Manfroto/Bogen 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead?

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Manfrotto by Bogen Imaging | 322RC2 Grip Acti | 322RC2 | B&H

Does anyone know if this is the industry standard for "Grip"-style heads? I can't find any that cost more than this and this "looks like" ones I see others using but I'm just not certain.

I've always used standard "ball" heads... so I am curious about the grip action heads.

Thank you in advance,

- Wil

[johnastovall]

One of these was on my Bogen tripod and I did not care for it. Found it hard to use at high angles and requiring too much fiddling to keep constant tension on the ball.

There's nothing it does an RRS ballhead doesn't do better.

[venchka]

From an physics, engineering & photographic standpoint.........

FAIL

[Tom]

I think these types of grips are pretty much panned by serious photographers.

I prefer a pan head. Some prefer a ball head. I don't know anyone that has used one of these and loved it for an extended period of time.

[jeffkohn]

I've actually heard pretty good things about the 322 from folks that have used them (no personal experience myself). The other grip-head has (had?) the grip oriented vertically with the camera mounting on top of it, which I don't think would be very stable. Any ball-head in this price range is going to have some creep/slippage, so you need to understand that going in.

Comparing one of these to a ball-head costing 3-4 times as much is a bit disingenuous. No doubt the high-end ball-heads are better-made, but to some extend you get what you pay for.

Wil aren't you currently using an Acratech ballhead? I thought that's what I saw on your tripod, in which case I think something like the 322 might be a step down in quality. I've heard pretty good things about the Acratechs. What is it about your current head that don't like and home to improve on?

[jeffkohn]

I think these types of grips are pretty much panned by serious photographers.

Terrible pun, intentional or not.

I think most photographers are lemmings when it comes to tripod and heads, to be honest. It amazes me how many landscape shooters I see using ballheads which IMHO is arguably the worst type of head of landscape work.

[wclavey]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

It amazes me how many landscape shooters I see using ballheads which IMHO is arguably the worst type of head of landscape work.

Well, I guess I can scratch 'ballhead' off my list!

I actually like the 3-way Arca head that Jeff has and have considered it before, but I know it just wouldn't be happy on my free tripod! ...or knowing that it is replacing another head that is probably 40 years old! But seriously, we used instruments in the lab that were designed to be aligned like Jeff's head works and it was very intuitive.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

I have one.

From what I hear, this is an excellent tool for wedding photographers as you can adjust your angle quickly. I've never used it for a wedding but wouldn't hesitate. The build is very solid.

Joe

[lhdvies]

I have one(322RC2) that I use out in the field. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for Panning it is rock solid when locked in place. For what I use it for, (mostly in the boonies) I like it a lot!

[Analog6]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I think these types of grips are pretty much panned by serious photographers.

I prefer a pan head. Some prefer a ball head. I don't know anyone that has used one of these and loved it for an extended period of time.

You do now, I love mine and find it stable and a good piece of equipment. I like the way I can swing it over quickly for portrait format and then back to 'normal' for the next shot.

I do not hesitate to recommend it.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Wil aren't you currently using an Acratech ballhead? I thought that's what I saw on your tripod, in which case I think something like the 322 might be a step down in quality. I've heard pretty good things about the Acratechs. What is it about your current head that don't like and home to improve on?

Jeff,

Yes, I'm currently using an AcraTech GV2 ballhead. It's great but I was considering getting one of these "quick" grip-it-and-rip-it heads just for people portraits. When doing those, it's a pain to deal with knobs... hence the interest in the grip-style head.

What caused my original post was the cost. The head was so cheap that I thought it couldn't possibly be the one I see people using. If you watch any of the PhotoVision videos, most of those photographers are using a grip-style head. Some are using them on a Gitzo trip and others are using them on a Cambo stand. Just from watching the videos, they seemed like a nice head. Could there possibly be a higher-end grip head that I'm unaware of?

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Honestly, I think this (222 Manfrotto (Distributed by Bogen) 3265 Grip Action Ball Head with Quick Release - Supports 5.6 lb (#3265)) is the one I saw them using.

- Wil

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

Jeff,

Yes, I'm currently using an AcraTech GV2 ballhead. It's great but I was considering getting one of these "quick" grip-it-and-rip-it heads just for people portraits. When doing those, it's a pain to deal with knobs... hence the interest in the grip-style head.

OK, that makes sense. I can see how speed of operation might be more important than absolute stability for situations like that.

What caused my original post was the cost. The head was so cheap that I thought it couldn't possibly be the one I see people using. If you watch any of the PhotoVision videos, most of those photographers are using a grip-style head. Some are using them on a Gitzo trip and others are using them on a Cambo stand. Just from watching the videos, they seemed like a nice head. Could there possibly be a higher-end grip head that I'm unaware of?l

I don't know of any others. The biggest downside to the Bogen heads is their proprietary quick-release system, which is not nearly as nice as Arca-Swiss. On some of their heads, you can remove the included QR clamp and add an Arca-style clamp, but that's not the case for all of them and I can't tell if it is for the 322 from the pictures.

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

Honestly, I think this (222 Manfrotto (Distributed by Bogen) 3265 Grip Action Ball Head with Quick Release - Supports 5.6 lb (#3265)) is the one I saw them using.

- Wil

I would take the 322 over the 222, just looking at the 222 I can't see how it could possibly be as stable due to the extra height. With the 322 the camera is much closer to the axis of rotation.

[Dobick]

Using this head in the portrait orientation is a pain in the butt. Further, after about a year, the head began to get looser and I had a tough time keeping it locked at all. It would creep (actually more like a brisk walk) away from where it was locked. I never trusted it after that. I eventually found a screw that tightens up the tension, but not until well after I had replaced it with a different head altogether.