Used Manfrotto 128RC Fluid Head with Quick Release - Supports 8.9lbs (#3130)

2021-02-26T14:30:48

I have used this product for about 17 years and just bought a new one. In general the product works very well for use for scanning with telescopes. The only issue I had with the old one was that I lost a couple of the knobs that lock the head into position. Just make sure you keep these tight enough that they don't become so loose they will fall off.

NICHOLAS L.

2017-11-01T08:48:20

My wife is an avid birder. She has a heavy tripod with this same head on it, but for a recent trip she bought an inexpensive, light-weight scope. It's head simply wouldn't stay in place - the weight of the scope was enough to cause the front of it to sink. Even I couldn't crank the friction knob on the cheap scope tight enough to hold the scope in place. Problem solved by switching to the Manfrotto 128RC. Neither of us shoots video, so I can't comment on how good it is for that, but for holding a spotting scope it's ideal.

W.C R.

2017-10-30T12:05:34

The first one I got from Adorama was defective but they sent me a perfect one immediately. Great service great head!!!

John B.

2017-03-02T11:22:14

I just this for my Swarovski Scope and it is perfect!!!!

JOE F.

2012-09-09T21:00:00

This works well on my Glidetrack which is why I bought it. It does the job it was designed to do. Obviously not as smooth and perfect as much more expensive units but it does well what I'm using it for.

Salvatore C.

2012-07-01T21:00:00

Definitely the best value in a semi-compact fluid head tripod. Very smooth. Fairly compact. Great combo with the Manfrotto 190XPROB legs.

LARRY O.

2012-04-18T21:00:00

Locator pin is not the spring loaded metal pin you might expect. It's a push-in plastic pin and it's way too large to fit the locator pin hole on a Pentax PF80EDA or PF65EDA II Spotting scope. Amazingly cheap part on what is otherwise seems to be a really nice head.

GEORGE P.

2012-04-02T21:00:00

Good video head for the price. I start to do some videos with my 5DMKII and I am very happy with this economical video head.

M.Grenier

2012-03-11T21:00:00

I got this with the 190XBPRO sticks. It is fine for say a 5D with a 50mm lens but if I put my 70-200mm on there it is a little bit overwhelmed. If your camera is small and light it is great but I'd probably get the 701HDV head instead. This one only attaches to the base on one side and when you tighten and loosen the drag it tends to sag to the side that is not supported. I use it as a head on my slider mostly now.

NILES H.

2011-12-22T19:00:00

Very nice and smooth action. It has the same plate as my other Manfrotto head.

SHELLY B.

2011-10-10T21:00:00

Handles an 85mm spotting scope with ease.

JAMES R.

2011-01-11T19:00:00

Nice overall head for video or landscape-oriented photography. Can have slight movement even when screw locks are tightened.

SHELLY B.

2010-01-09T19:00:00

Use with a Brunton 20x60 spotting scope for birds. Action is very smooth and is very stable on my Bogen 3021 Pro tripod

dbirder

2009-02-19T19:00:00

Now marketed by Bogen-Manfrotto as the 128RC2, for most spotting scopes this well-built and smooth small fluid head affords smooth panning and tilting while searching for and following birds, yet remains light enough to be readily portable. Mine is mounted on a Bogen 055 XB three section aluminum tripod, a combination totaling about 7-1/2 pounds, nicely portable but very stable for my 65 mm aperture spotting scope, and for most people probably very adequate for up to an 80 mm scope. With my angled scope, generally I do not need to raise the center post, which compromises the unit's stability, even though I am well over six feet tall. Beyond that, my Swarovski spotting scope has a square mounting foot that fits directly into the very secure clamp of the head. In actual field use, the 3130/128RC2 affords a noticeable improvement over the smaller 718B tripod I had been using previously, which lacks a true fluid head.

ALAN B.

2008-12-31T19:00:00

Easy to use and is a good addition to the Bogen lineup

Rockawaybirder

2008-08-23T21:00:00

I got this in conjunction with their car window pod to make wildlife photography more stable from the car. I think it does this well, especially considering the price. I use it with both 4 and 8 lb lenses. With the heavier lens, there is more vibration, but it is still usable.

ERIC T.