Acratech Panoramic Head can be used like a Long Lens Head

Getting past the elephant in the room, yes, they are expensive, but here is why. For starters, if you get the clamp version, you are getting something that is exclusive when it comes to Arca-Swiss clamps. Go ahead and search the Internet for the same mechanism. You wont find it. It will be something close, but not the same quick release functionality. Then, when you take into consideration the tool-less reposition of the clamp itself, either longitudinal or transverse as well as the build quality and other bits...it adds up to substantiate the cost. Why do I have two? These are lifetime purchases..I can't afford to not have one of these, so I have two. Excellent gear. There is no subsitute for the subtle perfectly executed engineering of these and other AcraTech gear. Am I a fan-girl? Maybe.

I've shot panoramic photography for years now and as part of that I ran up against parallax. For many years I've solved this with an indexing "arm" type panoramic head. Buying an Acratech Pano head is one of the best decisions I've made in my pano-game. Paired with a bowl leveling base, it has replaced my ball-head as my every-day tripod head. And now when I want to shoot a pano, instead of having to mount a pano arm, I just have to use a nodal rail. It's much easier to set up, lighter, and provides a much more stable platform. The build quality of the Acratech head is superb. I went with the quick release latch and am just astounded at how firmly it clamps down with how lightly it latches in place. And the safety lock gives me that extra level of protection against accidental release. Well done!!

I purchased the Acratech Panoramic head for (shocker!) panorama's, but I'm seriously considering making it my "everyday" head. I find it's actually a bit easier to manage the pan and tilt axes separately rather the ball head's "anything goes" motion (I also have the GXP Ball Head). I have the Panorama head mounted to the Acratech 60mm Leveling Base, and it's a perfect combination for both single and multirow panoramas. Although generally preferring lever clamps, from past experience using a nodal rail with a lever clamp, I purchased this head with the knob clamp because with the knob, it's easier to loosen the clamp just a smidge to allow the rail to be adjusted without worry about the rail coming out of the clamp. An issue I've had with a lever clamp. The only real issue I have with this head is that the index marker for the vertical (tilt) axis is black, making it almost impossible to see except in bright light. The index marker for the pan has a white line making it easier to see and the vertical index needs something similar. Can't go wrong with Acratech products or their product support. Even if you're not thinking about panorama's, you may want to consider this head over a ball head (for no or little panorama use, I would recommend buying the lever clamp version).

As usual, this is a well-made and very functional item. Expensive yes, but worth it.

Truly precision crafted piece of gear. Worth every penny!

I like the function of the gear which is what I am looking for. Is that possible to make it slimmer which is still available to support the weight of the lens? it looks bulky with the base together. This is the reason I give 4 stars. Overall, it is a very good product.

Very happy with the Pan head, works well on my ultra light setup and also good on my monopod.

This lens plate is perfect. Forgot to mention in my head review. I replaced two heads that were heavy. 1) from my Big Boy tripod two pound 15.2 ounces. 2) from my Bogen 3021 two pounds 13.6 ounces. Huge weight savings with heads I purchased from you. Thanks, Norm

Every thing I have purchased from you has been outstanding. Thanks, Norm