Thanks to your videos, I have renewed my 14 year old tripod and now I have a new Leofoto 284CEX and a fluid head with an L-bracket and an adapter to orient the camera correctly on its axis. Your videos have been of great help and now I just hope I can go out to test it properly.

Great rundown of the pros and cons of using a fluid head for stills, all my questions answered. Thanks.

You’re so right! I do it for the last 40 years. Good video, thanks!

Thanks for the great demonstration. This is definitely going to make me reconsider my long time allegiance to ball heads for still photography. .Especially since I end up having to carry a separate tripod and fluid head for the camcorder.

Thanks for the tip on the acratech leveling adapter. It's just what I needed.

I have been trying to make up my mind about what head to get. This video answers my question. Thank you.

Thanks! I was about to pick up a gimbal setup, but now I'll go with the fluid head instead!

Excellent video. Answered questions in mind. Thanks man!

Fantastic information in another very informative video. I was actually looking at getting a sidekick for my ballhead, now it looks like that whole thing may be changing. Thanks for the time and effort you put into producing content that actually helps still developing amateur photographers.

I'm a long time photographer new to video, and searching for a fluid head has brought up a bunch of questions for me. You just answered them all in 11 minutes! This makes so much sense and is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for the helpful info, I'll be subscribing!

Thanks for a thorough explanation of the fluid head. I'm sold!

Brilliant video and you added the bits in the description. Star, SOLD

Nice video - good points, knowledgeably presented. Subscribed. BTW just got a Monfrotto 502 fluid head and 546B legs - after 20 years with a cheap Cullmann it's like being on a different planet. Highly recommended. All the best, Rob

Just wanted to shout out a big THANK YOU Hudson! for turning me onto the fluid head option. After watching all of your videos and thinking hard about it, I consolidated all of my tripods into one set up - an RRS 24L + RRS Ta-2-LB leveling base + Manfrotto MVH501AH head + Kirk MVH500-BQRV2 A-S adapter. Yes it was expensive, but I use it for EVERYTHING -- landscape, long lens birding w/600mm and for video work. It works so well that I've sold my traveler, Series 3 and Series 5 tripods and Wimberley head. Shooting just got a little easier with less hassle thanks to you!

I'm sold I will be getting this setup. great video

Great video, added it to my wish list. . .

Live that you talk about tripods. Nobody else does 😄 trying to use a tripod more

I just got a like new one of these from mpb! Soooo happy I did. I spent the whole day using it today and it was a absolute pleasure compared to my ball head.

I am soooooo happy I stumbled upon this video.

You just need an L-bracket and a good fluid head and that's it. Now I tend to shoot wedding formals with a tripod so to make every single photo level, and even if you didn't level perfectly you just fix the first one and then apply it to the rest in lightroom. I even got the same fluid head.

U just solved my shopping research problem (Vertical fluid tilting) which almost no heads did it well. 'Why not just use an L cage and mount camera vertically to tripod from the start'. Brilliant, Thanks a lot!

Good information! I am getting back into my photo (habit)/hobby after years of absence and was contemplating upgrading some (all) of my gear. On a whim, I purchased a Canon XF400 camcorder and a Manfrotto beFree video head tripod. I have and (old) Manfrotto 3011 tripod that I love to set up around my home and just plop a camera onto it and see what I can see. The old 3030 head HAD to go and this video convinced me to purchase a good fluid head as my main platform for the 3011. Thank you for sharing your insight!

I am not even an amateur photographer let alone professional one but I also thought of what Hudson said in this video and already got a fluid head for still photography.

5mins in and I subscribed. I haven't even seen the rest yet (just paused to write this) or any other video you've uploaded. Why? Because you've taken time to light and the sound is pretty good - plus your presentation is nice. If you've taken this much time, you must care and be passionate about your subject. So I subscribed that I will come back and check out more. Okay... watching the rest now. Thanks.

Awesome review of the head and so much more..... subbed

Hey! After watching this video I bought the MVH502AH (with a 190XPRO3 tripod). Thanks for your video, it was really helpful. I'll try to use one of those amazon links in the future ;)

Hudson, I bet your responsible for many folks switching from the conventional ball head to a fluid head. You convinced me, and I have been shooting for years. Thank you for the tip.

Love your set up

Very good video - very well thought out

Best choice in my understanding.

Thx. Looking forward to the nodelpoint video

I use the MVH502A for both stills and video. I'm really pleased with the level of smoothness and quality of the head.

