Phillips Compact II and quick release plates for Arca Monoball

[Sal Santamaura]

Ellis, Arca's thumbscrew adjustments only set a lower limit on ball tension; they don't restrict how hard one can crank down on the main knobs. If you're referring to rotation of the number scales, yes, I am aware that they should be set to match the camera load attached. However, no matter how hard I hand-tightened main knobs, neither head could resist leverage of a physically large camera as described above. Perhaps using a pair of pliers on the knobs would have generated enough force, but that's not something I was willing to try.

I believe this is simply a matter of ball diameter. I find Arca superb for 4x5 and smaller, and still use a B1 in those situations. The 8x10 would likely have been handled perfectly by an Arca B1G with its larger ball, but I was attracted by the Burzynski's lower weight and method of attachment to my Gitzo's yoke.

[Ellis Vener]

Sal, the knurled collar on the inner "ball" of the B2 adjusts the stiffness of tension on th lateral tilt. The heaviest large format rig I have used on a B2 is an Linhof 5x7 Technica with a Canham 6x17 back, and I had no problems with locking the head down and the camera staying where I put it. But that was just my experience. And no I didn't use a wrench.