Customer Reviews

Manfrotto 804RC2 Basic Pan Tilt Head with Quick Release Plate 200PL-14 - Replaces 3047 (Black)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I agree with others that the older 3030 was much better. I actually like the knobs on the 804 better, but otherwise it is not as good. I had A LOT of trouble with the tilt mechanism - it kind of jerks instead of moving smoothly, so it is very difficult if you are trying to precisely position your focus point. Even with the knob completely loose, it still does not move smoothly.

I am modifying my review to increase the star rating from 3 to 4 stars. A comment on my review told me that I could improve the tilt mechanism by using graphite. I tried that and it did improve the tilt a lot. So I like the head better now. I do still think that the older 3030 was somewhat better, but I like the tension spring on the 804 that prevents the lens from pivoting down rapidly, and as I mentioned, I like the 804 knobs better. So I would now recommend the 804.

To start ... I'm not a tripod head enthusiast, just an amateur user who's only prior experience is with a cheap Ambico version.

With that out of the way, I found this product met my expectations for a head that cost twice as much as my original tripod.

It is fairly stable - the knobs hold my camera in place well, and the three controls give me good flexibility in maneuvering the camera as needed. However, the knobs are definitely twiddly and not as generously proportioned as the 808RC4.

However, this does take up much less space and is much lighter, both of which weighed heavily in my decision to choose it. As experienced tripod reviewers say - the best tripod is the one that you have available - and weight was a huge consideration for me.

I found the quick release plate to work pretty well too.

I bought this along with the 190XPROB - at a bundle discount (currently $217 from Amazon).

You might want to check out my more detailed review on how that bundle works out for me.

Looking for a better type of monopod for my Sony vx2100. Came across the Manfrotto BOGEN 804RC2 Head in my local camera store. Added this to a manfrotto monopod 560B with the arms at the base. Wow!!! This gives me alot of control with my camera and great movement in the pans & tilts. Does take some practice in getting use to but worth every penny invested into it.

I bought this three-way head to couple my Manfrotto 190MF4. Although I have never used a high-quality tripod and head, I can tell that this head is of high-value and definitely worth the money. It is durable, easy to use, comfortable on the hands, and precise. The quick-release plate is a nice feature and make for fast set-up. One thing I made sure of was that it had a spirit level, which is especially necessary when shooting landscape or panoramic shots. Although it does move rather fluidly, there is a slight hitch when initiating the movement so I would not recommend this head for video work. Also, I plan on taking this on backpacking trips and the head is rather bulky even with the handles taken off, so I will probably want to get a simpler ball head for that purpose (my 190MF4 tripod is perfect for hiking/traveling by the way).

This is a great head once you get used to using the three separate controls. The benefit of this head is not only it's compact size, but also the ability to lock on axis while adjusting another. With practice, this is the way to go vs. those ball and socket heads for accurate composition of shots.

Don't buy this Man 804RC2 unless you try it first with your gear to be sure it does what you want (i.e., don't buy on name or photo alone). All the bearings are dry plastic-on-plastic. I needed this to hold my high optical-powered gear steady and to get there smoothly and easily. Instead, every movement is jerk, jerk, jerk -- oversteer, jerk, jerk, -- understeer, -- jerk, jerk ...same. Almost better to handhold your gear and rest it on a tree. I finally resorted to spraying WD-40 in the joints and it actually improved things a bit. Total waste of money and time. I can't imagine what use they had in mind or what customer would find this acceptable. It's just a complicated-looking toy pan and tilt head.

Moving from the old 3030, I was hoping for something lighter. After trying to use the 804 for about 5 minutes, it became apparent that this is not a piece of equipment that is up to Manfrotto's quality standard. Operation is sticky, making it very difficult to accurately position where you want. I returned it and got the 808rc4 which is heavier but much smoother and easier to control. I actually preferred the quick release plate on the 804 over the 808. It is smaller and has a D ring for tightening. The plate on the 808 is overkill, too big unless you have a large camera body, but it works.

I purchased this head to help out with landscape photographs, as I find ball heads too tedious to align properly. The head is lightweight, travels well and the three different axis controls lock securely with the handles. The only complaint I have is that it's difficult to make finite adjustments. For my burgeoning interest in landscape photography, my next purchase will likely be a gear head mount. Until then, the 804RC2 will work just fine

I expected a smoother operation from a pan-tilt head like this. However, the quick release worked fairly well with the exception of when the lock-open was triggered it made getting the plate back in less intuitive. I do like the manfrotto quick-release system a little better than gitzo because it allows tightening of the plate with one simple operation, rather than screwing in a pressure plate. For now i'll be using the gitzo ball-head because it's a better fit for me (i.e., smoother operation, smaller and more portable).

I prefer a pan tilt like this having a setting for each direction than using something like a ball head. While it is a bit sticky to adjust I don't find it horribly difficult to use. I rated it 4 stars vs 5 due to the "sticky" adjustment but I think in this price range it is a pretty good head. I have a Nikon D300s and with the 18-200 lens I have no problem making adjustments. I think if you want really fine adjustments you would want something that adjusted on a screw axis.

Quick release, horizontal, vertical and swivel adjustment. Pretty much a head most of us will ever need.