Cold-weather fluid head? (501HDV v. 503HDV)

tbob

tbob

Active member
We need a fluid head that can stand up to cold temperatures. We shoot lots of snowboarding, and our current head is not cutting it. Most of our filming is done right around 32ºF, but we have some below-zero days as well. I've heard that a true fluid head has problems at low temperatures because the fluid gets stiff. I'm not too worried if the fluid changes properties at cold temperatures, with a constantly-variable knob, I should still be able to dial in the proper drag, right? (we do a lot of whip-panning since the riders go by so fast)

Right now, we're looking at Manfrotto 503HDV and 501HDV because they seem to be in the right price range and weight class. I'm sure there are some of you that use these heads. There's a big price difference. B&H shows the difference in tilt/pan drag to be "1-step" vs. "Continuously variable". I'm not sure what this means in practical terms. Is there really much of a difference in usability?

Would the 501HDV support the weight of an HVX + Battery + lens adapter + reasonably-sized lens?

HVX - 5.2 lbs
battery - 1lb
lens adapter - ?
lenses - ?

501HDV says it supports 13.2 lbs
503HDV says 17.6 lbs

We'll be upping our legs in a few months as well...

Any other recommendations besides these two?

I bow to your experience, o dvx-ers.
 
I own a 503 and it is marginally ok for a HPX which is lighter than a HVX. The price points hurt on this item, but it is important. I can't comment on the 501, but it is probably the lesser of the two.

Putting 17.6 pounds on a 503 would be silly, it can barely do 6.

Grant
 
I shot with an hvx200a on the the 503 at the Winter X games this year, and It worked great for me. Though all I had was the camera, a lightpanel, and wireless mic kit mounted to it. I've put some weight around 10lbs on the tripod before though , and -to me- it performed pretty decent
 
I've been shooting skiing with an hpx170 and a 501hdv all winter. Temps probably ranging from about 10deg F to about 40. It definitely stiffens up in cold weather but all you have to do is cycle it though each of the axes once or twice and it frees up. With all my panning, I do a few 'dry runs' first making sure I'm not going to knock the tripod or step on my skis or something stupid anyway, so it's no big deal to 'warm up' the head.

Depending on how you're moving your equipment around, I'd say the 503 is definitely the stouter choice for rails. I've taken great pains to lighten up my pack since I'm usually doing a few hours of skinning or snowmobiling with everything on my back, so the smaller 501 is good in that regard. But I don't use an adapter. The 503 is just a bigger, better version that at normal temps, offers a noticeable smoother motion. But as long as you're not a spastic freak, you can get the same smoothness out of the 501. Just stabilize your tripod really well. If you've never shot in deep snow, mid level spanners are your friend.
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys! Sounds like the 503 is my best bet. ggrantly, I'm surprised at how different your experience is from wilsonhvx.

Still waiting to hear from someone if there are any non-Manfrotto heads out there that might be a better bet?
 
Tbob,

Don't get me wrong, the 503 is a good head for the price. It is also probably the least expensive true fluid head on the market so it is not as wonderful as the higher end products. My experience with the 503 is that movement is ok, but it is not very rigid. At its price point, it is good.

Grant
 
oooh! Can you provide any more details? Source? Timeframe? Specs? I'd hate to be waiting 6 months for a head that might be either too expensive or not meet my needs.
 
The new issue of DV Mag talks a little bit about it. 2-22lb weight bearing and says it's a 'professional fluid pan-and-tilt and a larger platform to accommodate unbalanced weight distribution.' Also sys it'll be available as a 504HD/546BK Tripod System.
 
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