Strange Klunk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mino
  • Start date Start date
M

mino

Guest
But not in the DVX! This time it is in my manfrotto 501 fluid head. I cant seem to get a smooth pan. If I slack the pressure on the head itself there is some sort of play in the pan where the camera moves free, with little resistance and then a klunk when it reaches a certain point that has resistance . Is it possible that the DVX is too light for this head or is the 501 hooped?

Thanks in advance :-/
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

I had this problem with a head/tripod combination once and I eventually discovered that there was some "play" where the head meets the tripod. Initially I thought that it was just because the bolt mounting the tripod head wasn't locked down all the way, so I tried getting to it and tightening it.

Problem being that the head of the bolt just broke off when I put a small amount of pressure on it, leaving the bare end of a bolt sticking out of the tripod.

Later I discovered that the tripod and head were never designed to be mounted together, and the mounting bolt was actually too long to seat properly in the head mount. A previous tech had ordered the pair and assembled both parts incorrectly.

I've never experienced this problem with the 501 head, but it's possible that your head could have some play where it mounts to the tripod. Just be careful and don't go cranking on any bolts!
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

Thanks J_Barnes

The tripod itself is a manfrotto 351mvb and I am assuming it is propperly mated to the 501 I could be wrong. Is there any chance that the fluid levels in the head itself are low. It has never panned even on the slackest setting without a couple of sandbags dropped on the spreader
Cheers
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

The lightness of the camera is definitely a factor . I have the same problem myself with stuttered pans. I used my DSR-250 Sony shoulder-mounted ENG cam on this and never had a problem.

I imagine attaching weights or something to add some substance to the camera may help a lot.
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

You know the lock the tripod staff which prevents the camera from being moved straight up and down (the crank)? Make sure that's nice and tight.
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

Thanks for the iput Disjcta...I applied a lot of downpressure to the top plate of the 501 simulating cam weight but it still klunks.

And David, I tightened that thing with a plumbers wrench and it still klunks

I guess until I can afford a new or better head I'll just have to build the klunk zone into the shot and know to mark in when the pressure is on, a pre klunk pre roll if you will...thanks for the help
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

try tighting your horizontal pan tension just a tad bit. on my head (not a bogen) if i dont have just a little tension on the horizontal i get a little clicking or klunk sound. hope it helps.
 
Re: Strange Klunk?

Thanks jm . I did a bit more research and discovered that the manfro 501 is not a true fluid head but rather a simulated fluid head and known for this problem. It was sold to me as a fluid head by the place I bought the camera and tripod. What's next... Did I get a simulated DVX? :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top