Manfrotto 322RC2 Joystick Head Short

by Manfrotto

• Unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position
• Revolutionary grip handle design with ball lock lever
• Friction control wheel regulates power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens
• Built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate
• Load capacity of 11 pounds; 5.5 pound capacity when in the vertical position

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 4 inches ; 3.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000JLK5PK
• Item model number: 322RC2
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #28 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Tripod Heads
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Take the versatility of a ball head, add true ergonomic control and you get the 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ballhead! The 322RC2 is unique in that it allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position. This is due to the revolutionary design of its grip handle which incorporates the ball lock lever.

A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your equipment as close as possible to the tripod's center of gravity by way of its reduced height. It is this fact, matched with the precision construction of the 322RC2 that gives the head its load capacity of 11 pounds (5.5 pound capacity when in the vertical position).

The 322RC2 comes complete with a built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate (standard 1/4-20-inch screw, with secondary safety pin). The 322RC2 is suitable for use with 35mm or medium format cameras. In addition, you can also mount the 322RS shutter release accessory. The 322RS is a world's first. With its remote control electronic camera shutter release, the 322RC2 becomes the only photographic head available today that can put camera control within reach without having to move your hand from the head grip to the camera body.

Features include:

• Sturdy all-metal construction.
• The compact, rectangular 200PL quick release plate system fits neatly under small-bodied still cameras up to SLR (even with tele lenses) or small medium format, or under small video cameras or spotting scopes. Its rubber pad gives a good grip without damaging the camera, and its angled sides ensure that it also fits perfectly and tightly into a wide range of Manfrotto heads.
• This head features a secondary security lock so you can't accidentally release the plate (and camera) without meaning to. The lock stops the quick release lever from opening fully.
• A convenient single locking mechanism blocks or frees movement on all axes for greater speed of use.
• Separate control for pre-setting the friction of the ball when unblocked. The position of the red line indicates the approximate amount of friction applied.
• By keeping the head and camera mounting plate as low as possible, the camera is kept safely closer to the tripod's center of gravity for more stable support.
• Thanks to the repositionable camera plate, this can be used right- or left-handed. Photographers are normally forced to be right-handed by the position of the shutter release button, but the advantage of this system even to right-handed users is that you can keep one hand on the grip to control framing position and switch rapidly between portrait and landscape settings, while the other hand stays on the camera, ready to shoot even with the head in movement. Keeping both hands positioned like this gives you greater control over panning or tracking shots.
• Designed for use with the 322RS electronic or 322RSM manual shutter release cables and mounts; the first accessories to let you control head positioning and shutter release at the same time, with the same hand, without needing to let go of the head grip.
• The built-in, carefully hand-set bubble spirit level helps make sure your horizons really are horizontal.

What's in the Box:
Ball head, quick release plate.

Product Description

Take the versatility of a ball head, add true ergonomic control and you get the 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ballhead! The 322RC2 is unique in that it allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position. This is due to the revolutionary design of its grip handle which incorporates the ball lock lever.A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera and lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your equipment as close as possible to the tripod's center of gravity by way of its reduced height. It is this fact, matched with the precision construction of the 322RC2 that gives the head its load capacity of 11 pounds (5.5 pound capacity when in the vertical position).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

345 of 347 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything it claims to be - more than the sum of its parts January 5, 2008

By Black Belt Systems

Amazon Verified Purchase

The 322RC2 Ball Head and rapid connect plate, used in combination with a decent set of tripod legs (for example, Bogen Manfrotto 190XPROB) are a profound step up from the all-in-one tripods you may be used to. Even more importantly, they are a step up from most other ball heads by virtue of the immense improvement in both speed and ease of aiming your camera once actually mounted to the ball head. I can't emphasize this enough: This product actually changes how you use your camera, because repositioning the camera on all axis at once is a one hand, fraction of a second operation.

I know that's hard to visualize, so let me describe the process. The head has a handle sticking out the side, quite substantial and comfortable, that fits in your hand (right or left, your choice.) On this handle is a very large "trigger" that fits beneath all of your fingers as they wrap around the handle. When you pull this trigger, the ball head releases your camera and you can move it, using the handle as a precise and ergonomic lever, to any new position you like in no more time than it takes to adjust your wrist and arm - essentially immediately. Then you simply let go of the trigger and the ball head locks the camera right where you have it pointed.

