Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head with Release Plate and Micrometric Knobs, Aluminium Body, for DSLR, Compact System Camera, Mirrorless, Black

This head is very well made. The machining is very precise, the gear action very smooth and the locks and design very ergonomic. Given it's capability and size it is very light and is well proportioned on a normal size tripod. The knobs instead of leavers makes it much more compact than many 3-way heads and they are very easy to reach and adjust. The little spirit-level is very useful and efficient given it's size. I hadn't used a geared head before and no amount of marketing talk can help you understand how much better this system is from precise framing of landscape, macro, portraits etc. It is so much better than a normal 3 way head and gives the kind of precision you can never get from a ballhead. The only thing I don't like about it is the quick-release plate. It would be fine for anyone using a medium-format camera but apart from those still shooting film there aren't too many affordable medium format digital backs. Most of using are using 35mm dSLRs and the quick-release plate is way to big for such cameras as it tends to be much wider that the camera base itself. The manfrotto QR system is also quite poor as the only thing stopping the camera from twisting on the plate itself is the friction of the rubber pad underneath. The Arca Swiss system is much better as it allows the use of custom plates for your camera machined to fit the body and thus there is not twisting action. I decided to couple an arca swiss base plate on top of the manfrotto plate - it works but of course is a bit clunky.

I have various heads for my tripods but this is the one that will travel with me in future unless weight is a major problem. The ball heads that I have ( manfrotto & Giottos ) can move after setting making it difficult to get and maintain exact framing. Additionally they have a habit of loosening during adjustment so that the overall position of the camera is lost. A planned holiday to the arctic to photograph the Aurora led me to buy the geared head as I though that it would minimise fumbling in the dark and ease the framing issues - also its tight lock on a frame would allow remote (huddled against the wind with hands in pockets) operation of the camera once the original setup was done. In practice the head realised all of my expectations. It is sturdy, allowed quick initial positioning followed by precise alignment and problem free movement of the frame in all 3 axes. The geared controls worked easily with gloves in temperatures down to -10degrees C. This is called a "Junior Head" and I worried that it might be lightly made or the gearing be sloppy - not so! It is extermely solid and well built with no backlash on the gearing. I was using the relatively weighty combination of a Nikon D300 with an 18-200 Nikkor lens and never felt any need for a sturdier platform ( when combined with Velbon Sherpa 6300 tripod ). Some reviews have commented that the head does not allow you point the camera at high elevations - just extent the centre pole of the tripod a little and mount the camera on on the base-plate the opposite way from that indicated and Bob's your proverbial. NB This head is referred to as the "Junior Geared Head" or the Manfrotto 410 geared head head - both terms now seem to refer to the same product. It is an excellent buy.

It's all I hoped it would be. Far superior to ball head used previously. Easy to set up and use. Fast action with pin-point accuracy and control. In use with a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 tripod. Combined weight 3 kg. Feels rock solid. My main camera system is a lightweight Sony A6000 but has a (relatively) hefty Sony SEL18-200mm hanging off the front of it. But the max load of the tripod/head was never going to be seriously challenged with my kit. Only had it a couple of weeks and been out two whole days with it so far. Cannot therefore comment on durability, but can see no reason to be concerned as the mechanisms are smooth and the entire item gives the impression of being sturdily built to last. I'm a keen amateur and it's unlikely to be tested by me in the most rugged circumstances. Nevertheless, for those interested, I've protected it and the tripod with a Manfrotto 80 cm padded bag. Also a very worthwhile high quality finished item. My combined tripod and head assembly fits easily and well into this bag with room for packing soft clothing or snacks/ bottled water should it be required. Very impressed with both these purchases so far. Love it.

This is a positive review like almost all of the others. The degree of control is absolutely fantastic, and it's quicker and more precise than other heads and types that I have used, with no slippage or movement once set. The only problem I have encountered with my purchase, was that there is a slight, and I do mean slight, movement between the actual main body of the head and the aluminium collar at the base. I have taken this up with Amazon, as there should be no movement whatsoever. To date this issue has not affected my shots(that I am aware of), but Amazon are in the process of shipping out a replacement head - no problem, hassle-free trading. If you do buy one, get it from Amazon, unless you find it a lot cheaper elsewhere. For anything like the money this is thee best head out there, bar none! It is heavier than some other heads, but I suppose this is as a result of its other characteristics, and its build quality. If you have to save on weight buy a carbon fibre tripod, but don't miss out on this head! I'm carrying a Manfrotto 190 aluminium tripod along with this beauty, but I originally intended to leave this head on the much heavier Manfrotto 055 aluminium tripod, and carry it only short distances from my car. Because this head is far superior to the 460MG head, I have taken the 460MG off my 190 tripod, and don't use it anymore. I bought that head because I was conscious about weight, but you can only compromise so far. I would have awarded 5 stars, if I hadn't have had the issue with the loose head collar plate.

