Has anyone used the Manfrotto M222 head? (1 Viewer)

[JCL]

Has anyone got experience of using the Manfrotto M222 Grip Action Joystick Head? For DSLR plus 400mm lens, and possibly for 1.5kg scope as well. Andy Rouse gives a good write-up on warehouseexpress.com, but I've not seen it mentioned elsewhere. Any views?

 

[Corax67]

Best bit of kit in the world ! ! I love both of mine.

Seriously, I am 6'3" and this head with a Manfrotto CarbonOne tripod or my monopod is the perfect height combination for comfortable use of my Leica APO 77 (straight through) or my Canon 20D plus 400mm f4 / 600mm f5.6.

I can track moving birds easily, seem to be able to get onto birds quicker than i ever could with a traditional pan/tilt head and it is a doddle to use wearing even the thickest gloves in winter.

Secure double locked quick release head accepts the fairly universal Manfrotto 200PL and it even has a built in spirit level which is great for landscape photo's if the birds are proving elusive.

Whenever I am birding in the company of strangers there always seems to be a lot of interest and requests to try it out, all with positive feedback so far, and other memebers of my local bird club also seem to like it - I would suggest that you pop to a good camera shop and try one out, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[JCL]

Best bit of kit in the world ! ! I love both of mine.

Seriously, I am 6'3" and this head with a Manfrotto CarbonOne tripod or my monopod is the perfect height combination for comfortable use of my Leica APO 77 (straight through) or my Canon 20D plus 400mm f4 / 600mm f5.6.


Cheers, Karl

I thought the MF222 only supported 2kg? But are you saying it is not only OK with the 400mmDO, but also with the big monster 600mm f5.6? Wow. If it really is this good, would you recommend it above, say, the Kirk BH3 ball head?

btw, what's your Monopod? I was thinking of either the MF 694 or 685B. Any thoughts?

James

 

[Bill Atwood]

There is NO WAY I would trust my 400/4 on the M222. The BH-3 is probably the cheapest ballhead I would go with. I use an ArcaSwiss B-1, if I was shopping today I would look hard at the RRS ballhead.

 

[JCL]

There is NO WAY I would trust my 400/4 on the M222. The BH-3 is probably the cheapest ballhead I would go with. I use an ArcaSwiss B-1, if I was shopping today I would look hard at the RRS ballhead.

thanks Bill

I got the BH3. As an aside, I am having problems with the connection between the 400DO (received today) and my 20D. I keep getting a flashing '00' aperture reading then an error message 'Err01' which signifies lens/body connection issues. But the contacts are fine with my other lens. Any idea?

 

[Bill Atwood]

Sorry, I don't. Try the Canon area here. Or try:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/forum?topic_id=1545

 

[Corax67]

Bill,

I guess I must be more adventurous (or probably daft) than you as I have no issues with the safety of the 222 & my lenses. They have been my workhorses for over 5 years and I can only speak as I find as to their reliability.


James,

Afraid I cannot comment on the Kirk as I have never seen one, but I would say that I never actually read the recommended specs on any of my kit so the 2kg limit came as a surprise (I looked up the CarbonOne and theoretically that onlt has a max load of 3.5kg - so does that include my rucksack which I hang on it to stabilise the combo ? ? ? ).

My monopod is the old 479-4 fitted with the Manfrotto shoulder brace (361) and the 222 - I don't know the new models but plenty of the old ones on "certain internet auction sites" fairly cheaply.

"ERR 01" signifies that you could have a lens with a faulty chip or a damaged contact - time to head to the nearest Canon service centre I think.

 

[JCL]

"ERR 01" signifies that you could have a lens with a faulty chip or a damaged contact - time to head to the nearest Canon service centre I think.[/QUOTE]

thanks Karl and Bill

Will investigate

James