Great advice and presentation.

Glad I found this video. A fluid head it is! Brilliant!

Very informative, thanks

You sir; are the reason I bought a Manfrotto fluid head. Thank you.

Great video, just got one with my Benro Video Monopod. Will also use it with my PlatyPod.

Amazing knowledge, thanks for sharing

Just purchased a ball head and then considered returning it for a geared head..... Even with a geared head there is going to be a degree of re-composing, so I will be returning the ball head and just adding accessories to the fluid head....... Hmmmm I need a bigger bag now. I am glad I persuaded myself to watch your up-front and honest review... I am hungry to learn so have subscribed and also visited your website. Your gear page is full of helpful ideas for someone like myself and has taken some of the angst out of what fits what and the research of what to purchase.. Thank you for saving me a fortune!!

Saw in peta pixel came here and oh Lord what a blessing!!!!! Looking forward to get schooled!!!!

Awesome video! to the point, informative, answered a lot of questions I had about the various setups.

This is why I just bought a fluid head for our church's DSLR camera with an extended lens that we use to do a live stream. I have the camera on a mic stand 7 ft in the air (mic stand on a desk), and it was a huuuuuuge pain to adjust a ball head, which would want to flop all over the place. We're trying to get it level, and slightly tilted forward, but the ball head was exceedingly difficult to get just right. We just want to set it quickly, and leave it.

Tremendous video at just the right time! I hate ball heads and now I can put my languishing Bogen 3001 to good use. Saved me having to buy another tripod like the mediocre BeFree.

Just found your channnel and have subscribed. Thanks for this video, I've never considered a fluid head for my stills work before,I always assumed they were much more expensive than the one demonstrated here, think I need to look into it. cheers from the UK.

Great explanation and you don’t sound like a salesman. :) I love my fluid head for real estate photography and video!

Baaed upon your series of videos on the subjest I purchased a Manfrotto 502 initially for my Nikon 200 - 500 tele. I cannot believe how a smoothly a heavy lens like this moves. I also use a Manfrotto grip head for my smaller lenses but am willing to try this head with them. Perhaps the fluid head is the one head to rule them all. Thanks so much for taking the time to share!

Interesting. I have used a video head a few for photography and it works much better IMO, especially for something like a bokehrama. For lightweight stuff I mostly use a tiny Joby BH1 ball head. Actually I use that a lot to make small videos.

Great video, most helpful.

One can use this same Video Head on a "normal" tripod without the ball base. You will need to get a Levelling Base such as the Sunwayfoto (which I use), but the combination of your tripod and a levelling base will be a very cheap option.

I'm a photographer, and I own two fluid heads. I am buying my first ballhead (acratech) psuedo gimbal hybrid to go on a studio camera stand, or to use on super light backpacking trips. But yeah the fluid heads are awesome for most use.

Awesome man

Such a good video.

Thank you! I M glad I found this older video, you know I always thought it was stupid of me too see the value in those fluid heads for stills. Everyone shot me down at the camera stores saying it’s for video only. So I being very new at the time I quickly accepted what they said. But I always wanted to get one for still and too use for video as well. Thanks for this one.

Yeah, I'm having exactly that re-levelling problem with my ball-head every time I change the vertical angle. Looks like we need that ball-mount thingy to level it. I'll watch the video again. :) 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Sold!!!!! I'm getting one!!!!!

Nice job!

Right on Henry :)

I love this. I just bought the Manfrotto fluid head, the Acratech Level Base, and both clamps! I subscribed and thank you for making these videos. Forgot to mention I also threw down $115.00 on the Kirk "L" bracket. I hope you get a cut of this stuff!

Didn’t recognize you for a second! 👍👍

Well, you've convinced me. :)

There is the added expense of the leveling adaptor. For my equipment, $135 for the head, plus $150 for the leveling base adaptor. The Arca Swiss are about the $30 each as mentioned in the video

definitely in on fluid, and was reviewing Manfrotto; curious your thoughts on the best one to pair with my just received Fuji GFX100 - I have benro carbon legs, Linhof ball+ quick plates etc. but you are making me rethinking the kit - also adding a tbd monopod for places where form factor does not allow a tripod. - thanks for your thoughts cheers

I love the fluid heads, I have an old one but this new one should do much better for me... I will get it.

