Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate
- Price: $109.95
- GBP 70.03
-
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offer ends JUN 30 '12 - Price after Rebate: $99.95
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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 54 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Stable (46)
- Attaches firmly (44)
- Large range of motion (42)
- Strong clamp (40)
Cons
- Heavy (13)
Best Uses
- Landscape/scenery (46)
- Night shots (36)
- Portraits (35)
- Home (30)
- Wildlife (27)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (25), Semi-pro photographer (14), Pro photographer (7), Casual photographer (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (39)
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
"Ok" ball head, isn't working for me
After going through numerous review I decided to go with 498RC4 with 055XRPOB between price and affordability.The tripod is Excellent (a little on the heavy side, but Carbon Fiber is way more expensive, and...Read complete review
After going through numerous review I decided to go with 498RC4 with 055XRPOB between price and affordability.The tripod is Excellent (a little on the heavy side, but Carbon Fiber is way more expensive, and I don't travel much)The ball head, is however, a different story. One of the tightening screw fell off after doing some rotation and it wasn't working anymore! Found that there is an internal tiny cylinder that goes into the screw that actually tightens the ball head!!So, never, never unscrew all the way, it will come out and you will be in trouble.Also the precision tightening screw is a joke. Its not smooth all the way - meaning same tighten would not hold your camera in Gimbel mode with even 55-200mm DX lens. I had many times my camera hit the side of the gimbel hole of the ball without notice. VERY VERY bad design. I am thinking of trading off this ball head the first chance I get. This ball head would be OKEY if you have Nikon D40 range camera with max 55mm lens. More than that - DO NOT USE THIS BALL HEAD.The plate did a better job then the ball itself. I had moderate side 300mm lens and there wasn't any twist. Did LOVE the quick release plate mechanism. Once all are tightened the camera did hold up stable. But I didn't exclusively test how steady it was against long shutter/bulb mode.
Reviewed by 54 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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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
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Using this with a 005xPROB tripod to support a Canon 7D with Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6L IS USM lens. Previous setup couldn't support the weight and was very shaky. This one is rock solid. The tripod and ball combination have no trouble at all supporting this body and lens. Long exposures of up to 30 seconds even with some wind are tack sharp. There is only minimal sag when I let go of the camera after composing the shot and tightening up the knobs. I thought I'd have to also buy the Canon lens mount for this lens to better balance things but after using this ball head for a while I've decided not too. The sag is minimal and easy to work with.
- 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 chose this head as a kit with the 055XB Tripod. It is perhaps a little more heavy-duty than needed for a 7D and 70-200mm, but I like the confidence and extra security of provides. I also chose if for the 410PL quick-release plate. It's large mounting surface supports the camera well. The quick release is easy to operate, and is very secure.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Portraits
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
This is a great ball head. Very solid and has no problems with my Mamiya RB67 or Mamiya 645 AFD systems. The pan feature is nice and the two eye levels are very handy.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Large Range of Motion
Cons
Best Uses
- Video
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Its great with the new canon XA10! Perfect fit.
- 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
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
This product is very stable and well-built. I love the pan feature (not common to all ball heads). Everything is very simple to adjust and the levers work very well.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Strong Clamp
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
locks tight with minimal force. knobs are plastic. Durable but still plastic. locks down all my cameras upto 4x5.
- 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 love using it. Purchased 4 RC4 plates for use with different cameras and lenses It makes life easy. Using on a 458n Neo Tech tripod and also a mono pod and it works well. Very Balanced
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attaches Firmly
- Good Stability
- Large Range of Motion
- Strong Clamp
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Shots
- Wildlife
Comments about Manfrotto 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with 410PL QR Plate:
Works very well. A little heavier than I was expecting when I put in on my carbon tripod, but besides that I am very pleased with it. Main reason I got this one was because I wanted the same RC4 plate as on my other tripod.
- 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:
My first pro level tripod head. Very pleased.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Quick Release Plates
-
- Original: $15.90
- Save: $3.27
- Price: $12.63
- GBP 8.04
What's in the Box
- 410PL Quick Release Plate - for RC4 Quick Release System
- 1-Year Limited Warranty + 3-Year Extension (Free After Registration)
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