Looking for new Fluid Head

D

DDirector

Veteran
I'm pretty much being forced to purchase a new fluid head. No need to explain.

I'm looking for a tripod which plate is also compatible with other heads or with a quick release system - And the first that comes to mind is the Manfrotto.
I think the 504 seems to be a good choice, but the only problem is, its a 75mm bowl. My tripod has mounting options for either 100mm or a 3/4" screw.
Is there anything I can do?

Is there another fluid head that I can/should consider thats a 100mm bowl or mounts via 3/4" (bowl mount preferred) thread and supports about 15lbs?
Price range of about $700. New or used (preferably new as I can purchase it right away once I sell mine)
 
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I would steer away from manfrotto. I have a bunch of them, have used them all for years, and am yet to use one that felt right. I just feel their heads for the most part suck. can't tell you how many issues ive had with their heads over the years.
 
Never used the Manfrotto heads. Just played around with them in stores.
I've heard good things from the Libec heads. But I have not ever seen nor used them as they arent available locally.
So, I cant compare.

It is a bit much especially since I need it shipped and adding taxes, its going to be more expensive. But ill see if I can still consider it.
Would you know how compatible the plate is with other tripod heads?

I will be buying an additional cheaper tripod head that will be mounted on a slider, so it would be easier if its compatible with other heads.
Id consider the cheaper Libec head, but they are all 75mm bowls and thats not ideal for my slider as I need a 3/8" mount.
 
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I own both brands, and neither Manfrotto nor Libec are what I would consider upper tier heads. They are what they are.

So what is wrong with what you have been using, didn't you have a nice Cartoni?
 
David W. Jones said:
I own both brands, and neither Manfrotto nor Libec are what I would consider upper tier heads. They are what they are.
Click to expand...

Having owned four different Manfrotto video heads, I would rank Libec heads far above Manfrotto in terms of functionality and build quality. Sure they are not top tier heads, but then you're not paying top tier prices.
 
TheDingo said:
There are lots of different brands of 100mm ---> 75mm adapter plates, so you'll have to figure out which one is the best fit for your set-up.

For your 3/8" slider mount, you will need to get a 75mm ballhead adapter that allows you to mount 75mm ballheads on a 3/8" plate.

Manfrotto 325N Video Head Bowl Adapter Kit : $68
Click to expand...

I've had poor luck with bowl adapters, they just never seem to really lock down with security; just my experience. Manfrotto does make the 509 which is similar in style to the 504, has a 100mm mount, uses the same plates, and is just south of $1000. Stil not anything like top tier, but does meet your needs and price range.

Grant
 
Yes, I own a Cartoni. It is a great fluid head. Much Heavier than what the specs say online. Don't know where they came up with that number.
But the problem I have is the plate. I will need to get an additional fluid head for a slider but the plate is not very compatible with other systems.
So I can't easily remove the camera of my fluid head and put the slider on put the camera back on the slider.
My Tilta C300 cage requires a small dovetail (not arri standard) it needs to be screwed into the plate to attach to the tripod. If I could buy one of these small dovetails from Tilta, I may not have this big of a problem. As I could just but another plate and attach it to the other fluid head on the slider. Even if I got that, is still annoying removing it off the small dovetail as the knob is just in the way of the bottom of the camera so it can be a struggle to unscrew it.
So it will be much easier if I could just swap my fluid head for another one.
One that I can attach the tripod plate with the dovetail piece onto another fluid head without issue.
I've really thought about all the possibilities. But everything requires something to be unscrewed and replaced, which won't be ideal as it's too much work and time.
So, the head is perfectly fine. Heavier than what I would like, but it's just the plate that I have had problems with finding another fluid head that will accept it.


I've also considered the 75mm to 3/8" adapter, but it's going to make the whole rig really tall still. A flat base head would be more ideal as it'll be lighter and not so tall. It is my last resort to use it, but I prefer not to.

I have a Gitzo tripod. The top is replaceable. It originally came with a 3/8" top. But I purchased a 100mm adapter bowl which replaced the screw. I believe I can just buy another 75mm bowl and replace it. But it's another $100+ for that.
Bit if I need to get a 75mm bowl head, is need to get an adapter, and that seems to be annoying and almost the same cost, so I guess I'd rather spend a few bucks more and get this adapter instead.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/898106-REG/Gitzo_gs3321v75_Video_Adapter_75mm_Ser.html
 
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Adapters is a pain in the butt at best, and at worst, lack of ability to attach the head at all (i'm looking at you FSB8 with your short mounting stud...) if the bowl is deeper than usually. I came from very amateurish HDV501 head that can screw into any ball and though life will be peachy when getting a new head. Not likely. Most heads have certain parts of the mechanism inside the ball so you can't easily replace one ball for another. In other words you are stuck unless you come up with some clever solution (for instance i built myself an adapter that permanently attaches to the head turning my FSB6 and FSB8 75mm heads into 100mm - some heads might be easier to modify than the others).

adapter_finished_s.jpg
 
Get yourself something like this and mount it on your Cartoni head…. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/241139-REG/Manfrotto_577_577_Rapid_Connect_Adapter.html

Then get an extra long plate…. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...01PLONG_Quick_Release_Video.html/prm/alsVwDtl

Then pick up something like this for your slider…. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ad.html/?m=Y&gclid=CLaBkbKv0b0CFUgA7AodrT0AfQ

You can remove the 75mm ball from this head to fit your slider, and something like this can be used to level a head on a 3/8" fitting… http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554093-REG/Manfrotto_438_438_Compact_Levelling_Head.html

Now your quick release plates all have the same fitting for quick interchange.
 
The problem is, I haven't found a quick release plate that will work with the Cartoni plate I have. If I have, there wouldn't have been an issue.
There may be one that works, but nothing I found locally that will fit.
Its a little too big.
 
That's by far the easiest way to do it.

I've done this with my sachtler. Attached a manfrotto quick release adapter to the sachtler so I can match all my other Manfrotto plate based accessories.
 
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