This is an excellent tripod head, well made, solid, probably the best value for money for macro and landscapes where precision is more important than speed . Do not waste your money on Arca Swiss Cube , this geared head does the same and costs ten times less ... Obviously this is not head for sports or action photography , but for "quiet" photography (macro, landscapes, studio,etc.) is extremely useful and is really a joy to use . I use it mainly for macro with heavy equipment , camera + bellows + heavy positioning stage + lens and flash occasionally , on a mini wooden tripod Berlebach and the set is rock solid , very important for macro photography and especially for large magnifications and when working with natural light and long exposures . In short, if you do sports and action photography, buy a good ball head, will be better for you, but if yours is the macro this is your head , believe me, not worth spending more money , this tripod head is sufficiently solid and flexible and also cheap, what more could you want? I recommend it 100% !

"Over the years I have used many different tripods and tried various types of heads. On more than one occasion I've missed the shot through trying to get the framing spot on! You know what I mean, fiddling around with a tripod head that's got a will of it's own. (and it always wins) I tried a ball and socket head but found it frustrating to achieve spot on framing, as when I tightened it I always got some movement. The same thing happens, albeit to a lesser degree when using a pan and tilt, nevertheless you do get movement. Am I to fussy, well having spoken to many other photographers, I don't think so! So I got fed up fighting with my tripod head while the light that you could kill for fades and the air suddenly turns blue! So I've invested in a Manfrotto Junior geared head. What a fabulous piece of kit, spot on framing in an instant! It's a pan and tilt configuration with large circular knobs that let you get rough framing and then you release them and turn the geared slightly smaller knobs for precise framing! It is so quick and easy to use. I have tried it out whilst taking landscape, still life and close-up/macro work and am over the moon. Another positive is the weight it's only very slightly heavier than a conventional pan and tilt head. I just wish that I had purchased one years ago!...............Tony Perryman"

Having recently bought Manfrotto's excellent 055 4-sectioned carbon fibre tripod, I decided to top it off with the Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head. Unfortunately, the first one that arrived had a damaged camera attachment plate, making it impossible to attach a camera (or anything else) to it. So I promptly returned it to Amazon, whereupon I received a replacement with the same alacrity (five stars for Amazon here). Unhappily, this head came with a different set of issues. Its tilt axis, as well as exhibiting a worrying degree of wobble, also unfailingly produced no end of godawful grinding noises whenever using it in its fine adjustment mode. So back it went to Amazon - this time with no intentions on my part to purchase a third 410 head. Instead, I decided to throw more money at the problem by trying out the 410's bigger sibling: the 405 Geared Head.* Maybe, I reasoned, Manfrotto had lately been cutting corners with their junior head, and that the two I bought from Amazon, while presumably part of a bad batch, wouldn't be replicated with their 405 range. To which I can now dash that last hopeful conjecture with a heartfelt: Oh, dear! (or words to that effect). The first thing I noticed upon unpacking the head was that the rubber handgrip on one of the axis controls was missing. Okay, so it wasn't a serious fault in itself, but it did smack of slipshod inspection procedures at wherever in the world Manfrotto produce their photo accessory equipment. And it has to be conceded that my toleration levels towards all things Manfrotto had taken a bit of a beating by this stage. Still, were it just a small matter of a missing rubber grip, I would have turned the other cheek and got the online suppliers to make up for this shortfall, end of story. Except that it proved to be nothing of the sort. I will be brief here, save to point out that both the head's pan and levelling axes were in every sense of the term mechanically inoperable. I have since returned to the head to the suppliers concerned, along with a detailed account of its failings. So this is the current situation: I have an excellent lightweight tripod that is now gathering dust from lack of use. And it may remain so for the forseeable future, given that I wouldn't trust to demean it with one of Manfrotto's entry-level ballhead camera mounts, never mind any more of their so-called professional geared heads. NB. I am obliged to award at least one orange star for this product review. In reality the product in question deserves no orange stars whatsoever, just five black marks. * Not purchased from Amazon.

Although this head is heavier than the newly released Manfrotto Geared Head, it is considerably more stable! Given that i use a geared head for precise framing, i want something that doesn't wobble and this is the best option. In my opinion, i'd rather sacrifice weight for usability so i don't mind carrying the extra 0.5kg The build quality is excellent all round and the gears are reassuringly solid. I was sceptical about the larger base plate, having always used the smaller, new style plates. However, once i had the camera mounted, all my scepticism disappeared as it is a much more solid mounting. There is absolutely no wobble in the mount, and the larger plate allows me to mount a large rig without any front-to-back movements. Overall, I'd say this head is a better build quality than the newer alternative. Unless you are hiking for hours, I'd recommend this over the lighter, modern alternative as the results are so much better!

