Manfrotto now have true fluid head? at DVinfo.net

Victor Nguyen · April 12th, 2013, 03:21 AM

At 1:50
" What we did is we took our older design of 501 and 503 with friction pan in them and completely scrap that from our entire line of professional video head and are now dealing with only ball bearing and fluid cartridges"

Would love to see a CS review of this when it comes out.

Mike Beckett · April 12th, 2013, 04:10 AM

I'm sure that this statement applies to all of the new "bridge" range of Manfrotto heads.

Chris reviewed the 504hd head here:
Review: Manfrotto 504HD/ 546GBK Video Support System at DV Info Net

I assumed that it was the same technology across all their range, just with different payloads and counterbalance or drag features.

Chris Soucy · April 13th, 2013, 07:21 PM

Fluid head maybe.

Shame about the cubic ball bearings and other gremlins.

Can't see anyone at Manfrotto addressing a parcel to me any time soon.

CS

Victor Nguyen · April 13th, 2013, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

Fluid head maybe.

Shame about the cubic ball bearings and other gremlins.

Can't see anyone at Manfrotto addressing a parcel to me any time soon.

CS

So will you not be reviewing it then? Maybe you can try contacting B&H. Can you elaborate on "cubic ball bearings and other gremlins"?

Chris Soucy · April 13th, 2013, 10:25 PM

Read that review I did of the 504, noisiest bearings I've ever experienced and, well, the review pretty well nails all the others.

As for approaching re-sellers for review gear, the problem is the re-seller takes the hit on all the costs, to no advantage whatsoever for them. As I don't make my living from doing reviews and thus don't expect nor accept payment in any form, I'm possibly (one of) the most honest reviewers out there, and quite often the truth hurts, especially on the balance sheet.

Vinten and Sachtler run their review gear from their respective head offices, so re-sellers are not involved.

No other support manufacturer runs the necessary business model, plus I haven't exactly endeared myself to either Manfrotto or Libec and the Chinese knock off merchants don't want to know, probably for good reasons.

Come to think of it, I don't think I'm exactly flavour of the month with Sachtler either, but Vinten takes my ribbing with pretty good grace.

Such is life.

CS

April 12th, 2013, 03:21 AM	#1
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Manfrotto now have true fluid head? NAB 2013: Manfrotto Unveils New Fluid Head on Vimeo At 1:50 " What we did is we took our older design of 501 and 503 with friction pan in them and completely scrap that from our entire line of professional video head and are now dealing with only ball bearing and fluid cartridges" Would love to see a CS review of this when it comes out.

April 12th, 2013, 04:10 AM	#2
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Manfrotto now have true fluid head? I'm sure that this statement applies to all of the new "bridge" range of Manfrotto heads. Chris reviewed the 504hd head here: Review: Manfrotto 504HD/ 546GBK Video Support System at DV Info Net I assumed that it was the same technology across all their range, just with different payloads and counterbalance or drag features.

April 13th, 2013, 07:21 PM	#3
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Re: Manfrotto now have true fluid head? Fluid head maybe. Shame about the cubic ball bearings and other gremlins. Can't see anyone at Manfrotto addressing a parcel to me any time soon. CS

April 13th, 2013, 10:25 PM	#5
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Re: Manfrotto now have true fluid head? Read that review I did of the 504, noisiest bearings I've ever experienced and, well, the review pretty well nails all the others. As for approaching re-sellers for review gear, the problem is the re-seller takes the hit on all the costs, to no advantage whatsoever for them. As I don't make my living from doing reviews and thus don't expect nor accept payment in any form, I'm possibly (one of) the most honest reviewers out there, and quite often the truth hurts, especially on the balance sheet. Vinten and Sachtler run their review gear from their respective head offices, so re-sellers are not involved. No other support manufacturer runs the necessary business model, plus I haven't exactly endeared myself to either Manfrotto or Libec and the Chinese knock off merchants don't want to know, probably for good reasons. Come to think of it, I don't think I'm exactly flavour of the month with Sachtler either, but Vinten takes my ribbing with pretty good grace. Such is life. CS