Geared Head (405)

I've been using the excellent Acratech ball head all these years for mostly architectural work but this Manfrotto 405 head is really what I needed. The knobs are super precise and combined with your internal screen grid (I use a Canon 5ds), no more "close enough, I'll straighten that in Photoshop", and you know who you are... This is the tool that will make your job easier and right the first time, just buy it. Only downside is that it's heavy and you do not want to drop and break it. UPDATE: After about a year and a half of using this head, the gear system deteriorated - first I noticed some play on the base plate (not cool for an architectural photographer like myself), then soon after I could no longer use the "ultra precise" tilt knob. At this price this should not happen after barely two years, and I treat my equipment well. Maybe a got a lemon but this is not acceptable from a company like Manfrotto.

!You get what you pay for. This is not a cheap investment. I’m a real estate agent & take my own photos. This requires the ability to quickly get your lines straight for good photos. You can see in my quick video that when the bubble level says your camera is level, it’s level!! The head is very sturdy, no plastic in the body & I like the additional bubble level when shooting portrait for bathrooms. It feels like it should last a lifetime. Any cons, not really, only that the dials are hard to turn, almost gave me a blister between my thumb & index finger until I grabbed the knobs differently. The knobs need to be tight, however, as this does not need to be locked after moving to the desired position. I’d recommend this head to anyone thinking about it. Very professional looking when you go to a client’s home. This is a photo I took, it’s 6 photos layered & edited on PhotoShop. 6 photos perfectly lined, the head didn’t budge a millimeter.

I have several heads and my best two are both Manfrotto Heads. The 405 Pro Geared Head is big, very well built, heavy, and very easy to use. Great for long shots or very close in macro shots where stability and precise movement is critical. Would be best used in a studio or with non moving subjects. I am very pleased with this very fine professional head with great 3 axis controls. Not for folks with point and shoot gear, more for the Pro with heavy or large equipment. I am very satisfied with this head and all the rest of my Manfrotto gear... they are all the best for the bucks paid out! V/R KMW

Hands down the best tripod head I’ve owned in my 50 plus years of shooting. Yes, it’s expensive (as it should be) but I promise it’s the last one you’ll ever buy. Make micro-adjust with gears or major adjustments after a twist on all three directions. BUY THIS

I just purchased my third one. After my first two last a little over a year, I was hesitant to buy another, especially now that the price went up! I just couldn't find another geared head in the same price range. When it works, it's great, but when it decides to quit, it's all over. After using this third one for a little over 1 month, the main spring popped out of the panning knob. It's now useless and I doubt i'll be able to get it replaced. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. They are getting more expensive and more cheaply made. Find something else.

Bought it "new" - but the latch part that should click when you attach the camera was FAILING! can you imagine? I use this with my 15K view camera and having the camera almost fall off this head was TERRIFYING! This is a great tool - but poorly made.

Bought this 405 Geared Head for studio work and architectural work. This is a geared head. Gears have the potential to lose friction and slip when they are not well maintained. Many reviewers of this 405 geared head have reported how fragile the head is. The product arrived well-packaged in a box containing a foam cutout in which the head fits snugly. I keep the head in the foam box when not in use, and intend on transporting it in said box whenever possible to protect the gears from wear and tear. I would not even lean this head against a wall, as that may damage the gears. I wouldn't feel comfortable throwing this in my trunk, as that may loosen the gears. It's big and seems sturdy, so I can see how some folks may think they can treat it as if it doesn't cost nearly $500 and contain gears but it does contain gears and gears erode if they are not well maintained. If you treat this geared head well, it will probably last a long time--many years of use. The head contains knobs on each axis enabling you to quickly maneuver the head to the desired angle and by-pass the gears while doing doing so. If you use this feature correctly, it will prevent wear and tear on the gears and prolong the use of the head. However, if you use this feature haphazardly (not being deliberate and gentle when using the mechanism), you will probably cause significant wear and tear to the gears. I recommend this geared head.

