Manfrotto releases XPRO Geared tripod head for precision adjustments with heavy kit

I've been looking around to find more information about this head. The only review I could find is this hands on Thai review. With Google translate some of it is understandable, but as usual there are some eccentric translations of phrases. Best of all there are actual photos, and a photo with it alongside the 410 - although this is lower down and slightly further back. I'd say there are similar dimensions, and interestingly the knobs look about the same diameter. The review seems to say the adjustments are easier and smoother. I think the photos are more useful for gaining an impression, that the Manfrotto product photos.
http://www.2how.com/review/manfrotto-gear-head/

The UK price on the Manfrotto site is quite a bit less than the 410 on there, but more than the average street price of the 410. In other words after it has been on sale for a while, it should be cheaper than the 410.

Mar 9, 2015permalink

NancyP

I think that there is a market for a geared head that is lighter than the 410, for the users of mirrorless cameras. I have to say that my tiny Sigma DP2M (8 oz) looks a little silly on top of the Manfrotto 410/Hejnar adapter plus Manfrotto 055 legs.The only geared heads out there are Manfrotto, Arca-Swiss Cube and D series, and the Sunwayfoto knockoff of the Arca D4 (not available in US).

Mar 5, 2015permalink

I presume the issue comes down to quality. I have had both a 410 and 405, I suspect that it was built lighter or smaller, then compromises would be made on quality. Also the knobs could be difficult to turn if smaller. Of course I have been known to be wrong.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Hi bedbug

I have wondered about the durability myself. Although I think it's a double edged sword. The polymer construction might be better at shock abortion. A lot of people use carbon fibre or wooden tripods. But the shock is transmitted to the tripod via a diecast alloy head.

I've been looking at a lighter geared head. I find even the 410 makes a tripod top heavy for carrying around. Often I end up lugging one around just in case, and hardly use it at times. Yet when I take a lighter ball head out just in case, Murphy's law says I find something interesting, and composing with a ball head at greater than life size always makes you miss a geared head.

This is a lot cheaper than the Swiss Arca D4 or the Sunwayfoto knock of I was looking at, plus I'll hang on to the 410. So it's come just at the right time for me.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

(unknown member)

@NancyP - yes I think this could replace my ancient 3-way pan/tilt atop my old 190, for M43. I found the 200PL plates don't allow vertical positioning of a DSLR with 'heavy' lens (the camera rotates around on the plate no matter how tightly you do it up), but the lighter weight of my M43 gear shouldn't present that issue. I haven't used my E-M5 with my 405 head and plates as yet because it seems like 'overkill', although no doubt it would be a super-stable support.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Paul Guba

Majestic and Cambo make/made one there huge. Geared heads aren't made for small cameras.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Nigel Wilkins

http://www.nigelwilkinsphotography.com/Arca_Swiss_D4_head.html
The Arca D4 is perfect for smaller cameras. Yes, it's very expensive, but it'll hold it's value as well, so over time will be a good investment. The build quality over Manfrotto is in a different league.

Mar 7, 2015permalink

I'd also like to know more specifically, what type of plastic it is made of. "Technoplast" and "Adapto" don't cut it for me. How's it tated for cold/hot temperatures for instance?

Mar 5, 2015permalink

I'd be interested but will definitely not buy it is offered with a (native, not additional adapter) Arca-Swiss compatible clamp. Vitec Group (manfrotto is one of their brands) should have realized by now, that most potential users of this type of gear are using arca-swiss compatible plates. At the very least they should offer 2 versions of their geared heads - 410/405/400 ... one with arca compatible clamp, i dont care what they put on top of the other version. Could be square, rectangular or hexagonal.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Well you can always puchase an Arca-Swiss C1 Cube Geared Head which comes with a classic arca plate.

Having had at least a dozen manfrotto heads I would be happy with the unit depicted in the picture as the plates are so cheap these days.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

It is not the cost of plates, it is the nuisance of having to change them all the time. I don't want to remove the RRS L-plate from my camera and switch it out for some weirdo Manfrotto plate all the time. Just because Vitec/Manfrotto is not willing to offer some of their heads with removable QR clamp on top. So ridiculous! I am sick and tired of incompatible gear and refuse to buy any of it.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Mike_V

That's the thing, most people aren't using Arca-Swiss compatible clamps.
Manfrotto plate systems outsell these millions to one.

