| Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Hydrostatic Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System (3157N) |  | Brand: Bogen
Category: Photography
List Price: $278.00
Buy New: $250.10
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Rating:  reviews
Media: Electronics
Maximum Weight Recommendation (lbs): 22
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7 x 4 x 4
MPN: 468MGRC2
Model: 468MGRC2
UPC: 719821246725
EAN: 0719821246725
Release Date: April 14, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks
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| Features:
 | Ball-locking system with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate; can leave permanently attached to camera | | | Hydraulics create super-tight lock from a minimal turn of the locking knob | | | Lightweight, but supports heavy camera loads up to 22 pounds | | | Independent pan and tilt locks with a 360-degree pan and +90 to -90 degree tilt | | | Oversized ball-locking knob for easy control even when using gloves |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The 468MG Series Hydrostatic Ball heads is the most advanced ball head of the entire Manfrotto range. Designed to meet the demand of professional photographers for a lightweight, but heavy duty load capacity ball head. Intended for camera and lens loads of up to 35 lbs., this head has a magnesium die cast body, a 2" Teflon coated aluminum ball combined with specially designed tension surfaces provides movements as smooth as silk. The oversized lock knobs combined with the patent pending hydraulic locking mechanism provides the ultimate positive lock with the least amount of effort. Truly an engineering marvel!
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| Customer Reviews:
Great Ball Head May 14, 2009
Brian Levens (Pine Mountain, Georgia)
I really like this ball head. I have used several mechanical type over the years but this is the first hydrostatic. I wanted a Markins or Arca Swiss but I just couldn't see spending that much more money for one of those brands. A friend of mine bought one of these first and he was in love so I bought one as well. It does feel a little "grainy" when you move it but overall it's still better than the others I've had.
 Great head, poor RC2 rapid connect system... July 9, 2008
R. Lanthier (Vienna, VA United States)
I had this ballhead for a few weeks. I thought the construction of the head was excellent. Superbly designed and crafted. Where it all falls apart for me is the Bogen RC2 rapid connect system. It just does not work well with heavy gear, and items twist. So, use the architectural plates you say? Great idea! I bought a bunch on to find that they do NOT work with many tele lens feet. Just not heavy duty enough rapid connect system for a ballhead of the caliber. If this head was available without the RC2, I think it would be a bargain if you could add an arca-swiss-type clamp to it.
 Ideal design, just a bit heavy May 22, 2008
Lincoln Gergar (herenow)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Manfrotto Hydrostatic Ball Head uses a unique hydrolic fluid system to apply even pressure to immobilize the ball head. The result is minimal effort to twist the knob and a strong, steady, unmoving head. This ball head is by far the best ball head in the Manfrotto line.
Everything about this ball head is top quality and very effortless to use. The only flaw that I can find is the weight of the tripod head. It is not super heavy, however it is not light weight.
If you are mounting equipment that is on the heavier side and aren't looking for a lightweights system, then this head will please you with its ease of use and strong hold.
However if you want something to hold a minimal p&s or dslr set up that is easy to carry around town or on hikes, you may want to look into something lighter.
For what this ballhead is designed for, I give it 5 stars. No other company that I know of is using hydrolics. I hope to see Manfrotto release a lighter weight, lighter load-bearing Hydrostatic Ballhead that is more suited for travel.
Comparing this ball head to others, is like comparing cantilever padded bicycle brakes to hydrolic disk brakes. The first requires much manual effort to apply an uneven wheel brake (applied to only 1 side of a wheel). The second requires absolute minimal effort to apply a completely even and much stronger wheel brake.
If you don't have this Manfrotto Hydrostatic Ball Head sitting on display at your local camera store, visit a bicycle store instead. Test the brake levers on a regular padded set and also a hydrolic disk set. The differences are night and day.
Precision and strength in the same tripod head July 19, 2007
Mr. Stephane Barbotin
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Hydrostatic ball heads by Manfrotto are excellent stuff. Of course they are more expensive than other fine heads. But think that the overcost will be easily amortized and that in the future you may sell your camera body for parts, or you may sell your lenses for more sophisticated technology; but this tripod head, along with a fine tripod, you shall pass on to your children years and years from now, because the need for stability and for a heavy weight-capable tripod will remain, whatever future camera technology shall be.
The 0468MGRC2 head is very smooth to operate, but will hold (very) strong when you turn the nice large gummy button. And you don't need to use strength to turn it thank to the hydrostatic design: two fingers are enough to hold massive camera+lens.
I tried it with Nikon D200+grip+500mm mirror lens or AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8; tripod and tripod head are critical for use of such equipment. It worked great!
She's a heavy... March 7, 2007
whatever (san jose, ca)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This thing is pretty heavy, putting it onto my carbon fiber tripod probably doubled the weight...
The hydrostatic locks WORKS- you turn it 20-30 degrees and the ball isn't moving.
The quick-release lock is a bit fiddly, but the quick-release plate can be clicked into place without having to use the lever, which is nice.
The head is also a bit big. My Gitzo Traveller folds its legs upward and I can't completely close them but it's close.
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