D. Accessory - Manfrotto 460Mg 3D Tripod Head

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Manfrotto 460Mg tripod head



The quoted description below appears on many vendors websites:

An innovative 3D Head unlike any other! Cast from lightweight magnesium, the head can be positioned in virtually any position to get the exact framing of the image. The lock-system using spring-loaded conical joints allows greater flexibility than any other 3D head whether mounted on a tripod centre column or lateral arm. The rubber grip knobs provide finger tip control and won’t poke you in the eye like conventional handles do. The 460Mg is the ideal head in combination with the MagFibre line for 35mm SLRs and medium format cameras, both digital and traditional.

Tripod attachment thread – 3/8” thread, Diameter of base 59.4mm. Quoted capability - 3kg.
Weight 440gm, Height with camera plate horizontal 10cm from base to head – camera screw projects a few mm.


Over the years I’ve bought many tripod heads, and I’ve had an interest in this model for some time. However until you buy one it’s difficult to get a feel as to how well it will work for you, and how smooth the adjustment is. At last year’s Focus I spent some time feeling how smooth the exhibition sample was, and wasn’t impressed as I could feel some roughness when I moved the head when the knobs were backed off a little from tight. Samples on other stands had the same feel, and therefore I wasn’t prepared to spend the asking price of £60. Recently T4 Cameras had a used one on offer for £30, so I decided to risk it! My sample arrived in mint condition with a ¼” camera mounting plate.

It’s described as a 3D head, and there are 3 similar knobs which control the clamps on each of the 3 major axes. The knurled rubber covered knobs are not captive, and unscrewing completely releases the knob and its attendant washer and compression spring. In the case of the two upper knobs, this exposes the coned clamp which is smooth faced on the inside surface of the outer cone, but has 6 ridges and 6 equal gaps forming the mating outer surface of the inner cone. (This is quite different to the earlier #115 model where both parts of the cone are smooth, and without ridges, and without springs. And with knobs which can hit one in the eye.) Clamp surfaces are greased.

In the middle of the base there is a label plate, with calibrations in degrees at 15 degree intervals, and labelled at the 30 degree interval points. The reference mark is a small hole, and in my sample is not filled with contrasting paint, so if needed for panoramas could prove difficult to see. Adjacent to the camera plate socket (with typical Manfrotto safety catch) is a small circular bubble assisting in getting the camera level. I’d also like to see another bubble in the centre of the label plate so that you know when the tripod head is level. (Helps prevent a twist in yaw as the camera’s angle is adjusted.)

The base of the camera attachment plate carries two pointers encouraging you to mount your lens in either of two preferred directions. It’s not clear to me what the consequences are of disregarding this advice, other than screwing up the orthogonality of the adjustments. Strangely, the design of the camera plate is not symmetrical, and there are 4 holes in it. Lightening, perhaps! There’s also evidence of lightening around the base of the head.

The overall feel is that of a well designed and made item, well finished in black crackle paint.


I tried it mounted to my Benbo Mk 1 tripod, and with my 5D and EF 100 f2.8 USM macro attached. Weight - 1630g. I attached the camera plate to the tripod socket of my 5D, as I don't have the mounting ring for the macro lens.

What was immediately noticeable was how well the spring rate has been chosen for the springs under the clamp screws, in that I found it was possible to slacken off slightly, make small adjustments without any droop, and re-clamp. And, it was smooth.

For use with my macro lens, I’d give this head a strong recommendation. It’s about 2/3 the weight of the earlier #115 model which offers similar adjustments.

Whilst I haven't tried it with a 3kg load, I did try it with my EF 400 f5.6L attached via the camera's mount. (Not recommended, but one way of moving the mass away from the head!) Mass wise, this is ~800g extra, but the moment is quite different, and immediately wobble was obvious in the viewfinder, although the clamps had no problem holding this offset load. Remounting and using the lens' tripod mount, there was less wobble but the extra magnification was very obvious, making clamping precisely more difficult, and I'll continue to use my Manfrotto #393 gimbal head under my long lenses.

So, an excellent head for macro and shorter lenses, but in my opinion, not recommended for easy long lens use.

[Benchista]

That's the head I use (bought it s/h with a Manfrotto CF tripod from someone on here in the days when we could), and I'm extremely happy with it in general use. Not perfect, but a mighty good compromise. The controls on mine were incredibly smooth until I got sand in them - despite trying to clean it out, some stayed in for ages and made it rather gritty in use - it's all gone now, though.

If you look at the QR plate, you'll see that it's actually a different shape on the front (broad) side to the read, hence the directional arrows - the plate only fits correctly onto the head in the right orientation, so you would end up with the control knobs in front of the camera if you put the camera on the plate in the incorrect orientation. Sometimes that's actually necessary if you're trying to get the camera into a really tight situation, but I think I've only done it once.

Clamping a heavy load accurately is indeed this head's biggest issue - it holds the load pretty much rock steady once clamped, but time after time I find I've not got quite the composition I had intended.