Mar 9, 2015permalink

Calvin Chann

And where do you get that stat that most people use arca-Swiss plates? I would say that most people don't.

Mar 10, 2015permalink

Yes, there are millions of Manfrotto plate users. BUT ... more than 90% of those are using a light kit like a Manfrotto 190 tripod plus 486-type ballhead on top.

People even remotely considering buying and using a geared tripod heads are in a totally different user group. And that user group is generally using Arca-compatible equipment.

Any way, it would be really easy to resolve, if Manfrotto were to offer this new geared XPRO head in 2 variants:
A) as introduced, with Manfrotto clamp
B) without a clamp on top, but only a 3/8" screw, so everbody can put a QR clamp of their liking on top.
I bet, version B) would outsell version A) by about 10:1 :-)

Manfrotto does offer this choice for some of their other products - e.g. I got a Manfrtoot MA234 tilt-head on my monopod (like many others I know) and an A/S compatible clamp on it. The same 2-way tilthead is also available as MA 234RC with Manfrotto clamp on top. So everybody can choose what they prefer.

Choice is good. :-)

Mar 15, 2015permalink

LaFonte

Looks awesome. Does anyone know the US price?

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Personally I don't find the 200PL QR too limiting because I usually use a focusing rail with a geared head for field macros. So the lens attachment is still something you have a choice over.

My personal bugbear about this new head is that whilst being much lighter than the 410, which I've been using for quite some time now, it isn't any more compact.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

aeroengineer

I have modified a 405 with Hejnar's arca Swiss adapter kit. It works very well. IMHO a 410, and likely this new model, should in no way be considered "heavy duty." The 405 works well in supporting macro shooting with a d800e, 200mm f/4, focus rail, and strobes.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

luben solev

At last. This is the first new geared head to come out in over 10 years. I love using my Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head, so it's good to see this niche line of heads continue being developed. Shame none of them come with a QR with as good a quality as RRS etc.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Same here. However, I'm not too bothered as I usually use a focusing rail with the geared head so my choice of QR is really what's on top of the focusing rail.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Nigel Wilkins

This was introduced around 2011 http://www.nigelwilkinsphotography.com/Arca_Swiss_D4_head.html

Mar 7, 2015permalink

luben solev

Thanks for the link Nigel. I admit I hadn't heard of the Arca Swiss geared head, so that for pointing it out. It being Arca Swiss though, I'm guessing that the price is well beyond my reach :-)

Mar 8, 2015permalink

Problem being that standard Manfrotto camera plate, which, when the camera body is moved to vertical position, allows the camera to rotate on the mount screw. Especially if it has a heavy-ish lens mounted. In this case, of course, "heavy-ish" might be misleading :).

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Ken Phillips

That's why you use the spring-loaded locating pin, that fits in a hole in ... nothing, I guess. You could always drill another hole in the bottom of your camera!

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Sorry, but I don't see any locating pin on the camera mount plate............http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/product/24329.31708.1108718.0.0/MHXPRO-3WG/_/XPRO_Geared_3_Way_Head_with_Adapto_Body

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Rags_and_Old_Iron

Kirk offered an Arca adapter for the standard plate on my 410 Manfrotto. I use my camera with L-Plates which is one solution, but costly.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

rfsIII

Manfrotto makes an adjustable anti-twist plate called the 200PLARCH-14. It has a lip that snugs up against the back of the camera to prevents it from rotating. It's probably not as awesome as one from RRS, but it has been working fine for me so far.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Thanks. Unfortunately it won't help my old Manfrotto tripod head that looks like this but isn't so snazzy. That unit has no plate, just a threaded screw :). I suppose I could drill and thread an arca plate onto the camera platform. This type of head is very useful for architectural work. Ballheads are too, but they're a bit more fidgety when setting the camera and lens level.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

(unknown member)

@babart - remove your non-QR head and replace it with one with QR. It's about the single best tripod-related thing you can do. My QR plates remain more-or-less permanently attached to my cameras and mounting them to my tripod head is simply a matter of snapping them in. Removal is a simple click of a lever. Treat yourself. Once you go QR you never go back. If your body/lens combined weight exceeds about 2kg, get a head that takes the 410PL plates (assuming you stay Manfrotto), the 200PL plates don't offer enough resistance to rotation with the camera in the vertical position (ie the lens will 'droop' groundward).

