Doug Kerr
Well-known member
I have for some while wanted a really nice three-axis geared tripod head, thinking in terms of architectural and equipment shots. macro work, and of course the infamous test shots that you know are the most prominent output of the studio here.
In honor of my 74th birthday (in about two weeks), Carla, in cahoots with some of her family, bought me a Manfrotto 410 geared head (the one they call the "Junior"). It is lovely, and only really warrants the moniker "Junior" if you're an 5x7 shooter or better.
We see it here atop my trusty Sunset tripod (from 1972 - it was bought the day William Rehnquist, later to be chief justice, was appointed to the US Supreme court), supporting an EOS 40D with an EF 24-105 f4.0L USM:
Douglas A. Kerr: Manfrotto 410
The mount is well made and very sturdy and rigid, but is not bulky, and weighs less than 4 lbs.
Each of the three axes has a nice, rubber-covered adjustment knob, with a ratio of 7.5° per turn. Behind each is a spring-loaded 4-leaf thumbwheel, which when rotated clockwise disengages the worm gear for that movement, allowing free movement on that axis. When released, the worm again engages. The increment between points of worm re-engagement is 7.5°.
The yaw axis movement is continuous. The roll axis range is to slightly over 90° to the left, slightly over 30° to the right. The pitch axis range is to slightly over 30° up (some find that a bit cramping), slightly over 90° down. The geometry is the customary roll on top of pitch. There is a solid stop at each end of the roll and pitch range. There is no play in the movements - the worms are spring loaded against the worm wheels and axially, and there is no axis wobble.
Each axis is provided with a nice angle scale, calibrated in 1° increments. But sadly they are not equipped with any sort of precision fiducial - just a little white dot several mm back from the scale.
There is a small circular spirit level that shows camera attitude.
The head has an integral Manfrotto H2 system quick release base, and comes with one plate.
The bottom of the head has a 3/6-16 female thread for attachment to the tripod. No 1/4-20 adapter bushing is provided. My tripod has a 1/4-20 interface to the head, but fortunately I had a spare adapter bushing in stock.
The provided H2 plate has both 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 fixing screws, with secure storage spots for the one not in use. Unlike the Manfrotto R2 system plates, they do not have little bails to help tighten them, so one must often resort to the "coin slot" with which they are provided.
The H2 locking system is tight and reliable. A safety catch on the release lever must be depressed before it can be actually disengaged. When the plate is removed, a locking plunger keeps the locking lever retracted. When the plate is again put in place, and is fully seated, it trips the plunger and the locking lever snaps home.
Carla, after reading some reviews by users of the head, said that it would in fact probably be quite good as our general-purpose head, not just for "gear-head" shots (however you would want to take that). She was quite right. (Ah, the wisdom of the Cherokee!) It is so easy to move quickly to the desired position, with the convenient thumb-releasing movements, that there is no reason not to use it for general work.
Overall, I am delighted by this lovely machine, and of course gratified by the thoughtfulness of Carla and her family in giving it to me.
In honor of my 74th birthday (in about two weeks), Carla, in cahoots with some of her family, bought me a Manfrotto 410 geared head (the one they call the "Junior"). It is lovely, and only really warrants the moniker "Junior" if you're an 5x7 shooter or better.
We see it here atop my trusty Sunset tripod (from 1972 - it was bought the day William Rehnquist, later to be chief justice, was appointed to the US Supreme court), supporting an EOS 40D with an EF 24-105 f4.0L USM:
Douglas A. Kerr: Manfrotto 410
The mount is well made and very sturdy and rigid, but is not bulky, and weighs less than 4 lbs.
Each of the three axes has a nice, rubber-covered adjustment knob, with a ratio of 7.5° per turn. Behind each is a spring-loaded 4-leaf thumbwheel, which when rotated clockwise disengages the worm gear for that movement, allowing free movement on that axis. When released, the worm again engages. The increment between points of worm re-engagement is 7.5°.
The yaw axis movement is continuous. The roll axis range is to slightly over 90° to the left, slightly over 30° to the right. The pitch axis range is to slightly over 30° up (some find that a bit cramping), slightly over 90° down. The geometry is the customary roll on top of pitch. There is a solid stop at each end of the roll and pitch range. There is no play in the movements - the worms are spring loaded against the worm wheels and axially, and there is no axis wobble.
Each axis is provided with a nice angle scale, calibrated in 1° increments. But sadly they are not equipped with any sort of precision fiducial - just a little white dot several mm back from the scale.
There is a small circular spirit level that shows camera attitude.
The head has an integral Manfrotto H2 system quick release base, and comes with one plate.
The bottom of the head has a 3/6-16 female thread for attachment to the tripod. No 1/4-20 adapter bushing is provided. My tripod has a 1/4-20 interface to the head, but fortunately I had a spare adapter bushing in stock.
The provided H2 plate has both 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 fixing screws, with secure storage spots for the one not in use. Unlike the Manfrotto R2 system plates, they do not have little bails to help tighten them, so one must often resort to the "coin slot" with which they are provided.
The H2 locking system is tight and reliable. A safety catch on the release lever must be depressed before it can be actually disengaged. When the plate is removed, a locking plunger keeps the locking lever retracted. When the plate is again put in place, and is fully seated, it trips the plunger and the locking lever snaps home.
Carla, after reading some reviews by users of the head, said that it would in fact probably be quite good as our general-purpose head, not just for "gear-head" shots (however you would want to take that). She was quite right. (Ah, the wisdom of the Cherokee!) It is so easy to move quickly to the desired position, with the convenient thumb-releasing movements, that there is no reason not to use it for general work.
Overall, I am delighted by this lovely machine, and of course gratified by the thoughtfulness of Carla and her family in giving it to me.