350MVB + Manfrotto Pro 503HDV - Any good?

C

CherryTime

Well-known member
Hey, I just wanted to see if anyone has experience with the following setup
or if anyone has any input to share with me before I make this purchase.
The camera I use is a xha1 and the tripod and head iam about to buy is:

Manfrotto videopro 350MVB + Manfrotto Pro 503HDV head + manfrotto bag

Its used and the seller is asking 350~~ USD.

Is this a good investment? Think I can sell it back for about the same if im unhappy?

Thanks
 
I guess if you can't afford a real tripod. For the money, it is fine. Compared to a Libec at twice the cost, it sucks. Compared to a real tripod like a Sachtler, Miller, O'Connor or Panther, you can't even compare, two different planets.

Problem is, you cannot get smooth starts and stops and you cannot simultaneously pan and tilt smoothly, no Bogens except the tip top of the line can.

If this is the old 503, they are pretty bad. If it's the new 503HDV model, they are much better.

Dan
 
its the new 503 hdv pro

well alright, abit sad to hear really, I thought manfrotto was pretty pro stuff - the only better brand that you mentioned I know of is Sachtler

well thanks!
 
No worries. Manfrotto is okay for the money but is not capable of really smooth moves as a Sachtler is. But a Sachtler is going to cost 4-5 times more money.

With tripods, you really get what you pay for. For smaller cameras, I like the Sachtler FSB-6 or the DV-6SB, they are outstanding and can accomplish perfectly smooth starts and stops on pans and tilts.

Dan
 
don't get scared off... if that's what you can afford, the 503 is the best of this price range. it is much better than the 501 and better than anything else sub $500.

the 503 is a very good option for most DVX/HVX shoots.
 
I tried the 503HDV at FilmTools a few weeks ago and it is much better than the old 503 or the 501. (I own the old 501, it's really crappy) But the 503HDV still has a good amount of stiction that prevents flawlessly smooth starts and stops of moves. But hey, if your budget is really that low, what else is there?

Dan
 
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