The BEST real estate tripod head? GH-PRO II vs Manfrotto 410 Junior
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- A brief comparison of the Sunwayfoto GH-PRO II and the Manfrotto 410 Junior gear tripod heads. The Manfrotto is a very common tripod head used in real estate photography. Can the little tripod head that could from Sunwayfoto beat the goliath from Manfrotto?
Get the GH-PRO II here ► amzn.to/3b17AXp
Purchase through the links above to support my channel at no extra cost to you!
The Manfrotto 410 Arca Swiss conversion kit ► www.hejnarphoto...
www.bertramphotography.com
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Gear Used In These Videos
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--------------// Camera Setup \\--------------
► Main Camera: amzn.to/3meIbeL
► Main Camera 2: amzn.to/2Wd2puF
► B Camera: amzn.to/3gGEqxm
► Camera Slider: amzn.to/37bXT68
--------------// Audio Setup \\--------------
► Studio Mic: amzn.to/37edEcQ
► Noisy Environment Mic: amzn.to/2JQ3kin
► Audio Recorder: amzn.to/383DVtD
► Impact Rolling Stand: amzn.to/3nglZlQ
► Mic Boom Arm: amzn.to/3oLDECb
--------------// Camera Lenses \\--------------
► Main Camera Lens: amzn.to/3qNRndH
► Main Camera 2 Lens 1: amzn.to/3mj3nAe
► Main Camera 2 Lens 2: amzn.to/37gckGq
► B Camera Lens: amzn.to/3gGeYbx
► B Camera Lens Adapter: amzn.to/3gLOy8m
If you shoot real estate what is some of the gear you feel is essential?
camera ;)
@@mofi3641 That would certainly help!
I use the Benro Geared Head and it has the same gearing issue as your Manfrotto.
ARCA SWISS D4 GP
The 410PL plate pissed me soo much I went with the Benro Gear Head that uses similar plate arca swiss and similar price and now the Sunway Photo is getting me interested great video and great audio :D
Hello. Great video. I have just sold my old M 410 and I'm awaiting for the GH-PRO to arrive. Reviews like this one have helped me to change my mind and make the decision. Thanks!
Hey thanks for that! That's exactly why I made this video, to inform other photographers about this tripod head. I hope it works as well for you as it has for me.
Thank you for this review! As the photographer/videographer for our property management business I really appreciate your talking points in this review.
I appreciate you leaving a comment! Please let me know if I can be of any more help!
I had a Manfrotto 405 for many years but it started to get stiff and sometimes it was very difficult to move the gears, I opened it myself and the grease used on the gears was completely dried out and one massive clump. Cleaning it and replacing the grease helped but I replaced it for a FLM ball head. Looking now for a new geared head next to the ball head and panorama rail with leveller.
I recently purchased the + version. Nice head but just not rigid enough with a heavy lens. I replaced it with a Leofoto G2 after one shoot.
Really helpful video, thanks!
Thank you for the review! Ordered one too. I do interior photography and use Sony mirrorless as well. But I find the built in level to be not sensitive/precise enough. There are like 3-5 degrees between perfectly leveled camera and when it starts showing that it’s not level anymore. I have several Sonys, all do the same thing. So I have to use bubble levels anyway 👎
It was designed for large format and medium format camera setup originally that's why its such a large plate. The new and improve you showing have protruding parts use it bang it drop it you will see durability and track record. The fishing is cool and artsy but I can see hooks and breakage along with those music stand knobs
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. All I can say is that I have used it daily out on every shoot since this video which has included it being dropped numerous times (I'm not exactly easy on my gear) and it is still performing perfectly. Unfortunately the 410 did not have as good of track record for me.
Interesting video Gerald!