I am a professional photographer and have been using a Nikon 200-500 zoom lens recently and needed to upgrade my tripod head to something with greater precision when positioning at full zoom without any detectable camera shake that would be evident in video sequences. This Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head partnered with the 120-30 column spacer is just what I needed! Very easy to install (thin flat screw driver necessary for the spacer) a dream to operate with no detectable wabble, shake or vibration through the head when adjusting or positioning. Designed for semi-static subject matter, not for fast selection of moving subjects. I plan to use this for subjects in fixed locations such as woodpeckers making homes, nesting birds and of course, wasps and hornets making their nests. Standard heads were just too inconsistent as I had to constantly make compensations and would lose positioning when tightening or loosening the tilt adjustments. This geared head takes the guess work right out of it and I can make micro adjustments with ease. I also do macro/micro video and photography so the ability to be within a few inches of the subject and have incremental pan control just makes my life so easy and I wonder how I ever got along without it. Adjustments are firm and workable, silent, and nothing that would give me away if the wildlife is nervous. The build is excellent, heavy, nicely finished with knobs that feel nice and give excellent finger traction. The wave shaped adjustment flanges are accessible and well placed for rapid adjustments. YOU NEED THE COLUMN SPACER - adding the 120-38 Manfrotto spacer took away all pinch-points between the lower controls and the tripod. This will allow me to use the horizontal mast setup which the Manfrotto 055 has as a feature. Great price, excellent quality, I definitely recommend the 410 Junior Geared Head without hesitation. final note - it's also going to work wonderfully for an upcoming Super Moon photo session.

I can't believe I waited so long to get this. Now that I have it am satisfied that it is worth every penny. I do a lot of long range zoom photography with a Nikon P1000 at 125X optical zoom. With a regular 'loosen, move, tighten' ball head it is very difficult to get the subject perfectly centered in the frame. With the 410 Junior it is a piece of cake. The large knobs free the head up to make large movements very fluidly and controlled. once the subject is in frame, simply fine tune with the small adjustment knobs which have an infinitely small adjustment range and are sufficiently geared to allow micro positioning of the camera. The head is quite heavy and sturdy so it easily holds my camera and the Vixen Polarie star tracker for astrophotography. the fine adjustment knobs allow me to get the Polarie perfectly aligned so that I can take long exposures without making star trails. highly recommended if you do lots of high zoom photography, or any photography where precise positioning of the camera is critical

The product is very strong and of good quality.

Ho tenuto questo prodotto sott'occhio a lungo, temporeggiando con diffidenza finché non l'ho visto all'opera in un recente workshop di macro. Ammetto di essere stato sciocco a non comprarlo prima: vale ogni singolo centesimo che costa e la sua utilità ha superato quella di tutte le teste per treppiedi che abbia usato in passato. Se siete nel dubbio se acquistare questa testa, a meno che non siate disposti a spendere cifre importanti, non fate come me: compratela e basta, sarete molto molto soddisfatti di questa decisione. Pro 1. Prezzo: questa è tra le teste a cremagliera più economiche in circolazione e probabilmente l'unica di qualità a questa fascia di prezzo. Se cercate qualcosa di meglio, dovete *almeno* raddoppiare la spesa (che, volendo, può continuare a crescere pure fino a 4 cifre). 2. Robustezza: non balla minimamente neanche sotto carichi notevoli e spinte. Ciò la rende ottima nelle macro e nello still life, che sono le tipologie di foto per cui l'ho comprata, ma dev'essere ottima anche per l'architettura. 3. Affidabilità: finalmente quei movimenti minimi ma fastidiosi, tipici delle teste a tre assi il cui materiale si adatta appena si stringono le manopole, sono solo un ricordo. Il settaggio rimane esattamente dove lo si lascia. Inoltre le manopole sono "dure" al punto giusto, così come le ghiere di sblocco rapido. Contro (andando a cercare il pelo nell'uovo) 1. Peso: nonostante sia una delle teste a cremagliera più leggere, è tutta in alluminio, cosa che vanifica l'avere un treppiede leggero come quelli in fibra di carbonio. Dunque forse tanto vale rinunciare del tutto a puntare alla leggerezza degli strumenti ed usare piuttosto un treppiede più massiccio ma stabile. 2. Attacco RC4: ancora una volta un attacco "particolare" Manfrotto, sebbene riconosca che sia molto ben fatto, dalla presa ampia e affidabile. E' un peccato che un adattatore di qualità di Hejnar per Arca-Swiss, tra prezzo, spedizione e dogana, mi costerebbe un altro centinaio di euro. 3. Senza l'adattatore di cui al punto 2, la testa è poco indicata come strumento panoramico, perché pone la fotocamera leggermente a sinistra rispetto all'asse di rotazione centrale del treppiede. Chi volesse aggirare questo limite, sappia che la variante più lunga dell'adattatore di Hejnar è fatta apposta per correggere questo inconveniente. Certo, però, che avrebbe pure potuto pensarci Manfrotto stessa a fare un'estensione del genere, dato che tra dogana, spedizione, iva e tutto l'adattatore Hejnar viene a costare sicuramente più di 100 euro...

I used to have a hard time trying to take pictures of the moon or taking pictures with high zoom as the slightest shifting in the camera position makes a big change in the focus area. With this head unit, you can make fine tuning adjustments and keep a good control on the camera. Perfect for Zoom shooting.