Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate
- Price: $139.99
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # MA498RC4
- Mfr# 498RC4
Product Highlights
- 17.64 lb (8 kg) Load Capacity
- Die Cast Aluminum
- 5.31" (134.87mm) Tall
- Lightweight 1.54 lb (.69 kg)
The Manfrotto 498RC4 Compact Ball Head with RC4 Quick Release and 410PL QR Plate is constructed of die-cast aluminum, strong enough to support an SLR camera with a medium lens, and light medium format cameras. It has a single repositionable locking lever for 360° panoramic rotation and ±90° tilt movement, plus a friction control for precise positioning. Cameras are attached to the ball head with the 410PL Plate and RC4 Quick Release with 1/4'' male threads. The head to tripod attachment has 3/8'' female threads. Additionally, the Quick Release has a safety system to prevent an accidental detaching from the head.
| Load Capacity | 17.64 lb (8 kg) |
| Ball Sphere Diameter | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Quick Release | RC4 |
| Spirit Level | Yes |
| Tension Control | Yes |
| Rotating Head | 360° |
| Tripod Mount Thread Size |
3/8" female thread (bottom) 1/4" screw (attachment) |
| Plate | 410PL |
| Height | 5.31" (134.87mm) |
| Tilt | Lateral: ±90° |
| Weight | 1.54 lb (.69 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 63 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
97%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Stable (55)
- Attaches firmly (52)
- Large range of motion (51)
- Strong clamp (49)
Cons
- Heavy (15)
Best Uses
- Landscape/scenery (54)
- Night shots (45)
- Portraits (41)
- Home (37)
- Wildlife (31)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (29), Semi-pro photographer (16), Pro photographer (8), Casual photographer (6), Photography student (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (48)
Most Liked Positive Review
Love it!
This is the best invention known to man (or at least pro photographers!) I love the ease the quick release plate provides. You can change your composition from Landscape to Portrait and back ...Read complete review
This is the best invention known to man (or at least pro photographers!) I love the ease the quick release plate provides. You can change your composition from Landscape to Portrait and back in a matter of a second. The knob is so easy to tighten and loosen and you never have to guess which way it should go. Definitely worth the money!
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Great idea; poor quality parts
Smooth, solid, looks like a great design, but keeps falling apart because of poor-quality fasteners or poor tolerance control. Arrived with head plate loose; tightened (metric) tapered flat head internal wrenching screw...Read complete review
Smooth, solid, looks like a great design, but keeps falling apart because of poor-quality fasteners or poor tolerance control. Arrived with head plate loose; tightened (metric) tapered flat head internal wrenching screw, and figured it was OK. After 3 days of riding strapped to my backpack while I walked, pulled it out for critical job, and plate was flopping loose again. Reassembled with 243 Loctite this time (which factory should have done)--very sloppy fit on screw threads. If it fails again, it'll find a home in a flea market. Great design with D300 WHEN IT HOLDS TOGETHER. Just looks like poor quality control.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 63 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Home
- Night Shots
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Good quality and stability.
the space is big enough for the full frame camera.
Easy to use but a little heavy.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Very solid/sturdy design.. will handle the weight of any DSLR with ease and even some smaller professional vid Cameras such as the XF100.. The QR Plate is very easy to use and you can tell it will last for many years with lots of use and abuse.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Travel
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Great product
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I recently bought the 498RC4 Ball Head for use on my Manfrotto 055XproB tripod. I was concerned about it handling the weight of my Nikon D600 with the Sigma 150-500mm Bigma. Well my concerns were put to rest easily by this sturdy ball head. It handles the weight securely and the adjustment knobs work effortlessly. I also like the RC4 quick release. It is a bigger plate than the RC2 which comes in handy with bigger lens collars and camera mounts. The RC4 plate snaps into it's receiver with a distinct "click." You know it is locked in place because the release lever then pops back into the locked position.