Thanks for the video! I have a 410 head for more than 10 years, on the whole I am happy with her, although over time she has lost a little accuracy. I shoot only in the studio, so I don't really care about the problem of garbage and dirt. As well as a lot of weight;) But I don't like the corporate standard of Manfrotto plates. I recently bought rails for macro (Leofoto) and decided to switch to a Arca-Swiss mount. Now I'm choosing between SUNWAYFOTO GH-PRO II and Leofoto G2 + Leofoto LH40R. I like the second option more, but it's also more expensive, so I'll think about it :)
Wow thanks did you really help me?
I have a Manfrotto 410 as well. I have been using it for a number of years. Yes, I hate the quick release plate that comes with the head. I have converted mine to the Manfrotto video plate. I don’t do real estate, I do Multicam video of concerts, live theatre and dance shows. I put this under my wide shot. Despite lots of use the gears are stiff and if you have a load on it you will find play in the gears. Yes, it’s also big and heavy.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Gerald. By the way, great name!
Thanks for sharing. Its an odd looking head.
Note that the ability to continusly pan and tilt for vdo is a really nice touch.
This dealbreaker for me on the MF head was the stupid propritary plate system. My camera has the L brckets that allow me to switch between portrait and landscape. The L bracket just fits the acra clamp which is the industry standard.
Looking at this video really cements my thoughts on getting the 410.. I shoot real estate with panos and have owned the 410 for over 6 months and using it for 4-6 properties every day, 5 days a week.. i get that that this guy likes his new head.. but the 410 is heavy.. which is actually a positive and each part can be adjusted and replaced.. I think you' be silly not to buy a 410 head.. especially after watching this
That makes no sense to me. The video clearly explains all the disadvantages of the 410.
The 410 top plate is designed for MF and LF film cameras. Those diddy Arca type plates do not hold a heavy camera very well at all. A large format field camera needs a large contact area between its base and the head to be as steady as possible. The Sunwayfoto head is fine for a medium weight DSLR or SLR but is out of its depth with larger heavier cameras, it is a decent design though.
Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Can't really disagree with you, the 410 certainly might be better for larger format cameras. That being said I think those larger cameras are becoming more and more rare as manufacturers seem to be rushing to create smaller and smaller cameras. Even the recent medium format Fuji cameras are pretty small considering the sensor size.
I have used Arca Swiss with large cinema lenses and A7 (way more weight and momentum than a MF) and works fine even with the small Peak Desing micro plate. I will be more worried about the quality of the clamp and the head than the plate.
I find the panning rotation quit stiff. There seems to be another version with a top plate with an extra (turn) knob for panning. I have a lightweight Vanguard tripod but I have to hold them in place when turning the camera. Or otherwise the tripod will move when set on a slippery floor. Is this normal or is it a defect - or: is it adjustable. I loosen the 4 torx screws but that made no difference, it only gave much play of the plate. Bought it second hands.
Thank you for sharing
Hi Gerald, I own a 410 at the moment and looking for something to replace it. This GH looks excellent, but there's something that I don't get... is the third movement, I mean the "panoramic" one, NOT geared? because I like the micrometric movement of the 410, and I don't know if I'll fell that comfortable with just loosing the knob and having to move the plate and the camera together without friction. Thanks!
Have any issues come up in the time since this video was published?
Thanks for such an interesting video I'm liking the GH Pro ball head very after see this video and will be putting it to the Top of my must have list it's beautiful looking well designed. Thanks so much for helping me choose a very needed professional photography tool. RJ. Philadelphia Pa.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Perfect for macro- add a novoflex focus slide
In fact that's exactly what I've done! The fine tuning of the GH Pro combined with rail/slide is ideally suited for macro work
@@GeraldBertramPhotography - i sent the pro ll back once i discovered there is a Pro ll+ version
The + version add a rotation knob to the top arca clamp- handy when need- ive just received it and did some testing with it and i did use the xtra control knob
Ps I found a used novoflex focus rail with a acra clamp engineered into it- precision!
@@360icon Interesting! I can see how that extra knob could be useful for sure. Not quite enough for me to upgrade as my original version is still going strong.
very very interesting
Thanks so much!
I had to send.both the.Sunwafoto's back. Not happy at all..Too much movement between gears. Not keeping this one sadly. Back to my Benro it seems.
