Manfrotto 808RC4 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release

2019-02-20T09:57:01

I bought this to mount on a large tripod for using a Nikkor 200-500mm lens. This is a pretty beefy unit for my needs but it does the job.

Greg F.

2017-05-12T11:26:12

Very solid and stable, easy to adjust. Great tripod head

DAVID C.

2013-03-25T21:00:00

A very good head for the price.Very well made and smooth to use. Ideal for the larger DSLR and big lens combo.. It was bought to replace an older 141RC which saw very heavy use for over ten years in all weather. Actually returned the 808 as it was much heavier and bulkier than the 141 a tad overkill for my set up. Bought a used 141 In great condition and anticipate many years of use from it.

THE M.

2012-06-09T21:00:00

This head is awesome. I love the smooth panning and the amount of angles I can get.

GnarDanks

2012-05-23T21:00:00

I use this for every possible application that a tripod is needed for.

Dlowe

2012-02-13T19:00:00

The 3 way works much better for me with my large format and RB67 than my ball head. This 3 way is more stable and easier to make adjustments with these heavy cameras.

barry d.

2011-12-04T19:00:00

My ball head just didn't work when I got my 4x5 monorail camera. I quickly learned that when using a large format camera you need to be able to adjust one plane of movement separately from the other two. I decided to try a 3 way head and this one is a good value for the money. Built solid and works smoothly. It certainly makes making the adjustments to one plane at a time MUCH easier than my ball head. My only complaint so far is the rubber pad on the quick release is a bit "squirmy" when tightened snugly onto the camera. Of course I would like for it to be lighter but for the money I think the 808RC4 is a lot of bang for the buck.

barry d.

2011-11-13T19:00:00

This tripod head is reasonable well made, offers smooth motion, and the built-in level is great. My issue is with the plate that attaches to the base of your camera and then locks onto the head of the tripod. The screw that connects the plate to the camera uses a screw that can't be hand-tightened, only by using a coin (or maybe you have really strong fingernails. I don't.) My Manfrotto Monopod uses a screw with a trapezoidal wire extending from it that can be folded up for tightening and then folded flat against the plate. This head does not. Good thing I own a machine shop; I had one of the machinists re-work the screw and then I machined the excess material in the plate to accommodate the larger piece and now it works well. But if you don't have this in-house capability you may struggle when attaching the camera to the tripod. Or just make sure you always have change in your pockets.

BETH D.

2011-10-30T21:00:00

Not very complicated to use. Smooth motion. The longer handles make it a little combersom for a tripod bag.

LINDA F.

2011-10-09T21:00:00

This is a pretty unbeatable head for video for the price. There's a good balance of resistance and smooth flow to pan and tilt, but it takes a bit of practice to learn exactly where that balance is. Otherwise it'll pick up slight jerks in your movement. Once you learn where that specific tightness is though, you can get some really great pans and tilts from it. As mentioned, it's a great deal!

MIKE C.

2011-10-05T21:00:00

I am disappointed that the buble level is not level. I set the buble right between the two lines but the camera is out of Horizontal plane.

Bao N.

2011-07-05T21:00:00

This superb head gives first class performance paired with a serious tripod. It takes some practice to become skillful in it's use, but there is no doubt that it will remove any excuse one might give for producing less than excellent photos under windy, unstable, field, mountain and forest conditions! I purchased it after being disappointed with lighter supports for my work. Now I am simply stunned with the improved quality of my work. There is no substitute for having equipment that truly supports your creative vision. Go for it!

HARRY F.

