Manfrotto XPRO Magnesium Ball Head with Top Lock plate

Deciding to update my long-time ball-head, I looked at various alternatives. However, I kept coming back to Manfrotto. I wanted to switch up my system with an L-bracket for my camera, and needed an Arca-Swiss style head to be able to accommodate this change. This new Manfrotto head is lovely.. Lighter than my previous one, and very secure when tightened, it feels great to use when I'm out landscaping. The adjustment now possible for the friction on the head while it is unlocked is very useful, meaning you can set the friction level to suit your hands and movements then easily tighten everything back up with one twist of the main lever. I'm delighted with it - it's another quality head from Manfrotto, and at a very competitive price point for an Arca Swiss compatible clamp.

I had considered a ball head for some time, my previous three-way head a little awkward. Impressed by the stability of the head and its ease of adjustment, the release plate is a little awkward and gives the impression of being a little flimsy. I would have preferred that the adjustment knobs had been a bit more robust as well. All in all a decent piece of kit which is more to my needs.

I had such high hopes for this ball head, but it fails so miserably when it comes to it's unique selling point: being an Arca-Swiss compatible Manfrotto head. I think you already know this, but Manfrotto manufacture two versions of this ball head; one version with Manfrotto's 200PL quick release plate and one with 'Top Lock,' which looks a lot like an Arca-Swiss plate. Don't be deceived, it's not. Despite its claims, this head is very far from Arca-Swiss compatible. The release mechanism is an over contrived reinterpretation of what is otherwise a fantastically simple concept. This reinvention requires that you release the screw clamp, as you would expect, and then wrestle with a needlessly uncomfortable button before you're allowed to have your camera back. Most of the time this button will give you the loathsome Top Lock plate, but woe betide you if you expect it to return any other Arca-Swiss compatible accessory. I made the mistake of fitting a Three Legged Thing l-bracket, and coaxing this feral monstrosity to release my sweet darling took nearly twenty minutes. A return label was quickly printed and this sorry little mistake was deposited in an Amazon locker within an hour of opening the package. Consider yourself warned.

This is the best ball head I have ever used. It's rock solid when locked down. You can slacken off the friction separately from the locks so you can position your camera easily & when you let go it won't flop over. It also has a locking rotatable base with degrees marks, which is very handy for taking panoramas with a consistent overlap. At the time of purchase, this ball head was only £105. Keep an eye on the price, it seems to vary a lot for some unknown reason and grab a bargain when it's cheaper.

This is my second x-pro head and its not because I wanted two. So it's not a great ball head; my first copy had issues in its built and design. I still bought a replacement as it is also reasonably priced - stick with me. It also has a benefit that I am very familiar with using it so I didn't need a learning curve. First the connection system for arca-swiss rusted up / seized up/ became difficult after the first year of using it. Manfrotto could have made this better; but when using their large plates on my long lenses I did appreciate the locking pin. On my cameras I used the peak design plates which work with smaller lenses. First time I realised the mechanism was dodgy was when I caught my camera floating towards the ground. When I looked at it the clip was held open. Some time lubricating the mechanism and forcing it to move in with a screwdriver and out and it was serviceable for another 6 months. I was diligent after that first scare; checking the connection was secure - which isn't a bad habit to get into. The death though came when the position retraining twist screws on the side fell off after using it for 18 months. Its still somewhere out there in the dessert as it dropped off whilst I was carrying the tripod on my backpack. Until that moment it had been a good head for photos - and a disaster of being in the dessert for night photos was partly averted by the friction knob getting things tight enough to take photos if I was careful. So why did I buy a second one; price and familiarity of use. For its weight carrying ability its slightly light - especially compared to the super ridgid pneumatic heads Its also half their price; and despite its simple friction system it held my cameras and motion heads with heavy L and Zeiss lenses rigid in all kinds of places - even on a horizontal arm The xPro matches perfectly with the weight and design of my 055 travel tripod; and I likely will use it a lot less now as I added a smaller travel tripod to my collection so It should spend less time in the cargo hold and be used closer to home. Lockdown has stopped me using it for the last month; but it worked tonight when I went out to find some asteroids. Time will tell if my first head was a lemon...

This is the best ballhead I’ve ever owned. Solid as a rock and I have some heavy equipment. I can’t see what everyone is moaning about regarding L brackets or any other arca swiss plate, I have four different ones including a 20 quid pig iron L bracket and every one fits, locks and releases perfectly, with no movement whatsoever. Recommended.

Good quality and value. L brackets fit and lock on fine but bought two independent Arca Swiss 70mm plates that do not lock on. Thickness of lip seems to be the problem. Also, tightened the three securing screws on Benro TMA48CXL tripod column plate/base and now can't rotate head for panoramas!

Great addition to my photography gear, replaced the standard head with this on a Manfrotto 190X tripod. I used it with my Sony A99, which is a heavy camera, and I have no problems with it's stability. Ease of use of the ballhead makes it great for setting up landscape shots, and also will be using it when doing portrait shots too... with the adjustment to how "loose" the ball gets when released, it will make for great stable headshots and portraits. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking about purchasing a ballhead for their photography gear.

Robusto, movimiento suave y buen bloqueo, rotula muy recomendable

Très bonne rotule, la qualité des produits Manfrotto n'est plus à démontrer. Je précise que la rotule s'adapte très bien sur la plupart des plateaux Arca-Swiss sauf certains qui ont deux butés en dessous.

Typical Manfrotto quality. The magnesium body keeps it lightweight, while the locking mechanism is strong and holds my heavy camera setup without any creep. The Top Lock plate system makes attaching the camera quick and secure. Highly recommended!

Arrivata ieri e messa subito in opera, la testa è davvero ben realizzata, d'aspetto solidissimo e con leveraggio comodo ed efficente. Il movimento della sfera è molto fluido e la frizione permette una regolazione ottimale secondo il peso dell'attrezzatura, dando modo a chi fa le riprese di correggere l'inquadradura senza dover mollare del tutto il freno della sfera. Il movimento panoramico è un pò duro ma regolare e la testa si ferma in tutte le posizioni senza il minimo cedimento. Anche con la barra centrale del treppiede ribaltata. La piastrina arca swiss onestamente la credevo un pò migliore ma vabè. Ottime le livelle sulla piattaforma. Curioso il sistema di sgancio a bottone.

Excellent Ball head, Can use my arca swiss plates and L brackets with no problems.