Grip action head vs pistol grip?

[ramblingman]

I am trying to figure out what head to get with my tripod.

I want it to be multipurpose, but also be able to use it for panning because I want to use it for both action sports and landscape panoramas. I think I would prefer a ball type because of the ease of use.

I am trying to decide between the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Head or one of the pistol grip type heads. Please give me some pros and cons to why you chose one over the other. Do both of these have a separate panning mechanism?

If you don' t have one of the ones I want, share what ball type head would your recommend and why?

Thanks in advance for all the feedback!

[SkipD]

I am trying to figure out what head to get with my tripod.

I want it to be multipurpose, but also be able to use it for panning because I want to use it for both action sports and landscape panoramas. I think I would prefer a ball type because of the ease of use.

I am trying to decide between the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Head or one of the pistol grip type heads. Please give me some pros and cons to why you chose one over the other. Do both of these have a separate panning mechanism?

If you don' t have one of the ones I want, share what ball type head would your recommend and why?

Thanks in advance for all the feedback!None of the "grip" types that I have ever seen will give you a true controlled panning capability.

A Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head is probably what you are really looking for. It has a separate release lever to allow it to rotate around the centerline of the tripod's vertical axis - totally separately from the control of the ball itself.

[ramblingman]

So, even when the description of the 322 says it pans 360 degrees, it doesn't truly?
http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=2529

Instead of one of these that explicitly says it does.
http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=1958

How will this really effect shooting?

[coreypolis]

So, even when the description of the 322 says it pans 360 degrees, it doesn't truly?
http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=2529

Instead of one of these that explicitly says it does.
http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=1958

How will this really effect shooting?

it pans 360, but doesn't control the vertical movment at all, you do, so you may not have as much success

[Wilt]

ramblingman, pistol grips do pan 360, but you have to be squeezing the release, which permits the head to fall out of position in all the other directions because all the degrees of freedom are released, not merely pan! Many ballheads have a separate pan control which permits only a single degree of freedom, in addition to the control for locking the ball itself in all the other degrees of freedom.

[ramblingman]

Thanks for information,

Do you guys have any recommendation on which ball heads truly pan if the the ones I mentioned don't? I liked the one hand operation of the pistol grip and clasp type but if they can fall out of position, then it may be better go with a separate panning axis.

[Wilt]

The Bogen photo in the link shows a lever (in addition to the two knobs)...this is the pan control knob. Look for something similar on other ballheads you are considering. Generally, only the cheapest cheapest ballheads lack pan-only control.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Grip heads look much better on paper than they do for real use.

I tried both of the Mnafortto units, sold one and gave the other away. Just get a ball head, much better.

[ramblingman]

Grip heads look much better on paper than they do for real use.

I tried both of the Mnafortto units, sold one and gave the other away. Just get a ball head, much better.

Do you mean just just get a ball head with out true pan or with true pan.

[SkipD]

Do you guys have any recommendation on which ball heads truly pan if the the ones I mentioned don't? I liked the one hand operation of the pistol grip and clasp type but if they can fall out of position, then it may be better go with a separate panning axis.Like I said before, you want to look seriously at the Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2. The 484 and 486 are a little less expensive (and less rigid) but neither has a separate panning lock (and pivot) that do not loosen the main ball. The 488 has that.

The RC2 is the best of the Bogen/Manfrotto quick-release systems, in my opinion, for the 35mm SLR shaped cameras. The other styles (RC0, RC4, etc.) just don't fit well when you are hand-holding the camera.

[ramblingman]

Like I said before, you want to look seriously at the Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2. The 484 and 486 are a little less expensive (and less rigid) but neither has a separate panning lock (and pivot) that do not loosen the main ball. The 488 has that.

The RC2 is the best of the Bogen/Manfrotto quick-release systems, in my opinion, for the 35mm SLR shaped cameras. The other styles (RC0, RC4, etc.) just don't fit well when you are hand-holding the camera.

I did look at it, but it does not have a spirit level, so how will you know when your level? Is there a similar model that pans exclusive of the ball, but has this level. Perhaps the 488RC4 (http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=1956)? But this one is way more expensive.

[Wilt]

I did look at it, but it does not have a spirit level, so how will you know when your level? Is there a similar model that pans exclusive of the ball, but has this level. Perhaps the 488RC4 (http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=1956)? But this one is way more expensive.

Fundamental issue...it would have to be the tripod base itself that would have to be level in order for a pan to work properly...if the camera itself were level, that says nothing about the plane of the panning! The 488RC4 has a level for the camera itself, but the plane of pan rotation has to be parallel to that (and level), so you'd use a level built into the legs.

[SkipD]

... and the 488RC4 has a HUGE quick-release plate that you would NOT want attached to your camera if you were using it handheld. The idea of quick-release plates is to leave them more or less permanently attached to cameras and lenses so that connection to a tripod (or monopod) head is quick and easy.

