Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System
by Manfrotto
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Our Price: $68.94 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System
Customer Review: A bargain - perfect first ball head
Summary: 5 Stars
This ball head is highly-reviewed by so many people because it truly delivers a LOT of value for the money. I looked into it after reading suggestions in Scott Kelby's excellent "The Digital Photography Book".
My tripod came with a pan head - a very good one - but I wanted to find out if I would prefer ball heads. Didn't want to spend a fortune (expensive ones run upwards of $200-300), but wanted one that was solid enough that I could really decide if ball heads were for me.
As it turns out, the 486RC2 was perfect for this task. It is solid and easily holds my 40D with even a 70-200mm lens without sagging. And for my style, a ball head seemed easier than a pan head atop my tripod.
The RC2 quick release plate is solid and reassuring, and I do like the mechanism. You won't accidentally release the plate and drop your camera onto the floor - the little latching lock is excellent in this regard. I will look for a similar plate on my next ball head.
The only improvement I would ask for is the step up to the 488RC2, which has a separate release for panning/rotating. I want to do some basic panoramas, and it's just a bit easier to have a separate release for horizontal motion. Had I known I would be a ball head guy rather than a pan head guy, I'd have bought the 488RC2 right away. But since I didn't know and wanted to make sure, I got this one first. Even when I eventually get the 488RC2, I'll keep this one to put atop my second tripod; that way it's easy to swap cameras around, as both cameras and both ball heads will have the RC2 system.
For the excellent price, you get a SOLID ball head and a great quick release system - you'll appreciate it.
Customer Review: Simple, effective ballhead with no frills for a low price
Summary: 4 Stars
I will start by saying this is my first serious tripod purchase (this ballhead combined with B-M 3021PRO legs) so I only have consumer-grade tripods to compare it to. That being said, the jump in quality and stability is absolutely stunning. I have several tripods, none of which were more than $30, and I cannot believe that I made it this long without a decent tripod, or even knowing what a decent tripod is.
Given the price, this ballhead is definitely entry-level, and that's apparent with usage. However, don't mistake that statement to mean that the 486RC2 is inadequate or of poor quality. As a compact ballhead, it performs perfectly, and it locks mostly firmly and moves smoothly. I like the slots for vertical alignment. I have had no trouble attaching or removing my camera (a Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D), and the build quality is excellent overall. It is very compact.
Now, to the limitations. It is entry-level, as I mentioned, so it is very no frills. I wish it had bubble levels to ensure it's exactly even, though they can be added to your camera for low cost from a hardware store. Also, the locking/release lever is not easy to manipulate for precision, though with practice it becomes easier. When I release the camera with a larger lens mounted (the 7D is quite heavy to begin with), I find that the lever needs to be forced very tightly to not move slightly. Beyond that, there's not much to address because that's all there is.
Bottomline, you'll get more features with other models, but you'll pay more. Until you know what you need in a ballhead and know the brands and models, the 486RC2 is a great place to start to pair with some quality legs.
Customer Review: The Perfect Mate For Your Monopod!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading all of the reviews for compact ball heads, I decided to give the Bogen-Manfrotto 486C2 with rapid connect system a shot. I have mated this head with my Bogen-Manfrotto Three Section Monopod, Black Anodized.. In my opinion these two items are the perfect match. This compact ball head is very high quality, and the rapid connect system is simply awesome! I have attached my Canon 40D digital SLR camera, with a Canon 580EX flash and a Canon 70-300mm IS/USM zoom lens, and the 486RC2 holds it all in place firmly. It takes a little adjustment, to set the friction adjustment for the ball head, to allow just the right amount of adjustability, but once you have it set it performs flawlessly. There are grooves in the head mechanism, which allow for easy transition from horizontal to verticle camera placement. I especially like the added safety feature, for releasing the quick connect camera platform, which prevents you from accidentally bumping the release lever and sending your expensive SLR camera on a death dive to the ground.
Although not cheap, this Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head is a solid 5-star product. It is made of heavy duty, high quality materials, and I am confident that it will last for many years to come. It may be a little overkill for a point and shoot camera, or even for a lightweight video camera, but if you use heavy SLR equipment with fairly large lenses, then a solid performer like the 486RC2 is a must. Go ahead and buy it today. Your camera is worth it!
Customer Review: Worth the money
Summary: 4 Stars
I upgraded my tripod to a Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 and needed a head. I knew that I wanted a ball head with the RC2 connector plate. I chose this one and am glad that I did. It holds the camera like a rock on the top of the tripod.
First, you attach the mounting plate to your camera. I would suggest getting extra plates if you have multiple cameras, or have zooms with their own mounts. The RC2 locking plate attached quickly. There is a release lever, and then a second small safety lever. When the safety is engaged, the quick release lever will not move. This will prevent the lever from snagging and your camera releasing at an unplanned moment.
There is only a single lever on the ballhead. Release it a little, and the entire head will rotate on the base. This will allow you to take a panoramic shot. Release it more, and the ball will have less resistance and the camera can be positioned. Lock it down, and the camera is rock steady. I did not detect any movement with the camera when locking down the head.
Overall I'm pleased with this purchase. I would have liked to seen a separate release for panoramic shots (available on the next model up). A couple of accessories that you may need/want would be extra quick release plates. Useful if you have multiple cameras or zooms with their own mounts. Also would be a hotshoe mount level. I level the head, but I have no way of knowing if the camera is level.
Customer Review: Very solid ball head
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really nice ball head that can hold a lot of weight. I am able to use this head with large four pound telephoto lenses and the head shows absolutely no signs of stressing to hold everything solidly in place. The single lever to control tightness of the ball and rotation of the head is dead simple to use, and clamps down hard with ease...you can easily use one finger to clamp down enough to hold firm.
My only minor complaint is that the RapidConnect plate has a little bit of play in it when locked into the head. It's not enough to move on it's own, but you can definitely wiggle it if you try. The plate is the perfect size to fit a tripod ring on a telephoto lens, and can go relatively un-noticed when mounted directly to the camera body. The little lock lever to prevent you from releasing the quick release accidentally is a nice feature, but I always forget which direction is locked, and which is open. It would also be nice to have a bubble level on the mounting plate of the ball head, but it's not that big of a deal to just look through the finder and compose your shot on your own.
This is a very sturdy ball head, as evidenced by it's heft, weighing in at around 1 pound. It gets the job done, and seems to be able to hold up to trail abuse quite well...I see no signs of grinding or other wear caused by dust from hiking.