The process I just described applies equally to large pans and tilts as it does to tiny pointing adjustments. If you find that difficult to believe, I'm with you - so did I - but having used the head extensively, trust me, it really works as advertised.

There is almost no post-lock sag; that's the effect where you point the camera, tighten the locks, and then when you look, the camera has drooped below the actual point of aim you intended. There is a tiny bit; I don't think it will affect most users.... For example, I often shoot images of the moon using a 500mm or 600mm lens. My camera, an EOS 40D, has a "live view" mode that allows me to magnify the center of the view until the LCD screen has a 1:1 group of pixels from the center of the 10 megapixel sensor, effectively magnifying the view many times. With this on, I can see only a fraction of the day/night terminator on the moon, and can watch the moon move steadily and visibly across my point of aim. With this ball head, when I point the camera in this state, letting go of the trigger results in "droop" that amounts to about 10% of the view height, which is perhaps a 2% droop of the total image height. I know that when I fire the shot, I'm going to find my original aiming point pretty much dead center in the photo, which of course is what we're all looking for. Without the live view magnification on, there is no visible droop at all.

The quick release plate functions very well. There is a safety catch that must be released in order to remove your camera; with it set correctly, the camera can be removed with one easy flip of a lever. With it in the safety position, you can't remove the camera. Once the camera has been removed, the camera locking lever is in the unlocked position; a really nice feature is that when you put the camera back on the head, there is a brass pressure-trigger that automatically snaps the locking lever (but not the safety) into place as you put the quick-release plate into the mounted position. The camera goes from off-head to on-head in a one-handed motion that involves no more than accurately reaching for the head and turning your wrist, then "click", and the camera is secure. Now turn the safety catch, and no worries about accidentally popping the camera off the head. Another nice feature on the quick release plate is the mounting system to the camera provides for a drop-down handle to tighten and release the screw that goes into the camera body. There will be no searching for coins or tearing up your fingernails with this design.

That 11 pound capacity means that for almost any reasonable lens combination, this head has considerably more capacity than it requires to hold your SLR or DSLR with great authority. This extra capacity translates into great stability for lighter loads; my 40D and a Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens together weigh just a few pounds, and the head and tripod have what feels like a "death-grip" on them, the stability is so evident. No trembling in the wind (and I live on the plains in eastern Montana... I shoot in 10 to 30 mph winds as often as not), no tweaking of the aim as I fiddle with the many controls on the camera, no drooping when I reach out and manually focus the camera. Just a wonderfully stable and usable design.

The head has its own ball level you can use, and it is very easy to see while aiming using the trigger, but of course if you're looking at the level, you're not looking at what the camera sees; I never had a great deal of use for such things. If your camera can provide horizontal and/or vertical guides in-picture, that's a better choice for framing things by a long shot. Still, the level is there if you need it. The tripod legs I mention above also have their own level, and I *do* tend to use that when I set the legs up. The reason for that is if the tripod is vertical and you have the legs all the way out, you've made certain that the weight of the head and the ball are centered above the tripod's feet, and so the odds of overbalancing the system are much lower. So just a word to the wise, always level your tripod, and don't fret too much about the head.

The head has a tension control that you can set to a lighter grip on the ball if your gear isn't as heavy as the weight limit for the head. However, I suggest this is left in the maximum tension position; the reason for that is that the firmer the lock to the ball, the less droop you get in aiming, and the less vibration you'll get when adjusting things like your lenses focus ring or other camera controls.

There is a threaded mount-point for an accessory that holds your camera's remote shutter release; the idea of this is to move the camera shutter control right down by the same hand that is adjusting the camera. That's one way to do it; another is to set the head up for left-handed use and keep your right hand on the camera. Given the choice, I go for the latter because there is a lot more to do than just control the shutter these days; we have exposure lock, focus lock, and various knobs and wheels affecting other settings as well. But you do have the choice, and this shows that the manufacturer was thinking about how we might actually use the head, not just about how to hold a camera tightly.

The head will adjust upwards until the handle is pointed directly up and away from your tripod; this makes the tripod easier to pack, but adds about eight inches to the tripod's collapsed length. Keep that in mind if you're thinking about a companion bag for the system. Unmounting the head is a simple matter of twisting it about and it will unscrew from the tripod in a reasonable number of turns - not a problem at all. Detached, the head fits in large camera bags without too much difficulty; I use a Tamrac 5612 Pro 12 bag, and the head slips into one of the full-height compartments just fine. Don't expect to fit the head into a purse-sized bag, that's just not going to happen.

