Works great for stills or any other situation where you need can quickly position the camera in any way you'd like (landscape, portrait, dutch angle, etc), lock the head in place firmly and quickly and leave it alone till you need to need to reframe.

The Manfrotto 496RC2 is a basic ball head that is OK on a tripod, but works very well on a monopod. The lack of a panning feature makes this head useless for panoramic landscapes where stitching photographs together is needed.

• +

  Well built, stable quick release, light weight

• -

  Cannot pan

This is a very well manufactured and designed ballhead. It easily attached to my Manfrotto 190 tripod, I found the locking lever and friction control easily adjusted. Can't wait to get out and use it.

This is my second one I use for my monopod with my D4s. really happy with its performance!

Size-about the size of an 12oz redbaxx canGrip- Tight and secure fit on the quick release plate and the ball jointAction- Smooth 360 ball movementSafety- Fair and accident unlocking the release plate can happenCons- The ball head is lack of panning movement locking knobs, causing it works a bit...

Sturdy, and strong, It can take the weight of my plein air box. I like the compact ball head, the quick release is great when shooting with my DSLR. Only just wish it had a level. But overall excelent tripod.

Sturdy, and strong, It can take the weight of my plein air box. I like the compact ball head, the quick release is great when shooting with my DSLR. Only just wish it had a level. But overall excelent tripod.

My purchase was to replace a well used tool. I've had the previous compact ball head for more than 10 years and it has traveled the world with me. Alas, it finally succumbed to my brutish hamfisted use. No doubt I would never think of trying a different model or brand. Manfrotto is my tool kit.

I use this head to attach a portable 20x26 inch drawing board to my Manfrotto tripod for frequent life drawing sessions. It is compact and performs perfectly, unlike other brand ball head attachments I have tried in the past.

I now have several Manfrotto tripod heads and have NEVER been disappointed in their performance. For me, they're the "gold standard" when it comes to build-quality and reliability. This model 496 RC2 is no exception.