Fluid Head Options, Low and High at DVinfo.net

William Chung · January 24th, 2009, 01:12 AM

Hey guys,

Been using my 5d II for photos up to recently. Some video "test" projects are coming up and wondering what are some options for a good fluid head.

So far searches here and around the net have turned up the Manfrotto 501, 503, 701 HDV
Are any of these three deemed acceptable as something that would be versatile to use for the 5d II?

Also what are some of the higher end choices that would work well with the 5d II?

After all this reading on video I have a hugeeee new respect for how much work goes into producing one! I'm also trying to figure out all the adapters / compatible lenses I can use to recapture all my manual functions back.

Thanks!

Daniel Lipats · January 24th, 2009, 01:22 AM

I would not recommend the 501, they tend to have sticky movement. The 503 is better but it can still be sticky if the camera is too light. For best results you may want to add some extra weight with a LCD screen or mattebox.

Steve Phillipps · January 24th, 2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Chung

Also what are some of the higher end choices that would work well with the 5d II?

Thanks!

Any head will work with it. You could put it on an O'Connor 2575 or Ronford Atlas if you wanted to!
Personally I'd always tend to go with an old s/h Sachtler, Ronford or O'Connor rather than one of the Manfrottos, you're just in a different league even with a 30 year old Sachtler Panorama or Ronford F4. I suppose it also depends what kit you're going to use with the 5D, if you're mounting long lenses and maybe a monitor etc., the bigger head would be a big help.
Having said that maybe the smoothness of the fluid head is not such a big deal as the little I've seen of the 5D seems to show that pan etc., look very iffy and you're basically wanting locked-off shots with movement within the frame.
Steve

Olof Ekbergh · January 24th, 2009, 07:13 AM

The Miller Solo is a great set of carbon sticks and very smooth fluid head. Also very light.

We use the both for Canon still cameras and several vid cams.

Miller | SOLO DV10 Carbon Fiber Tripod System | 1511 | B&H Photo

January 24th, 2009, 01:12 AM	#1
William Chung Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 80	Fluid Head Options, Low and High Hey guys, Been using my 5d II for photos up to recently. Some video "test" projects are coming up and wondering what are some options for a good fluid head. So far searches here and around the net have turned up the Manfrotto 501, 503, 701 HDV Are any of these three deemed acceptable as something that would be versatile to use for the 5d II? Also what are some of the higher end choices that would work well with the 5d II? After all this reading on video I have a hugeeee new respect for how much work goes into producing one! I'm also trying to figure out all the adapters / compatible lenses I can use to recapture all my manual functions back. Thanks!

January 24th, 2009, 01:22 AM	#2
Daniel Lipats Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 260	I would not recommend the 501, they tend to have sticky movement. The 503 is better but it can still be sticky if the camera is too light. For best results you may want to add some extra weight with a LCD screen or mattebox.

January 24th, 2009, 07:13 AM	#4
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	The Miller Solo is a great set of carbon sticks and very smooth fluid head. Also very light. We use the both for Canon still cameras and several vid cams. Miller \| SOLO DV10 Carbon Fiber Tripod System \| 1511 \| B&H Photo