Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System

Just confirming what all the others have said: this is an excellent ball head. It's maybe a bit on the heavy side, but that's the price you pay for stability. Excellent precision engineering.

Highly recommended. I use this with a Manfrotto carbon-fiber tripod and Cannon 40D, it works very well. Great ballhead for the money.

I puchased the 486RC2 for my D60 coupled with the Nikkor 55-200mm VR. I coupled the head with the Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod Legs.

Pros:
- Super smooth movement of the ball head
- One lever release allows for quick and easy adjustment
- The head will securely hold my D60 and 55-200mm VR in the upright/normal position when 055XPROB tripod neck is placed in horizontal arrangement
- Sturdy design, well built
- RC2 quick release system allows easy/quick dismounting of camera for hand-held shots
- Grooves in the swivel base allow for quick and secure vertical positioning of the camera

Cons:
- Does not allow for accurate fine tuned adjustments, would need to go with a geared head instead
- A little heavy, at 3lbs, which adds to the already heavy 055XPROB Tripod Legs

Summary:
I love this head, almost as much as I love the Tripod/Head combination. I am more than satisfied with my purchase.

I bought this to mount a video camera to my motorcycle. Works well, and I can take camera easily when I stop. Very rugged and heavy.

This ball head is highly-reviewed by so many people because it truly delivers a LOT of value for the money. I looked into it after reading suggestions in Scott Kelby's excellent "The Digital Photography Book".

My tripod came with a pan head - a very good one - but I wanted to find out if I would prefer ball heads. Didn't want to spend a fortune (expensive ones run upwards of $200-300), but wanted one that was solid enough that I could really decide if ball heads were for me.

As it turns out, the 486RC2 was perfect for this task. It is solid and easily holds my 40D with even a 70-200mm lens without sagging. And for my style, a ball head seemed easier than a pan head atop my tripod.

The RC2 quick release plate is solid and reassuring, and I do like the mechanism. You won't accidentally release the plate and drop your camera onto the floor - the little latching lock is excellent in this regard. I will look for a similar plate on my next ball head.

The only improvement I would ask for is the step up to the 488RC2, which has a separate release for panning/rotating. I want to do some basic panoramas, and it's just a bit easier to have a separate release for horizontal motion. Had I known I would be a ball head guy rather than a pan head guy, I'd have bought the 488RC2 right away. But since I didn't know and wanted to make sure, I got this one first. Even when I eventually get the 488RC2, I'll keep this one to put atop my second tripod; that way it's easy to swap cameras around, as both cameras and both ball heads will have the RC2 system.

For the excellent price, you get a SOLID ball head and a great quick release system - you'll appreciate it.