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Miller Arrow 25 vs. Compass 25?

Mark K.

Mark K.

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Hi guys,

I've been trying to find a bit more information on the net about the Arrow 25, but haven't had any success. I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with it? And if anyone would be able to share their thoughts as to how it compares with Miller's similarly specced Compass 25?

Cheers,

Mark
 
I've used both extensively and prefer the Arrow 25. Here's the reason. The jump in resistance on the pan friction from 1 to 2 on the Compass is way too much as where the Arrow 25 is a bit more progressive. I found often with the Compass the resistance was too low at 1 and too high at 2 for lightweight rigs. I think the Arrow 25 is also a bit heavier but slightly smoother.
 
I have the Arrow as well, and I like it. Works great with my rig, even when I have around 30lbs on there. No complaints here
532968_10100326242728832_8104093_44450499_1730190833_n.jpg
 
Interesting comments from Ned. I bought the compass and am very pleased with its performance but even the Miller rep recommended the Arrow. The internals are apparently pretty much identical. I just don't like the little knobs at the back for the controls and prefer the simplicity of the sachtler style controls - totally a personal preference.
 
Rob Castiglione said:
Interesting comments from Ned. I bought the compass and am very pleased with its performance but even the Miller rep recommended the Arrow. The internals are apparently pretty much identical. I just don't like the little knobs at the back for the controls and prefer the simplicity of the sachtler style controls - totally a personal preference.
Click to expand...

Maybe we had a bad batch. The production I was on had two brand new Compasses. The jump from 1 to 2 just seemed way too much. Anyone else experience that? Curious as to why the Miller guy preferred the Arrow. Performance issues aside, I like the Sachtler style rings better than the knobs. FYI, I've owned an Arrow since the first year the HVX came out (?) and it's still working just fine. With both heads, make sure to buy an O'Connor 100mm tie down if you plan to use it with standard 100mm ball receivers (Birns & Sawyer Hi Hats, Dana Dollies and any 100mm to Mitchell adaptor). That's the one thing that blows with all the Miller heads is the tie down's incompatibility with alot 100mm gear.
 
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Thanks for your thoughts fellas, if they'd come a little sooner they may have saved me some restless nights sleep. I opted for the Arrow in the end (with Solo sticks) and it arrived the other day.

It's a seriously substantial piece of kit, and I'm delighted with what I've sern of it so far.

I'm not sure about the drag setting comparison with the Compass, but I definitely prefer the layout of having all of the controls on the rear of the head.
 
Just got my Compass 25 from BH.

Awesome price drop (600+) that lasted 4 hours.

However, is it normal for the Pan to get stuck between 2 and 5?

The only way I can bring back to zero and 1 is if I Pan the head around at a certain degree.

I find this odd?

Is this a feature?
 
Definitely not normal. Got mine today and it seems fine. When you say stuck, do you mean zero movement? You have the brake off for pan I assume?

Bob

Eric Santiago said:
Just got my Compass 25 from BH.

Awesome price drop (600+) that lasted 4 hours.

However, is it normal for the Pan to get stuck between 2 and 5?

The only way I can bring back to zero and 1 is if I Pan the head around at a certain degree.

I find this odd?

Is this a feature?
Click to expand...
 
Bob Gundu said:
Definitely not normal. Got mine today and it seems fine. When you say stuck, do you mean zero movement? You have the brake off for pan I assume?

Bob
Click to expand...


Yep no breaks and it does move from 2 to 5 easily.

Zero as in I cant go from 2 to 1 or zero unless I spin the head around in so many degrees.

I know its weird.

I sent an email to Miller and will asap to BH.
 
After help from my boss, the odd locking problem has gone away.

Love this head :)
 
According to our Miller rep the Arrow 25 and Compass 25 are rated the same and the difference is the layout. After a lot of back and forth we went with the compass. I actually wish now we had gone the other way and got the arrow as I think I like that layout a bit better. Not the end of the world though, the compass is great. Maybe we'll trade for one someday.

Bob
 
So what was the verdict between the heads in the end? Are they the same just a different layout?
I'm curious as the Compass series stops at 25 but the Arrow continues on to 55.
 
Joshua Hoareau said:
So what was the verdict between the heads in the end? Are they the same just a different layout?
I'm curious as the Compass series stops at 25 but the Arrow continues on to 55.
Click to expand...

It's pretty much personal preference.
 
Joshua Hoareau said:
So what was the verdict between the heads in the end? Are they the same just a different layout?
I'm curious as the Compass series stops at 25 but the Arrow continues on to 55.
Click to expand...


The guys at Miller told me directly that the internals between the two are the same - the difference is simply the layout of the controls (of which I personally prefer the Arrow). Actual operation though, pans and tilts, should be as close as two things can be really.
 
I love my Compass 25 (with the Sprinter II CF legs). I'll admit the "wiggle" needed to engage the fluid mechanism threw me at first, but once I got used to it all was good. Have had zero problems and it works really, really well.
 
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