Anyone have a Manfrotto Pro Ball Head Rapid Connect 468RC4?

[Moses]

I just bought a Manfrotto 3021 tripod with the 3047 pan & scan head and now I'm wishing I had a ball head. The pan & scan doesn't fit in the case without unscrewing all the handles off.

Is the Manfrotto Pro Ball Head Rapid Connect 468RC4 worth the $254.00? I was searching for some reviews, but couldn't find any. Thought maybe some of you might have this head.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/272776.jpg
Features & Specifications (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=272776&is=REG &si=feat#goto_itemInfo)
Designed for camera and lens loads of up to 35lbs, this black anodized machined aluminum head has a 2" Teflon coated aluminum ball, combined with specially designed tension surfaces to provide movements as smooth as silk.

The oversized lock knob makes it simple to securely lock the camera while the graduated panoramic base and separate pan lock assures perfect positioning. Separate locks on 360° pan and +90°/-90° tilt movements, with an additional friction control on the ball movement, give just the right resistance and smoothness with minimum effort, even when varying weights of equipment. A calibration scale is also included at the base of the head. Suitable for any camera format upto 8x10" .

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have no expeirience with this particular head, but the price is way up in the higher end head territory.

This may be personal prejudice,. but I see the Manfrotto heads as the $100.00 heads... (nothing against Manfrotto, in fact they are all I own!)

But once your in the $250.00 neighborhood,. you may want to forget the Cadillac and look at the Rolls Royces like AcraTech and Arca swiss...

[TeraGram93013]

But once your in the $250.00 neighborhood,. you may want to forget the Cadillac and look at the Rolls Royces like AcraTech and Arca swiss...

Yeah, but it isn't as fun to say "ArcaTech" as it is "Manfrotto".

- T.

ps: I own a 20 year old Bogen. Another fun word. Bogen.

pps: I'm easily amused after a few glasses of Merlot.

[Moses]

I have no expeirience with this particular head, but the price is way up in the higher end head territory.

This may be personal prejudice,. but I see the Manfrotto heads as the $100.00 heads... (nothing against Manfrotto, in fact they are all I own!)

But once your in the $250.00 neighborhood,. you may want to forget the Cadillac and look at the Rolls Royces like AcraTech and Arca swiss...

Are you referring to maybe this one?:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/250107.jpg

Features Click Here (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=250107&is=REG &si=feat#goto_itemInfo)

This head including a plate is over $320.00. That's about $70.00 more. Is it really that much better than the Manfrotto?

I have the Manfrotto 3021 tripod, and I imagine there wouldn't be any problems fitting the Acratech to it, but I thought $250.00 was pushing it after buying the 3047 already.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well my memory is clearly shot,. for some reason I though the Acratech was about $270.00... (maybe I saw it used??)

But yes thats the one.
There are two on E-bay right now listed under $200.00

My aplogies,. if I'd realized the price difference I wouldn't have posted at all,.as I said, I have no first hand expeirience with the Manfrotto you are looking at.

TeraGram,. too funny,... it's so true! Maybe thats why all my supports are Manfrotto! :roll:

[CyberDyneSystems]

No ,. wait I wasn't so far aff,. it's listed as $279.00 with release straight from Acratech; but when you click on the Buy Now button it comes up as $269.00 :mrgreen:

http://acratech.net/ultimate_ballhead.html

[Moses]

CDS: That price is without the quick release plate. I am assuming of course that the plate would be necessary to attach my camera. :)

At B&H this plate is another $40.00.

Maybe it's just me, but I have never and probably never will buy anything off of ebay. :?

It sure looks nice though...

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it! :)

[Belmondo]

Moses:
I was intrigued with the picture you posted of the 468RC4. I also have the 3047 head on a 3021 tripod and have wish it wasn’t nearly so cumbersome. It’s rock-solid, but doesn’t travel easily. Prior to that, I had a 486RC2 on a somewhat smaller tripod, but found that it wasn’t up to the job for my equpiment and the conditions I usually have to deal with here in the desert.

I stopped in Canoga Camera today and looked at the 468RC4, and it’s massive. It certainly looks substantial enough for a large format camera. I asked the fellow working there if he had a recommendation for a ball head that would be solid enough for my 10D with the BG-ED3 and a large lens mounted. He recommended the 488-RC2, and it did appear to be a reasonable compromise between the 486RC2 and 468RC4. The best part is that it uses the same quick disconnect plates as the 486, and I have a few of those. Anyway, I bought it along with a Gitzo Explorer (aluminum) tripod.

I hope to test it in the next day or two and will post my results.

Tom

[RbnDave]

I have the manfrotto 468RC2 ballhead. It is the same as the RC4 version only it doesn't have the bubble levels. I have it attached to a manfrotto 3221 tripod. I really like the combo. It is very solid and the ball head is smooth.

