Convince me to buy something better than the 488RC2

[munzzzzzzz]

I just purchased a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod and need to decide on a ball head. I won't buy anything lesser than the 488RC2, but I don't know if I can justify something better. I don't want to end up wishing I had spent more. I love the looks of the RRS heads but I think they're beyond my budget. Is there something else that anyone can highly recommend that would be somewhere in the middle ground, or should I stick with the 488? (or, if I get the RRS BH-40 or BH-55, will you promise me that I won't regret spending 4-5 times as much?)

It will be used probably 90% of the time taking pictures of my soon to be born first child, so that might impact what you'd recommend.

Amazon and B&H seem to have tons of reviews of the Manfrotto's but nobody has too many reviews of any others so it's hard to tell how popular/well liked they are.

[ssracer]

I just got that same combo and I love it. Why do you think you need something "better" than the 488?

[munzzzzzzz]

I don't think I do, I just want to make sure I won't wish I did. :)

I know the Arca-Swiss, Acratech, and RRS heads are better than the 488RC2, but I don't know that it's really worth me spending that much more to get one. Part of my problem is that I don't have anywhere around here where I can check them out, so I'm relying entirely on other people's opinions when I order one.

Responses like yours are as helpful as someone telling me I do, so thanks for the input.

[SkipD]

I've been using a 488RC2 on my tripods (usually on my 3021BPro) for a number of years and have yet wished I had anything more expensive to replace it. The 488RC2 has worked very well for me all the time.

The 488RC2 is the perfect match for the soon-to-be-yours 055XProB.

[SuzyView]

I have the 488RC and it's great. Why would you think there's something better? For the money, it's great.

[munzzzzzzz]

Anybody have any experience with the Cullman heads? This one gets really good reviews at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/511750-REG/Cullmann_CU_40200_Magnesit_35_Nm_Ballhead.html

It's a bit big, but these two, combined with a quick release plate, would presumably be similar but smaller, and comparably priced to the 488RC2. The big differences I see are what looks like a larger ball, and tension control for the ball:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/511749-REG/Cullmann_CU_40190_Magnesit_30_Nm_Ballhead.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/511748-REG/Cullmann_CU_40180_Magnesit_25_Nm_Ballhead.html

I should probably just stick with the 488RC2, but I guess I like to complicate my decisions as much as possible. :rolleyes:

[ed rader]

I just purchased a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod and need to decide on a ball head. I won't buy anything lesser than the 488RC2, but I don't know if I can justify something better. I don't want to end up wishing I had spent more. I love the looks of the RRS heads but I think they're beyond my budget. Is there something else that anyone can highly recommend that would be somewhere in the middle ground, or should I stick with the 488? (or, if I get the RRS BH-40 or BH-55, will you promise me that I won't regret spending 4-5 times as much?)

It will be used probably 90% of the time taking pictures of my soon to be born first child, so that might impact what you'd recommend.

Amazon and B&H seem to have tons of reviews of the Manfrotto's but nobody has too many reviews of any others so it's hard to tell how popular/well liked they are.


i've owned the 484, 486 and 488 manfrotto heads. the 484 is really a pretty great lightweight head.

the 488 is much better than the 486....it is just so much easier to use. in fact i'll go as far as to say i can't see any reason for owning the 486 .... get the 488 if you want a sturdy head and the 484 for your lightweight travel tripod.

last year i bought a markins Q3 head and i love it .... and i should say i use it on a benro tripod which i also love.

the markins head is sooo much better than the manfrotto. it sets up much quicker and you don't have to compensate for sag.

the one thing about upgrading your ballhead is there are hidden costs like the arca plates for your various cameras and lenses and if you use a monopod with a tilt head you'll want to upgrade it to the arca system as well.

i would start out with the 488 and take it from there. one day you might upgrade but the ballhead will be no problem to sell and it'll hold it's value pretty well.

ed rader

[Familiaphoto]

The 488 is a great head which I have not found a reason to upgrade. There is a bit of sag as Ed said, but this isn't anything that can't be easily compensated for. The only thing I changed on it was the clamp, getting a new one to work with my RSS L-Bracket. But it was a whole lot cheaper to buy a new clamp than a whole new head.

[DegasGoneDigital]

[quote=Familiaphoto;7270126 The only thing I changed on it was the clamp, getting a new one to work with my RSS L-Bracket. But it was a whole lot cheaper to buy a new clamp than a whole new head.[/quote]


I have the 488 and this is the way to go. I hate the clamp on this head, I will be getting a RRS clamp ASAP.........

