Manfrotto MVH502AH Video Head with Flat Base and Fixed Lever, Video Head for Compact Video Cameras and DSLR Cameras, for Filming, Videography, Content Creation, