Manfrotto 322 RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball Head

I managed to pick one of these from Ebay for half its usual price. Not much to go wring, very easy to use and incredibly quick and flexible. Moreover, you can leave it attached to a tripod (like the 055PRO) and it still fits inside Manfrotto's excellent and heard-wearing tripod bag. Robust, smart quick-release mechanism and a sinch to move from landscape to portrait as the mood or moment takes you. The strength of friction grip is adjustable (read the instructions) - I've had no issue with it moving despite a decent weight DSLR and long lenses. Brilliant and multi-functional

(Written by: wjames)

I recently bought this head along with a 190XPROB tripod. I love both for their ease of use and stability and what impresses me most is just how adaptable the head is, you can change the heads configuration for either left or right handed use or you can put the quick release mechanism on the end of the release handle and have a joystick type arrangement which easily copes with the weight of my D200 + 70-300 VR lens and battery grip something my old tripod struggled with. I'm less impressed with the tripod itself as it's not particularly strong or light or even well built. don't get me wrong, its quite a capable tripod and well worth the £83, it's just not as impressive as this head. I love it!

(Written by: trevorpatterson)

I bought this a year ago along with a 190XPROB and I reckon its been one of my best investments to date. I wanted the single action grip to get easy adjustment rather than fiddling with 3 different knobs. If I have one complaint and it might be me and how I use it but when I try to tilt it back to get an upward view it has a very limited angle, although now I am saying this it might be how I have it set up! Nice tip on the set up for Right Hand users. Overall I would recommend this to anyone, its not the cheapest however I still gave it 5/5 for value for money due to its overall quality.

(Written by: Stoneysnapper)

Generally very happy with this ball head which is also great for odd angle and macro use when close to the ground. I use this on a 055XPROB tripod. I also use a separate hotshoe mount spirit level when shooting vertical landscapes. Head not very helpful for stitched panoramas if you want any accuracy, so i use a 128RC head for that use on rare occasions.

(Written by: Skeleton)

have to agree with all the others, I've been using this head now on my 055XPROB for almost a year now and the only thing I can complain about is.... I wish I'd bought one years ago! Fantastic bit of engineering and so easy to use. The pistol grip gives you speedy re-arranging of your shot and confidence that once you've let go of the trigger, the camera is locked into place. 5 stars!

(Written by: Draig37)

I've been using this head for a couple of years now and it sits atop my 190MF3 tripod. Having used pan and tilt heads before, I find this head gives me greater ease of movement allowing me to set up much quicker. It's literally a case of squeeze the trigger and point it where you want it and you don't need to take your eye from the viewfinder to find the adjuster. Not that I've tried it but the versatility is there too in the ability to remove and reposition the plate holder giving loads of options. The only gripe would be a 70-200mm with a 1.4x converter did cause a bit of droop but, as the lens should be used with a tripod collar we can put this down to user error and this droop disappeared as soon as the collar was fitted. I had planned to use this head for Macro and Wildlife shots and then get a 3-way head for landscapes etc. I've found this one so good I don't need the others. Cheers, Andy

(Written by: AndySP)

I have already made a comment and I mainly reviewed it there so please read that for my thoughts. One other thing to add, I and all the friends I know who have bought this (quite a few) are right-handed but have switched the grip to left-handed use (takes 2 mins, dead easy) so that I can pan and shoot easily. I have tried it both ways and definitely feel this way works best as it feels more intuitive to move the camera with my left hand while guiding it and shooting with my right hand. A bit like holding a rifle with your left and squeezing the trigger with your right if you will. This is one of the most important bits of kit I possess and it's worth noting you get a full 5 year warranty against the grip losing .... its grip! Cheers, Rob

(Written by: Rob Barron)

I first came across this head on a photographic course I attended. The tutor gave everyone a quick release plate to use and this allowed us to attach and disengage the camera from the tripod very quickly. I use it for weddings where this requirement is very useful. Of course, it also excels when changing from portrait to landscape format. I use it with a Canon 30D and have no issues with it whatsoever. Unless you need some form of scientific measurement of angles you are shooting at, I can't see why you would get anything else. Not cheap, but when you get it you understand why. Quality.

(Written by: adamhurst)

this head is partnered with a 190XPROB and a 679B monopod and can say its a serious bit of engineering.Heavy to have appended on a monopod but add a pro body with drive and you soon realise why.Motion and mobility are a joy with a simple squeeze of the handle .Add a heavy big telezoom and again no problem . The handle is big but thankfully so when your viewing and trying to recompose you dont want to be messing about grappling for it under the camera.The safety release lock is ideal and has on occassions saved the camera from crashing to the ground,easily done but it allows you time to think again about what you are doing.Compose away with precision, its changed my mind on 3 way heads. The grip pressure is adjustable with a torque screw again well located and easily adgusted with your thumb.The head is capable of being changed with supplied alan key for lefties and the caggy handed. All in all 5 for everything for me .A well specified ,layed out and engineered product built to take the knocks.

(Written by: enmark)

I use this to mount a Canon 5D or 40D on a very old and very heavy tripod made by Kennett Engineering. It is well engineered head and very user friendly although very fine adjustments with heavy lenses take a little practice. Nevertheless, it does the job and is execellent value.

(Written by: Pete Waldron)