[EOS_JD]

I have the 488 too with an 055prob. Very good kit :)

[jhom]

Is the 488 good for the money? Yes. Are there better ballheads for more money? Definitely yes. Whether you will be satisfied with the 488? Depends on you and your needs.

I've had many years of experience with the Manfrotto ballheads including the 484, 488, and 468MG. They served my needs at the time. However, one nagging problem with these ballheads is lens creep. Whenever I shot with my camera level, these ballheads did an admirable job. However, lens creep showed up once I shot at an angle. The longer and heavier the lens, the greater the creep. For me, it was very annoying. It became even more annoying when I had a chance to use several of my colleagues's better ballheads. I immediately moved up to one of the better ballheads. Now, my annoyances come from other things.

My suggestion is to try out some of the better ballheads in comparison to the 488. Then you will be able to make a better decision.

YMMV.

[bohdank]

Ya, the creep/droop has become very annoying with the 488 even though I have a "system" for locking things down in the right order to minimize it.

I'm thinking of replacing it with the Q3... just haven't decided when.

[LostShootingStar]

I think like jhom said, it depends on what you really need. There is no reason to buy a more expensive one if it's not going to really make a difference for your needs http://m08o1124znfu179.imageshacknow.info/img/2465/e08g1214bfbr/wink.gif

[Familiaphoto]

I have the 488 and this is the way to go. I hate the clamp on this head, I will be getting a RRS clamp ASAP.........

You won't regret changing the clamp. It isn't cheap but gave my 488 new life. Really enjoy using this with my RSS L-Bracket and I've only had it a week now.

This is the clamp I ended up with. Very nice. Toughest part was getting off the Manfrotto clamp. They used lock tight on it, was very tough to get off.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?IC=B2-LR-II&eq=&Tp=

[_aravena]

I have the 484 right now working on both the tripod and monopod. I notice it can move a bit easily with my gear when on a tripod but that' ok. I don't use it too much leaving it alone and mainly on my monopod to keep steady shots. Can't wait to get the 488 though.

[drPheta]

Compensating for and dealing with sag on "traditional" ballheads drove me to buy a Markins. I'm never buying any other ballhead again (unless it's comparable to Markins...)

[munzzzzzzz]

I ended up ordering the Manfrotto 488RC2. I was really close to pulling the trigger on the Cullmann 30 Nm Magnesit. It looks really solid and, though it doesn't include a quick release, costs the same as the 488RC2. What convinced me not to was the fact that the knob to tighten the ball was on the right-hand side. I didn't like the idea of having to compose the shot with my left hand so I could tighten the ball with my left.

I know the Markins, RRS, etc. are nicer and probably support large lenses a lot better, but I don't currently have anything big and couldn't justify spending $400 for something I didn't need. I figured I could use the extra $300 on other stuff and be in a lot better shape in the long run.

I also managed to find a local store that carried the 488RC2, and while I didn't buy it from them (they were 20% higher than online), it was nice to see it before I ordered it.

The nice thing is, if I decide to upgrade, I can probably sell this one and only be out $10 or $20, vs. spending $400 and feeling like I just blew $300.

[CronoDL]

As drPheta said, the sag and a lack of a friction adjustment just plain stinks. I returned a 488rc4 within a week because of sag. You can try and compensate, but it's a bit fidgety. I bought a Markins M10, and it's a world of difference. I'd gladly pay the extra $200 bucks or whatever on something like a Markins, RRS, etc.

Once you try a ballhead with a friction/tension adjustment, you'll realize how much better it really is.

[munzzzzzzz]

OK, so I've used my 488RC2 quite a bit now, and while I agree that it does slip/sag a little bit when I tighten it down (moreso with the 580EXII mounted on it/with the tripod column horizontal - still need to get an off-shoe cord), it's manageable. I'd like to have a nicer mount that doesn't slip at all, but for what it would cost, I can't justify it. I figured I was looking at close to another $400 or so to get comparable functionality in a higher-end head, and with a limited budget, that's money I would much rather put into another lens. The sagging head won't affect image quality, it just takes a little longer to get the right shot, but a better lens (currently eyeing up a 24-105) will definitely improve image quality quite a bit over my XTi kit lens.