MANFROTTO MVH502AH | VIDEO HEAD, TRIPOD HEAD | REVIEW

[@northernsky5814]

Hi Andy, I own that head and modified it to Arca Swiss. I bought a 120mm Arca Swiss clamp and plate from Amazon. I attached the Manfrotto plate to the underside of the Utebit clamp and then leave the Manfrotto plate locked in the head. Attach the Arca Swiss plate to the lens foot and use as normal Arca Swiss. I also find it much easier to use the head in reverse so the pan lock is at the rear.

[@AndyGustavsson]

Hey, thanks didn't really know there was such a thing, would certainly help out alot, the plate I have now just loosen a bit every time I tighten the pan too much.. Need to try that out, thanks alot for the feed back! 😊🙏

[@robgerety]

Will the 120 Arca Swiss plate that comes with the clamp you reference also fit in other arca swiss clamps? Such as the Sirui VA 5 head clamp? Or alternatively, will the plate you reference accept other arca swiss plates? Like the Sirui TY-70? I want to end up with two tripods and heads that will accept the same plates on my large spotting scope and camera lenses. I use one light set up for wilderness canoe trips, and one heavier set up for use near my car or on day hikes.

[@joshhaas2410]

I found adapting like this adds unwanted movement in the rig that goes away when removing the extra plates and only using the head’s included plate.

[@jfphotography69]

I just got the new manfrotto 608 nitrotech fluid head, it's fantastic, the issues you mentioned no longer exist, attaching the lens is super easy, and there is no creep when letting go of the lens/gear, it can hold up to 17 lbs of gear, you can tilt the lens downwards or upwards and just let it go, it will stay in that position. I use it with my DSLR and 500mm prime lens, it has made my gimbal obsolete. This new 608 "I dont's want to sound like an advertisement" is super smooth and the drag system is fantastic. I will try to make a video when I get the chance. Will update this post when I do.

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thank you for the update, will have a look at it, I like the 502a for what it is as I mentioned in the video I need to get a adjustible bowl to go with it then it would be really good! :)

[@jfphotography69]

@@AndyGustavsson and yes, the only thing I don't like about the manfrotto fluid head is that proprietary plate, much better if it was Arca Swiss compatible, but I guess Manfrotto wanted to make sure "liability reasons, expensive gear getting damaged" that the head can hold the gear Manfrotto says it can hold. Manfrotto 608 nitrotech fluid video head. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqnLap5pfJ16mK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6muq5uFac6bgc0

[@jfphotography69]

@@AndyGustavsson I have uploaded a short video clip of the manfrotto fluid video head that I recorded on my smartphone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ_KnGOJitOgeNU

[@AndyGustavsson]

@@jfphotography69 Thanks buddy, will have to check it out tomorrow! =)

[@genemckeel1432]

You can convert to standard Arca Swiss by using the Haoge cp-64 adapter plate screwed in to the Manfrotto base plate and a long arca Swiss plate

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks for the tips! Will check it out 👍🙏

[@MartinFransson]

That sounds great! Do you have a link to the correct adapter? There seems to be several ones.

[@eduardofreitas8336]

I have the older version, the 501, and to be fair, it IS my first "serious" tripod head. But I find it amazing! Gives me a lot of freedom with the movement, while still being a capable video head. The older version has the advantage of being about 300g lighter, wich is nice. It's working for my style.

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks for the input! 😊🙏 The 502 are great there are just a few things I'd change to make it perfect for my needs, the best thing is that it's stable as heck!

[@tomhughes5123]

i got one for my bigger cameras but miss the 3 way tilt . so got a geared head , thats a great head though , used with a lens with tripod foot for leveling .

[@AndyGustavsson]

Sounds great! Have only seen the 3 way tilt but don´t really know anything about how it would work with a big lens, feels like it wouldn´t manage the weight very well?