Hudson, I have been studying your panorama course at ON1 and especially the no-parallax segment. I have acquired the MVH500AH fluid head and am wondering if that can be used in place of the panning clamp (assuming I can manage the mounting of the camera/lens). Haoge makes nodal slider that is compatible with the 500AH and I can mount an Arca Swiss clamp to that gadget for the L-bracket. It seems to me that the center panning axis of the video head would be the same as the panning clamp. I realize this won't allow the more advanced pano setup but it would allow me to get started. Your thoughts?

I came here from your feature on PetaPixel. I'm glad I did. Subscribed and looking forward to going through all your videos. Nice relaxed style. I have to ask, though; what are the up and down arrow buttons hanging from underneath your desk? :) That's one cool-looking editing suite you have there.

Haven't watched such a nice and useful video for a very long time. 👌🏻👌🏻

Hi - great video and very inspirational. I have a RRS tripod, what do I need to attach this fluid head to a ArcaSwiss type plate to fit, without it falling off or becoming loose?

Fantastic video!! I am glad that you covered bird photography use too. Right now I am using a gimbal head, but I am having issues with vibrations. Do you think a fluid head would be more stable and cure my vibration issues? My tripod legs are already quite heavy duty with 40mm diameter carbon fiber top legs, so my guess is the issue is with the gimbal head. You can already see it in the viewfinder when I want to press the shutter. Plus, it isn't even that heavy a setup, I am shooting with a Canon 90D paired up with a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary. I am guessing together with the battery grip on the body, everything added up is probably about 7 lbs? Would really appreciate to hear your take on this. Thanks in advance!

I have an Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W. I love the same things you talk about though my head is smaller. The only problem I have is shooting high vertical (sky, clouds, birds,night sky ect.) It's so compact and the handles are short that I have to mount it backwards on the plate. PEACE

Hi Hudson, from here in the UK. Great videos, very informative. I have just bought equipment on your recommendation, waiting for it, as I have just ordered it. I needed a sturdier tripod and fluid head anyway but further impetus after watching your videos on landscape photography. I have been looking for dedicated equipment for panoramic multiple row shooting with degree markers. But I will now try the Manfrotto fluid head you have mentioned. Have I missed something or not understood something properly, you use the Manfrotto fluid head, on a stable and quality tripod, with a leveling base you mentioned, nodal slider, and quick release plate? And that is it? No other specific panoramic photography equipment, like a dedicated multiple row panoramic photography device? And if I have understood your method correctly, could you please explain why you would use this method or equipment opposed to a dedicated degree marked multiple row head? Please, ignore my stupidity, if I have misunderstood or I have not fully grasped your equipment choice. I am not a professional photographer, as you can probably tell from my questions, just someone with a passion for various genres of photography, including landscape photography. And someone who appreciates your videos and advise.

I'm using Manfrotto 608 and was able to sell my gimbal head in favor of the counterbalance on the Manfrotto.

I have that same manfrotto fluid head and a bunch of regular ball heads. The fluid head is indeed very bulky and heavy. Much more than any of my ball heads. Maybe if i had a tripod with a leveling base (wich i miss a lot) i should use the fluid head more, even for photography, but still it is a heavy weight and takes a lot of space on my backpack, so most of the times i stick to ball heads. I guess it all depends on your type of work and what works for you.

Hudson, I recently set up a similar outfit with the Manfrotto head, Desmond adapter for the bowl, Benro COM37C legs. For doing panos, I was wondering if you have a horizontal click stop between the fluid head and the bowl adapter or are you just eyeballing it. Just something with degree markings would help if making a multi-row pano. Thanks

I love it, however its main feature is also a drawback for astrophography: it doesn't allow any roll, which is important for framing astro objects.

I do the same thing. I use a Manfroto MVH500AH fluid head because I like how easy it is to frame things.

Hey, you could not be more correct but you forgot to mention that it makes shooting event photography in low light conditions far easier. Whether the action is on the stage or in the audience, you can easily turn and frame your subject(s) and get the shot. I've always had all the problems you described when using a ball head. Luckily, I lost my monopod. During my research for a replacement, I ran into a monopod for video shooting that came with a fluid head. By reading the description of how the fluid head works, I knew this was the best way to get a free monopod. I photographed an event at a huge church where I could not use flash nor I could get close to the stage because the event was being filmed. So, from the back of the church, with a 70-200 and a 2x converter, I made amazing shots including close-ups of all member on the stage and awesome candid comments. No way I could have gotten the number of great shots with anything else than a fluid head.

Fluid head for life

Great video. Does the plate comes with CP-39 clamp? What 1s the part number of the L-bracket? Thank you

After watching this again, I’m thinking about trying this with a phaseone camera!

