* Solid support with equipment up to pro-SLR+grip+medium telephoto lens (say, Nikon D3 and 70-200/2.8).
* GEARED - as accurate as it gets!
* Yet fast to adjust due to the quick-adjust knobs.
* No drop-off at all, because you do not lift anything.
* Strong, solid QR-plate, but see weaknesses.
* PERFECT for technical appliances like architecture, equipment testing, focus calibration, landscapes, macro, copying, and anything else that demands precise framing.
* Very cheap for what you get.
* Seems well built.

*Heavy (yet amazingly compact).
* Plate is way too big to leave on your camera (unless you use a medium-format camera).
* Plate is more difficult to attach and release then other plates.
* There are minor tolerances in the head, but due to the design of the head (geared), these are seldom relevant if you use mirror lock-up in combination with anything but supertele-lenses.

Note: I attached a arca-style plate to the QR-plate, and while this slightly increases tolerances, this only applies to very heavy cameras without mirror lock-up using telephoto-lenses.

This head replaces my 029, which I have used for seven years on a Manfrotto 055SSB. What bothered me with my 029 was that it was hard to align it precisely, and it dropped a bit when you let it go. It was a strong head allright, but inaccurate and clumsy.

The 410 head is all that I wanted for my Manfrotto 055. It is as accurate as it gets, and supplements my Velbon 630 carbon + Markins Q3 perfectly: one tripod for the technical stuff, and the other for outdoor use.

I've heard many people doubt its build quality. It looks very solid to me, but you may not wish to throw with it, like you could a ball-head.

(price paid is 100 euro, not 100 dollars).

Customer Service

Depends on country. It's ok in the Netherlands.

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Many Manfrotto, Gitzo, Velbon, Vanguard and Slik heads, but it's the only geared head I ever used.

Very fine control over all movements. Rapid movement by turning sprung collar. Very well built. Good quick release plate. Easy to use. No 'sag' after positioning.

None

A fantastic geared head from Manfrotto. Well built, extraordinary amount of control and well priced. Number one head for landscape and architecture.

Customer Service

Not used

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Manfrotto 460MG Gitzo 1372M

Still great for Landscape. If you want to do wildlife also, go to a good ball head. Well suited for large format folks

I still get my fingers pinched all the time, but I think this is standard for most tripods and heads.

This is an update for 410 users. If you are have trouble with stiff controls (when you want to move a quadant quickly) There is a Allen screw under each 410 decal if you carefully pry up the decal you can get to it and adjust the tension.Got mine working exactly like I like it now.

Extremely well made and solid Super precision movement for framing DOES allow for panning, just not fast

Not a head for setup on the fly types of shooting

After getting fed up with the innacurate adjustment characteristics of ballheads I finally jumped on this model. I'm glad I did. It is tight as a drum, built like a Mercedes S Class and adjusts in nice very fine increments, but still allows you to get in the ballpark quick before you need to tweak it. The weight is not the least bit bad actually.

Customer Service

N/A

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Bogen 3437

Precise framing fairly quick. Good for landscape. Quick release plates easy to use and are tight.

Not suited for fast tripod movements in sports or moving wildlife. Can pinch your fingers when running close to another quadrant. Ouch!

Nice, well built tripod head. Fine adjustment capability makes precise framing very easy. If you go upside down on your tripod, controls do not get in way of legs.

Customer Service

none

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Tiffen Tripod

Compact for travel(considering weight it can hold); no handles sticking out. Precision dual (fast and micro) adjustment is first class.

Won''t pan very well, so sport and action photography are out.

For Landscape Photography this tripod head is great.I like the ability to make precison ajustments. Agree with prior review that if you need to pan, than this tripod head is not for you. It''s compact and therefore can go under/between tripod legs without interference of panning handles etc. If you want an all around head than I would look at something else. If you want something that can give precision adjustments this is the one.

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Davis and Sanford

Strong and powerful. Very fine abjustment. Fast setting in genaral position.

Heavy and $$$. Cannot for panning.

This is a very good design. Can make very fine abjustment on framing. Also it can be disengage the gear anytime to rapidly set the camera in the general position. Strong enough to hold any 645 camera. A best for macro work. But not good for everyday use, because of the weight and cannot panning.

Customer Service

No need to try.

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Non.

Small knobs don't protrude very far for you to bump into(!). Turning the knobs results in precise 3-way movement, and knobs can be unlocked for large changes. Quick release.

At extreme angles in one direction, the knobs can get in the way of movement in the other directions.

Not suited for panning of fast movement. Possibly a bit overpriced.

Overall, though, a nice tripod head for still shots. I use it with my 3021 legset, and have been pleased.

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None