The 468RC is nothing like the cheaper manfrotto ballheads. It is much more solid and the adjustable friction works great. Also, the ball is coated with teflon so there is no grease.

[Moses]

Moses:
..................I asked the fellow working there if he had a recommendation for a ball head that would be solid enough for my 10D with the BG-ED3 and a large lens mounted. He recommended the 488-RC2, and it did appear to be a reasonable compromise between the 486RC2 and 468RC4. The best part is that it uses the same quick disconnect plates as the 486, and I have a few of those. Anyway, I bought it along with a Gitzo Explorer (aluminum) tripod.

I hope to test it in the next day or two and will post my results.

Tom

Tom: Have you had a chance to use this head yet?

[Belmondo]

[quote=belmondo]Moses:
Tom: Have you had a chance to use this head yet?

Not yet. I'm hoping to get out early in the morning. If the weather cooperates, I'll get a chance then. Wish me luck.

Tom

[mjordan]

I'm looking at both the 488RC2 and 486RC2 ball heads. I haven't decide which yet. But I noticed on B&H that they have a quck release 0, 2 and 4 plate. What is the difference between these other than the 0 not being square?

Mike

[Moses]

Mike: I'm not sure what quick release plates you're finding. I looked at both heads you mentioned, and it shows only one plate as an accessory and that's the 3157N.

Which others are you referring to?





On another note, no one has mentioned this head yet:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/272990.jpg
Bogen / Manfrotto 490 Maxi Ball Head $170.00 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=272990&is=REG &si=feat#goto_itemInfo)

[mjordan]

B&H has the Bogen 488RC0, which is the 0 point quick release, the 488RC2, 2 point quick release and the 488RC4, 4 point quick release. All 3 of those have a different size plate that slides into the quick release slot. Maybe plate is the wrong term, but to me, the part that screws to the bottem of the camera is a plate and that connects into the top of the ball head as part of the quick release mechinesium.

I was wondering why the different quick releases. Bogen didn't explain them on their web site. And I'd hate to order one and find out it was for medium format or something and not any of my EOS cameras. I've done that before. :lol:

Mike

[samdring]

I'm looking at both the 488RC2 and 486RC2 ball heads. I haven't decide which yet.
Mike

Have 488RC2 - beautifully engineered and rock solid. Chose it over 'handle-type' cos of ease of panning

[bokeh'ed]

there's one Chinese company that is recently gaining popularity with their ballheads. it's said to even match or exceed the arca swiss ballhead at a more affordable price....

it's a bit slow on their website http://www.kangrinpoche.com (http://www.kangrinpoche.com/) but there are some pics at http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=140360&highlight=kangrinpoche

[Scottes]

Moses, I have the 490RC4. It is a big head, extremely substantial, and an excellent value for the money. I *love* the fact that it has friction control, which is *the* reason I bought it. I really wish that I had been able to get it with an RC2 plate system - the RC4 is very big, and over-sized for my needs (20D + 400mm L or 100-400 L).

But I love it. I can recommend it easily, but still wish it came with RC2.

[Tom W]

You may wish to peruse the offerings on the Bogen Imaging web site:

http://www.bogenimaging.us/

As for the quick-connect plate, I've not seen the RC-4, but I have both RC-2 and RC-0 plates on my various tripods. The RC-0 is the larger hexagon-shaped plate like on your 3047, while the RC-2 is a smaller rectangular plate. I believe that the 2 is a bit lighter but can mount only one way. On the other hand, the 0's hex shape allows more mounting positions FWIW. Don't know a thing about the 4, but it also looks very sturdy.

I believe that the 468 & 490 heads are pretty good - I have an old predecessor to the 468 and it's a very sturdy old thing. Not nearly as nice as the newer heads (no teflon, odd release levers, etc.), but it will hold a good deal of weight. The 488 is probably a better match capacity-wise with the 3021 legs, but there's no law that says you can't have the better head on those legs.

[Crash758]

I can recommend the 490, too. I have it and use it with no problems.

[summerwind4]

here is the ballhead you want.
http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/M10-L.php

[woehlerking]

Just got the 468 rc2 and its really impressive. love the hydralic tensioner and the ease of use.

[DANATTHEROCK]

Yeah, no doubt about it. For the $100 bucks or so it cost me, the 488RC2 ballhead absolutely rocks!!

The new model is $119 and bad azz...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/660311-REG/Manfrotto_498RC2_498RC2_Midi_Ball_Head.html

If you get a tripod and head, you can save $50 with current rebate offer.

[DANATTHEROCK]

Just got the 468 rc2 and its really impressive. love the hydralic tensioner and the ease of use.


Dear god man. You just pulled up a 6 year old thread?

And to make it worse, I replied to it...

Ha ha...

:D

[Jon]

The 468's still in production, so thread revival's not a problem. However you replied about a totally different line with the 488/498. :{)#