Thread: Video Tripod Heads

I'm looking to pick up a fluid head so I can dabble some more with video. What do you video mags recommend as the Toyota of fluid heads? Doesn't need to be the best but also not a POS.

The most it would hold is a 5D/7D and a 300 f/4

Is the Manfrotto 501HDV Pro a solid bet at $175? There are brands I know nothing about popping up on B&H.

I've had good luck with my weifeng 717

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-WEIFENG-...item35b4fc12fa

Originally Posted by dfinn

I've had good luck with my weifeng 717

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-WEIFENG-...item35b4fc12fa

This or a manfrotto 701 are a good start

Go with the 501 and don't look back.

i was really happy with my manfrotto i got for cheap on ebay. lots of good deals. seems like a lot of folks don't know what they're selling when it comes to tripod heads.

The 501 gets it done for me as well.

If I go with the 501 do I need to buy any extra parts? I'm seeing a review saying I need to buy a half-ball to put between the head and my tripod. I have a Manfrotto 055XBPRO or whatever it's called, the basic Manfrotto tripod.

You should get a better set of legs........one that has a half ball as part of it. It makes life very noticeably better.


You can buy the add on half ball thing without getting new legs. What you have kind of sucks for a good video support though. Those things twist and wiggle a good bit if you're going to be doing a bunch of panning. How much money do you have to spend on this?

I don't have a set budget per se, just trying to slowly accumulate the pieces of the puzzle to shoot video. I'm sure I need an external mic as well but for now I'm not so focused on the audio. Of course all the equipment in the world won't teach me how to edit, so there's that piece as well.

But just so I can see for myself how shitty my legs are, will the 501HDV attach to a 3/8 bolt on the top of my tripod or is a half ball 100% necessary for it to even attach?

Originally Posted by Altmanator

I don't have a set budget per se, just trying to slowly accumulate the pieces of the puzzle to shoot video. I'm sure I need an external mic as well but for now I'm not so focused on the audio. Of course all the equipment in the world won't teach me how to edit, so there's that piece as well.

But just so I can see for myself how shitty my legs are, will the 501HDV attach to a 3/8 bolt on the top of my tripod or is a half ball 100% necessary for it to even attach?

The 501 in not a halfball design, it screws on. You can add a screw on halfball later when/if you update your legs.

The half ball design is only for leveling quickly. You'll be fine with the screw-on for now, just know it will be more of a PITA to get level, since you have to adjust the legs independently.

I hate the Manfrotto bubble level, btw. The actual bubble is too small - so it will look level when it's not quite there. Sachtler did it right when they put a big bubble in their leveling system. Also the green BG is easier to read than the Yellow.

Final thought: The whole point of fluid heads is to give smooth drag to the pan and tilt axis (Axes? What's the multiple of Axis?) Anyhoo - the greater the drag the smoother your slow pan or tilt is. With cheap legs they will flex, especially when you pan, and once you reach the end of your move and let up the pressure you'll notice the camera adjusting back a bit (the cheaper the legs, the more it will shift back). This can ruin your shot on a long throw (like at 300mm.) The rule of thumb is that the higher weight the legs are rated for the less that will happen. Not 100% true, but a good rule.