Preach!

Such a great video - thanks for sharing! You have a new subscriber;-) Hope you can help me out here;-) I have the Manfrotto 055XPRO3 with a center column that tilts 90 degrees for overhead shots. I have a standard ball head and am thinking about buying something else. I am looking for something to help me refine my food photographing as I find it takes way too much time. Both when I do overhead and straight on shots I find it difficult to get the lines straight and I find that once I tighten a screw in the setup and let go of hold the camera it drops a little and is not straight/in level anymore. Very annoying 😳 I have heard a bit about the Manfrotto Junior Geared Head and here about fluid heads. My questions: What equipment would I benefit from to fine adjust my setup to the manfrotto tripod? Would (how) I benefit from the Manfrotto 131D Overhead Arm? Any other tips on how to struggle less to setup both for straight on and overhead shots that never seem to be even/in level etc for me? Thanks a lot for any advice;-)

Preaching to the choir regarding fluid heads, but I was fascinated how you flipped quickly the camera in portrait mode with some kind of Arca Swiss side clamp.What was that? I’ve been trying to find something like that but no idea what to Google. Thanks!

Only question is, how did you get verticual angles for photos?

Just bought a p1000 Nikon, new to this. Having issues while zoomed over 1500, cant stay still, I'm old. Any ideas on sturdy head and tpod? Thanks

I tr tried it with a professional fluid head from o'conner and I never gone back. But I get a smaller one...

I apologize if this has already been asked but what is that very tall tripod in the background?

Do you have a quick way to switch the camera to portrait orientation when using a fluid head?

I have spent the last 30 years of my life shooting video for broadcast TV. Not News but Production. I have been using 4-5 thousand dollar tripods with high end heads. I have always been involved with shooting stills as well. I have my own tripod but I am now about to buy a monopod for both stills and video. I have looked at Gitzo but I have been told by a number of my photographer friends that 90% of the price I would be paying is for the label and not the quality. I have decided to go with the Sirui P-204SR basically because of all the great reviews it gets. Now it comes time for the head. Both Sirui and Manfrotto make great quality heads without breaking the bank. Do you recommend one over the other. This will be used with a Cannon SLR camera so nothing over the top heavy. The truth is none of these mini heads are going to compare to what I use for broadcast TV but I was hoping you could put me in the right direction.

Does the fluid head work safely in the cold? Is it actual fluid in the head that could freeze and damage something?

Hi, I really like the idea myself. I was looking to do something like that myself and found your video and now I know it is possible and works. What is your experience with Haoge clamps, are they sturdy enough to trust them with Canon 70-200 2.8 L IS II sort of a lens and 5D DSRL? I really like the idea of using them because they are not expensive and this way one can use that "L" bracket you have there and switch from vertical to horizontal that is so cool. Could you tell me what make is that "L" bracket (I don't know how to call, I see it for the first time here)? What sort of Arca Swiss plates do you use? Many thanks for the video, it was very helpful!

Hi there Hudson, love your videos!! Which tripod are you using in this video? Also, what do you do if you want to have control over the other axis with a fluid head that only pans and tilts?

Thank you for your excellent tutorial!! I just came across the manfrotto nitro 612 fluid head. Any experience with it?

Now they have the 502HD costing $149 and it could take a maximum weight of 15.4 pounds. I am thinking of getting one for myself. Peace, Flood!

Thank you for the great videos. Jumped on this one after I googled how to take pics of solar eclipse and found your name. Maybe a silly question, but can I mount the the fluid head on my RRS tripod? I am in the BH-55 camp currently but would like to change. Will the L brackets I have now work or do I have to get different ones? Thanks!

Hi. Great video. Please explain how/why you use 2 Arcs Swiss Clamps. Thank you.

Awesome! Could I put a Manfrotto fluid head onto a ProMaster tripod? (ProMaster Professional XC525C Carbon Fiber Tripod)

I caught this video just in time! My Vanguard SBH-100 is just not up to the task for my Nikon D750 with Tamron 150-600 G2 and 1.4x TC. In your opinion, will the Manfrotto MVH500AH be able to handle that setup as you demonstrated in your video?

Great video. I'm convinced. But I want to do a lot of portrait oriented shots. What L-Bracket do you use on the camera?

Henry, thank you for this video. Can I ask you what L bracket do you recommend the Manfrotto Fluid Head?

And I just ordered a ball head, dooh!