Best Fluid Video Head Under $200? / iFootage Komodo K5 / Manfrotto MVH500AH

[@dominey]

UPDATE (6/29/20) You CAN buy extra iFootage Komodo plates separately! bit.ly/38gufvw

[@willcrowther9968]

Hey Todd, thanks for making this informative video. Four years after this upload, I find myself looking for an extra plate for the Komodo K5 after scouring the web that came across your KZbin video and click the link in the comments, but it appears to be a WebCam website now, any chance you know if this is still available for purchase anywhere?

[@JetFuelOnly]

Your link goes to a site you didn't intend it to....better change it.

[@dominey]

@@JetFuelOnly Yikes. Thanks for letting me know.

[@tjamesmedia.]

Can you do an update with Komodo K5s vs K5 vs 500AH. Alot of people shopping in this price/weight bracket would love to see it.

[@derekvento6067]

Wow! The audio hooked me from the start. Subscribed!

[@skywalkerair]

Great review. Would love to see a comparison from the Manfrotto and newer K5S

[@thebacons5943]

Are these equally functional on an ifootage monopod? Thank you!

[@JustinValentino]

Thanks for the review. Background looks so nice and peaceful!

[@wrzlbrnth4092]

I find the Komodo K5 plate too short for balancing larger lenses. IT works fine for primes or small zooms. That is a big deal to me. Also with the Manfrotto with the longer plate, I can get to the no parallax point for panoramas with some lenses without buying additional equipment. I chose the manfrotto. I also bought several plates for all my lenses. That is a great time saver. Not having extra plates was a serious problem for me with the Komodo.

[@dominey]

Awesome feedback. Thanks Hans.

[@xalexws]

Thanks, getting manfroto then

[@romainprovost7164]

Why you should extra plates with komodo k5 ? I just want to do panorama with my XT4 on my tripod (TA5 Ifootage)

[@moveabledo]

I just bought the Komodo for $130 through your affiliate link. I went to the footage site, signed up and got another 15% off. Amazon is $165 right now. I cant wait to try. I don't need smooth panning, per se, but I do need to be able to remove the camera often and return to zero each time, so the hash Mark's on the plate is what got me! And the smaller size!

[@LongLiveTheFilmmaker]

Just bought the manfrotto using your link! I was looking for a drop in quick release video head for awhile now and didn't know manfrotto made one! i'm a video guy so i like to use the standard manfrotto plates and drop them in and out of my rig and tripods quickly for shoots and these work wonders! thanks for your review!

[@zobotrombie]

Great video. The audio is fantastic.

[@seancloutier2577]

great review...

[@PischkePerformance]

Not really an excuse, but I have found that fluid heads tend to wear in and be smoother with more use. Curious if the K5 pan might loosen up over time.

[@seancloutier2577]

you should do a complete video on how to do video with a tripod. that was the best part Cheers S,

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

I got the K5 in a combo with the TC5S. While being of high quality, the panning really suffers from the rigidity that you described. I should have done more research and watched your video first. Also, your videos are so relaxing to watch and your video quality is superb!

[@dominey]

Thanks! Yeah, the panning on the K5 could be better, but since making this video I've enjoyed using the iFootage fluid head because it's smaller and bit lighter than the bulky Manfrotto.

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

@@dominey That is absolutely true. The K5 also fits perfectly into the iFootage Shark Nano Slider case, which makes it very practical for me.

[@wailunkwok5483]

thanks for the comparison.

[@laipingfung1608]

Arca swiss compatible with Komodo K5 ? OR, is there any adapter that I can use to make use of my arca-swiss plate on the fluid head manfoto plate?

[@srinivas_visits_official]

Very useful, thank you 🙏🏻

[@mxtr4673]

I am just thinking about buying a good filming head for the Sony A7R3. The problem is that I do not know if the low weight of the camera will not be a problem because I know that the Manfrotto MVH500AH has a fixed counterweight of 2.4 kg and my set will weigh a maximum of 1.5 kg. Do you think that the low weight of my camera can have a negative impact on the smoothness of the head movements? I will be grateful for your response.

[@Design475]

Which one did you end up using for your own videos??

[@romainprovost7164]

Arca swiss compatible with Komodo K5 ?

[@badGamr]

Nice video! You can eliminate the wind rumble in your audio with a high-pass filter :)

[@ByeLevi]

Just found your channel! Great content. Keep up the good work!

[@markshirley01]

Hi - I have a Cobra 3 monopod but want to change my fluid head because it has a sticky point when Im panning. Would the Manfrotto MVH500AH be ok on a monopod in your opinion.

[@mordavian]

Can i attach a manfrotto head to Sirui tripod?

[@noelleperrotta4944]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@KingDerwin]

What lens is that on your camera

[@User-pq2yn]

the Manfrotto head won't fit in the ifootage monopod case, even with the extended option. It fits in length but doesn't fit in thickness.

[@secretreleases]

Thanks for the comparison. Oh man, panning is the most important thing for me, other than that I'd prefer the K5 in any way...

