Manfrotto Ball Heads: 498RC2 vs 054Q2/5

[sovietdoc]

I was shopping for a tripod w/ ballhead a few months back and I went with the hydrostatic one. It's actually slightly lighter than other ballheads (although it's huge) and it has 2 knobs, 1 for quick control and one for fine-tuning the pressure. I love it and I don't see a point of getting anything else. The only downside is you dont get a level with it like you do with your 054's but I use electronic level and my tripod has a level built-in. I especially love the quick release system. It's better that anything I've seen.

So to your question "What would YOU do?"

Well, I already made my choice haven't I

Perfect! That's what I'm looking for here... First-hand opinion on these type of heads.
It's kinda weird they don't include a couple of spirit levels in these heads... But the 055 legs come with one, so not that big a deal...

Thank you very much once again!

Once you get it and use it for a little while please update this thread with your thoughts. I love mine, but I am really interested to see what other people who have used it think. Normally I don't see anyone using hydrostatic ball heads and I wonder why..

 

[LizardKing]

Once you get it and use it for a little while please update this thread with your thoughts. I love mine, but I am really interested to see what other people who have used it think. Normally I don't see anyone using hydrostatic ball heads and I wonder why..

I'll have to wait until October-November when the store gets the new shipment with all these heads, and only there I'll go a decide which one I like better. The decisions seems to be between the 054 and the hydrostatic 468. Anyway, hope to remember to update the thread then!

Have a nice day!

 

[table1349]

I was shopping for a tripod w/ ballhead a few months back and I went with the hydrostatic one. It's actually slightly lighter than other ballheads (although it's huge) and it has 2 knobs, 1 for quick control and one for fine-tuning the pressure. I love it and I don't see a point of getting anything else. The only downside is you dont get a level with it like you do with your 054's but I use electronic level and my tripod has a level built-in. I especially love the quick release system. It's better that anything I've seen.

So to your question "What would YOU do?"

Well, I already made my choice haven't I

Perfect! That's what I'm looking for here... First-hand opinion on these type of heads.
It's kinda weird they don't include a couple of spirit levels in these heads... But the 055 legs come with one, so not that big a deal...

Thank you very much once again!

Once you get it and use it for a little while please update this thread with your thoughts. I love mine, but I am really interested to see what other people who have used it think. Normally I don't see anyone using hydrostatic ball heads and I wonder why..

Perhaps because no one makes a "Hydroststic" ball head except Manfrotto.

 

[LizardKing]

I was shopping for a tripod w/ ballhead a few months back and I went with the hydrostatic one. It's actually slightly lighter than other ballheads (although it's huge) and it has 2 knobs, 1 for quick control and one for fine-tuning the pressure. I love it and I don't see a point of getting anything else. The only downside is you dont get a level with it like you do with your 054's but I use electronic level and my tripod has a level built-in. I especially love the quick release system. It's better that anything I've seen.

So to your question "What would YOU do?"

Well, I already made my choice haven't I

Perfect! That's what I'm looking for here... First-hand opinion on these type of heads.
It's kinda weird they don't include a couple of spirit levels in these heads... But the 055 legs come with one, so not that big a deal...

Thank you very much once again!

Once you get it and use it for a little while please update this thread with your thoughts. I love mine, but I am really interested to see what other people who have used it think. Normally I don't see anyone using hydrostatic ball heads and I wonder why..

@sovietdoc: Well... I did remember to update the thread, but I finally went with a Manfrotto 055 instead of the hydrostatic. I like it better than I ever dreamed of, so I can say I'm a happy owner. Finally, the tripod is complete. Now it's time to get this baby out in the field and see what it can do

Thank you all very much for the answers here, and have a nice day!