Buy Manfrotto 503HDV Professional Video Fluid HeadManfrotto 503HDV Professional Video Fluid Head Product Description:
- Tilt +90, -60
- 12 pound weight capacity
- Sliding Quick release plate with safety release button
- Spirit Level
Product Description
Bogen Manfrotto 503HDV Professional Video Fluid Head (Supports 17.6 lbs)
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
503HDV video head
By S. Steele
I purchased this item because I was so frustrated with the 501 video head which would not pan smoothly. Already having a Bogen tripod, I did not want to purchase a whole new system.It is not perfect, but I am much happier with this one. The 503HDV will pan smoothly. However, the tilt is not as smooth as the 501. But at this point the pan functiion is more important to me.
11 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Worth the price for heavy cameras in professional video
By HMMWV
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1B8Y7QE78FZJT This must be the most adjustable and free moving fluid head on the market. for tiny to mid size pro cameras (all the really big stuff is obsolete now) it works fine. The head could hold a 40 lb camera, but nobody uses those any more in the field. My largest AVCHD 1080x1920 weighs in at 15lbs without RF Mic receivers attached and XLR cables inserted.First off = the video segment is OPTIONAL - if you know about the setscrews on your particular tripod legs and how to properly install a head on a tripod leg set, you don't need to watch the video - it just covers that process so you don't pan left and unscrew your head (mine came preassembled by someone who only used the heavy duty 3/8 thread screw and did not lock the head down, so I looked in my instructions for the head, and of course that PART is on the tripod legs, which I did not have the instructions for, so this video is only useful for people mating a head with a new set of legs - especially if your head / camera unscrews when you pan suddenly)Here are the important parts.#1 pan fluid adjustment - this one is hidden - tilt the head down to 90 degrees like you want to shoot a copy of a document on the ground and lock it there. (set the return spring I mention later to OFF so that it does not fight you) The pan adjustment knob can be used with gloves on as it faces the ceiling once you tilt the camera down.#2 tilt fluid adjustment - this is easier - the knob is on the left side is also clearly marked and multi-turn.#3 zoom fluid adjustment - Heh. Just kidding ya. Gotta have some fun somewhere.Both fluid adjustments are clearly marked as + to - and have several turns. I use this with a very lightweight carbon fiber tripod and at no time does it try and bend the tripod if the fluid adjustments are made correctly for the camera on top.Both pan and tilt have BIG (again glove usable) levers for locking your settings if you want it held on a point, both of which unlock fast if the action starts.The camera is a 'slide in' plate design with a lens forward spring loaded stud, and both 1/4 and 3/8 screwsets on the slider. Storage is provided under the head for the unused screwset. A dime or a flat screwdriver is best to set these on the camera, then it slides in from the rear until it clicks. At that point, rotate the slide lock lever 180 degrees (again with gloves on if needed) and you are set to go. I've used it to hold audio equipment with the 3/8" stud and video with the 1/4" stud so it is nice to keep the unused one handy and a place to insert it is provided. Plates are cheap - about a twenty or so - so you can buy a second plate for a long lens DSLR cam on the same head to swap out with your video cam.HINT - you may want to supply your own lockwasher so the screw doesn't back out on you over years of use and suddenly you cant find it when you need it to hold an audio boom.The handle is telescoping from 1/2 to full extension with a (again - gloved hand) unlock lever.Finally there is a "return to level" spring. If I were forced to find fault with this head here is the one part that is a little weak. It has 4 detent settings "Off" 1, 2, and 3. I use 2 or 3 with a 14 oz AVCHD camera. A 4th setting would be nice, but if you balance your cameras weight by sliding it forward and back before locking the screw, it will run easier and the springs will return it to level.Speaking of levels there is a LED backlit level in the head to adjust it with a 1 minute timeout after pressing the button.Basically they are scaling the heads down for modern small cameras and it shows - but the quality has improved from the older bogen trademarked units. The reason I'm nitpicking here is that I use a setting of 2 or 3 with a camera that weighs less than a pound. My 3-ccd cameras need a 3+ setting or else I just add drag on the fluid knob for tilt but that is not the same as return to level. The control is opposite the tilt on the right side.The lock to the tripod is a 3/8" stud. I used a dab of oil on mine to make the threads engage properly as there was some manufacturing 'gunk' in the brass receiver. On my tripod I removed the 3/8" screw and set it firmly with a locking nut on the head, then screwed the head onto the tripod.Setup was fast, then adjusting to to the camera for equal tension in all direacions was easy.CRITICAL PART: Instructions make no mention of you removing the insulator from the battery on the backlit bubble level I tried to get it to light up several times before pulling it out to go find a battery from my camera bag's coin cell collection when I found the paper insulator - yank it and the backlit level is really bright (more later)Anyone shooting with a modern 2000+ year camera will absolutely love this head. If you have a betacam laying around, its going to feel light.Oh yes, for us southpaws out there the handle is ambidextrous and can be moved to the left side if you wish. And one last thing, the bubble level has a timer for darkened rooms, press once for 10 seconds of light, hold down for more than a second and get 60 seconds. When replacing the battery press one side firmly until it clicks, then press the other side in until both sides click. My tripod has a level and compass set into the top of it where the legs come together and it agrees perfectly with the head's level so they matched up perfectly.I'd also mention when moving the handle for lefthand operation, it can also be re-aimed for right hand use with the same lever. Some people who use remote controlls for the cam prefer to have 2 arms on the tripod and this supports a second optional arm on the left side, with one on the right as well.That's it - I have not found a better tripod head for HDV systems. With the incredibly shrinking camera, this head weighs in at more than many cameras do, so a strong tripod is critical. With a professional 15lb AVCHD camera, this is a perfect match. See my review on the 701hdv head for smaller cams Manfrotto 701HDV Pro Fluid Video Mini Head
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Good but not great
By alfred hanna
I've used this head for about two years now, and would not buy it again. Panning has had a bit of a 'hitch' or bounce back to it, usually near the end of the pan, for reasons I just cannot understand. (the reviewer who told us to 'learn how to use it' should chill. It is well documented that this can happen, I've read it in numerous reveiws. It's not the user). Perhaps there is a manufacturing flaw in it. But it is a solid piece of gear, heavy duty, and has served me well enough at times. I have recently added a Libec 250 tripod and have heard excellent things about Vincent Blues. The Libec has been a better functioning head in panning. I never experience the bounce back effect with it. I still use the Manfrotto carbon fibre legs with both heads interchangeably (changing out the 75mm to 100mm) when I need to. The carbon fibre legs are superb.I find that I usually use the 503HDV to mount my slider on. Since I don't need to pan with it. I also use it as a B camera tripod when shooting an event. Works well enough for the lock down wide angle camera.I've appreciated the lit bubble level on the 503HDV, as the Libec does not have a lit level, and I often reach for a flashlight or iPhone when I am shooting in low light.I'd likely check out higher priced Manfrotto heads if I were going to buy one. Or probably Libec or Vincent for the heads.Oh, by the way, be sure to order the right bowl for this. The manfrotto carbon fibre legs I use have a 75mm bowl. My supposed 'pro store' locally to Seattle sold me the wrong bowl lock down, and I struggled with it for a few months before discovering their mistake. "Normal" tripods seem to be 100mm bowls. Just check before buying one. It's important (G).
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