I’m about to purchase the same subway gh pro11..I had a manfrotto head before. Does the sunway gh pro fit into the tripod that used to hold the manfrotto head..no videos I’ve seen actually show how it fits onto any tripod. Man is a vanguard..
The base of the head has the standard tripod mount so you should have no problem at all mounting it to just about any tripod.
Hi , What is the diameter of the base of GH Pro II Head?
Not for me. Just need a new Version of the Manfrotto. The only thing i don’t like, are the small movements with the gears.
Great video, thanks for posting. When it is loaded with a camera, is there any slop or will it move? I often have to leave my camera unattended a while between shots and sometimes I have to manipulate a flash controller or a speedlight atop the camera which can throw off my frame (using Benro Geared Head that has a lot of slop).
Thank you for the kind words! It's going on several months now and I haven't experienced any slip with this head at all. Everything is just as precise as when I first got it.
@@GeraldBertramPhotography thanks for replying.
I use that tripod plate, you are removing it incorrectly, though it's weird ergonomics invites this mistake. You do not need to push the silver button to pull back the lever, just pull it back then push the button. The button smashes down the fat safety pin to allow full release. It's awkward. The upside is that when you use it, the camera snaps into the lock with an audible positive click and is held immediately and cannot fall out if the head tips. You then nudge the lever forward to finalize the tightening.
I appreciate the heads up! I'll pass that along to my partner who still shoots with that head. Thanks!
Thank you for this detailed look at this geared head. If I understand this correctly, by using this head I wouldn't have to level my tripod for doing panos; I'd only have to level the head and then rotate just the top element for my shots. Is that correct? Thanks.
That is correct. It's exactly for this reason why I am so happy they included that upper piece for rotating just your camera.
@@GeraldBertramPhotographyI'd been looking at this head for a couple of days and somehow that just hadn't clicked for me. I've just ordered one. Thank you again.
@@peterpage597 Fantastic. Please let me know how it works out for you!
@@GeraldBertramPhotography Got it! Love it! The controls respond well and it's very solidly built. The positioning of the two main controls is a bit counter-intuitive; it would be nice if the camera moved in the same direction as our hand rotations, but I quickly adjusted to that.
@@peterpage597 I actually debated about mentioning just that in the video! But I had been using it for a couple weeks at that point and like you mentioned I found I got used to it pretty quickly. Really glad you like it! Been using it for some time now and still zero issues.
I saw on another video, that the top plate moves slightly when tightening the thumb screw, after rotating. Have you found this to be the case too. Once I make a precise, adjustment rotating I want that to fix in position when tightening.
I have not had this problem at all. You have to apply a good bit of pressure to just turn the head even with the screw opened all the way. There are some adjustment screws (not the normal thumb screws) on this head which makes me think that the issue may have been a screw that simply needs to be tightened.
I have never liked my 410 junior it has always had tons of play in it. Barley use it because of this.
I had exactly the same problem
SOLD!!! Looking for a pano head vs a big L frame rig, this would be an upgrade to a fluid head. But for night astro milky way pano the degree marks need some glow paint vs a click counter (but that would be nice as a choice).
That's interesting about the glow paint markings especially for astro work. I'll actually mention this to my contact there!
To be honest manfrotto mechanics are now cheap quality in my opinion .They are living off their past reputation and are now poor quality over priced not up to the task .I have a tripod head by them manfrotto head the arm broke within two weeks of purchase . A replacing never happened..iwill purchase sunwayfoto GH Pro 2 +. But I wonder how many other people are experiencing poor quality manfrotto gear ? If I am right we need to be honest and speak out .
Manfrotto is the top head for its price, sunway is only a lighter alternative but not as precise as manfrotto. Promotional video for amateur photographer not professional
Awww you are adorable! If you were here I would just give you that big 'ole hug that you are obviously craving
@@GeraldBertramPhotography 😂
The manfrotto 410 is a hunk of junk.