[5-13] Arca-Swiss p0 "Monoball" (review)

This is among my favorite recent photography product upgrades. When my technique improved with headshots in the studio, I became attracted a modern style of portraiture that relies on lenses with large apertures and shallow depth-of-field. I began to experiences with how to use a tripod correctly.

My first ball head, a Sirui E-10 (~$69,) was enough for almost everything. By locking the screw in place I accomplished a variety of long-exposure images in 2019. Over time the locking mechanism loosened, with noticeable laxity the tightening/loosening movements.

Peter Hurley, a well-known studio headshot photographer, recommended this Arca-Swiss Monoball.

I use this with new clients all the time. The circumferential lock tightens with a gentle clockwise twist (with the left hand it also stabilizes the tripod). A slight CCW movement allowing for subtle and minute changes in angle and framing techniques.

I no longer explain how to pose for clients. Instead, I can rotate, twist, or tilt the tripod head. Doing this is usually enough for subjects to adjust their posing. I reserve my words to imply more or less movement.

I recommend this product to new and devoted photographers. It takes time to learn how to smoothly operate a camera on a tripod, but like learning a musical instrument it becomes rote, and it's well worth the effort.