Product Description

Manfrotto 804RC2 - 3-Wege Neiger mit Schnellwechselplatte

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5381 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Manfrotto
• Model: 804RC2
• Released on: 2008-07-15
• Dimensions: 1.95 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
3-way photo head constructed of ultra-durable and lightweight technical polymer, the 804RC2 easily withstands the daily rigors of the professional photographer. A unique spring feature has been added to the 804RC2 to assist in the tilt motion of the head to compensate for heavier, off-center loads. Ergonomic and newly designed handles fit comfortably in the hands, while the standard quick release plate fits snugly in the low-profile receiver. (Plates Adapters: 200PL-38, 200PLARCH-14, 200PLARCH-38)

Box Contains

• 1x Manfrotto 804RC2 Basic Pan & Tilt Head with Quick Release Plate
  

Customer Reviews

Great 3 way head
This is a 3 way pan / tilt head with QR plate, it weighs 750g, and 12cm high, and has a max rated weight of 4kg's.

CONSTRUCTION:

The majority of the head itself is constructed of technopolymer (a special plastic developed by manfrotto specifically for this job). All 3 axis of rotation have plates and markers telling you the angle you are currently pointing your camera at. The axis lock handles have a nice rubbery type grip meaning handling the head in cold weather is not a painful experience.

The mounting plate has a standard 3/8" mounting hole to allow you to pop the head on the legs of your choice. The surrounding part of the plate is angled to allow the grub screws on your tripod to fit securely on the head.

The QR plate is some kind of metal, having a standard 1/4" thread to mount a camera. The plate secures to the head using a double spring loaded lever system to aid quick fitting of the camera, and prevent inadvertent release of the camera during use. Also on the head is a bullseye type spirit level for easy levelling, however like the level on my Manfrotto legs, this is not the most reliable of devices.

IN USE...

The build, and materials used are excellent, offering a real feel of quality that one would expect from a Manfrotto product. All axis of movement are smooth, and the axis locks are great, locking the camera in exactly the right position. It must be noted that the grub screws on your tripods platform need to be tight for the pan axis to be tight. The tilt axis has a spring loading for use with heavier lenses. The handles on the axis locks feel chunky, yet tactile, offering great feel for tightening or using the axis with friction for fine adjustments. Weight wise I use this with a set of 055MF3 legs, and don't find the head especially heavy.

CONCLUSION

Getting great shots starts with having a great set-up, this means initially a rock solid platform to adjust your composition.

As a product 3 way heads are quite simple, so it takes something extra special to make one stand out for recommendation. So what makes this special?

In short, the quality of build, the materials, and the little extra details like the double spring loaded QR, and the feel of the axis locks in use. This head delivers all of this, but most importantly it offers the rock solid platform to get the shot you want.

To be honest its difficult to find anything to be critical of in this design (wonky bullseye level aside {I've never bothered using this level as I do all my fine adjustment in the viewfinder}), and as such it deserves the 5 stars I have awarded it.

Great pan head for the price
I have been using this pan head with a Manfrotto MN-055 PROB tripod for about a year and I am very pleased with it. The build quality is great and it still handles like new. Panning in all directions is pretty smooth and the handles have really nice grips. The only problem is when tightening the pan head there is a small amount of movement meaning that precise locating in changing situations can be difficult but for the price this is a small issue. It is quite a heavy piece of equipment but this gives the pan head its stability. I often use the pan head with a nikon D80 and Sigma 50-500mm lens, which is a heavy combination but there is no movement in any of the bearings and the pan head feels rock solid. In conclusion, a great product at a great price that deserves a high quality tripod so highly recommended.

Why did I ever buy cheaper...?
I've been along the same road as many who have purchased cheaper (or very cheap) equipment thinking that it 'would do'. Well, it doesn't. Having bought this head (with the Manfrotto 055XPROB legs), for less than I have spent on three previous cheaper tripod kits, I wish I'd gone for it in the first place and would strongly recommend anyone considering purchase of a tripod and head, to spend the extra and save in the long-term and avoid disappointment in both performance and results.

The differenced I've noticed between this set-up and others I've used are:
Rock-steady performance - where you set it is where it stays.
Smooth, clunk- and grind-free operation.
Quick-release plate that stays fixed where you want it rather than 'drooping' as you rotate or tilt the camera away from the horizontal. And it is small enough to keep fixed to your camera. I can also now access the battery compartment without removing the plate - which was always a major niggle on the cheaper predecessors which all had huge and ineffective release plates.
Reassuring quality that will last.
Superior results by a long way with the photos I take - particularly HDR stuff.

This is a lovely head to use: it's easy to get used to and the handles are just where you need them to be when peering through the view-finder AND - importantly - they do not get in the way or poke you in the face as you attempt to compose your shot!

Fantastic head, great value and worth every single penny.