Bogen 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead

[Chris1le]

Has anyone seen or used the Bogen 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead. I'm thinking of getting a ballhead to add to my 3 way pan & tilt. I was just wondering if anyone has used this. Likes? Dislikes?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=303591&is=REG

[Belmondo]

I have it, and I've found it works a lot better than the earlier grip-type ball heads. I wanted it because it uses the same QR plates as my other two Bogen ball heads. It's very steady, and having the grip off to the side is handier and inherently more stable than having the extra length of the grip between the ball and the camera.

[slejhamer]

Note that the 11lb rating is for when the grip is mounted horizontally; it is only 5.5lb when mounted vertically.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have one.. I like it.. but I am in fact selling mine because I want a head that will work with a winberly sidekick. Once I get such a head.. I won't have a use for it.

It deos have some odd issues.. mainly invoved with the direction the quick release needs to be oriented.. which is not the same as some of the othere manfrotto products.. so if you own more than one RC2 head.. then the plates on the lenses and cameras will not be oriented correctly for both! This is of course absurd :(

Other than that.. I have really liked it and am not sure how well I am going to like the transition from the
"grip" head.

[blackviolet]

i have one and i love it. it's stable with the 10d, big ed, and bigma. it's quick and easy to use.

as cds pointed out, the qr2 plate usage is bass-ackwards, but it doesn't bother me (i just reorient the plates for my monopod so problem sorted...).

[MediaMagic]

Another thumbs up. I use it regularly using both camera and ring mount. The first thing I did was reverse the mounting plate. As mentioned by others, it really is backasswards, and that problem becomes quite apparent using say a 10D with battery grip and a 100-400L or 70-200L mounted with the tripod ring.

It's an very solid and stable ball head and adjustments can be made precisely very rapidly. I haven't had a single problem with slippage even when using a Custom Brackets QRS35EV flash bracket (a monster of a bracket).

[Chris1le]

Okay, I just received this ballhead today and it works great but I have to wonder if Manfrotto/Bogen actually use their products. The first thing I noticed was that there was no way to put my finger on the shutter and move the ballhead. It was quickly fixed by switching the grip to the left side. My question is, what difference does it make if you are left or right handed? The shutter button is always going to be activated with your right hand. So why would they deliver it with the handle on the wrong side? :?

Other than that little quirk. I love it. 10 times better than the 3047 pan and tilt I was using. Highly recomended. :D

[Tom W]

I recently replaced my 3047 3-way panhead with the 322RC2 as well. For me, it was a great improvement. The type of shooting I do doesn't require single-plane movement, and this setup seems to be the easiest way I've found so far to move from subject to subject.

[jgbeam]

I recently replaced my 3047 3-way panhead with the 322RC2 as well. For me, it was a great improvement. The type of shooting I do doesn't require single-plane movement, and this setup seems to be the easiest way I've found so far to move from subject to subject.

I have the 3047 and use it for portrait and architecture. It seems ideal for those applications. I've considered the 322RC2 but don't see how it would be an improvement for the shooting I do. How is the 322RC2 better than the 3047?

Jim

[Tom W]

I recently replaced my 3047 3-way panhead with the 322RC2 as well. For me, it was a great improvement. The type of shooting I do doesn't require single-plane movement, and this setup seems to be the easiest way I've found so far to move from subject to subject.

I have the 3047 and use it for portrait and architecture. It seems ideal for those applications. I've considered the 322RC2 but don't see how it would be an improvement for the shooting I do. How is the 322RC2 better than the 3047?

Jim


The 3047 is a good head, but it was too slow for me to re-aim the camera when I could only adjust one plane at a time. I don't shoot in a studio, but I shoot a variety of things where I need to change quickly. All I need to do is squeeze the grip, point the camera, and let go.

[Chris1le]

How is the 322RC2 better than the 3047?

I shoot birds and stuff outdoors. The 3047 is almost useless in this application, as I quickly found out. With the 322RC2 I can easily sqeeze the trigger with my left hand and follow the bird and when he stops let go and the camera is locked on. I wasn't trying to say 3047 was a bad head. It just did not suit my shooting style.

[Chris1le]

Note that the 11lb rating is for when the grip is mounted horizontally; it is only 5.5lb when mounted vertically.

If I shoot vertical I simply rotate the camera in its tripod ring. :D

[HJMinard]

My question is, what difference does it make if you are left or right handed? The shutter button is always going to be activated with your right hand. So why would they deliver it with the handle on the wrong side?

I wondered the same thing when I got mine ... it seems absurd to maneuver the handle with your right hand and stop, and then move your hand to the shutter button. Switching the handle to the left side is especially necessary if, like me, you use the "*" button for focusing. Perhaps some folks like to keep their left hand free for zooming or manual focusing. Or ... maybe they're trying to spur sales of their accessory remote switch that can be incorporated into the handle.

[jgbeam]

How is the 322RC2 better than the 3047?

I shoot birds and stuff outdoors. The 3047 is almost useless in this application, as I quickly found out. With the 322RC2 I can easily sqeeze the trigger with my left hand and follow the bird and when he stops let go and the camera is locked on. I wasn't trying to say 3047 was a bad head. It just did not suit my shooting style.

The possible application I have for a ballhead is shooting low-light theatre. Hand-held with high ISO usually works but there are some productions which needed a monopod and the fixed head really restricted my movement. I think the squeeze grip could be great on a monopod. Any thoughts on that setup?

Jim

[Chris1le]

I think the squeeze grip could be great on a monopod. Any thoughts on that setup?

I don't think it could hurt. :? I have been using a monopod with the tilt head. Then I realized I really didn't need the tilt head because it is easier to just loosen the tripod ring and rotate the camera that way. Unless of course the head is mounted to the camera then the tilt head came in handy but I really don't use the monopod with short lenses. I've gone back to using my tripod now that I have a decent head though. :D

[CoolToolGuy]

How is the 322RC2 better than the 3047?

I shoot birds and stuff outdoors. The 3047 is almost useless in this application, as I quickly found out. With the 322RC2 I can easily sqeeze the trigger with my left hand and follow the bird and when he stops let go and the camera is locked on. I wasn't trying to say 3047 was a bad head. It just did not suit my shooting style.

The possible application I have for a ballhead is shooting low-light theatre. Hand-held with high ISO usually works but there are some productions which needed a monopod and the fixed head really restricted my movement. I think the squeeze grip could be great on a monopod. Any thoughts on that setup?

Jim

I have used a monopod with theater work - even using it while seated. I run the monopod diagonally from my feet to chest level, and I brace the bottom of the monopod with my feet. The ball head (I use the 486RC2) comes in very handy, as the camera winds up at quite an angle with the monopod at a 45 degree angle to the floor. With that particular usage, the squeeze grip might be in the way a little, but that is a little unusual. I keep wavering in my mind about the 322RC2, but there are times that I wouldn't want it, and I don't want to fool with multiple ball heads for a single monopod.

As stated above, the first thing I would do is flip it around so the grip is at my left hand - I don't understand the reasoning for having it on the right side. By the way, I noticed when you flip it, the 'trigger' winds up in your palm instead of in your fingers. Has anyone seen this as a problem?

Have Fun,

[Chris1le]

By the way, I noticed when you flip it, the 'trigger' winds up in your palm instead of in your fingers. Has anyone seen this as a problem?

I thought the same thing but a quick look at manual showed how to do it properly. So no it is not a problem. :)

[vfilby]

I have one of these on the way... I can't wait to get a hold of it now.