327rc2

Recently I watched a tutorial on YouTube and the photographer was using a joystick ballhead. The video wasn't about the ball head so he didn't talk abut it at all, but I couldn't help noticing the ease and speed he was able to compose each shot.
So I was just wondering, what's the general opinion on such a ballhead? And how hard would it be to convert to a Acra type mount? Opinions on the Vanguard version appreciated as well.

Had one about 12-years ago.. It was terrible.. It didn't hold very well.

They probably improved the design over the years but i think most people agree that the design is still all but a good one...

Get a ballhead instead, like Sirui K-30X which cost next to nothing.

I have the 322rc2 head and it is very stable even with a tele lens. Very easy to adjust as well. I replaced the rc2 clamp with a swiss arca from Henjar photo and it works perfectly. I think the 322 is the heavy duty version of the 327. One squeeze of the grip allows you to position the head in any position and locks there once released. I'm very happy with it.

Just noticed there is a 322rc2 head for sale on this site. The guy is asking $120 for it I think.

Im curious to know the reason why anyone want this kind of head instead of ballhead ?

My reason 12-years ago was that i didn't know any better..

When do you find the deadman's grip useful ?

I mean this head is still less precise then you'r average ballhead.

Okay now this is simply hilarious!

https://youtu.be/G7XOK​io0rlA?t=2m38s

Don't get a joystick ballhead.

Many of us, myself included, felt the same at first glance, "what a great idea"

Most of us that have actually used one came to the same conclusion "What a terrible idea"

they do not work well at all, the center of balance is terrible on most, and you simply do not use a head in the way these joysticks are used (one hand dedicated to the head "trigger")

A regular ballhead is far superior in use.

If your looking for an action head, then a video head or a gimbal again is far superior.

+1. Thought it was a great idea........at first. Waste of money!

And this is why I asked! Thanks guys.

stock28, so far you're the lone fan of the joystick. What type of photography are you using it for?

I use several tripods, some with ballheads. Again, I have no problems with mine and find it very fast to adjust and set up the shot. I use this one for a variety of shots but mostly for macro work. Everyone has their own opinions and there are some very good and experienced photographers on this site, many more so than me. Its not a head you are going to use for action as its either locked or not, unlike a ballhead that can be freely moved or panned with a loose setting. For macro or landscapes it works well for me and I have no problem with balance or movement once its locked. It just works for me and ive been using it for several years and dont find it a bad design at all.

Yeah you're using it for the same kind of shots I would of. I've searched and searched for the video I first saw it in, but with no luck. It had nothing to do with ballheads or tripods but it really caught my attention how quickly he was composing the shots. I've read enough of Cyberdyne to know he knows his stuff, and will stay away for now. Kind of like Taco Pizza...always sounds good, rarely if ever is! I wish there was a way for me to try one out...coming to Florida anytime soon?

Again, thanks for the inputs

yes he does know photography. Funny i was just in Florida in June. Good luck with whichever head you choose.

Although the guy in the linked video is clearly a little challenged in many regards, the head is still showing it's own deficits in that video.

Granted, it is also over weighted, but I doubt that the rig exceeds manfrottos rating for it. ( 12 pounds, consider that a SIRUI K40 is rated for 77 pounds and costs less )

Vibration: Notice that at no time does the head actually prevent the set up from vibrating! With an under-powered ballhead the one thing you can do when you are pushing too hard and just need to lock things down solid is you CAN twist real hard and lock it and maybe that will hold things. With the Pistol grips you can't really do that, the spring tension is adjustable, but you are always relying on the spring tension. You can't just torque it down.

Top Heavy: Notice how top heavy everything looks, it's balanced on that tiny pintle, the ball size on these, the actual ball, is diminutive.

Fatigue. Yes, having to maintain a forced squeezed hand to allow motion can actually quickly quickly become fatiguing. As I grow older I find repetitive stress to be a source of constant vigilance, looking for those tasks that will cause me pain. Just shooting a camera has it's challenges, these heads add a HUGE amount of unnecessary additional strain and fatigue. This is my #1 reason to avoid a head of this kind. All my heads and tripods support take strain and fatigue away from the hand held fatigue. I would not invest in support that adds to fatigue vs hand holding.

Awkward to be sure, the handle protrusion is often in the way. For straight up landscape work, it's not bad, though I always marveled that Manfrotto has now made two of this side mounted type and in both cases made it difficult and ungainly to with your left hand, forcing you to let go of all camera controls to adjust. Why not just make them left handed?

The more top heavy (yes even more) classic grip heads were straight up and down affairs,