Manfrotto 503HDV + 351MVB2

[Michael Olsen]

Hello everyone.

So, I know virtually nothing about tripods. I did a little research and found out I'd love a Miller DV-20, but can't quite pay out the $1,500 for it.

I noticed a lot of people liked the 501HDV, but that it uses teflon disks instead of being a true fluid head (obvious: so how can they call it a fluid head?!).

Really, what I'm looking for is a tripod that I can grow with - something that'll work with a bare 7D as well as a loaded 7D (rails, MB, FF, monitor, 12v battery). Ultimately, my upgrade path leads to Scarlet and I'd rather not have to pay out again for that. Of course, weight there is both unknown and variable.

How does this combination sound? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/496825-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_503HDV_351MVB2K_503HDV_ 351MVB2K_Aluminum_Video_Tripod.html#specifications

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/496825.jpg

[ydgmdlu]

I don't know about the HDV version, but the original 503 head, just like the 501, was not a true fluid head. The 516 is a true fluid head. It's an update of the now discontinued 3066 head (also a true fluid head; I used to own one), and you can get a great deal (around $200) on a used copy from eBay.

Many people love the 501 and 503 anyway. I certainly enjoyed my 501, and had no issues with it, while I had one. Will you be able to tell the difference? Go to a camera store and see if you can try these heads for yourself. Also, I think that, especially for indie and guerrilla filmmaking, the importance of true fluid heads is overstated. Same goes for super-expensive legs. Just look at classic studio pictures and today's mainstream hits. What do you see? Jerky pans all the time in old movies. Shaky handheld (even in low motion shots) overused in new movies. Obsessing over smoothness and rigidity is a lot like pixel-peeping, IMO.

Buy according to what is important to you, but those are just some things to consider.