It's amazing how few reviews there are for such a useful accessory. We've been using this geared head with a 3D scanner on top of it (weighing a bit over that 16 lb weight). We have three of them, and they work perfectly. Love the ability to fine tune the angular adjustments or go fast to the orientation needed. Before this, the manufacturer provided a ball-head and that was comical. If I could take away half a star, it would be that the older one does seem to be getting a bit loose. I would guess we need to remove those covers and tighten the set screws, but I don't want to ruin those printed facia pieces. The RC4 attachment spring seems to have gotten a little soft as well, but we do put it to some rough use! Overall, Manfrotto is a great brand, and this head is perfect. We've even adapted it for attaching to Arca Swiss connections using Hejnar Photo adapter plate. Opens up a world of potential attachments...

Confesso di aver fruito di un'offerta tanto speciale di Amazon Warehouse Deals da sentirmi quasi in colpa per averla afferrata al volo. Mi è giunta una testa a cremagliera perfetta, indistinguibile dal nuovo, già dalla Manfrotto trattata con una cura inusitata anche per altre teste non proprio economiche. Doppia scatola a Matrioska: di grande spessore la più esterna, di spessore maggiore del solito anche la più interna. L'imballaggio dentro la scatola è studiato per tenere perfettamente immobile ed al sicuro la testa. La testa ha un meccanismo che strappa un senso di meraviglia e merita ogni Euro che spende chi la acquista a prezzo pieno. Non è solo la precisione e la robustezza, non sono solo i materiali di gran lunga superiori a quelli delle migliori teste Manfrotto di prezzo più contenuto di questa (che sono già di gran lunga superiori ai materiali delle teste più economiche, tenuto presente che secondo me la Manfrotto non fa teste vendute da sole che, per quanto economiche, non siano ottime per materiali e per resa). Ma questa è veramente lo stato dell'arte. Ha una portata di 7,5 e pesa 1,6 chili. Il suo peso non la rende idonea per qualsiasi cavalletto, a mio avviso lo 055XPROB e simili, sono il minimo per gestirla. La testa è ampiamente dotata di livelle a bolla ed ha dei meccanismi di movimento rapido che ci consentono di metterla velocemente in posizione per poi passare alle regolazioni millimetriche. Essi, i meccanismi di movimento rapido, ci consentono anche di usarla come una normale testa a tre vie, quando necessario, per cui, nel caso sia l'unica testa che ci possiamo permettere, questo non ci limita per un utilizzo normale a doverci "arrangiare" o "accontentare", ma fa anche un lavoro da tutto-fare, sempre tenendo conto del peso.

So pleased with this tripod head I had a ball head before this and it was so annoying trying to get the image in the center of the frame especially for macro shots. Levelling the gearhead utilizing the cameras on board level metre is it delight, shooting landscape, sunrises, and architecture absolutely love this piece of equipment.

Yo tenía el modelo inferior de Manfrotto y encuentro mucha diferencia (a mejor) con la 405 que es mucho más sólida y con movimientos más suaves y precisos. Además, tiene dos niveles de burbuja, incluido uno para cuando la cámara está en posición vertical, algo muy útil en fotografía de interiores y de arquitectura. La utilizo con un trípode Gitzo de carbono, con el que se integra perfectamente. De las rótulas micrométricas del mercado, creo que esta es la que mejor relación calidad/precio tiene (hay otras muy buenas para equipos de medio y gran formato, pero hablamos de duplicar o triplicar el precio).

J'utilise cette rotule Manfrotto en studio sur un pieds photo colonne depuis 25 ans et ces mouvements amples et micrométriques sont exemplaires, à moins d'investir dans le cube de chez Arca Swiss qui est à 1800€ ! J'ai acheté une 2e rotule Manfrotto pour utiliser en reportage photo.

Works very well for me.