If you really need a spirit level to tell whether or not the camera is level, get one that goes into the hotshoe.

I have never in 40 years needed a spirit level for my cameras. I can judge well enough based on the subject material as viewed through the viewfinder. A level is built into my tripod, and that's enough to set up for panning.

[lostdoggy]

I have the quick grip and I can tell you that if it is your intention to pan and shoot it ain't gonna work. The grip requires significant amount of force before it release the ball freely. As far as maintain level you can always straighten the picture during post process. BTW in order to be level everything has to be level and most everything isn't level. You need to be level relative to the subject.

[ramblingman]

Fundamental issue...it would have to be the tripod base itself that would have to be level in order for a pan to work properly...if the camera itself were level, that says nothing about the plane of the panning! The 488RC4 has a level for the camera itself, but the plane of pan rotation has to be parallel to that (and level), so you'd use a level built into the legs.

I have never in 40 years needed a spirit level for my cameras. I can judge well enough based on the subject material as viewed through the viewfinder. A level is built into my tripod, and that's enough to set up for panning.

So, basically, you'd have to have a level on BOTH the tripod and the head to ensure proper levelness?

SkipD, can you link me to a level that your are referring to in the hotshoe? What about if you're using a speedlight?

[SkipD]

So, basically, you'd have to have a level on BOTH the tripod and the head to ensure proper levelness?Usually one or the other is more than adequate. It depends on what you are trying to do. If you want to do a panoramic, it is important to get the tripod itself level. Most decent tripods have spirit levels built in so you can adjust the legs to get the top of the tripod level.

As I said before, I have never found a need to measure the level position of the camera itself. I do that by looking through the viewfinder.


SkipD, can you link me to a level that your are referring to in the hotshoe? What about if you're using a speedlight?If you really need to measure the position of the camera, this is an ideal tool: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=263729&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Take the Speedlite off if you need to use the level. Once you have clamped the camera in a level position, put the Speedlite back on. In reality, if you are using a Speedlite, I cannot fathom a reason to use a level on the camera anyhow. Just look at what's in the viewfinder.

[queenbee288]

I have a 488RC2 and a pistol grip. Get the 488RC2. The pistol grip looks great but has proven to be a dissapointment to me.

[ramblingman]

If you really need to measure the position of the camera, this is an ideal tool: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=263729&is=REG&addedTroughType=search (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=263729&is=REG&addedTroughType=search)

Thanks for sharing this tool, albeit expensive one for such a small tool.

I am still trying to decide then on either the 488RC2 or 488RC4, but other than the greater weight, higher size, levels, and larger plate, how do these two compare in the field?

I am leaning toward the RC4 because they're actually about the same price and the RC4 has the 2 spirit levels. I don't think I will mind the handholding, and it looks more sturdy than the RC2 plate because if I were to just lay the camera down to shoot off a rock or table with out a tripod, the RC4 would look more stable.

Btw, any suggestion for a good tripod that has a level on it?

[SkipD]

Thanks for sharing this tool, albeit expensive one for such a small tool.

I am still trying to decide then on either the 488RC2 or 488RC4, but other than the greater weight, higher size, levels, and larger plate, how do these two compare in the field?

I am leaning toward the RC4 because they're actually about the same price and the RC4 has the 2 spirit levels. I don't think I will mind the handholding, and it looks more sturdy than the RC2 plate because if I were to just lay the camera down to shoot off a rock or table with out a tripod, the RC4 would look more stable.

Btw, any suggestion for a good tripod that has a level on it?The RC4 quick-release plate is one huge sucker. It is approximately 2-1/2" by 3-1/2". You would find that the RC4 plate overhangs the bottom of the camera by quite a bit and will get in the way more often than not. It would be absolutely ridiculous attached to a lens' tripod mount

The RC2 quick release plate, on the other hand, is only 1-5/8" by 2", and fits 35mm SLR cameras (and all DSLR's that are roughly the same size) and long lenses quite nicely.

I will say again, that you will not need to measure the level of a camera more than once in a while if at all. I have never, in over 40 years, needed to use a level on the camera. Don't get all worked up about not having a level on the top of the head assembly. Just make sure that the tripod leg set has one. You could also have a little round level or a very short (3") carpenter's level handy if you needed to verify that the top of the head is truly level.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Do you mean just just get a ball head with out true pan or with true pan.

I'm late coming back to this, sorry, but yes, With the Pan.

[blackviolet]

i have both a 322RC2 and a 390 RC2. the 322 is on my MF4 i use for travel. it's quick and works perfectly well for what i need it for. the 390 is on my 190 legs which i use at home or if i'm driving somewhere. i thought i would swap the heads occasionally (taking the 3-way on the road occasionally, but i don't).

the 488 is very good, just not for me. i love the 322 but obviously everyone has their own requirements and likes.