Originally posted by baro-nite Maybe it's just a product with significant sample variation, or maybe some people are a lot pickier than others.
It's a geared tripod head, how the hell could it have sample variation? I think the tripod legs also account for stability reviews. I too know some users of the 410MG, and a lot of them are using very, heavy tripod legs. I prefer the 405 because the quick set rings are easier to disengage the size and grip on the gear dials makes the head a pleasure to work with. If I have any improvements to suggest to manfrotto: I would suggest they put an Arca QR platform on the 405 - they would sell a lot more of them if they did.
Originally posted by texandrews I am not seeing any appreciable (or any at all, really..) "creep" from my Acratech Ultimate.
Try it with a FA 645 400mm f/5.6 or the FA 645 120mm f/4 macro at 1:1 - those two lenses bring out the worst in any tripod setup.
Originally posted by PhilRich s a gear head better all around? I like the ease of adjustment with a ball head.
To be frank: Ball heads are a bit of a liability when you are working with really heavy equipment. Sure they are convenient and quick but all the speed in the world won't mean squat if the horizon you so painstakingly aligned in the VF gets skewed the instant lock it down. With geared tripod heads, they only move on the axis that you want them to. Think of a geared head as a beefed up 3 way tripod head, albeit they are in their default state locked down.