brian43053 Loc: Buffalo, NY

I'm thinking about either the manfrotto 322 RC or the Dolica G100. Both are pistol grip but the Manfrotto is about $100 more. Is it worth it - opinions are appreciated.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I read this review last night. Whatever you choose, make sure you can return it if you don't like it.

http://digital-photography-school.com/review-manfrotto-322rc2-joystick-tripod-head/

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Not a fan of pistol grips myself, more of a ballhead fan (but I focus on landscape work where I'm doing long exposures). Chances are, the Manfrotto would work better and last longer.

That said, what camera and lenses do you plan on using this with, and I'm assuming its for portrait type work?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have a Manfrotto pistol grip head, don't know the model number but it's probably not the one you are referring to based on the cost. I also have another one that is very similar in design that cost around $100 but not a manfrotto. I like both of them most of the time but they don't have the range my manfrotto ball head does. I like them mainly for the quick one hand adjustments you can make. I adapted one to fit my Vixen tripod which gets used a lot in the dark.
If money is not an obstacle, I'd go for the manfrotto, I've never had any problems with the quality of one of their products, but that's my opinion...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Had the pistol grip, did not work for me. My arm had to be extended when going from vertical to horizontal, never got the hang of it. I now use a ball head and for me it works great. It is the Manfrotto MH054M0-Q2.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

You can never have enough heads for your tripod. For wildlife I use a Gimbal Head. For street photography I use a pistol grip. I use a ballhead for Landscape.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You don't mention what you want to shoot or how heavy/large the gear you want to put on top of the head....

"Pistol grips" are fast operating, but essentially are just small ballheads using a single release that relies upon spring-loaded locking mechanism. This limits their weight capacity quite a bit, making them a poor choice for some larger/heavier gear.

But, might be perfectly adequate for your uses and purposes.

Manfrotto has a much longer track record (dating back to before the merger, when most of it was Bogen brand) and is known for durability and serviceability (common repair parts are usually available, if ever needed).

But Manfrotto also tends to be heavier stuff and uses proprietary quick release designs. In fact they have two or three different QR systems, for different size gear, that aren't compatible with each other or with anyone else's.

Many other manufacturers instead use the relatively universal Arca-Swiss design quick release system. I don't know about Dolica, in particular. But I sold off some of my Manfrotto gear and replaced it for this reason... I do still use some other Manfrotto items that I was able to modify to be compatible with the A-S type QR system.

BTW, Manfrotto is wholly owned by Vitec Group, the same company that owns and manufactures Gitzo and Sachtler tripods, plus several other tripod and photo/video support systems.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes . .......I personally prefer the #222 ( 3265) to the #322 grip action ball head. Either works better with a #234 on top of it to go from horizontal to vertical if you do not have a tripod collar on your lens !

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Both are terrible.