Manfrotto 141 RC pan and tilt 3 way head review.
A review of the Manfrotto 141 RC pan and tilt 3 way head for wedding photography and portraiture.
I'm a professional portrait and wedding photographer. If you are new to this site you might like to read why I review photography equipment which I use for my business before reading on. My aim is to provide the information I would be looking for when trying to decide if something would help or hinder my photography business. You won't find specification details ad nauseam, or comparisons between the incomparable, but you will find out how this professional photographer rates the equipment for professional use.
I use the Manfrotto 141 RC (141RC) head for wedding photography. At the time of this writing I've had mine about 10 years and it is still going strong. It is reasonably fast to use although it doesn't have a spirit level. More about spirit levels later.
The 141 RC (141RC) uses a Manfrotto 200PL-14 quick release plate. The great thing about the 200PL-14 is it fits a wide range of other heads too. I have four or five of these quick release plates and use them on various Manfrotto kit including a monopod.
My 141 RC (141RC) head is teamed up with a Manfrotto 055 Pro tripod. I rarely use a camera support for portrait photography but use it at various times during wedding photography which means it gets used in all weathers. This has caused the 141 RC (141RC) to corrode on the exposed steel parts. I'm a bit surprised by this but it appears superficial only and doesn't affect the operation.
The 141 RC / 200PL-14 quick release plate is a very useful combination but the maximum weight it can carry is a bit limited. More recently I purchased a second Manfrotto 055 Pro tripod and decided to team it with a Manfrotto 229 Super Pro head. which has a hexagonal quick release plate and spirit levels. I thought this would become my first choice at weddings but surprisingly it isn't. Reportage wedding photographers need to be fast and I actually find it faster to use the 141 RC head, particularly the 200PL-14 quick release plate. Of course this might just be because I have had it for so long and have become so familiar with it.
Manfrotto 141 RC pan tilt summary
The Manfrotto 141 RC head is quick to use, relatively light and compact compared to some heads but with the penalty of not being able to carry the heaviest gear. The 200PL-14 quick release head fits lots of other supports which can save you valuable time.
Availability of the Manfrotto 141RC
As of January 2009 as far as I can tell the Manfrotto 141 RC head is discontinued. This seems a bit daft to me, since it is my favourite tripod head. Fortunately it seems so well built (bar the corrosion!) I expect it to last me well into the future. You can probably pick one up second hand some place for little money but my guess is professionals are going to hang on to them. Given a choice of an expensive new Manfrotto 229 Super Pro head, or a used and probably very cheap 141RC I would get the 141.
Manfrotto 804RC2 basic pan tilt head W/QCK lock
As of January 2009 it looks to me as if the Manfrotto 804 RC2 is the current "version" of the 141 RC design. It looks very similar. If I need another 141 RC I would probably just get one these by mail order rather than mess around looking for a used 141 RC.
However a possible downside of the Manfrotto 804 RC2 is the material used for its construction. Manfrotto calls it "technopolymer". A quick browse with a search engine leads me to believe I would call it plastic, okay maybe fancy plastic but it is still plastic. If there is one thing I know about plastic, it should never be used for bearing loads or repeated use/abuse, just the sort of use a tripod and tripod head can expect to receive. Give me some proper metal any day, and forget the weight penalty. I suspect owners of the Manfrotto 804 RC2 will over the years be less impressed than owners of the 141 RC. I've had my 141 RC for about a decade and think it will last at least as long again, I might even retire with it still in use. Maybe I would look for a used 141 RC after all.
I haven't yet played with a 804 RC2 head but here is the Manfrotto 804RC2 specification if you are interested in one:
Manfrotto 804 RC2 specification
Height: 12.0 cm
Weight: 0.75 kg
Maximum load it will carry: 4.00 kg
Panoramic rotation: 360°
Color: Black
Material: Technopolymer (whatever that is)
Lateral tilt: -30° / +90°
Front tilt: -30° / +90°
Quick release: Yes
Secondary safety system: Yes
Plate type: Quick release - with 1/4-20" screw
Attachment to tripod: 3/8" female thread
Plates/Adapters: 200PL-38, 200PLARCH-14, 200PLARCH-38
More details about current Manfrotto heads may be found at www.manfrotto.com.
This page includes information on the following:
Manfrotto
141 rc