Customer Reviews

Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head - Replaces 3275

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For any subject/object requiring precise placement and framing a gear head is imperative, and this head is currently the best value in the market for 35mm camera users. Such subjects/objects include product, food, interior, architectural, and some portraits (location/life style). Other types of photography including landscape, sports, and events might benefit more from other types of heads such as ball heads or none at all.

The Manfrotto 410 offers full control of each axis independently of the other axis. Hence, the head allows for rotation, and forward and side tilting. Each movement is essential for framing subjects/objects. For example, while photographing interiors achieving level placement is very important to maintaining none converging vertical lines. By having the ability to control forward tilt independently from side tilt, obtaining straight vertical lines becomes an easy task. Furthermore, while photographing food if the front lip of the plate appears too dominant tilting the camera slightly upward can easily correct the problem.

The key phrase is slight or minor, because three way heads offer the same feature above but they do so with out the precise control. To make any of the adjustments above one has to loosen the lock for each control and make the adjustment by hand and then relock on the desired position. Such method is crude and cumbersome especially for fine adjustments required for product and interior photography. More so, the adjustment can slightly change which relocking the axis, rendering the adjustment useless.

Unlike three way heads, the Manfrotto 410 has gears inside its housing to facilitate precise movements. Turn the knobs slightly and the head will move slightly in the desired direction. Keep turning and the head will continue until it completes the movement range. Admittedly, turning the knob to complete the full range of movement takes a while. For faster adjustments there are levers, when released, allow for free movement by hand exactly like a three way head.

That means you get the best of the two heads, precise and free movement, plus much more including very small adjustment knobs compared to three way heads. Also, the quick release plate included with this head is bulky but very stable. The quick release adapter is built into the head making it impossible to change the quick release system. That is disappointing until you consider that Kirk makes an adapter that attaches directly to the quick release adapter and allows for use of Arca Swiss plates instead. It is quite pricey accessory but considering the cost of the head compared to other alternatives this combo comes out cheaper than buying another head with built in Arca Swiss quick release system.

Fully recommend, buy with confidence!

I've owned this head for several years. It is built like a tank and makes it easy to achieve fine adjustments. I often mount a telescope on it atop a Bogen 475 tripod. The only downside for photography is in making quick camera reorientations: While it has a quick release in each axis, re-pointing is not as quick and intuitive as with a ball mount. All-in-all an excellent piece of equipment with a variety of uses when paired with a good tripod.

There are alot of reviews out for this head if you look around. For the most part they are all right. This is a great head. Its not the lightest head. In fact, its really heavy, but if you want a head that isn't going to move then this is what you want. This tripod head will hold quite a bit and not budge. Its excellent for macro work. Just pair it up with a nice rail, and you will be all set. The knobs are easy to move, and if you need to make any major adjustments the spring loaded knobs release and let you spin the axis freely. If you need something to hike or travel with, you need to look somewhere else. Bottom line, this is an excellent value. You won't be disappointed.

For my purposes it is the finest tripod head I have ever used. My other ones are also Manfrotto. You just can't go wrong with Manfrotto. It's like anything else, when you buy he best you are rarely disappointed. My primary use for this head is to mount a KOWA 827 spotting scope for silhouette rifle competition. It is an extemely solid, strong and stable mount. Panning is smooth and flawless. I would think it would also be quite good for astronomical observation use.

I purchased this head after trying a couple chezzy 70 dollar heads. I bought it to use with a Swarovski spotting scope on a 190XPROB tripod. This set up is used for position and prone shooting. I can get the scope exactly where i need it every time, no knobs to tighten and no sagging. Just a twist of the rubber coated geared knob and it stays there.

This head does exactly what it is supposed to do. It is easy to quickly aim the camera in the approximate direction by turning the release collars. But then it is easy to precisely aim the camera using the gears. The quick-release works well. My only complaint is that it uses a different quick-release plate than my Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head.

Excellent product!

This is not a replacement for a ballhead, it takes a bit more time to setup. A different tool for a different purpose. I use mine to align my scotch mount with celestial north so i can do long exposure astrophotography and imaging on deep space objects. A regular ballhead or pan/tilt is almost impossible to setup for this purpose because once you tighten them up there is a tiny bit of sagging as the head takes all the weight. With this geared head it always has the full weight without any extra support, allowing for fine tune adjustments. this would be equally suited for landscape and macro work. it is BIG, heavy, and you can make extremly precise fine tune adjustments. If you need to move things faster, release the chuck by the knob and the movement comes loose.

I couldnt be happier with this geared head.

This geared head is a perfect choice for your tripod if you want quality and precision. It's easy to adjust the position with accuracy and ease and good for panoramic. The downside is the head is heavier.

Definitely recommended.

I purchased the Manfrotto Junior Geared Head as a tool to assist in photographing jewelry. The geared head seemed to solve my need for the ability to make slight camera position adjustments. As I experimented with the quick release aspects of the head a few times, the safety release and spring fell from the head. I returned the item to Amazon and received a replacement the next day (thank you, Amazon). The replacement had its own set of problems, the worst of which was the locking lever that became jammed. Amazon accepted both units for refund.

I was surprised at the poor quality of the Junior Geared Head because I owned high-quality Manfrotto products prior to this purchase. I wrote to Manfrotto to express my dismay, but have not yet received a response.

I do a lot of macro work, and I used to use a ball head, but it was very difficult to move the focal point into position, then tighten it down with out my larger lenses dropping down. With this mount (I put it on top of my ball head, and use the ball head for rough positioning, then use the Manfrotto for precise positioning), I can easily move the camera into position with no wobbling or movement after the position is set.

Love it.