Yo, Hudson... These videos on the fluid heads and tripods are without compare on KZfaq, no other videos come close. I have been a subscriber for awhile, but have not been back to the channel for a long time. I was ready to pull the trigger on a new tripod system with a ball head before reviewing your tripod videos. You have now turned me into a fluid head convert. I am ordering the Manfrotto fluid head today. I still think I am going to go with the Benro aluminum legs though, for me one pound is not going to make much of a difference right now. You truly deserve a whole lot more subscribers than you have. As a fledgling amateur landscape/wildlife photographer I really value your teaching/training style and learned a lot these past three days. Nice to see you watch Thomas Heaton too... Best regards!!!

Hi Hudson: Thank you for convincing me to switch to a fluid head system during your workshops. It is so much easier than the ball heads! As you know, I had vignetting with the magnetic filter system, even when I had a 82 mm filter. The vignetting was pretty bad with 77 mm filter and lens combination. For example, on my 24-300 mm Nikon lens, vignetting started around 35 mm. Again, more so with the 77 mm than 82 mm. But, it was still there. As for using CP with step-down rings, my experience is that it's all too easy to "lock" the filter and the CP together. Turning the polarizing ring can easily tighten the filter into the ring to the point of not being able to remove the CP. Otherwise, they are a good economical solution. Thanks for these weekly videos! Ron

Best video in a long time! thank you for your great content!

Great stuff as always Hudson. On your discussion on filters, I was always told that you should not use protective filters cause they reduce the light coming into your camera thereby making you either readjust your shutter or ISO to compensate for the reduction in light. And the best way to protect your lenses is to use a hoody on the front of the lens.

Thanks for answering my question Hudson, I wasn't sure about the circular polarizer. I am always looking for new suggestions and budget-minded too. Thanks for such a great series.

As always, great video Hudson and really informative. I enjoy your teaching skills, very straight forward and clear. Great suggestions in this video for reliable gears at a resonable price for people who don't have a big budget. By the way, I'm a big fan of IPA, too :) Have a nice one! Ciao

Thanks Hudson, another great video and especially helpful for budget conscious amateurs

Filters. And I had to figure this out myself. Wish we'd had this conversation earlier 😀

Thanks Hudson! Always love the great info and hope to do another on-location workshop with you soon!

Thank you Hudson. Very informative. Always something new to consider.

Awesome info Hudson! Thank you!!!

Don’t you find it a little difficult using step up rings with a lens hood? Also don’t the make rotating the CPL somewhat problematic?

Hudson, why don't you use the square filters from Lee and/or others? That eliminates the vignetting completely and easy to use.

I have a jobu gimbal head which I use on monopod and tripod, both manfrotto. Mainly for wildlife, birds, butterflies. Would you recommend fluid head over the gimbal? Lenses are sigma 150 macro and nikon 200-500 mainly. Thanks

can you control the pan and tilt drag on the Benro kit described on this video ?

Hi Hudson, I just picked up a new Manfrotto MVH500AH head during the Black Friday Sales. Now I am planning to upgrade to a Carbon Fiber tripod, (most likely staying with a flat head). Question is, when I checked the B&H link for the Acratech Leveling Base, there were two models listed, the Acratech 1117, and the Acratech 1170, both for the same price. Which one should I get? And which would you use for the bubble level, the one on the Manfrotto head, or the bubble level on the Acratech base to correct for your leveling.

When going to the Benro Tripod system link above the pricing is $449 not $350, has amazon changed the price or was it a one time deal on Oct 11th 2018? Thanks for your help! by the way your video's ROCK very informative! Keep up the great work! Thanks!

Aug. 2019: Your link goes to the S4 ~ 430 dollars (Not 350). S2 is 250, the description does not indicate the differences. So, I am confused.

What are your thoughts on the Manfrotto Befree Live?

Great stuff as always Hudson. On your discussion on filters, I was always told that you should not use protective filters cause they reduce the light coming into your camera thereby making you either readjust your shutter or ISO to compensate for the reduction in light. And the best way to protect your lenses is to use a hoody on the front of the lens.