Thank you for the video and videos. Seems every time I want to compare some equipment you have a video about it discussing the concerns I would not have thought of but would have discovered later in filming. Amazing job once again.

Finally somebody did a field test. You did fantastic job. Please test more of them. I have two pick to purchase and I'm not sure which one. There is at least a few dozen of heads which are considered to be god but only field test like this one can tell the truth.

Thanks Dave. You're great. Thanks for doing these.

Thanks for all the awesome videos in 2012!

I'm pretty certain the reason the Manfrotto 70HDV head was jumpy is because that model does not have a tension control, just a lock knob for pan and tilt which effects the head differently. The knob you were twisting to adjust tilt was the lock knob which is why it was probably jumpy. I don't have any of these heads but am looking to buy one, and Manfrotto states in their product descriptions that tension control for pan and tilt isn't implemented until the 502 model, which has both lock and tension knobs for pan and tilt. Very informative comparison though.

I actually went with the 270A Fluid head tripod. I absolutely love it. Such a huge improvement over a typical pan head tripod. For 150 bucks, for me it was a great investment. Thanks for your channel Dave.

I read all the comments, I am too busy to respond to all of them sorry.

Thanks so much for this. I've been looking for a new head. Great job!

Nice one Dave, clever use of the car / road great subject for the tripod.

i ordered a 502hd a few days ago can wait for it to get here..thx for the review Dave

thanks Dave, I have the Monfroto MVH500AH head.My actual tripod is a bit lightweight. Any recommendations on better tripod. I have Canon D5 Mark 3 with 70-200 L 2.8lens. The MVH500AH head seems to flow nicely.....Thanks!!

Best review! This should be the role model of any review.

It's not that cheap, I have it listed in the description above. So far I am really liking it.

Thanks for this test. Fancier seemed to do the best job. Even though it doesn't have a lot of adjustment, the default settings seems to work well.

Hey Dave, Quick tripod tip for you. If you want smoother pans try using the middle of the palm of your hand and place it on the end of the tripod arm. Might feel weird at first but with practice you will find you will have smoother pans as well as tilts when tracking objects or people. I've been using this technique for about 2 years filming broadcast horse racing.

Great video! How are you keeping your focusing sharp?

you have really great video ideas. please keep them coming. very enjoyable to watch.

Nice review Dave. Thank you. I have the Fancier and whilst it's OK in warm conditions it's not at all good in the cold. Anything around zero degree Celsius and the head freezes. Not only that the head locks onto the tripod and you'll need a large spanner/pliers to get the thing off. So whilst practice is important gear needs to work when you work.

Thanks for review been filming MX and had a some trouble with other heads so i have not put a order in for a Manfrotto MVH502AH Pro Video Head...

Great videos as always Dave, thanks for sharing. What microphone do you use outside in a setting like this, for good, clear audio? lower budget in mind hehe :)

Merry Christmas Dave! :)

Thank you for this awesome review. I was having a hard time choosing a tripod and fluid head since I'm on a budget. I decided to go with the fancier because its so much cheaper and you had great results with it. Better than the more expensive ones actually. I think this will be a good choice for my first tripod. Thanks again

"Was this a good way of testing fluid heads?" Initially, yes. But that would also imply you have an equal amount of experience with each of them. I thought the first one came out best, no doubt, but i do not think it is the better one.

I realy like your videaos dave! ,15 years old and trying to learn about dslr you explain it simple and clear and use cheap stuff which i really like! keep up the good work!

I liked the 502 the best, it looked to me as the smoothest. Merry Christmas Dave, thanks for doing this video, I might buy the 502 soon now! -Chris Vergara

Awesome demo samples.... Just need to know the camera settings you applied with that lens.

I have the 501HDV, and it works great. Also I didn't have the issue with the balance system knob like you did, maybe shipment or packaging did something to it. Finally, this Fluid head works great on a Monopod Manfrotto 562B, it works wonderful

I have three of the 701s and one of the 501s and LOVE them. You might find putting two handles and weighting your tripod helps. You also have a lot of weight hanging off the front of your tripod.

Please review the Manfrotto 502HD

Thanks for the info, very helpful Dave!

Merry Christmas to you as well.

I agree, I got the FC-270A and it is amazing.

Dave, Having shot with A pro tripod, I found that a much longer head handle reduces shake in the video a lot.

Thanks for another helpful video Dave! I have the 100mm Canon Macro, it produces a lot of my best photos, just a very unique and cool bokeh and look.

Great work as always. I have the 717 and want to get something else. I'll check out that 502. What legs are you using?

Dave, Nice review. Which head did you buy? Or... which link above goes to your blog? I'd like to know which head you purchased. I went to the Google+ site but did not find an article about Manfrotto heads there.

That counterbalance button (on the 591HDV) really freaked me out, too! Thought I broke it, but that's how it is designed to work. The spring-loaded plunger moves outward when you push the button upward, and snaps into the counterbalance mechanism only when the head is tilted to the level position. The counterbalance mechanism remains level inside the head when it's disengaged, and the button releases the pin to engage the mechanism. :)

Which one do you prefer for filming? You said the Manfrotto 502 is better than Weifeng?