[@sparketech]

I think the MANFROTTO MVH502AH is a newer updated fluid head, that HVH500AH has been out for a good 8yrs I think. Still great comparison, I prefer the plate tighten feature on the iFootage. I am waiting on my TC6 tripod (your tripod the TC6 or TC5?) and my Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W fluid head... On my other channel I've been trying out a ton of tripods.

[@randomgeocacher]

HVH500AH may be a much better head than HVH502AH to most casual users; HVH502AH is not at all intended as a replacement. As a dissatisfied non-professional owner/operator of HVH502AH I see several downsides with it. MVH502AH is much heavier - 1.7KG compared to 0.9KG, extremely rugged, takes more load, lacks the feature of dropping in plates, tons of knobs you can turn... which can be confusing when setting up. Especially if paired with Manfrottos balancing system, the total head weight starts becomes over 2KG. (I ended up on this video because I was looking at less heavy tripod solution because my current two tripods are a cheap manfrotto befree travel tripod and one super heavy manfrotto setup, neither feels like what I want in my future. The TC7 Fastbowl system paired with light head might be what I end up going with, seems like a much better fit for me than my current gear.)

[@sparketech]

@@randomgeocacher Nice information there, I never used the HVH500AH. There was a sale on Manfrotto heads so I was trying to decide which to purchase got the MHXPRO-2W due to easy fast plate removal, I don't like how stiff the fluid head is. I have the TC6 (fastbowl) myself. I'm usually using my tripod setup stationary but I do find the head to be not so nice, I preferred my very cheap MVH400AH head to some extent due to smaller size

[@randomgeocacher]

@@sparketech yeah it is all about the use case; how mobile the operator are, if the tripod mostly travels being carrie by operator or by car / roller, and how muscular the operator is. But it is very heavy and large so a challenge to carry. For me it will be a very rarely used pro head and something lighter and more nimble for virtually everything else :)

[@toddpeterson5904]

Thanks for the informative video, Matt Smith's older brother!

[@MrMilanina]

Is Komodo using propitiatory plates that you wanted to buy an extra one? In other words, would it be possible to use Komodo head with Manfrotto style plate?

[@nitablackwood6301]

Yes you can

[@tonytfuntek3262]

Despite the fact that you can purchase plates for the iFootage It may be more of an issue in the future than the MVH 500. Time will tell. Nice review, Thanks

[@Nickporter17]

Are you a UX designer?

[@filmsmith]

Hi Todd, Can you tell me if the Komodo plates would work in the Manfrotto or other fluid heads? Or can you use the standard Manfrotto plates in the Komodo? Thanks :)

[@dominey]

Just tried this with the Manfrotto MVH500AH head. The plate slides into the Komodo head, no problem. The Komodo plate works with the Manfrotto head too, though the Komodo plate doesn’t have the extra “lip” that sticks off the right side of the Manfrotto plate, which makes locking the Komodo plate down not quite as secure as the Manfrotto plate, but it does work and felt secure enough to me. So the short answer is, yes! Hope that helps.

[@filmsmith]

@@dominey Thank you so much for that! You really saved me a lot of time and possibly frustration with your quick response. Thanks :)

[@TheOgi22]

Panning is most important parameter on fluid head. Manfrotto won.

[@AlainLafleche1]

Great review, does the Manfrotto MVh500A fluid head work on the Ifootage TC7 and the TC9 that is coming ?

[@dominey]

Yes, it would. Be a nice match.

[@dinbali]

Hi Todd, which lens would you buy for the M50 for b-roll if you had to choose between these two? The 30mm Sigma f 1.4 (48mm equivalent) for $349 or the 50mm EF with the Speedbooster (56mm equivalent that goes to f 1.2) for a total of $249? I'm unsure if the price difference of $100 is worth the better image quality of the Sigma. What would you say? Or should I just get the 56mm Sigma (90mm equivalent) instead?

[@Design475]

I have the viltrox + 50mm it does well for photography but it drains the camera battery while its off, is quite a bit softer and I can't rely on the autofocus with movement for video purposes. I think the Sigma 30mm would serve you much better.

[@mcdicky]

The audio suck me into your channel.

[@07070754]

how much they pay you

[@Pharesm]

So, maybe I missed it, does this head drag adjustment for both pan and tilt? Or only one of them? I wish reviewers put the basic specs at the beginning of the video, so I don't have to watch them waffling about all sorts of generalities first... Really my time is short and I'm not watching reviews for entertainment :(

[@kolbeinnhugi]

You know what would actually be a useful review? Showing footage from the camera as you move the tripod. Maybe 10 seconds from each tripod? Jeez.

[@craigslistnothing6015]

Stephen Colbert? Is that you?

[@User-pq2yn]

Thanks a lot! The Manfrotto clamp screw does not allow changing the battery on Sony Alpha cameras without moving the quick release plate. You need to first move the plate, change the battery and then return the plate to its original position again. Does Ifootage have the same problem?