Mar 6, 2015permalink

Oh, I did. Long ago. Went to Arca-Swiss style clamps. I was referring to an old Manfrotto tripod head of similar configuration to the one discussed here, and that I could never sell so still have it.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

mr.izo

it will go well with all that sony ff cameras..

Mar 5, 2015permalink

GRUBERND

thats great news for the small camera crowd, especially the highpixel count DX bodies and micro43 - the "heavy" in the headline is really odd.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

ether2

Not only for small. My medium format weighs 1.6kg and the lens is another 0.8kg. The heaviest lens I've seen so far for my system is 1.5kg. Still well within the 4kg limit of this head.

Mar 8, 2015permalink

I don't know why DPR describes this as a "heavy-weight" head for "weighty" equipment. It replaces the 410, which was always Manfrotto's smallest, lightest geared head, and it holds no more than 9lbs. Also, the XPRO is clearly designed for weight savings, not tank-like construction, and for use on lighter tripods.

Yea! Finally, a geared head for hikers and walkers.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Mike Sandman

I agree with the earlier post by Edymagno that the 410 is so heavy that it unbalances a carbon fiber tripod. So the almost 1 pound drop in weight is most welcome, despite the loss of capacity. But it appears that they've designed this one like the 410 in that it doesn't pan/pivot over the center of the tripod. That's a problem when shooting panos. You can buy a 3rd-party Swiss-Arca replacement mount from Hejnar to fix that on the 410; perhaps that will work for this head as well.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Steve Balcombe

It's actually not an issue for panos - or rather when it is, it's irrelevant because having the centre of rotation above the tripod doesn't solve it either. For panos with nothing in the near foreground the parallax issue doesn't arise so this head could be used. If there are objects in the foreground you need to align the optical centre of the lens, not the tripod mount.

I have a 410, which has become my go-to head for close-up work where the precise framing can be really useful. If you do this you will soon realise that the off-centre rotation is an issue in all three axes, not just the one you mention, so fixing the vertical axis doesn't in fact remove the problem. You quickly learn to get the framing approximately correct by whatever means, then using the gears only for fine adjustment.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Digitalis32

As a manfrotto 405 user here I have to say I'm disappointed they chose to "update" the 410 first with all that ...plastic. They can say whatever they want about engineering plastics but I'm not sold on using them to stabilize and secure $10,000 dollars worth of photographic equipment on. Also manfroto: your tiny QR platforms defeat the purpose of using a heavy tripod head in the first place. I'd rather have a broader QR plate that spreads the weight out evenly and has enough mass to help dampen vibrations than a small one that is going to be prone to vibration and easily misplaced.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

As a 410 owner and Micro Four Thirds shooter, I welcome this as a 410 replacement. I often leave the 410 behind due to the weight when I go out to shoot outdoors. I've long thought it would be useful to have a lighter geared head for such use with small cameras. And now it's here. Yea!
If you want a heavy head or need bigger plates, there's the 405, which might suit you better than the 410 anyway.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Nephi

I have their XPRO 3 head and love it. I ended up keeping it over a $500 Markins head. I was excited about this head until I read the 8 lbs. limit. That's not very "heavy duty". The XPRO 3 supports up to 18 pounds!

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Edymagno

Right everything. I'm in. My 410 Junior was always too heavy for my carbon Manfrotto tripod. It's right attached to my oldest aluminum tripod buy not on the carbon tripod. Too heavy on top. Awkward to carry and it gives a sense of insecurity for being too top-heavy.
This new head will be right home with the carbon one. The small QR is the only one I use. Thank you Manfrotto, you read my mind. Love you more!

