Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head 496 with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate, Maximum Load: 13.2 lbs/ 6 kg

2018-10-12T16:22:28

A good solid tripod head. Replaced an older trigger style head. Easily handles my 5DmkIII with the 70-200 2.8 lens with nary a wobble. Perfect for my needs.

GENE M.

2018-05-08T09:36:53

Expensive, but SOOO much better than what I had before! Flexible and easy to maneuver in all directions.

Diane M.

2017-10-19T15:17:49

Fits my big Canon 5d and so easy to operate!!!! Love

ALYSSA C.

2017-07-04T13:39:58

I get my first tripod system with this head + Manfrotto 190GO!. So far so good. Easy to assemble, even for the first-time user. Great to use, flexible to adjust the angles. Overall, it works great for me.

Sheng Y.

2017-03-07T11:41:54

I have not used the Manfrotto 496 TV ball head on any sizeable project as yet, but I am impressed with it's construction and weight capacity for my Nixon. I find it easy to use to make precise adjustments. Love it!

Thomas C.

2016-08-17T09:06:24

I received the item from Adorama in only a few days! Great service! As for the Manfrotto ball head, I can recommend it as well as every piece of Manfrotto equipment I own - they are a class act. Thank you again, Manfrotto; and thank you Adorama for another perfect transaction.

MICHAEL R.

2016-08-08T10:14:42

well made,

Alex H.

2014-04-16T21:00:00

This Ball head is a no-nonsense product, it's simple to use, holds a camera very firmly and with great confidence, and is an excellent addition to my newly purchased 055XB tripod legs, overall a very solid platform for all my landscape photography needs, oh and the black finish is very sleek and good to handle/look at.

PHILLIP J.

2013-07-22T21:00:00

This is a fantastic, rock solid ball head. I've used it with a Canon EOS 60D with a 70-300mm L lens attached (which is quite heavy), and the ball head feels very secure. It is super fast to adjust, and the quick release plate is a great feature. It is pretty hefty, but I didn't select it for a travel tripod.

MARK S.

2013-07-15T21:00:00

Bought this to go with my timelapse rig on a slider. Have only had it for a week but it looks sturdy and locks tight. One issue that worries me a little bit is that it isn't as smooth as some of the other ballheads I have used (Joby ballhead X, Gitzo). Perhaps there is some was to mitigate this but it just feels kind of 'dry' metal-on-metal when rotating, even fully unlocked. This doesn't hurt the performance as far as I can tell but makes me question durability. Other than that, solid product, feels sturdily built. I have not tried to take it to its maximum rating yet.

Joost

2013-07-12T21:00:00

I bought this a few weeks ago and I am happy with my purchase. I've used it to shoot fireworks, wildlife, and landscape shots. It is very sturdy with a Nikon d90 and a 80-400 zoom lens on it. It has a large range of motion and the quick release is sturdy and easy to use.

JAMES I.

2013-06-14T21:00:00

I changed out the clamp part to an Acra style, (Sunwayfoto) and now this ballhead easily handles my D700 with a 300f/4, or a 24-70f/2.8 very easily. I just have more confidence in the Acra rail type clamp than the Manfrotto QR plate...

ERNEST F.

2013-06-10T21:00:00

I use this ballhead with a D300 and lenses up to a 70-200 2.8 - still well under the weight limit for this head. The drag control knob makes it easy to adjust the action for different weight gear. Overall, very nice construction and excellent finish. Nice and compact

Chris

2013-05-30T21:00:00

I bought a Dolica B100 tripod about a year ago and had problems with the ball head that came with it. My primary Camera is a Sony A77 and with the 16-50mm zoom, a heavy rig. With the Dolica ball head I was always getting "drift" no matter how hard I tighten it. Now I know some people would say mounting the 496RC to the Dolica is like putting a $1000 saddle on a #100 hourse! Maybe true but it is now "rock solid", easy to adjust quickly and zero drift.

Joseph F.