Bogen Manfrotto provide a good warranty, but I don't expect you'll ever get to use it. You'll see why when you get this thing in your hand. It is built tough. Really, really tough.

Photo pros are fond of making very sweeping statements about tripods and heads in general; one you hear constantly is that a good tripod system is worth more than a new lens in many situations. Let me echo that sentiment here, and let me say that because of the amazing convenience and speed that the triggered ball release provides, taken together with the great stability and lack of droop the high-load magnesium ball lock brings to your tripod system, I give the 322RC2 my absolute highest recommendation. I can't see how it could be improved. It is built like a battleship and I can't see how you could damage it barring running over it with a bulldozer. It has *significantly* increased my enjoyment of my camera and if it were to be stolen or lost, I would replace it instantly without even bothering to research what other heads might be available. It is really that good.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no way to go wrong recommending the purchase of this head, and that goes for those who already have considerably more expensive heads, too. It isn't often that something comes along that significantly and broadly improves the actual way we take pictures. Try this gem; I just know you're going to like it. Read more ›

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Manfrotto almost got it right. I'll bet the next version will be better. February 26, 2009

By Bruce Beauchamp

This has more good going for it than bad. The fly in the ointment is that after it has set for a few minutes locked, the head sticks relatively hard with the grip fully unlocked. It feels momentarily stuck, which ruins an otherwise smooth movement in the tilt forward and tilt backward motion. All the other movements, which use the ball, are very smooth. The problem is that the tilt forward/backward lock is not the ball, it's a collar ring. The friction material that Manfrotto used for the collar ring is a poor choice because it likes to stick after a few moments (or longer) of pressure of being locked. With the success of this head, in spite of this annoying flaw, my bet is that Manfrotto will correct this design defect and others such as Gitzo, Arca, etc. will copy it to some extent if they can. At that point we will be near perfection in a tripod head for digital cameras. For the time being, I like it more than I don't like it. The freedom of movement combined with the ergonomics are enough to make me forget about the annoying "stiction" problem. Final comment; the grip lever tension spring is stronger than it needs to be. If you use this head quite a bit during a day, you will definitely feel you've had a bit of a workout for your grip squeeze muscles.

96 of 101 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars works very well for spotting scopes December 21, 2005

By Gary E. Meyer

I bought this head for use with my spotting scope, which I use for birdwatching. A typical tripod head is such a nuisance when you are trying to scan flocks - there are too many things to tweak on the head alone, let alone trying to adjust the focus and zoom on your optics. This works beautifully for birding - you can move the scope in any direction with a single hand by squeezing the handle, leaving your other hand to focus the scope as you move. There are several minor drawbacks: the head can be a bit jerky when you initiate the movement, but after you have it in motion it is smooth and locks exactly where you release the trigger. More of a problem is that the trigger is a little stiff and can make your hand very sore - in fact, this handle is probably a bad idea for small hands. Finally, there is no way to fold the handle down so that my tripod fits into my tripod bag. You can fold it upwards, but it then it sticks out the top. For travel on airplanes, it may be necessary to take the head off the tripod.

85 of 89 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great flexibility for any shooting situation October 11, 2004

By M. Hood

This ball head is a great item. It offers so much versatility with so much ease. When the grip is in the horizontal postion, it will allow you to pan unlike traditional quick release ball heads. You can adjust it from a right handed postion to either left handed postion or to a tradtional vertical positon like any other quick grip ball head. With one quick motion, I can go from horitonal shot to a vertical shot. The grip also has a tension knob built in so you can increase the tension when you have to use heavier lenses.

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 322RC2 head with the 3021 tripod. January 9, 2006

By Carlton Ward

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this head to go with the 3021 tripod and am so glad I did. I have bought so many cheap tripods and they are always losing feet, swaying in the wind and are unstable. This head is so fun & easy. It has an easy squeeze handle that you can set the tension for ease of movement and quickly position your camera (even vertically) then just release and its locked in place. The levels are also accomodating as they are right where you can see them. The locking mechanism has a pin that adds additional security when connecting your camera to the head. I like this as it will prevent an accidental release and I would just hate to have my 20D and whatever L lens I may possibly have on it to fall to the ground.

The tripod also has excellent features with leg positioning and though you may fing lighter weight ones, I personally like the weight of this one and can even add some additional weight to the hook when needed.

This is an excellent head to go with the 3021 tripod - dont hesitate to buy this combo.