ManfrottoMH804-3W, MK II 3 Way Head in Adapto w/Retractable Levers, Independent Axis Control, Ergonomic Rubber Handle, for DSLR, CSC, Mirrorless

I decided to buy this head as a replacement for a Manfrotto pistol-grip head (RC322). I use this head on a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 tripod and the results so far have been excellent.The build quality of the head is excellent; it is very sturdy and precise; the individual 3-way angular movements are precisely marked, so very exact movements (such as for panning, etc) can be made. The three bubble-levels (plus one on the tripod) allow for very precise levelling, and the individual key arms operate smoothly and tighten up easily with little pressure. The head is heavy (1.9 kg), which improves stability, and sturdy, able to take a load of up to 12 kg, so it will easily handle a professional DSLR and a hefty zoom or prime lens. The large hexagonal release plate is, I think, an improvement on my old lighter rectangular plate; this is much heavier and clicks into place within a very sturdy mechanism.The only cons I have found are that the head makes the whole tripod top heavy when carried. I had to buy a new 80 cm bag to accommodate the extra length and girth (circumference) of the head; even so I have to remove one of the arms (as a previous reviewer has mentioned, take care not to lose the spring at the end of the arm) to close the bag and have to place the arm in a bag inside. This assemble/disassemble routine each time you use the tripod is my only gripe really.The head is a fantastic piece of engineering and provides a solid, stable platform to shoot from, and as such fulfils its role perfectly. I'm looking forward to many hours of happy usage ahead.

I suspect this is a pretty basic pan and tilt head but it does all I need it to and I paid a very keen price for it on Amazon of £23. I wouldn't want to pay much more than that but it's still a nicely made easy to use head.

This is a very well designed and innovative 3-way head. Straight out the box, one is presented with exceptional build quality. This head is compact and light, due to its magnesium construction, but still feels rugged and stable. All moving parts are precise with no play once locked into place.Instead of the usual pan and tilt handles, this head comes with three adjustment knobs, which are large and coated with tough rubber grips. Once you get used to where the knobs are and what they do, agjustments are quick and effortless; a few small turns on each will lock your camera securely. Manfrotto seem to have got the balance between speed and precision bang on.The head has a small spirit level and an angular measurement disc to aid those stitched panoramic shots. It also comes with a quick release plate with safety catch.The 460MG's trump card is its versatility. Coupled with the Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod, I have yet to encounter a situation beyond its reach. One can achieve every possible angle with ease and there are no long, obtrusive handles to get in the way.My first Manfrotto purchase has certainly not left me dissapointed. An outstanding piece of kit at a very affordable price.

Super-light for the sturdiness, goes well with the 055 carbon fibre tripod I bought it for. Not the cheapest thing of this sort but way better than Manfrotto's other three-way head, which weighs a ton by comparison and is no stronger. This is a nicely made, satisfying item to own, carry and use.Update: To clarify, this review was for a Manfrotto 460MG 3-way head - this review is now apparently associated with Amazon's listing for a range of Manfrotto 3-way heads, none of them being the one reviewed, which I think may have been discontinued (though it can still be found on Manfrotto's website.) It's a shame if they discontinued it, it's made of magnesium and weighs only about 450g. I've not used any of the ones currently listed.

I have owned this head for over 2 years now and it is one solid piece of engineering. It will be able to hold a heavy camera with ease, up to around 6 kg I think it says. I have used this for panoramas due to the angle markings and the ability to lock the unit on 2 planes and just rotate it horizontally. I've used it for portraits and I've even kept the handles slightly loose and shot smooth video with this head.Not a fault with this head but just 3 way head in general is that it can take a lot of twisting and turning to get the right set up for a shot, unlike a ball head. I purchased a ball head for ease of use and use it as well as this head so I have the best of both worlds. In summary, this head is fantastic if it is a 3 way head you want.

A great tripod head even for large hands

I don't think that I am being fair to Manfrotto if I say this is a 3 star rating for the product. However, the question was more around how I had found the product compared to what I was looking for. I have a geared head that I use for astronomy when I am travelling particularly for eclipse photography. The head is great but a little heavy and I have a trip next year where I need to travel light due to restrictions on baggage on a short flight to a remote island. This head looked just the job as it is really light and inexpensive (as it maybe just a one off use) However, it is not going to replace the benefits of the geared head when I want to move a long focal length lens a very small amount. So back to the drawing board for the eclipse.This is a well made item that I am really not sure what I could use it for. It does what it says it does but think about what you are going to use it for. If you were thinking geared head this is not what you want.