Bogen Head Question.

[J.R. Hudson]

I finally received the Bogen 501 Tripod kit from UPS. *

I have a question.

I have secured the HEAD onto the TRIPOD. *However, when turning the head COUNTER CLOCKWISE it loosens as if it now has alot of play.

Not like turning it CLOCKWISE where it is a smooth constant turn.

Is this normal? *Am I missing something?

Also, is it cool to just leave the PLATE on the cam when not using Tripod?

[Zoomforce]

you gotta tighten your head tighter... what size bowl did you get?

As for the plate, My 503 plate, which is the same as the 501 plate, has never left the camera. You can buy QR plates as well that screw into your other tripods or glidecams or monopods etc, so you can use the same plate on all the time.

[J.R. Hudson]

Size bowl?

a. Now there is a second screw very near the one that actually threads onto the camera/plate. Shall I tighten that one up into the head?

b. I will leave plate on then.

[Zoomforce]

is your head on a bowl or just flat on legs?

[sparkhope]

bogen 501 vs. bogen 503

has anyone out there used both? if so can you shed some light about the qualitative difference (if any) between the two...

thanks

[J.R. Hudson]

Jarred

It looks like a BOWL. It has a round, silvery colored disc. IS that correct?

[Zoomforce]

The two may look somewhat similar, but are worlds apart. The 501 is not a true fluid head, as Steve said so it is not as smooth, specially when you tighten it down for smooth slow high force pans. Also, the 503 has a return spring, so if your head is set loose, and you let go, your whole camera doesnt do a nose dive dipping to the ground. Might seem dumb, but it is a very important feature.

That said, the 501 is probally the best non-fluid head you can buy, and has a great price.

The 516 is a very nice head, but is way to big for the DVX. the extra weight really is a pain in the ass, even if you are fortunate enough to have an AC guy doing all your lifting for you.

On a long shoot this makes a big difference, and that is why AC's exist. IF you have to do numerous hand held shots etc. for 10 hours, lifting a 50lb tripod here and there will make you weak, which makes your handhelds shakey.

In fact, *in a recent Feature I was operator on, the damn other camera guy kept trying to steal my 503.. his Sachtler was just too damn heavy:

http://www.dvxuser.com/image/dual.jpg

[Neil Rowe]

that car is smurfy!

[sparkhope]

Jarred, Steve - thanks for the info.

Would you recommend getting the 503/525 combo pack? Or would another set of stix better suit the 503?

[Zoomforce]

That is exactly what I have, the 503/525. the setup is really fast as they use a new quick release on the legs that is super fast. The combo has a nice padded bags and spreaders (you need spreaders unless your always gonna be in the dirt) There are a few times where I had to bag the feet, as it is a relatively light system, but bagging when you need to beats carrying around extra weight when you dont. You can always just stand on the spreaders as well. You can also buy little wheels from bogen that turn it into a half ass dolly as well.

[Zoomforce]

Right you are.. maybe I am just a wimp, but when I am doing a handheld shot with 15lbs of mattebox and glass ontop of the DVX, after about 10 minutes My hands start to shake.

For you guys and gals that dont know the size difference between a Sachtler and a Bogen 503 head/legs: Sachtler on the right, 503 on the left.

http://www.dvxuser.com/image/sticks.JPG

[David Jimerson]

Are you left-handed, Jared?

If the 501 is not a true fluid head, then what is it, and why do they call it one?

Guess I trade up.

[Zoomforce]

Yes I am left handed, and the 501 is a teflon based friction control system... well, you cant really control it at all. its a little confusing because they actually use the word Fluid movement. On true Fluid heads you can actually control the amount of drag, on non fluid heads you basically just tighten two metal (if your lucky) plates together to create that the fake sense of fricition.

[Taylor Moore]

Jarred where did you buy your setup...did you get it in CANADA. If so where?

[Zoomforce]

EVStape.com .. with the canadian dollar so high its really worth it... and it only cost $30 overnight fedex.

[phd]

I have a Bogen 503 head and 755B Tripod. Its a very good head and tripod.

[J.R. Hudson]

EVStape.com .. with the canadian dollar so high its really worth it... and it only cost $30 overnight fedex.

http://www.evsonline.com/

I think they are getting rid of the other domain name.

[Zoomforce]

your right.. I just cant seem to get the old one out of my head though.

[grifpo]

On true Fluid heads you can actually control the amount of drag, on non fluid heads you basically just tighten two metal (if your lucky) plates together to create that the fake sense of fricition.


I'm not sure how to tell if the tripod I have has a fluid head. I don't think it does, because it just seems like an all around cheap tripod. Still, I'd like to know how to tell what a fluid head is. It's a Velbon S-6000. It was free though, so I'm sure it's a p.o.s., as I said before. Thanks.

griffin

[Zoomforce]

if your tripod costs less than $500 it probally isnt a true fluid head.. that said, now adays the fake fluid heads really arn't all that bad....

[grifpo]

The thing is, I didn't buy it, someone gave it to me. So I was wondering how to tell if it's a fluid head. What does that mean exactly?
Thanks.

griffin