When the manufacturer of the finest ball heads and view cameras of the finest, mechanical grade, designs a gearhead, the result is a 3-axis head like the Cube!
Not only because of its construction, but also because of its iconic design, it has been the benchmark ever since.
The Arca-Swiss Cube is without question the most advanced and precise tripod head on the market. Why is this so much more important today than it used to be?
Whereas in the past the photographer had at least a 12cm wide film, today he has a sensor that is much smaller, i.e. you have to be able to work much more precisely.
In order to be able to work efficiently with the horizontal and vertical lines that are important in both architectural and still life photography, it is essential to be able to pan the camera in the mm range.
Without exception, every photographer to whom I lent the Cube bought it immediately or wants to own it as soon as possible.
Which brings us to the next topic: The Cube's individual parts spend an entire day on milling machines operated by technicians who used to make the very finest mechanical watches in the Jura (Switzerland).
The C1 Cube is perfect for landscape, still life and architectural photography, as it allows the photographer to adjust even heavy cameras with absolute accuracy.
The Cube has two panoramic axes: the lower one at the base and the upper one for horizontal panning, e.g. for accurate panoramic shots.
The fine gear mechanism allows fine adjustment of the X and Y axes. The two adjustment wheels are easy and smooth to operate due to the self-locking gear mechanism.
What does "CP" mean?
CP stands for ClicPan and means that the upper panorama can optionally be freely panned or provides panning in pre-set selectable steps.
clicPan® heads can be used in free movement mode for simple shots, and its easily-activated stepby-step mode, when nodal point is set, allows a series of shots to be taken at precise, pre-defined
angular steps to facilitate post-production assembly of images.
Levelling of the camera is performed directly on the head: little need to bother with the tripod—a great advantage, especially on uneven ground. Once levelled, the clicPan® panning bases allow nearperfect horizontal rotation of the camera.
Ergonomy and ease of use
The desired angular steps are set using a rotating ring which offers 10 different rotational steps of 40°,
30°, 24°, 20°, 15°, 12°, 10°, 7.5° and 6°, plus an off position for 360° free movement.
When panning the camera, the clicPan® stops with an audible click at each angular step. This physical and audible feedback eases rapid operation—for example, when taking a series of shots blind.
Finesse, lightness and stability
The clicPan® panning base adds only 60g and barely 10mm extra thickness when compared to a standard head yet enables a progression from simple to panoramic photography using the same tripod head.
The clicPan® heads have been designed to work with heavy cameras and lenses. C1 Cube cp can support up to 40kg
What does quick set device "classic" mean?
The classic lever clamps the camera plate or L-bracket by rotation.
All camera plates, L-brackets, monorails & optical benches from Arca Swiss fit into the classic quick release.
Also other manufacturers that are Arca Swiss compatible fit into the classic quick release.
An overview of all quick clamps can be found in our "Knowledge Base".
Type of tripod head: | Gearhead |
Dimensions: | 100 x 76 x 121 mm / 3.94 x 2.99 x 4.76 inches |
Weight: | 1160 g / 2.56 lbs |
Weight capacity: | 40 kg / 88 lbs |
Base diameter: | 60mm/2,36in |
Base mount: | 3/8"-16 |
Panorama: | top: 360° lockable free movement or clicPan®, bottom: 360° lockable free movement |
Tilt Range: | X-axle: +90/-30°, Y-axle: +-30° |
Friction: | Yes |
Spirit level: | Two |
Axes can be operated separately: | Yes |
Quickset device: | Classic |
Ideal for: | Landscape, Panorama, Architecture |