Thank you... and just in case I miss you not using it ever again, feel free to point that out somehow or in some way. Note: I am indeed in the market for a new tripod, but have been considering a geared head over a ball head. Sure... weight... but.

The extra knob on the head, just below the arca Swiss clamp looks like it is for panoramas. No need for a levelling plate/ball, just get the camera level using the ball head , lock it tight. Then pan the camera around by loosening that extra knob. Or perhaps it’s designed for another purpose?

Do you have to use the plate??? Or is the head Arca Swiss? I use an L bracket .. don’t want a plate