Product Description

Bogen Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head is unique in that it allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position. This is due to the revolutionary design of its grip handle which incorporates the ball lock lever. A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your equipment as close as possible to the tripod's center of gravity by way of its reduced height. It is this fact, matched with the precision construction of the 322RC2 that gives the head its load capacity of 11 lbs (5.5lb capacity when in the vertical position). It comes complete with a built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate (standard 1/4 - 20" screw, with secondary safety pin).

Product Details

• Brand: Manfrotto
• Model: 322RC2
• Released on: 2006-04-14
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 4.00" w x 6.00" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

• Unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position
• Revolutionary grip handle design with ball lock lever
• Friction control wheel regulates power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens
• Built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate
• Load capacity of 11 pounds; 5.5 pound capacity when in the vertical position

Manufacturer Description
Take the versatility of a ball head, add true ergonomic control and you get the 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ballhead! The 322RC2 is unique in that it allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position. This is due to the revolutionary design of its grip handle which incorporates the ball lock lever.

A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your equipment as close as possible to the tripod's center of gravity by way of its reduced height. It is this fact, matched with the precision construction of the 322RC2 that gives the head its load capacity of 11 pounds (5.5 pound capacity when in the vertical position).

The 322RC2 comes complete with a built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate (standard 1/4-20-inch screw, with secondary safety pin). The 322RC2 is suitable for use with 35mm or medium format cameras. In addition, you can also mount the 322RS shutter release accessory. The 322RS is a world's first. With its remote control electronic camera shutter release, the 322RC2 becomes the only photographic head available today that can put camera control within reach without having to move your hand from the head grip to the camera body.

Features include:

• Sturdy all-metal construction.
• The compact, rectangular 200PL quick release plate system fits neatly under small-bodied still cameras up to SLR (even with tele lenses) or small medium format, or under small video cameras or spotting scopes. Its rubber pad gives a good grip without damaging the camera, and its angled sides ensure that it also fits perfectly and tightly into a wide range of Manfrotto heads.
• 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 convenient single locking mechanism blocks or frees movement on all axes for greater speed of use.
• Separate control for pre-setting the friction of the ball when unblocked. The position of the red line indicates the approximate amount of friction applied.
• By keeping the head and camera mounting plate as low as possible, the camera is kept safely closer to the tripod's center of gravity for more stable support.
• Thanks to the repositionable camera plate, this can be used right- or left-handed. Photographers are normally forced to be right-handed by the position of the shutter release button, but the advantage of this system even to right-handed users is that you can keep one hand on the grip to control framing position and switch rapidly between portrait and landscape settings, while the other hand stays on the camera, ready to shoot even with the head in movement. Keeping both hands positioned like this gives you greater control over panning or tracking shots.
• Designed for use with the 322RS electronic or 322RSM manual shutter release cables and mounts; the first accessories to let you control head positioning and shutter release at the same time, with the same hand, without needing to let go of the head grip.
• The built-in, carefully hand-set bubble spirit level helps make sure your horizons really are horizontal.

What's in the Box:
Ball head, quick release plate.

Customer Reviews

I used to loathe lugging around a tripod
I have been using a traditional, three knob tripod head for the last couple of years, and absolutely hated carrying my tripod around. In the instances where I absolutely needed to use it, it was always a chore. It was a pain to setup, and fine tuning once you had a rough composition was difficult, to say the least.

I finally replaced the old head with the Manfrotto 322RC2, and I actually enjoy using my tripod now. Composing shots is much more fluid and natural. You can readjust quickly, and have much more flexibility with positioning. I've used my tripod more in the last month with the 322RC2 than I had in the last year with the other head.

This is a great addition to any sturdy tripod legs.

The Perfect Head for your tripod
I have a big DSLR with a battery grip, as such it is pretty heavy.

When you put on some heavy glass, especially a long telephoto lens, most heads will drop and fall under the pressure.

I originally had a panorama head (made for doing 360 degree panoramas) the problem was, I had to remove by battery grip, and only use my 50mm prime to use that pan head with my other tripod. It could not support the weight.

I use this head with this tripod (which I think is the best tripod around)
Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black) and it supports everything perfectly.

The best thing about this head is the grip, it has a level, but I don't find it to terribly useful. With the grip you can push it in and move your camera around quickly with ease. This head supports my camera with battery grip and my long telephoto lens. It never moves, it never shakes. I can go from horizontal to vertical in seconds, which is perfect for someone like me who likes to get things from as many different angles as possible.

I was recently up in the mountains (very high up) and the wind was crazy, I was shooting with a friend, he had one of those cheaper tripods with a 50 dollar head, and his tripod flipped over and he busted his camera and cracked a lens. My tripod didn't budge.

Luckily he had a backup camera, but wow, that made me happier than ever to of spent as much on this setup as I did. Your only as strong as your weakest link.

With that said, the downside is using that tripod with this head is the weight. When your doing a several hour long hike, it adds up. But in the end, its worth it. This has to be the best combo currently in existence for the nature photographer.

I highly recommend it, and if you think its a bit too expensive, think about what happened to my friend.

Fantastic Head !
When i first saw it in one of the local stores, i decided that this is what I am gonna buy it. Absolute flexibililty in moving the head in every possible direction and you can control the friction of the ball movement with a screw. But its little heavy. I use it with my Manfrotto 190XPROB leg and I love it so far. Its a little pricy too, but worth the buck !