2009-08-08T21:00:00

What can I say, the best heavy duty rigid Locking, and I mean it LOCKS, around? There's enough spirit levels on this thing, as even a pro can get lost in composition and regret it later. Not too many of us will admit it. There is no such thing as too rigid. You will never know how good your glass is until it is dead still. I do landscapes on this head with a medium format film camera, often with the lens stopped down to f32 or smaller. I often sell 30" x 40" prints, and things just have to be dead still plus the head cannot slip (that's what happens when you try to save money and weight). For you serious amateurs and enthusiasts, yes thousands of dollars have been sold in prints doing things the right way. Just a friendly note to you guys this is the way to go! I'm replacing an underrated junior head with this and fell in love with the lack of hassle and ease of use. I cannot stress the point enough that if you love photography, buy smart and rigid. Some of my setups with camera, lens and sometimes flash can exceed 10 lbs. Don't hesitate to buy this for 35mm or digital either. The purpose of the review is to point out the head. Personally I shoot fine grain professional medium format film, and the comparison in digital terms of the size of the negative vs. grain and digital cannot coincide in detail. Pro film can easily yield an equivalent to 60 mega-pixels or greater on medium format, and there are no digital gradation steps. So much for the lecture, the detail is in the details and this head is that good, period. I use this head on the 055XWNB Legs, and have no regrets whatsoever. I use 35mm and digital when appropriate, and on this setup. The spring stabilizer release feature with the much lighter cameras is very useful in the "Portrait" position flipped on the side (the springs are strong, and it helps or hinders depending). If you need a head that folds very compact, this might not be the best choice for travel. In that case, the compact geared heads are as compact as you can get, I have the the 410, and the 405 would be your best bets. However for the purist, this is the ONE. And if you wonder about the quick release, don't even worry, please. I trust over 10 grand in the back and the lenses on mine. It won't fall off, you have to press a secondary lever to release, and its not accidental. Buy extra plates if you have more than one camera, you will be stoked on how quick you can setup.

Sandia K.

2009-03-29T21:00:00

This allows for good movement after focus to compose. A bit awkward at first...took a little time, but don't get this if you are looking for something lightweight. Haven't tried it any for panning to this point, but should work well for that also.

STEPHEN R.

2009-03-05T19:00:00

This tripod head is great. It has one minor problem that is easily compensated for. The degrees on the vertical tilt access are off by a few degrees when everything is leveled up.

oscar

2009-02-06T19:00:00

Use this head with a 400mm telephoto primarily to photograph whales. Makes shooting and getting great photos a breeze. Safety release prevents accidental dropping of valuable gear.

Maui D.

2009-02-05T19:00:00

I'm pretty satisfied with it's build quality and flexibility. Flawless combo when paired w/ Manfrotto's 055XPROB.

Chapman C.

2009-02-05T19:00:00

I use for nature photography. The head provides a very solid foundation but is definitely bulky and heavy. The adjustment arms really don't collapse much and so when you take this with you, you really have to want to take it with you.

Lee H.

2008-08-23T21:00:00

Very good product , slightly heavier than I thought. Well Designed.

tipp p.

2008-05-07T21:00:00

Bogen-Manfrotto hit another home run with this head. This is a very solid piece of heavy-duty equipment. Paired with the Bogen-Manfrotto 410PL Accessory Plate 1/4 3/8"F/410 and the Bogen-Manfrotto 055XWNB Wilderness Tripod Legs, you have a very solid and versatile foundation for your camera gear. It is hard to find a better setup, and that is why I bought one for my wife. If you are new into photography, I suggest you get the same gear that I mentioned and it will be the last time you will need to get a tripod setup. I have many friends that tried all kinds of cheaper combinations, and they all ended up spending more money than I did due to them having to upgrade to better gear because the old gear did not get the job done. Now the majority of them have the exact same setup I have been preaching for a while.

SCOTT C.

2008-01-21T19:00:00

This is a great tripod head, movements are smooth and locks firmly in place. Can't say anything bad about this product.

John K.

2008-01-20T19:00:00

I bought the 808RC4 to support a 400mm lens. It took some getting use to adjusting it horizontally. It would move after I let go of the camera. I learned not to be holding the camera or lens while making the final adjustments. I only hold the horizontal clamp handle while tightening it down.

Jeff

2007-09-25T21:00:00

I am happy wiht this product

Sammy

2007-09-25T21:00:00

Nice and smooth

Carlg