Manfrotto 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate (3157N)

This review is more about the fact that businesses tend to think it's ok to restock used returns and sell them later as new. That is not cool.

I spend my hard earned money on this product and guess what? There are scratches at the bottom and it's obviously been used. The threads at the bottom were obviously already screwed onto a tripod.

You know what else? What is that little rattley gold lever on the side? It just wouldn't stop rattling. Anyway, now it's getting returned again by me.
If you order this product and you notice scratches at the bottom it's the one I had before you. (I don't even have a tripod to screw it onto. That was the person who obviously used/abused it before it got to me.)

Shame on businesses who sell used items as new.

I like this Bogen-Manfrotto 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate. It can quick and firmly hold my Nikon D200 with zoon lenes at different angle. I like flower photography, This is good for close up phtography with variant positions.
I suggest heavy SLR camera owner must have item.

I haven't had a chance to use this ball head extensively yet, but will on a couple of upcoming trips.

It does require a bit of pressure, but nothing I can't manage, and I'm a senior citizen who is totally out of shape.

The head feels sturdy and substantial, and the quick release is easy to operate, unlike my previous hexagon shaped release.

All in all, I'm going to enjoy this ball head, and it should handle my Minolta Maxxum 7D with Sigma 50-500mm lens with no trouble at all.

Highly recommended

Like others, purchased this with the 190 manfrotto tripod. Holds 40D Canon with 70-200L tele in place. Yes it takes some force to squeeze the grip, but locks solid without movement. real ease of pointing camera on tripod. If you have the additional battery handle for the 40D and the tripod ring for the 70-200 mounted with the plate to the tripod ring with the battery grip on camera, won't fit, have to remove the battery grip to use the tripod ring.(or mount the battery grip onto ballhead and don't use the ring direct onto tripod, then works fine..)

Switched handle to left handed use for more ease of use. Have not used it with the vertical orientation, but can purchase another locking plate for the grip to mount in the vertical axis and foregoe the need to change the plate when using in the vertical axis. Solid build, holds weight firmly, locks firmly, using two hands best for me. Purchased separate carrying case the HAKUBA USA INC PSTC100 Tripod Case, ball head handle in the horizontal position mounted on tripod fits into carrying case, although rather tightly. I am satisfied with this purchase, but if you are mounting heavy heavy gear and are petite handed with little grip strength, you may not like it.

Such a wonderful tripod head!! You can virtually put it in any position in seconds...and as soon as you let go of the hand-grip, its instantly in place.
I found it a little frustrating that when you first squeeze the hand-grip and move the head forward in back, it seemed a little stuck and then moved freely...but I'm guessing its like that so if you have it at a paticular angle horizontally, you can just move it veritcally and keep it level.
No complaints so far.
And for the price, it is well worth it.
Purchased it with the 190XPROB.