[@tomhughes5123]

@@AndyGustavsson i use it with my d850 and 70-200 , ,and 2.8 lenses up to that , the 180-400 gets the monopod in decent light , but i can use the manfrotto fluid head when stationary( hide shooting) im not complaining about the fluid head , its just a but fiddly with lenses without a tripod foot , being just a pan and tilt head ,

[@AndyGustavsson]

@@tomhughes5123 ah okay, i can see how it can become an issue! 😊

[@tomhughes5123]

@@AndyGustavsson its a great fluid head , if im on level ground i enjoy using it , if im moving around and setting up a lot , say creeping between herds of deer , with a lens without a foot can be tricky fiddling with the tripod legs

[@Squiddys]

nice review!

[@AndyGustavsson]

@@Squiddys thank you! 🙏

[@wendingourway]

That is some heavy duty equipment...will be purchasing a much needed tripod replacement soon and this could be a good one to add to my options...thanks for sharing...new sub and dropping in from Nova Scotia, Canada...have yourself a great weekend...

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thank you so much! glad you liked it and welcome! You too! =)

[@paultaylor396]

Hey, liked the review. I have one of these heads and have recently noticed some play in the tilt movement, particularly when the drag is increased. It means that there is some unwanted movement before the tilt engages and becomes controlled. Just wondered if anyone else has experienced a similar issue? All the best, Paul

[@AndyGustavsson]

Hi paul, thanks for watching, glad you liked it! unfortunally it’s something i havn’t noticed myself so can’t really help you, maybe it looses pressure and that’s why there are a small give?

[@paultaylor396]

@@AndyGustavsson Not to worry and thanks for the reply. Will have a look at taking it apart at some point

[@alexmendoza2178]

Check out Kirk quick release bridge for a arca Swiss solution. I also use a universal leveling base

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks Alex, will check it out! 🙏😊

[@EstebanAraque]

Thanks greetings from Ecuador

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thank you for watching!

[@chiwawa130]

That is a great tripod head. I have one and it does everything a gimbal can do. And it can be used for video. I don’t see any reason to buy an expensive gimbal.

[@AndyGustavsson]

It really is, havn’t tried an expensive gimbal so can’t agrue for it. 😅 if you’re into video go for a fluid video head :)

[@joellemorris5684]

Thanks for your review! I'm wondering how i can test this video head (I just bought from Amazon Warehouse) without a tripod with me.... Right now, i observed that the red drag ring only turns 90 degree and not more than that. Is it NORMAL when it's not the video head is not connected to a tripod?

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thank you Joelle! Never tested it but it should be possible to turn it more than 90°, make sure you loosen the tightening nob, on the one I use i need to be quite agressive sometime as I turn the drag ring, atleast if it's tightened. 😊

[@joellemorris5684]

@@AndyGustavsson Thanks for your quick answer! The tripod on which this head will be mounted is located in an asian country where i can't travel at the moment. Unfortunately i have no way to test it around me (except if I order a tripod simply for trying it out). That's why i asked you the question. Somehow, i have to assess if the deal i got from Amazon Warehouse is a good deal. So could I asked you a favor? Could you do the test for me to look how the red drag ring behaves without being connected to a tripod?

[@AndyGustavsson]

@@joellemorris5684 i checked and I can turn it a good 360° before it hits the limit 👍

[@joellemorris5684]

@@AndyGustavsson thanks for doing the test for me! This is kind of you! My red ring doesn't turn more than 90 degree when Pan is unlocked. I will probably return it.

[@KGsPhotography]

Thanks for the video Andy I’ve actually been looking at one of these myself. I see it as a cross between a ball head and I gimbal head and especially useful when doing video. Cheers Keith

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks for watching Keith! I really like it but I would highly recommend getting one of those adjustible center culoumns, sure makes it a bit easier to setup while walking around with the tripod. Atleast in the type of enviroment I often find myself in haha.. Thanks again!

