Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head with Quick Release Replaces Manfrotto 488RC2

Can't say enough great things about this ball head. I bought it to replace a very expensive German brand ball head that was destroyed after my last hiking adventure. The trail ended up being very slippery and I had to use my tripod as a walking stick. Long story short, it served me well for many years, but didn't live up to the challenge of walking stick vs. moss covered rock.Spent some time at a local camera store comparing new ball heads. I was shocked, to say the least, at how expensive ball heads have become. Seriously. I've been a professional photographer for 20+ years and am willing to pay the price when it's warranted. I was pleasantly surprised with this Manfrotto offering. It has nearly all the features I was looking for in a simple, well engineered ball head and didn't break the bank in the process.I have already invested in the Manfrotto Quick Release plates for my camera bodies and lenses, so not having to change to a new system was a huge plus. It will easily handle the weight of most DSLR camera bodies and lenses. I did some research into the weight limitations of this ballhead and my Canon 5D-Mark III with a 70-200 lens didn't come close to the specified weight limits.I like that the controls are simple. No acrobatics or third hand required when using this ballhead. There are (3) controls. One is a quick control, to get you in the ball park quickly. The second is a friction control knob. It allows you to adjust the tension on the ball, so the movement changes are loose and quick or slower with some resistance. The third knob is to rotate the base.The base rotation knob was important to me as I like shooting an occasional panoramic. It's nice getting everything locked down with regard to horizon orientation, vertical and horizontal, then simply pan the camera without loosening up all the controls. But I mainly photograph portraits and this is a nice balance of size, quality and control.The only negative I can think of is why they even bother to put the degree of rotation reference markings on the base. If the ball head were geared and you could dial in very precisely, the degree you wanted, that would make more sense. It's kind of cool. Makes me feel like my ball head is capable of doing more. Yes, I know it's actually helpful if you're the kind of photographer that liks to take notes about every camera setting.Another minor complaint is simply the height of the ball head. There is another Manfrotto model that I saw in the photo store, that was a step down from this one. It had less features, but it was an even smaller profile head. Meaning, the space between the base and the actual ball. Not sure why this one is higher, but that's a very minor complaint.I'm very happy with this ball head and feel it will serve me well for many years. I use my tripod and ball head frequently and it just works. Yes, there are some amazing ball heads out there for $400+ and I'm sure photographers feel justified in purchasing them. That's for another review. But this is a great ball head for the money. A stupid easy purchase, in my opinion.

I purchased this Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head in anticipation of a three week trip to London and the Mediterranean. I wanted to pair it with a Sirui CF Travel tripod, and was interested in this and a couple of other Manfrotto ball heads because the quick release plates they use are compatible with the Black Rapid strap system which I use. I wanted to be able to quickly go from a strap-held camera to one mounted on a tripod, and this and a couple of other Manfrottos gave me that option. I choase this one because it had two features I was very interested in having - the ability to hold over 15 pounds of equipment safely and the ability to shoot panorama shots. This was the best combination of all of those criteria, and the price is very, very competitive.I couldn't have been happier with the ball head and the quick-release plates. The ball head is sturdy and substantial, which is what I want when 2K of equipment is balanced on top of it. That said, it was simple to maneuver and manipulate, even in the dark and the rain of both London and Venice. The panorama feature was very much appreciated as it gave me the chance to shoot many of the ports our cruise ship visited. The transfer from Black Rapid strap to tripod was quick and simple - I could and did do it in the dark many times with no trouble. When the camera is locked onto the ball head, it is a very firm and sturdy fit - I didn't once worry that my expensive camera might slip or fall.This was the best combination of my needs and price that I could find, and I have to say it was an excellent choice. The ball head performed flawlessly and will be my first choice for every trip in the future. I highly recommend this ball head.

For the hundred bucks it cost from Amazon, this ball head is more than worth the money and I recommend its purchase. I would have given the product five stars if not for the few issues listed.One issue I have is with the safety lock mechanism which, when engaged, prevents the main unlocking lever from accidentally being relased thus leading to the camera falling. The problem is that it is too sensitive when set to the "unlock" position and the slightest touch can cause it to engage and prevent the camera being removed. This issue is most likely related to this particular head straight off the assembly line. The ball head I tested at my local camera store before purchase did not have the issue and it has not proven to be any "serious" problem. Besides, with wanting to error on the side of caution, I can more than deal with this safety feature being active more times than not.Another issue is that the camera tended to "wobble" slightly when mounting a heavy camera. It did take some slightly above average force for this lack of stability to show itself, but it did cause blurry images after pressing the shutter button a little hard a couple of times. I also think that if the height of the post between the actual "ball" of the head and the mounting plate was just a little shorter, this stability issue would be greatly reduced if not eliminated.Aside from these issues, the movement of the head is very smooth and allows very quick positioning, and locking, of the camera. I found myself using the tension adjustment knob on first use and it worked perfectly. The head is not too heavy and has a pretty low profile considering how much weight it is rated to handle.Pros: Built very well from top-notch materials. Locking controls are easy to use. Motion of the head is smooth. Uses standard Manfrotto mounting plate. Great price for the professional level product that you get.Cons: No way to use the threaded screws from my tripod to lock the head to the tripod because the underside of the head's mounting plate is perfectly smooth. The mounting plate safety latch is too sensitive and tends not to stay in the unlock position. Slightly unstable under heavy weight loads.