Ball head comparison - Manfrotto 488RC2 vs Giottos MH 1301-652

[Tawcan]

Looking around it seems that quite many people have 488RC2 ball head. Is there any particular reason why this is the case? Is the 488RC2 much better than Giottos MH1301?

Excuse my lack of knowledge.... How are the two ballheads mentioned above different than Arca-Swiss style plates from RRS, Kirk, Markins, Acrtech, Photo Clam? Why is Arca-Swiss style plates the top of the line?

[Jon]

Manfrotto is good value for money. However, the Arca-Swiss plates and heads are available from a wide range of manufacturers, with such extra "frills" as "L plates", so you can quickly flip your camera between portrait and landscape orientation while keeping the load centered, and plates designed for specific pieces of gear so they don't have any tendency to slip. I just made the transition, after an evening shoot swapping my 488RC2 from landscape to portrait got to be just too frustrating. I replaced the RC2 plate on my Manfrotto with a RRS lever plate and added L plates to my bodies. The difference is amazing. Expensive, but amazing.