Hey Dave - digging the reviews and info you're putting out there. Just thought I might ask, with the 701 for slow pans, have you tried grabbing the fluid head itself (rather than the pan/tilt handle) to pan? I starting doing that on my first manfrotto fluid head (128RC) basically out of necessity for getting the slowest pans possible. Works well to add stability to the set up too.

Which stats? Are you referring to the weights?

Did you have IS on? It kind of looks like you did.

Great video, thanks for posting

"it just kind of popped out...that's not making me feel too good" ..classic!! haha Hey nice review..I've been eyeing these lately and this has helped...Merry Christmas!!

Doug there is a reason for stiffness. In my experience the stiffer the smoother the pan Thanks for all your work LouWalterWilson

I use the 501HDV with a canon 5D mkIII and lenses up to 600mm excellent head if you take your time to set up and balance it i have never found anything better.

Nice way to test the fluid heads but to me they all don't seem to work well. Maybe with a bit more practice . I just bought the Benro S7 for use with my Sirui P204S but I might return it because the plate is not compatible with my Giottos MH621plate. Any suggestions for me aside from these? I'm hoping for something that is under $250 and performs well with similar features to the benro video head. Not much out there it seems. Right/wrong?

Nice video...Do you think the 502 head is too big for a monopod with the tree legs like the Sirui 204S...I'd like to have a head I can use with a monopod and my tripod....Thanks...Philip

I enjoy using a rubberband with fluid heads but I didn't want to do that here for these tests.

Thanks for this Doug. I'm surprised loose panning. Perhaps you are just used to the stiffness of the cheap one? I have a 1,500.00 Sachtler FSB8, and judge all heads by that, and I recently picked up the 702 for something to use w/a dslr. I found the 702 to be good quality. Mine has a decent range of adjustment for stiffness. Make sure your column is locked tight. Maybe there is a quality control issue, or maybe you need more finesse? A trick is putting an elastic hair tie in the stick to pull.

Awseome channel dave. Would you consider doing a USB Follow Focus review? Thanks for the videos.

i love the professional quality of your videos! IMO the best was the 502, but as others have said it is always best to use a rubber band lol

Please respond. I just want to know you read my comments, I looking into doing what you do, (shooting corp vids), and want to know where you got your start. I love watching your videos, and it would mean a lot hearing back. Thanks.

hey i brought canon 60d with EF 70-200mm f/4L USM do u think those perfect match nd which lens should i buy next plz plz reply me nd anyway i love ur video ur awesome thanks happy christmas

thanks for sharing great review :)

New video :). Makes me happy!

"IS" was turned off.

I've tried all three, but bought a Sachtler Ace, and the proper fluid technology and proper drag with the adjustable counterbalance just puts it in a whole new league :) You should try one if you can, you'll be surprised :D

I've been using a 15 pound rig on my manfrotto 501 for a year or so now... the more weight you put on it, the smoother it is to tilt/pan as long as its balanced.

you should try close up panning as well. thanks dave. merry christmas

Hey Dave, I was wondering if you could try the DIY 70$ Silver Flyer Steadicam build that competes with the Blackbird. Maybe you can paint it black too if you want. I was really wondering what you think about it

Thanks for the review

I've got the 502 and really like it. If you practice with the exact movement speed you'll shoot you can get great results since as you said in the video, you've got many controls and flexibility. If I'm not wrong, the main difference between the 501 and the 502 it's that the first one can handle more weight so that's good if you are thinking in mounting a shoulder rig or some heavy rig. Thanks for your videos.

Hi Dave, May I ask what your settings where for filming the cars while moving? I'm very impressed how they stayed in focus while moving and at that distance. Thank you!

I have the 501 and my counter balance thing pops off as well so I don't think you got just a bad one I wonder if they all do now but i never use it anyways. I love my 501 I think you really would need to spend some time with each head to really see how they work. But I think your test is good because its very hard to zoom in and track something.

Hey Dave, I have the 502 and 502AM sticks, they're great for some work, but too heavy for a lot of what I do. Would the 701 and those sticks, or something similar, be ok to strap to the side of a backpack and walk for a while with? Or still too heavy?

Many thanks for the review, however; which one do you prefer from Manfrotto 501 or 502, regardless of the price difference. Best regards from Egypt.

I am glad you turned the IS off, it's how tripods should be tested and indeed the Fancier is the smoothest. I like it and thanks for the reviews and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

The Fancier FC-270As Head is a major step up from the 717 head that he is using. It is extremely smooth and cheap for low budget people.

I have the 501 and my balance switch does exactly the same thing. Not that this is an issue as I never turn it off. The horizontal pan drag isn't great for a DSLR if you like it light though as you can't seem to back off the tension enough. I was going to switch to a 502 but man that is a big beast. The other option is a Schatler Ace combo which has had rave reviews.

