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Author
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Rob Barron
Loves the place
Registered: September 2006
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 5957
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Review Date: Thu November 2, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £90.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Solid, easy to use, versatile
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Cons:
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No grip lock - if you think that is needed!
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I have a good tripod and to go with it I bought a Gitzo 3-way head. Now, don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with the Gitzo per se, but I found I was constantly faffing around (technical term!) with the various levers, loosening and tightening, forgetting which one was which and watching the camera slump when i left the wrong one too loose!
I needed something reliable, fast and convenient: enter into my life the wonderful Manfrotto 322RC2 grip-action ball head. It attaches just like any other head and has a quick release attachment making it a doddle (anothe technical term!) to quickly place and remove the camera from the tripod. A ballhead is definitely better for still photography than a 3-way head as it is so easy to adjust to the correct position. However, it is still a question of releasing a lever or knob, moving the camera, tightening the knob or lever and then realising you are just a touch too high/low/sideways/wrong angle so have to go through it all again.
This ball head is different. It has a trigger a bit like the brakes on a bike. Grip the lever, move it wherever you want and release: that's it! The moment you release that grip, it will NOT move, trust me! The guide says it is good for equipment up to 5Kgs, ample for my needs and for most people unless they have one serious lens that is designed for taking photos of seagulls eyeballs from a hundred yards! I think, however, that 5Kg is a very conservative estimate as when I held the thing in both hands and tried to move it with the grip on, I could no way move it and I was applying a heck of a lot more than 5Kg of pressure!
I weighed my biggest combination to see how close I would be to the limit: not at all is the answer! I use the Canon 20D, not exactly light and flimsy, combined with the Canon 100-400mm L series IS lens.... most definitely not light or flimsy! The combined weight of the two still comes out at less than 2.5Kgs. The tripod collar mounts perfectly and the grip no way impedes correct usage of the camera or of the lens.
The grip comes set up by default for right-handed use. However, it is extremely easy using the allen key supplied to remove the two screws holding the platform in place, rotate the grip handle and reattach the platform using the oposite holes - voila, left-handed use almost instantly.
The funny thing is, I have chosen to have it left-handed and I am right-handed. The thing is, the shutter release on a camera is always on the right so you would have to ove the camera with the grip and then position your hand on the camera to take a shot. With it mounted left-handed, it is almost like being the rear gunner on a Lancaster Bomber! One hand holds the grip and moves around tracking quickly whatever subject you want to shoot. The other hand remains right where you need it, finger on the shutter release to grab the shot. Stop the camera at any angle you like and it will stay where you locked it, it won't budge a millimetre. Aim down, up, wherever: it is totally reliable.
Ok, so if this is to be a proper review, I have to come up with a negative right? Ok....
.... scratches head....
.... gets splinters....
Ok, got one....
I would quite like to have a grip lock that allows you to lock it free so you can move the camera without holding the grip. I mean, I would use that at least.... oh.... once in a sapphire blue moon!
Ok, so back to the other good points: the QR platform is dead easy to remove but you can't knock the lever by mistake. It has a secondary pin that is very smooth and which needs to be in the open position before you can use the release lever so you have extra security.
Another thing that is excellent: this ballhead would be equally good on a monopod. Ok, I know what you're thinking: who wants a handle sticking out of the monopod, especially when carrying it. Aha! They thought of that too! As easily as you can change the platform from left to right-handed and vice versa, you can also put the platform on the end and mount the grip upright so it is just like a 10cm extension to the monopod with the strongest of ballheads on the end.
On the grip, there is a tension adjustment wheel which allows you to adjust the friction depending on the weight of the gear you are using. If using very heavy equipment, you would want stronger friction but for a smaller camera with a light lens you would go for light friction. It is a simple thumb wheel but accessible from either side of the grip.
The overall construction is as solid as a rock, made of metal and fully adjustable. If the ball should lost is grip over time, it is a simple adjustment of one screw with the allen key to out it back to as good as new. I of course haven't needed to do that yet but it's good to know the adjustment is there should I need it.
There is a small spirit level which is very useful, even if you have one built into your tripod as this will tell you if the head itself is level. After all, who cares whether the tripod is level: it's the camera that counts! By registering the head with Manfrotto online, the guarantee is extended from 2 years to 5 years which is pretty darned good.
So there you have it, a wonderful ball head that does everything you would want it to and has a lot more versatility than you would expect it to have. Well-made and easy to use. I highly recommend this product.
Cheers,
Rob
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DustyVan
New here
Registered: November 2006
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Fri November 10, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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I would like to second everything Rob has said about this lens. I also changed it round so can operate the release with my left hand and have used it with a D2Xs and Sigma 50 -500 lens combination and it was rock solid. 10/10
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danpen
Forum Regular
Registered: October 2005
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 875
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Review Date: Thu August 9, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Incredibly usable
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Cons:
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A bit heavy (don't see how it could be much lighter though)
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I've had this head for several years now and use it frequently, I currently use a Canon 5D with grip and a 100-400L IS, until recently I had a 70-200mm L f2.8 IS. This is not particularly lightweight kit but the grip moves freely when squeezed and locks firmly when you let go.
Th ability to hold it open and track a moving object while still having the right hand on the shutter release has been extremely useful at sporting events and the ability to lock it immediately without any slippage just by letting go of the grip has been really valuable in macro photography.
I'd recommend this to anyone ...
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VinnyP
Forum Regular
Registered: February 2006
Location: Surbiton Surrey
Posts: 841
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Review Date: Sat September 15, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £75.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Does what it says on the tin grip move lock!
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Cons:
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Didn't realise how much I needed both hands on the camera.
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I am tempted not to rate this as it is clearly the wrong head for me but I'll rate it for how it does what it does, I do think it would benefit from a much better friction control and a lock open so that's why I have marked it down a bit. I am not a fan of Manfrotto's quick release and prefer it to be optional so I can use my own.
Off the bat it doesn't suit my style of shooting so it was not for me. I bought it because it came recommended and I always fancied the now long defunct "Slik Shogun" as a little boy for all the gadget factor.
I now realise I have grown too dependent on a ball with friction control. I like my tripod head to be able to support and move whilst I zoom focus and shoot. This can't do that which is a shame because for macro and landscape work it's pretty good although I did find it hard to keep a camera level when making adjustments. For my style a ball head with optional pan and tilt locking suited me better but if you are sure this is what you want then this is very well made and sturdy enough for all but my longest lens.
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