Mar 5, 2015permalink

RichRMA

Since Manfrotto heads and tripods are cheap, that means the effort needed to turn those adjustments will be noticeable. Check how your hands feel after cranking those knurled knobs a dozen or so times. This is why I'd never own a tripod with circular leg tighteners, they KILL the hands after a while.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Rags_and_Old_Iron

This and the older mod3ls adjust extremely quickly, as fast as a ball head; the difference is that you can engage the gears to make a fine precision adjustment. This isn't an issue for people who labour for a living, and I find there is no more effort with these.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

I find the 410's resistance a bit heavy, but not the problem you describe. However, people with arthritis in their hands or wrists might have trouble with a 410.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

TwoMetreBill

Geared heads are like Porsches. Love or hate em, nobody is neutral unless they've not spent any time with one.

The precision adjustments are wonderful.

I like my JR but admit the vertical range limits are frustrating. I'll probably get a super heavy duty ball head to mount between the legs and geared head for those situations.

I've always found ball heads frustrating though perhaps I've just never tried a good enough one.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Do consider the Manfrotto 405 which is just beautiful. I recently upgraded from the 410. Or is you require super precision, go for the Arca-Swiss C1 Cube Geared Head.

Mar 6, 2015permalink

jhinkey

Here I was hoping that this would have even higher capacity than the 405 - which is just barely adequate for my uses and could use having the gearing re-designed to be even stiffer.

The 410 is too light weight and this is even less capable than that.

Heavyweight gear may a**.

It looks cool and that's about it.

Mar 4, 2015permalink

StanRogers

I think that there's a major clue in the XPRO nomenclature; it pairs with the 055 and the 190 XPROB 'pods (which are pretty well weight-limited by their articulated centre columns). And compared to a ball head or a non-geared three-way, it will be significantly easier to adjust cameras that are approaching the top end of their capacities. (And if the 405 doesn't cut it, there's always the 400. That works fine with a Sinar P2 8x10, extension rails, 480mm lens and compendium shade. )

Mar 5, 2015permalink

jhinkey

The 400 is only geared in one axis - not applicable here.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Try the Arca-Swiss C1 Cube Geared Head if you require something that can handle 100kg. Of course the price ain't all that slight...

Mar 6, 2015permalink

fredlord

Well, it's less expensive than the C1 Cube or even the PhotoClam geared heads. I do dislike the Manfrotto QR system though.

Mar 4, 2015permalink

Photomonkey

Absolutely. Their QR system is nearly useless.

Mar 4, 2015permalink

S Castle

Agreed. Their site sez " Featuring the most common photographic plate in the world - the 200PL" but the Arca-Swiss/Wimberley plates are in fact the most widely used, and they must know this. 3 Legged Thing has built their heads for the Arca-Swiss style plates.

Mar 5, 2015permalink

Vlad S

40% lighter than the 410 Junior. Sounds like a much better fit for a crop sensor system.

Mar 4, 2015*permalink

ether2

Not only a crop sensor system.

I'm considering getting this for my medium format camera. That weighs 1.6kg including battery. The 45-85mm lens I have weighs 0.8kg. The heaviest lens for my system I've sen so far is 1.5kg. So the 4kg weight limit is absolutely fine for a larger camera.

Mar 8, 2015permalink

It seems very interesting. Although as others have noted it's not particularly heavy duty as the write up claims. It has the lightest load weight of all the Manfrotto geared heads. I've been using a Manfrotto 410 geared head for macro for quite a few years, and it's very good except for the weight. This weight reduction will be welcome. The other thing is I don't like the quick release plate on 410 and normally use a 200PL adapter on it. It's a polymer body though. Although I suppose it could have advantages when it comes to vibration dampening.

Mar 4, 2015permalink

BobTheLob

Well I suppose gear heads will like this geared head

Mar 4, 2015permalink

whumber

That seems really cheap for a new top of the line geared head. Isn't the current version 480 GBP?

EDIT: Seems like the load capacity is pretty low at 4KG.

Mar 4, 2015*permalink

justinwonnacott

Yes I thought the capacity seemed really low too . . . I wonder why? Are the gears polymer instead of brass?

Mar 4, 2015permalink

justinwonnacott

whoa!!! I just looked at the illustrations on the website . . . this is a dinky little bit of kit....... definitely not heavyweight.

Mar 4, 2015permalink