate and architecture more. Just cant justify the price :( thank you for the video
It might look heavy, but it's actually a lot lighter than it looks. It is on par with the weight of a sturdy ballhead. You're very correct that it's extremely expensive though, and there's no way around that. That being said, you get what you pay for. It's an absolute joy to work with, and if something were to happen to mine, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.
@@BenHorne do you do mainly landscapes or more architecture? i agree quality is worth every penny
If you think this is expensive don't even look at the similar offering from Alpa....
Just get a Benbo levelling base and a smallrig arca swiss quick release plate... You'll have 20 degrees of movement, which is plenty for LF work. For less than $200.00 in the head and still be under a pound. Your welcome
I actually have one of those same Benro leveling bases. I use it for my slider when doing video. For many photos, that setup does indeed work well and it's rock solid, but since I do enjoy photographing intimate landscapes at my feet, it does limit me somewhat. I suppose a leveling base with a 90 degree swivel would be a very solid and useful head design.