2013-04-15T21:00:00

I bought this along with a carbon fiber monopod mostly for travel. The Manfrotto 496RC2 is light weight (for a head), but has enough weight holding capacity for my Nikon D800 and lens. It is easy to adjust while setting up for the shot. It is small and compact enough to use in tight places while giving a good range of motion. I already owned a Manfrotto tripod with a quick release so the fact that I could get the same setup for a monopod was a plus. I like being able to quickly connect and disconnect my camera from the head. The locking mechanism works very well and holds firm. With the secure lock feature, I have never had a problem with it coming unlocked accidentally.

TERRY S.

2013-04-02T21:00:00

It´s a great product, until you try to do Portrait photography. RC2 plate have a loose coupling to the ball head. Tighten the screw doesn´t help. In landscape orientation you can deal with this movement, but in portrait mode the weight of the lens tends to move the camera pointing down forcing you to recompose again and again.

Antonio R.

2013-03-11T21:00:00

perfect for my needs and not expensive...it took me a while to understand the mechanism for clamp it

moncho

2013-02-04T19:00:00

Easier to use than I thought- The ball makes it very versatile. I'm learning to use a tripod and this makes it more intuitive to handle- I like that I'm able to change from horizontal to vertical quickly and still have the stability. Eases that learning curve.

Grace G.

2013-01-16T19:00:00

I bought this head to put on a graphite travel tripod that I can fit in my carry-on luggage. It will be used for low light travel shots, and for nature shots with a long lens attached. The head is light but sturdy and holds even my D700 with a 500mm lens without a gravity creep. It has a standard Manfrotto quick release plate, is solidly built and it is small enough that it works well for travel.

ORVILLE S.

2012-12-13T19:00:00

I really like this head. Fairly compact with a good range of motion, I use this on longer hikes on a monopod in the wilderness. With the RC2 quik release plate i can move my camera from my monopod to tripod at anytime. Using the fastenRT-1 connector from BlackRapid i can also use the there strap.

JEFF R.

2012-12-12T19:00:00

I bought this to replace the head on my Benro tripod. I wanted a head that was compatible with BlackRapid quick release products. I'm very pleased with the purchase.

GLENN L.

2012-09-23T21:00:00

Wish it came with 2 quick release plates

WALTER J.

2012-09-02T21:00:00

Nice light weight, easy to use Ball Head.

Joy

2012-08-28T21:00:00

Great bang for the buck

Gary

2012-08-23T21:00:00

I mostly do landscape, nights shots and macro and I needed to replace a pistolgrip ballhead which was not able to carry the load of my DSLR & lenses. I was pleasantly surprised to find a reasonably priced Manfrotto. COOL! To date, the ballhead has surpassed my expectations.

Mountain S.

2012-08-12T21:00:00

This works well, both with general photography and with my spotting scope while birding. I use it with the Manfrotto monopod: it gives me flexibility when I need to focus quickly on a subject, but is sturdy enough to allow me to use my telephoto lens.

On P.

2012-07-15T21:00:00

Wanted to mate a ball-head with a new Manfrotto 190X. The assembly is not for backpack but does get moved around a lot and wanted a quick release so as not to move around with camera attached. The reviews and size convince me to take a flyer at the 496RC2 and no disappointments. Holds position well with a D90/70-300 lens, controls are quick to operate, move smoothly, locks down securely, and the fit/finish is what you expect from Manfrotto. The 496 does what it is supposed to do without the weight and size getting in the way and at a reasonable price. Would definately do this again.

ROBIN M.

2012-06-25T21:00:00

Looking for basic, easy to use head for spotting scope and this fits my requirements perfectly...lightweight, easy and quick to adjust, with full range of motion.

RICHARD E.

2012-05-23T21:00:00

Sturdy, stable - and cute! :-)

GINGER H.

2012-05-14T21:00:00

Holds my D300 securely, and quick release is very easy to use. Adjustments in position in all directions is fast and solid. Some tendency for camera to creep slightly in full vertical portrait position - maybe I need to tighten the camera/head connection more...

CORBIN S.