[@KGsPhotography]

@@AndyGustavsson thanks Andy. The tripod I have recently brought has one of those adjustable center columns so I think it would work great. I had a similar problem levelling my gimble head.

[@AndyGustavsson]

Oh yes then it would work perfectly, it's about the weight as well so wouldnt make too much of a different regarding that, need to get myself a new tripod before I buy one for myself.

[@KGsPhotography]

Andy Gustavsson I think the weight would be fairly similar to my gimbal head anyway so I’m not too worried about that. Thanks for the advice. Cheers Keith

[@crazyleg2006]

Thx for the info.

[@Rev.DavidJTowns]

do you only partially wrap the lens with camo? or was this just for this video?

[@AndyGustavsson]

I tend to leave it as it is in the video, I got the camo with the lens and its very badly cut so the pieces which are missing are ruined, I tend to tie a skirmish net over my lens if I need to conceal it, the protective camo are just to protect the lens from bumbs and bad weather.

[@stealthmanofthewoods2570]

il faut reculer la plaque de support vous l'avez mise trop en avant j'ai le meme équipement et cela marche tres bien ,peut etre vous la maitrisez mieux en 2023 pour moi elle est parfaite

[@GeoffCooper]

Nice review Andy! I actually tried one of these for a short while last year but didn't get on with it very well :/ I really liked the fluid movement, but couldn't get used to the way the controls worked and kept messing up / missing stuff! I probably just didn't give it enough time and I'm sure I would have learned it soon enough, but the weight was also too much for me... I now have a Gitzo fluid gimbal and use it with a levelling bowl on the tripod - it's nice and light, has the familiar balance and feel of a gimbal, and is also super smooth :)

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks buddy! It definitely took some time to get used to, but I agree having to secure the tilt everytime if it's quite loose are a bummer.. And as you said the weight is a big concern as well, but comparing the price of a fluid gimbal with the video head I think its a good choice for those whom doesn't mind the extra weight! :)

[@GeoffCooper]

@@AndyGustavsson yeah, that's fair, the fluid gimbal is more expensive than the MVH502AH, but it wasn't too bad a price second hand (I just had to wait quite a long time for one to come up!)

[@AndyGustavsson]

@@GeoffCooper I bet, you must been very lucky! 😁👍

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Hey Andy, I have the same head and also had a tough time getting it balanced.... but once you do it is butter smooth for video. Sayin' hey... Greg

[@AndyGustavsson]

It's a fantastic piece of gear, thanks for watching Greg! 😊🙏

[@williamgardner2739]

Hi! Andy i don`t if you have just forgot to mention about balancing, if you loosen the clamping bolt on the head and slide your camera forward or backward you can find the balancing point. Happy snaping.

[@AndyGustavsson]

@williamgardner2739 hey william ! Thank you for the heads up, I’ve found out by now haha. Works like a treat! Cheers buddy!

[@SimonWantling]

Nice video. I use the same head myself 👍

[@AndyGustavsson]

Thanks Simon! It's a great head!

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

I've been looking at these, great review 👍🏼 I use the Gitzo gimbal at the mo but i'll probably end up with one of these too lol.... How are you finding the Tragopan bag? pretty good eh 👍🏼.... anyways great vlog buddy, take care n stay safe 👍🏼 JP

[@AndyGustavsson]

I think they are great, for what they are maybe a fluid gimbal would work great as well! It works, but not the best for heavy gear, saving up for a better solution to distrubute the weight a bit but have no clue what to get 😝😝 Thanks alot and you too!

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

@@AndyGustavsson The Gitzo fluid gimbal is great that i use mostly, worth a look buddy.... Im waiting for an F.Stop bag to turn up for hiking and traveling this is the one here shop.fstopgear.com/camera-bags/sukha-70l-adventure-and-outdoor-camera-backpack/ It has good reviews ill let you know how it performs 👍🏼

[@prashantsahani8645]

Please mention your tripod.

[@AndyGustavsson]

It's a benro tma28a 👍😊