Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System by Manfrotto
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Digital camera reviews of Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System
Digital camera Review: I'll Never Go Back
Summary: 4 Stars
After years and years of shooting with a regular head this was my first experience with a ball. It's great! This particular one works very well. My only complaint is that it's a little heavy. I cart it up and down mountains with my tripod (also a Bogen-Manfrotto) and I wish it were as light as the super expensive ones.Digital camera Review: It holds it tight.
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with my new Bogen Menfrotto 190XPROB. I really like this ball head. As a wildlife photographer I needed a ball head I could adjust quickly in any direction. It works very well even with my Canon EOS 30D and EF 100-400mm lens. It will hold my camera in any position I set it. I really like the ability to tilt my camera 90 degrees forward or back without having to turn the mount 180 degrees like with other ball heads.Digital camera Review: Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this product. It works flawlessly and I will be purchasing from this seller again.Digital camera Review: Manfrotto 496RC
Summary: 3 Stars
I originally ordered a Manfrotto 486 RC2 ball head. The manufacture has discontinued that model and the vendor A.P.D. automatically sent me the placement model: 496RC2. It works fine if you take pictures at the normal landscape camera position. When you turn 90 degree for portrait shots, the ball head always creeps a little, unless you tighten the screw to the extreme. The panning action is awkward with a ball head. However, it's simple, compact and light-weight. It fits my Manfrotto tripod perfectly.Digital camera Review: Meets quality expectations of Bogen/Manfrotto!
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't believe the reviews that say it is "so-so", or not worth the $.
I got this for Bogen's MF4 tripod (18.5"), after finding it way too difficult to use with their 3 piece monopod (they have a better, lighter, 1-axis head for that!).
What a surprise. The nice thing is the RC2 disconnect. This is a fabulous mount for my dSLR (Canon 40D), as it is shallow enough to let me leave it on full time, regardless of the bag. The mount also has a small feature that allows the locking arm to be locked in the 'locked' position. This is so when a shutter cable or strap catches it by mistake, the release isn't activated and I watch $4k go into the pavement! Thanks Bogen!
Another thing not evident in the descriptions and reviews is that the single lock also allows the head to rotate in the Z axis. Why would you need this with a ball? Because the locking knob needs to move when you move the camera! This way, the locking knob can be in the right position when you reposition the camera. The dual 90 degree indentations for portrait orientation allow for the knob to be on the left or right side!
Feature-wise, even the locking knob has a trick! Even after you lock it, you can pull it out (spring loaded) and rotate it-without loosening the ball! This way you can always have the knob in the right position for your hand without looking.
Enough about features. There is one thing I completely didn't expect: the ball doesn't move when locked. Not even a _little_! When I frame the shot, I reach for the knob with my eye still in the finder, lock it in, and release my hand. No movement, settling, wiggling-nothing. Perhaps the fact that it is mated to a Bogen tripod makes this possible, but this is the first tripod/head arrangement I've used that is of this high a build quality. The parts being single molded pieces probably has a lot to do with that-no bolts, screws or welds. Sweet.
I'm using a Canon 40D and the biggest lens is my 28-135mm. I feel that the 484 would be a little too small for this camera. It might work, but I wouldn't trust my stuff on that small a ball.
Great value for under $100!