Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System
Normal Price:$79.00
Our Price:$68.00
Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Manufacturer: Manfrotto
Model: 486RC2
Binding: Electronics
Publisher: Manfrotto
Label: Manfrotto
Features for Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System:
- Compact ball head equipped with a 3157N quick-release camera plate
- Strong die-cast construction, precision-machined aluminum housing
- Extremely hard phenolic resin ball provides smooth movements across all tilt positions
- Single ratchet locking knob for 360-degree pan and a double groove for +90 to -90-degree tilt movements
- Plate has 1/4-20-inch male thread, and head to tripod attachment is 3/8-inch female
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Customer Reviews
Great for outdoors 
2008-08-14
The primary advantage of this head is its light weight which makes it a great fit with the light carbon fiber tripods. Despite the light weight it is strongly built and has all the basic functions. The single lever means you have to keep one hand on your camera or it will flop in ways you will not like. The trick is to loosen the ball just enough to rotate the camera (while holidng it with your other hand) to the position you want and then tighten. A level here would have been nice. All in all this is a great, sturdy ball head that won't weigh you down on the trail.
Well made but has Downside 
2008-06-30
This product is sturdy and well made. However, as both the vertical and horizontal setting are controlled by one lever, it is difficult to really make sure your shots are level horizontally - independent of the tripod which oftentimes has a bubble setting to assure horizontal alignment.
Also, I have a EOS 1D Mark III plus a zoom lens, if you want to take vertical shots (as in turning the camera to its side), it seems that no matter how hard you secure the lever, the camera will droop down.
convenient and easy to use 2008-06-21
Really easy and convenient to use instead of the standard head that comes with most tripods.
Good for the money. 2008-06-01
This ball head does a good job for the money. I would eventually like to get a Markins, but that will be a large chunk of cash.
Good for the Money 
2008-05-31
This is a well built ball head that is good if your on a budget. Holds wait well without sag. Now that I have used it awhile I am wishing I had paid up a little bit to get one with a separate control for panning (a feature I initially didn't think I would need at all).
Great value for the money though. (tested with d80 with battery grip, heavy fast lens and a speedlight without sag)
Heavy, sturdy, quick release, versatile 2008-05-28
Same as the 486 but equipped with a 3157N quick-release camera plate. The 486RC2 is a direct replacement of the 3413QR and 3055S ProBall and Heavy-Duty Double Action Ball Heads. A strong die-cast construction, precision machined aluminum housing, and an extremely hard phenolic resin ball provides smooth movements across all tilt positions. The 486RC2 features a single ratchet locking knob for a 360 degrees pan and a double groove for a 90 degrees tilt movements. Camera plate has a 1/4-20 inch male thread and head to tripod attachment is 3/8 inch female.
Very good entry-level Ball head 2008-05-26
I put this on my old Bogen 3021 tripod replacing and old 3030 Bogen Pan-head. If you have never use Ballhead, get this. You would not regret this. It holds my setup - Nikkor 80-800mm D F2.8 with D50 and speedlight with no problems. Very good quality and good value. This is lighter and smaller than I expected (lighter than the 3030 Bogen 3-way Panhead). Highly recommended.
i love this thing 2008-05-25
this is a great ballhead! holds up my d80 with flash and 24-60ex sigma lens no problem!
Nicely built, but I sent it back 2008-05-13
This is a nice ball head, it was just too big for the monopod on which I had hoped to use it so it went back. For a tripod this looks to be a very good option.
Not bad, but a little stiff 2008-04-30
I bought this so I could move my video camera around while recording action, but it is either too tight and jerks, or too loose and I may as well be holding it freehand. If I were taking still pictures, I would absolutely love it.
