MANFROTTO 322RC2 Any good ?

[MeadsMan]

I am thinking of getting the MANFROTTO 322RC2 tripod head,My heaviest combination at the moment is the camera body with Canon 400mm F5.6 prime.It`s about the price I can afford,It does say it can support up to 5kg,not sure what my camera lens combination wieghs Any users of it out there,would like to hear any pros and cons from you.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

I am thinking of getting the MANFROTTO 322RC2 tripod head,My heaviest combination at the moment is the camera body with Canon 400mm F5.6 prime.It`s about the price I can afford,It does say it can support up to 5kg,not sure what my camera lens combination wieghs Any users of it out there,would like to hear any pros and cons from you.

I use it with a Canon EOS40D and Sigma 150mm Macro as my everyday head/camera combination and it is just about fine with that set-up. Very occasionally in warm weather (expansion I guess) it loosens up to the extent that the weight of the camera/lens will cause it to lose position. It has an adjustable tension control which sorts it out. I have tried it with a Canon 400m f5.6 and as long as it is near horizontal it works fine. If the head is sloping down then again it can slip in warm weather. I prefer to use something a bit more solid in preference though when I'm using the 400mm. Getting precise positioning with it for macro shots can be difficult as the long handle can get in the way but I do like it and use it as I said on an almost daily basis.

[PMG]

I had one and it went in the bin!

The spring went in the handle grip so it came way out beyond where it was supposed to then when you gripped it to use it - it trapped the skin on the insides of sev fingers I continued to use it with lots of the postmans discarded red rubber bands around it ........

Also it doesn't have true manouverability - I can't explain properly without seeing it again (and as it went to the tip last year sometime?) the ball head is not a true ball - there is a plane it won't go on - if I remember right it won't do flight photography cos you couldn't swing it up without turning it round somehow - usually what you wanted to capture had long gone by the time you work out how to get it there!

And any weight will loosen it and take it downwards ..........

Was the best waste of money ever - my advice - don't even think about it! Pay a bit more for something better .........

Pauline

[MeadsMan]

Thanks for the replies,I allready have an old Gitzo head that suffers from that slight movement thing,just when you think you got it spot on All the popular tripod heads designed for big heavy set ups seem very expensive,I liked the sound of 322RC2 because it sounded like it was a very flexable but solid mount,I have a large benbo ball and socket,but again it suffers that slight movement thing,just after you think you have it locked in position.

[Ollie]

Don't know what your budget for a head is but I use a Manfrotto 488RC4 ball head when using the tripod. It is well capable of supporting a Canon 400 F5.6 and I also use it with the bigma and the Sigma 150mm macro lens as well.

There is only a couple of control knobs to control it and it never moves when locked and it is also very smooth when you need to move it. Never tried it for in flight stuff as I always hand hold for that. A little pricey maybe but the old saying you get what you pay for holds true.

[MeadsMan]

Thanks Ollie,I am a bit put off by the larger plate on that head,I often use a monopod,with the Manfrotto attachment head,it would be nice if I can have the heads using the same size quick release plate.I will certainly keep it as an option though,as you can not top advice from experienced users.

[Boddie]

I use the MANFROTTO 322RC2 with my 30D and 100-400IS and it is perfectly good, extremely versatile and I would definitely recommend it. I must have had it 4 years now and its as good as new

[Geoff F]

Somehow, I missed this thread when it was fresh; but just in case this is still of any interest to anyone.

Originally I found the 322RC2 head to be cumbersome in use for action photos and macro where I needed to quickly lock onto an insect before it moved.

Eventually I reversed the quick adjustment handle so it now sticks out to the left side parallel with the camera body and 90 degrees to the lens. I now find that I have total control over my camera by gripping the head handle in my left hand with my right hand on the right side of the camera and my right hand shutter finger always ready. A fairly strong left wrist is an advantage though.

It adequately supports my Canon 40D with 180 mm macro or Sigma 150-500.