Tripod & Head Review: Velbon Ultra Maxi L & Arca-Swiss P0 Head

Looking for a tripod that holds my Panny G1 yet fits in my Think Tank Photo Shape Shifter backpack (https://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=2036), I narrowed it down to three candidates:

1) Slik Sprint Mini II: http://www.thkphoto.com/products/slik/slik-sprint-mini-2-a.html
2) Manfrotto 785B: http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/4006/lang/en
3) Velbon Ultra Maxi L: http://www.velbon.co.uk/newvelbon/pages/ultramaxil.html

While I have not tried the first two, I'm quite happy with the Velbon. I picked this particular model in the Velbon line because the weight (900 grams) gets a lot heavier for the next size up, the Ultra Luxi L (1320 grams). Also, the Ultra Maxi L is 152.5cm(60") high whereas the Ultra Maxi M is only 138.5cm(54") high - a bit short, and that's with the center column fully extended, not too stable that way!

The Velbon comes with the usual pan/tilt head with a quick release clamp and plate. The plate is only 43mm x 31mm ( 1 11/16" x 1 1/4") so it clears the battery door of a Panasonic G1 nicely (see photos).

The specs lists the tripod capacity at 2 kg, or 4.4 pounds. I've always felt that "real world capacity" for a tripod is half its rating, so it's perfect for a Panasonic G1 with a 45-200 lens being the heaviest-case scenario.

 

The legs have a very nice and fast mechanism for extension. Just rotate to unlock all 5 sections. It's much faster than having to flip the levers on the Slik or the Manfrotto, and the smooth design means nothing to catch onto.

The downside to a 5-section tripod, of course, are the legs get pretty skinny at the end. This Velbon starts at 21mm diameter and the last section is down to 8mm! Therefore, if I'm taking a low tripod shot, I do not use the last section and use only the top 4 sections (the next one up is 11mm diameter). Once again the fast extension and retraction mechanism makes adjusting the legs on this tripod a pleasure rather than a pain to use.

 

However, I wanted to use a Arca-Swiss style clamping system. That means I first had to modify a Kirk Universal L-Plate to fit a G1, since none are commercially available. I documented that here: https://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=1551

Now I have to get rid of the pan/tilt head and find a new head that accepts an Arca-Swiss style clamp. Having had good experiences with Kerry Thalmann at www.reallybigcameras.com (I bought both my Chamonix 4x5 view camera and Feisol carbon fiber tripod from him), I emailed Kerry and bought a Photo Clam PC-45 clamp ($45).

Kerry also sells the Photo Clam PC-30 ballhead (295 grams). However, I like panoramic shots, so I needed a head that can pan. Ideally, a head that not only pans, but can level the tripod as well.

Research led me to Acratech: http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=69 : "The GP Ballhead is uniquely designed to function as a ballhead a Gimbal head and as a leveling base." Ok, perfect. Umm, $400, not so perfect.

- Feisol sells a panning base: http://www.feisol.com/english/PB-70.htm $39, 180 grams
- Really Right Stuff PCL-1 Panning Clamp: http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/02.html $235, 14 ounces

Acratech sells levelling bases: http://acratech.net/home.php?cat=2

So everything was expensive, bulky, and too heavy, especially for micro 4/3rds. Until I found this: the Acra Swiss P0 ballhead: www.precisioncameraworks.com/Media/p0-eng-web.pdf

Acra-Swiss, who started the whole quick-release clamping business, does not have a web site. No, I have no idea why. Hence the link is to a pdf from Precision Camera Works, who is an Arca-Swiss dealer.

Anyways, the P0 is an upside-down ballhead, kinda like the Acratech GP. This means I can use it to level the tripod. It also has a built-in panning mechanism. Only 9.9 ounces (280 grams) and $229. I ordered one.

I will be using it with the Acratech Nodal Rail: http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=62&cat=0&page=1

It was then a simple matter of removing the existing Velbon pan/tilt head, screw on the P0, and then screw the PC-45 clamp on top (3/8" to 1/4" thread adapter required). I did encounter a problem with the lever of the P0 not clearing the knob of the PC45, but it can be done (the head of the P0 is 60mm in diameter). A better clamp would be one with a lever instead of a knob; the only one I can find is the Markins QL-48: http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/QS.php?req=QL48

The Velbon Ultra Maxi L started off at 2 pounds (.9kg). Removing the PHD-31Q head (205 grams) and replacing it with the P0 and PC-45 clamp results in a new weight of just a tad over 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). So for 4 ounces of weight gain I get a levelling base and a panning head!

My final length is just under 16.5" long ( 420mm), just short enough to fit INSIDE my Think Tank Shape Shifter backpack: https://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=2036

For those who want to try their own heads on the Velbon Ultra Maxi L, it is 12 5/8 ( 320mm) long. Add the height of your ballhead, etc for total length.

Please note I bought everything from B & H Photo through the link on this site to help the site financially. I urge you to do the same!

 

Blair, it's lightweight, but not "fullsize". Do note the height of these tripods, or lack thereof. This is where the rotating LCD on the Panny G1 comes in handy :smile:

 

The 60 of course would be stronger but I think the 48 is enough. I had a 4" x 5" view camera previously clamped with a 45mm wide jaw. Of course, it helps that you're not tilting the head sideways by 90 degrees, but keeping the top of the clamp horizontal and clamping the L-bracket instead.

I too looked at the Feisol but decided I really wanted a small and light tripod - hence this Velbon.

I also got the Acratech Level Quick Release Plate, http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=15&cat=4&page=1 . I was using it this past weekend. Just clamp it in the jaws and level the head, then take it off after it's levelled. Works well. I did notice that I had to hold the safety pin release down in order to clamp it - I think Acratech did this on purpose so that you don't "accidentally" leave it it the clamp (i.e. if you opened the jaws, it would pop out due to the safety pin pushing on it).

Below the first two pics shows the tripod being set up with the Acratech Level Quick Release Plate. The last two pics shows the G1 mounted. The stuff in front of the lens is a Lee RF-75 filter system, with the polarizer and behind it two ND filters (2+3 stops) plus a Fader ND variable ND filter (1-8 stops, http://lightcraftworkshop.com/site/page1000.html) behind that! I was shooting water with about 15 stops of light reduction : )

 

Here the P0 head is on its side with the G1 doing a vertical panorama.