Video fluid head

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sh1209

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For those that do a lot of video work and have a fluid head, what are your recommendations as far as brand and features. I recently bought a Manfrotto 502 AH and really like using it and can see it replacing my Wimberley gimbal to be honest. There's one thing that makes me apprehensive about keeping it and it's the plate system. It's annoying having to install the plate on whatever lens I'm using and the lack of area Swiss inclusion. There are a couple companies that make replacement top plates that accept area Swiss plates but then I'm nearly double the price of the head purchase price. It's a joy to use and panning is much better than using a gimbal but the plate situation is a bummer.
 
For those that do a lot of video work and have a fluid head, what are your recommendations as far as brand and features. I recently bought a Manfrotto 502 AH and really like using it and can see it replacing my Wimberley gimbal to be honest. There's one thing that makes me apprehensive about keeping it and it's the plate system. It's annoying having to install the plate on whatever lens I'm using and the lack of area Swiss inclusion. There are a couple companies that make replacement top plates that accept area Swiss plates but then I'm nearly double the price of the head purchase price. It's a joy to use and panning is much better than using a gimbal but the plate situation is a bummer.
I installed an RRS PC-LR 40 panning bracket on the Manfrotto-provided plate.
 
FWIW....

I replaced my Wimberley with a Manfrotto 500AH fluid head some time ago when I was shooting stills. I simply preferred the fluid head experience over the gimbal. I did buy the Kirk arca-swiss replacement for it to maintain arca-swiss compatibility with my gear. The 500 was inexpensive but a tad too light for larger lenses.

I have a 502 with a "clone" replacement a-s plate I bought through ebay https://www.ebay.ca/itm/332658609320
that's essentially the same as the Kirk version. I use the 502 on my Eckla Eagle car door mount and it works quite well. The 500/502 are decent performing and very reasonably priced for stills and light video work.

My main head is the Sachtler Aktiv8, which is vastly superior to the Manfrottos for smooth panning and of course priced accordingly. To maintain a-s compatibility with the Sachtler I just screwed an a-s saddle to the Manfrotto compatible plate which works well.

I also use a Sachtler Ace on a portable CF tripod for light weight hiking mobility but the Sachtlers are based on a 75mm ball mount which requires an appropriate tripod.

What I really like about the fluid heads is the smooth panning which works well for tracking birds whether shooting stills or video. I also like the ability to point the camera at an object and let go, and it says there. Of course you can fine tune a gimbal to do the same thing but it's tricky.
 
It's annoying having to install the plate on whatever lens I'm using and the lack of area Swiss inclusion. There are a couple companies that make replacement top plates that accept area Swiss plates but then I'm nearly double the price of the head purchase price.

I use a Haoge 64mm Screw Knob clamp adapter for arca swiss ($23 on Amazon) on my Manfrotto MVH500's fluid head plate. Works great. Got the idea from a Hudson Henry video
 
Y
FWIW....

I replaced my Wimberley with a Manfrotto 500AH fluid head some time ago when I was shooting stills. I simply preferred the fluid head experience over the gimbal. I did buy the Kirk arca-swiss replacement for it to maintain arca-swiss compatibility with my gear. The 500 was inexpensive but a tad too light for larger lenses.

I have a 502 with a "clone" replacement a-s plate I bought through ebay https://www.ebay.ca/itm/332658609320
that's essentially the same as the Kirk version. I use the 502 on my Eckla Eagle car door mount and it works quite well. The 500/502 are decent performing and very reasonably priced for stills and light video work.

My main head is the Sachtler Aktiv8, which is vastly superior to the Manfrottos for smooth panning and of course priced accordingly. To maintain a-s compatibility with the Sachtler I just screwed an a-s saddle to the Manfrotto compatible plate which works well.

I also use a Sachtler Ace on a portable CF tripod for light weight hiking mobility but the Sachtlers are based on a 75mm ball mount which requires an appropriate tripod.

What I really like about the fluid heads is the smooth panning which works well for tracking birds whether shooting stills or video. I also like the ability to point the camera at an object and let go, and it says there. Of course you can fine tune a gimbal to do the same thing but it's tricky.
thank you for the info and I’m pretty sure I’m going to retire my gimbal after using this only a few times at this point
 
For those that do a lot of video work and have a fluid head, what are your recommendations as far as brand and features. I recently bought a Manfrotto 502 AH and really like using it and can see it replacing my Wimberley gimbal to be honest. There's one thing that makes me apprehensive about keeping it and it's the plate system. It's annoying having to install the plate on whatever lens I'm using and the lack of area Swiss inclusion. There are a couple companies that make replacement top plates that accept area Swiss plates but then I'm nearly double the price of the head purchase price. It's a joy to use and panning is much better than using a gimbal but the plate situation is a bummer.
Steven

I have this: Leofoto BV-15 70mm Fluid Video Head with PU-100D 100x38mm QR Plate Arca / RRS Compatible.

It comes with Arca mount.

I also have Manfrotto 520AH, please view atttched photos for comparison.

Oliver

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If you don't already have one, let me suggest you also get a leveling base for your tripod. It's easy to level stills in post, but not so much with video. FWIW
Yes, a leveling base is a necessity with a fluid head. RRS, Acratech, Kirk, etc. have them. One type uses a bowl that replaces the top plate of the tripod. The other sits on top of the existing top plate.


 
If you don't already have one, let me suggest you also get a leveling base for your tripod. It's easy to level stills in post, but not so much with video. FWIW
I did get the 65mm Leo photo leveling base. Seems to work really good and is built really well.
 
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