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

I love this ball head. It's the third one I've tried and so far the best. My only minor complaint is I wish it tilted down more on the handle side. Even for my small hands the handle is very easy to use.

Heavy, solid construction. My first tripod head. Mounts on Manfrotto tripod excellently.Bogen Manfrotto 190XPROB 3 Section Aluminum Pro Tripod

Bogen/Manfrotto's grip action ballhead seemed to be the answer to all my problems with the pan/tilt head I'd been using. As a nature photographer, specializing in birds, I need to be able to adjust the head quickly and easily. Before buying this ballhead for the Bogen/Manfrotto 055MF legs, I read the reviews here, which left me with the following concerns:
-Does the grip require a lot of hand strength?
-Is the ball action smooth enough?
-Can it be used in the left hand position easily?
-Does it operate well in the vertical position?
After using the new ballhead, mounted in the lefthand position, at several long shoots, the answer to the first three questions is a resounding yes! The grip is easily compressed (I have small hands), the action is very smooth and small adjustments are easily made. I love the lefthanded position as it feels natural even in extended use. Best of all, I can follow the quick movements of birds without giving it a thought.
The only drawback to this ballhead is using it in the vertical (or portrait) position at the extreme ends of the range. I really only found this a problem when shooting with a wide angle lens and aiming high. Otherwise, it does everything I expected it to do.

This is a great ball head easy to adjust in any direction faster than traditional and locking the position you need to point and letting you focusing on setting the camera to shoot.

Well built and can be used in so many ways dependent on were you mount the plate - there are over a dozen positions. We used it as a "joy-stick" ball head by mounting the rapid connect plate on the top of the ball head. Very good fit with the Bogen / Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod. You can use both left and right hands. Easily holds our Canon 180 Macro lens. Recommended.