Can't wait for the T3i course!

u are an valuable teacher

The head is wonderful when properly balanced, feels like it's floating in air. Tilt or pan always takes the exact same amount of pressure to move and when you let go, no matter the angle, it stays put. If you have too much weight it's a little harder to use than the friction fluid heads cause tilting it, even a little, practically drops all the weight forward or back and you feel like you have to catch it when you unlock it. I found a gripped 5D2, 70-200/2.8, 7" monitor and H4n too much for it.

You can use a strong rubber band to pull the handle of the head for smoother movement.

I have the 701. I use it on a slider and it's good quality for the money and compact but I have found the lack of tension control when panning to be quite limiting.

I have the 501 Dave and still don't know how to use the balance system properly. I think your 502 test came out the smoothest. Happy Holidays.

It's interesting that some people say that the fluid head on the 561 BHDV-1 is the same as the 701 but upon closer examination my the fluid head that comes with the 561 doesn't have that lower secondary knob for panning which really sucks. 701 is good but can't really support that much weight, thanks for the video Dave. Great stuff always, Happy holidays.

Hey Dave, I have the 701HDV which I have used for over a year on my video work with my Canon 600D. It's a great cheaper tripod video head and you can get some really great smooth shots with it but it does take time. I've just purchased the 502 as I have bought a Sony FS700. I'll let you know how that goes!

Hi Dave, just to let you know, the premium beat link in the blurb above doesn't seem to work. Well done and thanks for the review. I see from your gear page that you went for the 701. How do you find it now that you've had a bit more practice? As, it seems from the video that you are happiest with your Fancier but on your gear page you say that you wouldn't recommend it.

Love this video. Using you as a guide to a lot of what we are doing as we film the first season of "Mile High Low Life" - denver-based show on the denver crime scene (obvious irony)

I also have the 502, and I found that you can actually pull the lever outward and turn it without loosening it. The black plastic lever disengages from tightening and loosening, and can spin freely. You can do that, pull it down, and continue tightening till the camera is set nicely. That's a solution if you have a larger camera body and can't simply slide the camera along the baseplate to a position that's clear from the lever, which is what I do with my T3i. I find that solution easier.

Yes, this is a good way to test fluid heads. The real issue I've found is starting and stopping. If you are static, and then have to go into a pan/tilt that initial bite, or jump can be rough on the cheaper models. Same is true for going from a pan/tilt into a static shot. That settling motion again is rough on cheaper models.

Dave, can you recommend any good braced center column tripods?

Hello, I am looking for a compact fluid head that can fit inside a backpack disassembled. I already have the 502HD and it's a great budget head, it's just too massive to hang on my tripod on my backpack swinging around when filming in the city (the 502 is for open areas, forests, trails, and serious shoots). I know the 701 is no longer in production, but would it fit inside a backpack sans pan handle? Also, I would probably prefer buying new, what would be a better alternative if the previous requirement is met? And don't worry about screwing and unscrewing to the tripod, that's what my Kessler Kwik is for.

On the fancier 717 I think you're forgetting about the tension knob on the right...

Dave Dugdale hi dave i have a little question! which Tripod is good for the Canon 5D mark iii i need a Tripod for Shooting Videos?

Dave, do you live in the desert? Looks like Utah, where all my relatives are.

Looks like you just need a little more tension on the 501 and 502.

Hi Dave, do yu know if we can use a manfrotto 200pl plate in a manfrotto 501 oR 502 HD fluid head? Thx

Hey Dave, will the T3i training coarse cost anything? Also, what program do you use to make pictures in HDR?

I've been looking for a panning/fluid head of some description for some time and due to money needing to be spent elsewhere plus the massive amount of choice there is; I still haven't bought one yet. I require something which will cope with the weight of a Sony a580/a57 with lens (combination weight of around 2kg max). It would be used for shooting stills & video. Do you have any suggestions, best bang for the buck kind of deal? Best Christmas wishes to you by the way!

Damn. That depth of field us huge, especially with a 300m zoom.

So.. what lens are you getting for Christmas? :)

3 things: 1) good review 2) I use the 502ah with a lcdvf and its a lot easier with my eye to the viewfinder, compared to standing back and looking at the 3inch screen (way more stable and a lot easier to control) 3) its very rare you would need to be tracking a subject that far away, at least for me, I shoot mainly surfing and the surfers are never that far in the distance, so I won't need to ever have to make those tiny adjustments, panning is a lot quicker for most occasions and its v. smooth

Hi Dave I use the Manfrotto 501 head with the 526 BK legs which is a heavier type tripod. Just add more drag to the head so with the extra weight of the 526BK legs gives it more stability and smoother operation. I have used it with the Nikon D800 and the Nikon 200-400 f4 lens. Have a great Christmas

2:55 "Sorry for the wind" I like this guy

Dave, you should also try Fancier FC-270A, or at least fluid head that comes with it: FC-02H. It has almost no "biting point" (the cause of jerk at the beginning of the move), although unfortunately it has no drag control.

hi dave , my question for you is ( what camera you shoot this video with ? ) i really would like to know , if you don't mind :) thanks

I think the conclusion is that practice is more important than the gear :D

I got the 502 and I love it

1st one seems real good, I don't think you need a bunch of adjustments, just something that has a nice consistent drag in all directions, not to stiff and not to loose