Lightweight fast-worked geared heads?

[torger]

I happen to like 3-way geared heads, I think it is much nicer to work with than a ball head when photographing still life.

However, it does not seem to be a very popular product. I only know of three geared heads which is reasonably small and lightweight suitable for the hiking photographer. There's two manfrotto heads, 410 and 405 and there's the new Arca Swiss D4.

I know there is the Arca Swiss Cube, Linhof Cube, but as far as I know those do not have the possibility to unlock the gears for fast repositioning, which I think is an important feature.

I currently use the manfrotto 410 which I am quite pleased with but would like to have a lighter (or similar) weight more compact and higher capacity (max weight support). Arca Swiss D4 seems like the closest alternative, but it only has two geared axes, I also want the base axis to be geared. I also don't particularly like to have two pans like D4, I have a dedicated panorama head with clickstops so it seems like a waste to have pan on my geared head.

Anyone who knows about any other geared head product that might fit the bill? There are lots of geared video heads but they are way too large and heavy.

[Ellis Vener]

Have you looked at the Arca-Swiss D4? I am not currrently using a geared head but use a Foba ASMIA ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247458-REG/Foba_31_0118_ASMIA_Double_Pan_Tilt.html ) , which is certainly neither small or light as it was originally designed to support a massive camera like a Sinar 8x10 P2. it is very precise,  quick to operate, and locks down with out any post locking position creep.   It is the finest double tilting head + panning (at the base)  I've ever worked with and I've quite literally tried dozens. I have supplemented it with a Really Right Stuff PCL-1 panning clamp on the camera platform.

Two panning movements, one at the base and one below do in fact make a great deal of difference. I am also not a fan of dedicated panoramic support rigs or click stops and prefer set ups that are modular and can be used for multiple types of work, but i understand that everyone is different and has different ways they prefer to work. 

[torger]

Have you looked at the Arca-Swiss D4? I am not currrently using a geared head but use a Foba ASMIA ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247458-REG/Foba_31_0118_ASMIA_Double_Pan_Tilt.html ) , which is certainly neither small or light as it was originally designed to support a massive camera like a Sinar 8x10 P2. it is very precise,  quick to operate, and locks down with out any post locking position creep.   It is the finest double tilting head + panning (at the base)  I've ever worked with and I've quite literally tried dozens. I have supplemented it with a Really Right Stuff PCL-1 panning clamp on the camera platform.

Two panning movements, one at the base and one below do in fact make a great deal of difference. I am also not a fan of dedicated panoramic support rigs or click stops and prefer set ups that are modular and can be used for multiple types of work, but i understand that everyone is different and has different ways they prefer to work.  

Foba ASMIA does look quite similar to Manfrotto 405 in size and weight, but supports more weight, that's good. I would think the Manfrotto is better for outdoor use though, I like rubberized controls. Good to know about that alternative though. I like to have tripod and heads support more weight than my actual equipment just to get that extra stability.

D4 is actually the smallest and lightest I've found, probably not as pleasing to work with though according to my taste, I like gear on the pan axis too and have kind of fallen in love with those big knobs like on the Manfrottos and the Foba. But weight and size is a factor so I might just get used to it, unfortunately there is no local arca swiss dealer around here so it is a bit hard to get my paws on to test. I was kind of hoping to find a geared head similar to Manfrotto 410 in size (or slightly smaller) and D4 in weight/quality so I got that nice "this is exactly what I want!"-feeling, but now it seems like D4 is the best alternative and then I might just stick with my Manfrotto 410 yet some time...

(for click stops on the pan base I use a Nodal Ninja RD16 rotator which is very flexible in configuring the clicks from 3.75 degrees all the way up to 120, I need this to be able to work very quickly and precisely when doing "poor man's medium format" that is stitched mosaic of a scene)

[gubaguba]

Saw a fabulous geared head at Photo East this weekend.  I really liked it I think it was Arca Swiss.  The salesman said it was $1100.