This is a very nice ball head and the design compliments the Manfrotto tripod legs.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- Manfrotto 055XproB tripod
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I had read many reviews before purchasing this QR plate. Many people felt it was too large and cumbersome compared to it's smaller cousin. I'm using it with a D7000 paired with an MB-D11 battery pack, and (most often) an 18-200mm lens. With this set-up, the 410PL is superb. It is flush with the battery pack in front and back, and protrudes about 5/16" to the left, not at all problematic. With the 498RC4 ball head screwed on to the 055XPROB tripod, it's a great rig for this amateur photographer (and likely for many pros). It's not the lightest weight route, but for general purpose dependability I couldn't ask for more. I felt I paid a fair price- especially when you factor in the manufacturer rebate.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I use this with the 055 blah blah legs and have been very pleased. the qr plate is absolutely secure, and it is infinitely adjustable. I have great confidence in this head.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Architecture
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Products
- Studio
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
This head replaced the 808rc4 that I had bought a couple of years ago. Tired of all the levers and trying to tighten the handles without breaking them. This did the trick. Easily holds a Nikon D800 with battery pack and a 70-200 Nikon 200mm f2.8 lens. Rock solid.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Sports/Action
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I got what I wanted and I got what I expected. I use this head on my monopod. This head has literally removed the frustration I had with switching between tripod and monopod. Now I can have the same plate on the bottom of my camera and use tripod or monopod. I just clip in to either. The ball head has also been very versatile while using the monopod and the help me capture those shots that i could not have done hand held.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Can fit on any professional tripod. very easy to use. can be moved in any direction. Strong construction.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Friction adjustment knob
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
Cons
- Needs Acratech QR plate
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Using on an Induro CT 313 carbon fiber tripod
Weight capacity sufficient for 35mm DSLRs and medium format cameras with most telephotos - well maybe not celestial class lenses!
The QR plate is really designed for medium format, and can interfere with deploying the viewing screen in all circumstances. You might want to invest in the smaller (and more universal) Acratech QR plate.
Smooth operation of the pan feature! If you never have used a ball head before, this one is easy to learn and the friction knob tightens just enough to allow you to center the bubble in two planes easily (I hope you have a flash bracket bubble lewvel!). Having used it for two weeks in an intensive archetectural photograph lab course, I wouldn't change!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
Cons
- Poor tension knob
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I had purchased this ball head because it would hold the weight of my 5dmkii and the lenses, but unfortunately the tension adjust knob does not really adjust tension. It's just a lock tension knob. So when you turn the knob, it only locks the movement of the ball head or lets it move freely with no tension whatsoever. Otherwise this is a great ball head since it has the pan handle and the pan measurements.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Ball head is really solid. I love the pan feature for video. I'm a novice, but it's super easy to learn and feel comfortable with. Would recommend.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Portraits
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I wanted a ball head that was a bit heavier duty and ome that had a panning function. This meets that need perfectly. I also like the friction adjustment which allows you to use the head while not locked down. If I could change anything, I would change the attachment screw to a thumbscrew instead of a slot head bolt. As is, you need a tool to attach the plate to your camera securely.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Video
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
This Ball head is everything I expected and more. Strong and reliable, yet quick and simple. I have a cam slider and I am using this ball head to level the camera after setting up the slider. It would take a very long time to level a slider in uneven terrain, so this ball head is a quick and easy solution to level a shot.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- Hard to remove plate
- Heavy
Best Uses
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
My title may be misleading, but it would be something I recommend. I bought this since it was a bundle with my tripod. However, I was kind of caught off-guard when I first got the head. It was well built with great material. However, the release plate is a little stiff for my taste. In the beginning, I sometimes had to use two hands to try to get the camera off. Now I am getting used to it and have stronger left hand / fingers, I can get the camera off more easily. However, I would be more happy and prepared for what I get.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
a little fidgety, and a little droopy.
The plate size is perfect for my needs though, and the droops the nature of the beast.
Great range of motion. Overall a well built piece
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
I bought this as part of a deal with the 055XB legs, and saved a few shekels. Both are very nicely made, work properly and are easy to adjust. The legs are a bit heavy to carry around, but once they're on the ground, who cares? You can not only change the length of each leg but also the angle, which I thought was quite neat. The head adjusts in every which way and worked very well except that the camera (D7000) did move around a bit, so I need to figure out how to tighten that screw a bit better. Two bubble levels (depending on which way the head is oriented) is a nice touch, and the machining and finish is very well done.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Travel
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Fits well with my carbon fiber tripod. Easy adjustments.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Durable, strong head, easy to use
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Great for for still shots!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Quick Release Plates
- Price: $16.00
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