Giottos MH 1302 Series II
Review Date :
Author :
Compact ball head reviewed
| Pros: | Very well made, smooth operation, friction adjustment |
|---|---|
| Cons: | none |
The smart matt black Giottos MH 1302 652 Series II features three separate locking levers. The main one unlocks the main ball, while a second adjusts the friction, so you can determine the fluidity of the movement.
A third lock enables left and right pan movement only. There's a quick-release plate, and a spirit level.
The head feels smooth and refined and locks solidly once the friction lock is also tightened. Larger versions are also available.
Verdict
A nice, well made head with great features and a lovely smooth action
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Latest comments
June 09 09:42
Ross in focus
Bought mine on Ebay, the seller was buying the next size up, the MH1301 identical but greater weight capacity & bigger. The MH1302-652 arrived here four days ago, and I fell in love with it instantly. I've never thought of tripod heads as being very important and have stuck with the often included pan/tilt genre. Reading Scott Kelby's book, made me think about swapping my Giottos MH5011 Pan/Tilt for a decent Manfrotto or Giottos. I got a Manfrotto 488 which is very impressive, but imho a studio head really - wouldnt like to walk miles with it. This Giottos 1302 was in brand new mint condition, and is every bit as strong as the Manfrotto 488, while being a lot lighter and smaller (but not shorter, very important!) I've used it for several shots since it arrived and there truly is a perceptible difference in sharpness in my images. Once this is locked down, as long as your exposure and focus are spot on, the images are tack sharp - love this head, and will buy a spare if one turns up cheaply enough - would never go back to pan/tilt again - and Giottos provide a five year guarantee - excellent item, easy to use, solid as a rock, and light enough to move around on a backpack strapped tripod (lowepro mini trekker AW) Get the plastic out and buy one today!