Manfrotto vs. Giottos ball heads

Trying to decide between Manfrotto 498RC2 and Giottos MH-1305 with 655 QR plate.
Both have pan locking, Manfrotto supports 17 lbs vs. Giottos 18 lbs, which is pretty much the same, both have tension control knobs, both get very decent reviews.

They cost exactly the same at Samy's - $129.
As far as I saw on the forums that Manfrotto is a more popular brand, but Giottos is favorited as well.
The only difference as I see it is that Giottos has a level and Manfrotto doesn't.
Please, help me decide or is it just a matter of handling one and deciding which knobs I like better?

Thanks a bunch,
Aleness

Manfrotto gets my vote. I have owned several and they work well. I don't find Giottos to be anywhere near as popular when compared to Manfrotto.

I have a Giottos and I like it... I had an issue with the Giottos tripod (leg broke), but they replaced it for free. The ballhead has been problem-free.

I paid $199 for the tripod and ballhead together, so for the price it's pretty damn good.

Doesn't the Giottos have an Arca type QR system? My Giottos does. That is very useful, as it allows you to use equipment from any other manufacturer that makes Arca standard units.

I have the Giottos MH-3300 ballhead ... and it has performed absolutely trouble free, and does all I could ask of it.

Maxdave

You can put an Arca plate in the Giottos if you remove the safety screw.

I have a Giottos 1301 and am totally satisfied.I removed the safety screw and use it with an RRS L bracket.

Happy Giottos head user here too. Love it.

Photoclam, all day. Everyday.

http://reallybigcamera​s.com …/Photo%20Clam%2​0Table.htm

If you don't mind only having only one control lever on a ball head have a look at the Triopo RS3. It's cheap (significantly less than Manfrotto/Giottos) and as far as lockup and creep are concerned I don't have a lens + camera heavy enought to test it ( the 600 f4 + 1D4 is only about a third of it's rated capacity of 20Kg) and it's light - 250 gram - but allow another 100 gram or so for a QR adapter. Total cost was about £50 UK including a 50mm Arca style QR adapter or about £47 if you want a longer105mm QR adapter.
However it's not half as pretty as those ones "plasticmotif" posted!

my old manfrotto 488rc2 creeped when locking down and the rc2 connection was piss poor to be nice about it.

It's funny, how I hear approximately equal number of responses for either of the manufacturers.
I swung by Samy's to try either in action, but unfortunately was able to handle only a Manfrotto head (oh, boy, I know how naughty it sounds, but alas...), they didn't have any Giottos.
2 of the store clerks referred to Giottos as the "second best" after Manfrotto.
I guess I need to handle Giottos head now to see which one I like better. (damn, the image starts haunting me now )
Choices, choices...