Artcise accessories

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I've recently purchase an Artcise NB36 mm ball-head, it's amazing build/finish quality and so smooth, especially for under $50.
I've mounted my Megrez 80mm (original model) with my D810 Nikon and a heavy extension tube to set it as I'd be using it and left it sit at an extreme angle for over 1 hour, not the slightest hint of slippage.
I am so impressed for the money BUT, one thing confused me.


NB: Plastic insert


KB: Plastic insert


LB: All alloy and the stronger, longer lasting professional unit according to the company.


I've been emailing everywhere to get an explanation and finally got the answer.
The NB and KB ball-heads utilise a plastic insert to keep the ball in place. The LB is all alloy, no plastic insert.

Hopefully this information may help others considering purchasing high quality, cheap Chinese accessories.

I also have an Artcise geared head and I was blown away by the quality, quality like this always used to cost a LOT more. Loaded up at near it's 6Kg load capacity in a strong breeze doing some moon photos a few nights back and the gear wind is so smooth and precise, comparable to much higher priced units on the market. It was also so easy to use with the small incremental change in the moons position, well worth a look.

I've now just (only just) invested in an LB52 ball-head, I don't need its capacity but it was cheaper than the LB44 I wanted (numbers relate to ball size) and will go on a heavy duty Manfrotto tripod.

If you've seen this equipment online I'd highly recommend giving it a go (or at least a look, same thing I was told by another member some time back) if it ticks all of the boxes.
Is it comparable to a Gitzo head?
I'd highly suggest not but it's a heck of a lot cheaper for what I need and can afford.

EDIT: A quick note on the Australian Artcise eBay seller, they list low prices for only a couple of items then cancel the orders with the excuse "incorrect shipping address information", the same information provided to them by both eBay and Paypal, which I have used all around the globe for the last 15 years.


I am highly impressed with the manufacturing standards and quality/finish of the equipment, NOT the Australian eBay seller and I've let them know exactly that and ordered a more expensive unit elsewhere (different brand with a friction control knob, slightly larger) and will NEVER purchase from this eBay seller again. The smaller unit and gear head I purchased through AliExpress, fuss free purchase with extremely fast shipping (around 8 days) direct from China.


If it looks too good to be true...........

[Crater101 (Warren)]

I have an Artcise ballhead that I use for milky way / landscape style work, and after years of using the bigger name brands, like yourself I'm impressed with the the quality and the performance for the price that you pay.

I've also heard a few tales of the Aussie eBay seller who deals in these and have avoided them, choosing to go through other photographic suppliers. The fact that they're still doing the same thing is news to me, but doesn't surprise me.
For what it may be worth, I think Artcise is a decent product if you're not looking for anything for high end professional use.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

For what it may be worth, I think Artcise is a decent product if you're not looking for anything for high end professional use.

Funny thing, I had a friends 5D MK IV on loan for a month or two some time back, along with a BIG Gitzo (actually not Gitzo, same price range but no longer sold) carbon fibre tripod worth a few thousand dollars. The tripod was light, strong and I could virtually stand on the roof of my garden shed to look through the viewfinder. I'd never seen a tripod like it.
For what I do I don't need top level accessories but good quality at low prices is something which never used to be available in this type of equipment, pay up or accept poor performance from your gear, that's just how it's always been. A lot of my gear is now very old and much is stuff friends who retired as photographers have given me over the years. Good quality but not high.



I've never had high end accessories beyond genuine flash units, Velbon used to be considered good (for the money) back in the day and I usually bought that.
The Artcise manufacturing standards are of a very high quality and quality of finish is also high for the money and I'll be buying their equipment in future. BUT not off those &*%##* on eBay.

I was upset when my son told me not to expect it when I got up at 2AM to go to the toilet.
I shouldn't "tired" text or email, they won't like what I've said to them or that I reported them to eBay. Had they said "no stock" maybe but problem with paypal and eBay delivery address I double check before I purchase anything, NO!
They had 3 of the identical item listed at $50 more than I paid and then 66 listed at $70 more than I paid.
If I wasn't in a hurry I'd have gone to Aliexpress. Instead, I ordered another brand after checking it's Australian stock but it won't be here for a month so I have no idea where it's coming from.


I liked the idea of a friction adjustment knob which the higher priced Artcise also has on one model but I didn't see it listed. Plus I didn't want to spend more money (broke not tight) and decided I didn't need it. Until I bought it in anger when I should have been in bed asleep. I've had less than 2 hours sleep in 3 days, there's nothing wrong with the way my brain works when I'm tired (and that statement is a HUGE fallacy).
I had considered saving for the high capacity 10 layer carbon fibre tripod from the eBay seller but that is never going to happen, again, straight from China when finances permit.



I'll wait my seven days and leave negative feedback.

[Crater101 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

For what I do I don't need top level accessories but good quality at low prices is something which never used to be available in this type of equipment, pay up or accept poor performance from your gear, that's just how it's always been. A lot of my gear is now very old and much is stuff friends who retired as photographers have given me over the years. Good quality but not high.


...


I've never had high end accessories beyond genuine flash units, Velbon used to be considered good (for the money) back in the day and I usually bought that.


The Artcise manufacturing standards are of a very high quality and quality of finish is also high for the money and I'll be buying their equipment in future. BUT not off those &*%##* on eBay.

We've had similar experiences, I think. I used to have a second job doing portrait photography and I had to use the more high-end gear if I wanted to survive. Things are very different now, although the old Velbon tripod is still going.
Nowadays I use what suits best, and replace the old gear (great for it's time) as it wears out.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I did a lot of wedding (video and 35mm) and sports related events in my younger years but the majority was hand held. Rush past the crowd to get the shot of the grand master as he handed the Shihan his higher ranked black and so forth. It got me out of training at events I really didn't want to train at (health). "Great, you can do all of the photography".

I always took the trusty Velbon though just in case. I still have it somewhere.
I never much did portrait except for friends.



Good luck moving about the town over the weekend Warren and watch for police on the road, Lithgow there's more patrol cars (marked and unmarked) than traffic.

[Crater101 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

Good luck moving about the town over the weekend Warren and watch for police on the road, Lithgow there's more patrol cars (marked and unmarked) than traffic.

Cheers mate! Saw a few out there. Bathurst races this weekend...


If you're doing any portable / Milky Way work, some of the smaller Artcise ballheads punch well above their weight as well.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

That's the 36mm in my image, holding the Megrez 80mm (original), heavy, my own design extension/Vixen extension adaptor (with capacity for eyepiece projection) and my D810 hanging off the end at the correct focal length. I left it sitting there for an hour or so and not the slightest bit of drift. I was highly impressed.
I love imaging the Milky Way, despite having big panoramas I've done over the years hanging on my walls, I still want to do more with tracked stars. I have a guided mount (modified EQ5 pro) which is accurate beyond it's design brief when correctly aligned but my yard gets lit up like a Friday night football match from street lights out the front, ever since they were changed to LED lights.
The one dark corner of my yard is overgrown with STUPID neighbours trees at 30+ feet high right beside the fence line. I must complain to the council, they are getting stricter on that. Everything I want to shoot disappears behind the tree line (the entire north east of my yard). That's why I wanted the astro-trac, I can take it and tripod and 2 heads (Artcise gear head, 6KG limit, AMAZING quality) plus 36mm Artcise ball head with 15Kg load capacity) anywhere and I have friends with farms locally when I can get there. Soon it will be more a fear of treading on tiger snakes than anything else, I'll take a spade (I'm joking, I used to move them back up my back yard n the last place with my hoe and never came close to having one getting aggressive).