Product Description

With its solid aluminum construction and phenolic resin ball, this head is the ideal support for all traditional or digital small or medium format cameras. It features a separate fast action ratchet lever for the 360° pan and an easy to grip locking knob for +90 -90° tilt movements. This Version Comes equipped with a 3271 quick release 3157N camera plate system with a secondary safety catch and two spirit levels for precise levelling on both vertical or horizontal axis. Camera plate has 1/4-20" male thread. Head to tripod attachment is 3/8"female.

Product Details

• Brand: Bogen
• Model: 488RC4
• Released on: 2006-04-14
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 4.00" w x 7.00" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

• Ideal for all medium format, 35mm and digital cameras
• Solid aluminum construction and phenolic resin ball
• 3271 quick-release camera plate with a secondary safety catch; two spirit levels for precise leveling on both vertical or horizontal axis
• Separate fast-action ratchet lever for 360-degree pan
• Easy to grip locking knob for +90 to -90-degree tilt movements

From the Manufacturer
With its solid aluminum construction and phenolic resin ball, the Bogen-Manfrotto 488RC4 head is the ideal support for all traditional or digital small or medium format cameras. It features separate fast action "ratchet" locks on 360-degree pan and +90 to -90-degree tilt movements. You can position your camera anywhere in 180-degree sphere with confidence and ease. Equipped with a quick release 410PL camera plate system with a secondary safety catch and two spirit levels for precise leveling on both vertical or horizontal axes. Camera plate has 1/4-inch male thread. Head to tripod attachment is 3/8-inch female.

Features include:

• Sturdy all-metal construction.
• Two bubble spirit levels built in for accurate alignment.
• The double 90-degree groove (one on each side of the head) means switching from landscape to portrait is convenient however you're set up.
• The 410PL quick release plate system offers a broader footprint ensuring a large stable point of contact between camera and plate, which improves stability with larger heavier camera equipment. The sliding screw adapts to the precise configuration of the camera.
• This head features a secondary security lock so you can't accidentally release the plate (and camera) without meaning to. The lock stops the quick release lever from opening fully.
• A repositionable ratchet means that the locking lever's action will never be blocked either open or closed by interference with the camera body, tripod shoulder, etc... simply pull the lever outwards and it's free to be positioned more comfortably without affecting the locking mechanism. Then you can continue tightening or loosening the knob.
• A separate lock on the panoramic axis allows for rotation adjustment or panning to be carried out without losing framing.

Customer Reviews

Sturdy but HEAVY
After researching ball heads, I landed on this over the 486RC2 (no separate panorama) and the 488RC2 (no spirit level). It feels very sturdy while supporting my Canon Rebel XSi with the kit lens. It's not a monster setup as compared to some of the other reviews, but it had no problem with sagging even with the knob only half-tightened. As a corollary, it was a lot heavier than I expected and I'd agree with previous reviewers that it may not be the best item for backpacking. Day hikes may be do-able (I'm going to try next month). The plate is deeper than my XSi, but it doesn't look obtrusive when off the head and it's not in the way when I'm focusing or zooming. The XSi battery compartment is not obstructed by the plate. The quick release lever was a little stiff in the beginning, but feels solid. I did not have any problems manipulating the safety button as other reviewers have griped. The head is taller than I expected, so be aware that you need to add about 4.5 inches to the tripod height for the true camera height. Luckily I'm 6 foot, so this head on top of the Manfrotto 055XPROB legs fully extended and center column down is just the right height for me.

Big, heavy, but tough.
The reasons I like this unit are the same reasons I don't. It's larger than expected, but it's robust. I like the ball head for use on my Manfrotto MagFiber monopod. In fact, I like it so much that I plan to by a video tripod that can use this head.

I mount a Canon 5D with an L series IS 100-400mm lens on it and it locks securely without ever giving me the feeling that it might slip or break. It's easy to learn how to use it even when you're "in the heat of battle" as I was an air show last weekend.

I would buy it again, even if it does double the weight of the monopod it's mounted atop.

Simply Excellent!
Quality product. I have been a fan of the "Walmart" variety tripods until now. This head is bigger than I expected and not in a bad way. You get what you pay for. Tight and solid where it needs to be yet easy to adjust. I could not be happier.