Manfrotto 496 Ball Head Replaces Manfrotto 486
This ball head has been totally redesigned for better ease of use.  The new friction control knob allows the photographer to achieve superior control when handling the camera and making micro movements without having to totally lock and unlock the ball head. The locking knob on this head have been redesigned to be more ergonomic, easier to handle and more user-friendly. The ergonomic shape allows the user to better lock the ball for security.  A smart repositionable locking lever allows the user to place it in a comfortable position in order to use it in the most convenient way. Just pull it outwards, put it in the best working position and then release it.  The locking lever securely locks the head both in the +90° -90° ball positioning and in the 360° pan positions.  This head is designed to hold a 35mm SLR camera with medium-weight lens or light medium format style camera up to 13 pounds.   The 496 replaces the Manfrotto 486RC2.