Hello
Can anyone reccommend a fluid head to carry my Canon XL1s cam fully loaded approx 3.5 kg.
Many thanks
Allan :cool:

Allan, what's your budget?

The only two I can recommend are the Libec RH25:

Libec RH25 Head w/Pan Handle RH25 B&H Photo Video


and the Vinten Vision Blue:

Vinten VISION BLUE PAN/TILT HEAD V4092-0001 B&H Photo Video


which are the only two with perfect counterbalance systems.

They both work well with the XL1s and will work equally well when you trade up to similarly sized HD rig in future (I can say that with confidence as my XL1s has been on the Blue before and I've just gone and parked it on the Libec to make sure).

The Vinten has the advantage of infinately variable pan and tilt drag, whereas the Libec only has two stage drag for both, and no "off" position.

Oh, and the Libec leveling bubble isn't illuminated, if that's a deal breaker.

Both are true fluid heads with very few vices, if any.

If you're in the mood to shell out even more readies, the Sachtler FSB 6:

Sachtler 0407 FSB-6 Fluid Head 0407 B&H Photo Video


can be persuaded to work with the XL1s with CB at 3 and 1 stop of tilt drag (I've just tried it, works better than with my XH A1).

Nice head and does have that very nice snap load too.

Then, there's always the Manfrotto:

Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head 504HD B&H Photo Video


which will work with the XL1s at CB setting 2 and tilt drag at 6 - tho' not to the full +90 forward tilt, bit of kickback there, but still better than with my A1.

The latter two DO NOT have continuously variable CB so any camera upgrade/ pimping is going to be a bit of a lottery with getting correct CB.


CS

Thanks Mike and Chris for replies. Lots to think about. Was thinking somewhere around £120 budget.
Regards
Allan, :cool:

Allan,

For £120, you could probably get a 501HDV head, maybe a 503HDV second-hand. I presume you have tripod legs they fit to? The 501HDV comes with a flat base and should screw mount to any flat-topped tripod.

Unless you are prepared to spend a bit more (or a lot more!) then that's probably my best recommendation. Don't expect miracles from those heads, but it should be OK for your Standard Definition Canon unless you intend to do a lot of extreme telephoto lens wildlife work.

If £120 is for head as well as legs, then I really don't know what to recomment, other than your shoulder!

The Cartoni Focus has continuously variable tilt and pan drag. It held my pimped out XL1s with teleprompter just fine, then my XH-A1 and now my EX1R.

The Cartoni has a very nice side mount quick release that lets you mount and unmount with one hand all on the left side while your right hand is firmly on the camera. I used a Vinten Vision which lacks this and realized how good I had it.

Oh and the level is illuminated.

Thank you Mike and Les. Been reading the reviews and leaning towards the 501 HDV which will work well on the Man sticks I have at present for my 2 cam equestrian dressage set up.
Allan. :cool;

I scored a Sachtler FSB-4 on eBay and to my surprise, the FSB series QR was changed to use a side release. It's a very nice piece of kit.

I scored a Sachtler FSB-4 on eBay and to my surprise, the FSB series QR was changed to use a side release. It's a very nice piece of kit.
was it a used FSB-4? How much are the used ones going for?

If you do a search on eBay and check the Completed Listings box you will see those that sold and those that didn't over the last 2 weeks. The Sachtlers have different legs (two stage v 1 stage) and spreader which affect the price. Also, some are missing the QR plate or have a broken floor spreader. So you gotta take all that into consideration. I was actually looking for the prior model DV4 II when the current model came on.

What's nice about the Sachtler design is that the ball comes off so the head can be used on a slider and using a Manfrotto ball on the slider, the legs can be used to hold the slider.