Manfrotto 322RC2

[Fen]

Anyone used one of these?



Are they any good? (apart from looking like a ducks bill)

Looking to replace my big/heavy ballhead with something a bit lighter for carrying around.

[El_Sid]

Yes and yes........

I bought one with my 055Pro because the 3 way head on my old Slik used to frustrate me enormously.... This thing is so much quicker I've probably used my 55 more times in the last 2 years than I used the Slik in 20.......

Handily you can mount the platform assembly for left hand grip, right hand grip and vertical grip (though this reduces the maximum advised load). I have mine mounted for left hand grip so I can adjust the head with the left hand while adjusting the camera or firing the shutter with the right.

The amount of tilt is sometimes a bit limited in one direction; ie I find that sometimes (eg on unlevel ground) I need to the tilt the camera down more at the left hand side than the mount will allow though I usually overcome this by adjusting the tripod legs (in RH mode this should be reversed) - there's plenty of tilt the other way though. It can also cause the odd problem when shooting with the camera vertically though this can be avoided with a bit of twisting and turning of the grip on the ball - easy to do but a bit complicated to explain...

It locks very firmly, I've got mine set to minimum lock yet it still locks solidly and the grip takes very firm pressure to release.

Well worth having IMO...

[Nod]

^^^^^^
WHS.

Works well, even with a D200 behind a Sigma 170-500. Very easy to reposition accurately and quickly. Wish I had bought the one that appeared in out local rag for 25 quid - would have been great for monopod use as well.

[mjc7uk]

Had look at it before I opt for Manfrotto 804RC2 as I felt it too ugly to use despise it's usefulness in some circumstances.

And the size of the thing is other concern...

[SqueamishOssifrage]

I actually bought one, and thought it was great - except when used with my primary camera, where I didn't have room to fit my hand between the grip and the bottom of the side-mounted pistol grip on the camera. It was too much of a pain to be continually removing and refitting the grip, so I swapped it for the 804RC2.

[Fen]

Bought one earlier today

Many thanks for the replies

[Rhys]

How much was it Fen? The small ball head that came with my Benbo Trekker is pants - you tighten it up and it drops with the weight of my camera..

[El_Sid]

£90 at WarehouseExpress...

[Fen]

£89.99 at Jacobs

[Benchista]

Let us know how you get on with it.

[Nod]

£79.99 (+P&P) but a bit late for you I'm afraid, Fen.

[Fen]

£79.99 (+P&P) but a bit late for you I'm afraid, Fen.

Cor Blimey... Their normal price is Normal Price: £ 104.95 inc VAT!

But adding the £8.99 P+P to the offer price would've made it about the same as I paid. Plus I got to play with it in the shop to see if it's what I wanted

[Fen]

Let us know how you get on with it.

Haven't used it in 'Anger' so to speak. Used it for some Macro work and it was easy to use, very stable and worked as it should.

Will be out with it at a shoot beginning of August so will report back afterwards

[stenchbings]

in the back of this weeks AP they had it for 49 in FFORDES.

[mediaman]

Looking at this,and owning the manfrotto 222, reminds me of the way "modern gangsters " hold there handguns..ie side on.
know what i mean? also, i can imagine my arm/elbow sticking out from my side, being uncomfortable for any lenth of time.

[El_Sid]

Looking at this,and owning the manfrotto 222, reminds me of the way "modern gangsters " hold there handguns..ie side on.

WTF has that got to do with anything?

know what i mean?

No

also, i can imagine my arm/elbow sticking out from my side, being uncomfortable for any length of time.

Why should it be? You grip the handle, squeeze the lever, adjust the composition to taste and then release... All over in a matter of seconds. I can't see any need to have your hand on the grip or arm waving about for any significant, let alone arm tiring, length of time...

[mediaman]

what I was meaning,is that from the looks of this head. To me, anyone useing it, may find it uncomfortable, if, they have been useing a 222.
Only an opinion,which is what this site is SUPPOSED to be about. I may change my mind when I actually try one. But...
till then.......

[Nod]

Not at all sure what you mean by having to have your arm stuck out to the side, mediaman. With the 322 you just need to turn your hand through 90* and there's no need to stick your elbow out! On top of that, your hand (while on the trigger of the head) will be beside your chin rather than right in front of it (as it is on the 222). Should you chose to mount the plate on the end of the handle (one of 7 or more options), the 322 then takes on the only option of the 222. Give the 322 a try - you'll probably be surprised as to how versatile it is compared to the 222.

[mediaman]

Will make a point in trying one out at Calumet next time i'm passing. Cheers.