Hitmeister
Advantages: -very low at minimum working height. -high load capacity. -easy and intuitive to use. -very flexible camera positioning. SUITABLE FOR: -"bridge" cameras (compact SLR-type with built-in lenses). -SLR cameras with short and/or light fixed-length lenses. -medium format cameras. Take the versatility of a ball head, add true ergonomic control and you get the 322RC2: a photographic head that allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position thanks to the revolutionary design of its grip handle, which incorporates the ball lock lever and can also mount the optional 322RS shutter release accessory. A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera/lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your kit as close as possible to the tripod's centre 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 5kg. The 200PL quick release plate assembly can be removed and positioned for left-handed use or on the top of the grip in a vertical position like the 'traditional' 222 design, but when used in this position, max load reverts to 2.5kg capacity. Complete with built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate (standard 1/4" screw, with secondary safety pin). Suitable for use with 35mm or medium format cameras. Optional Plates: 200PL-38, 200PLARCH-14, 200PLARCH-38 PAT. PENDING -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 centre 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.
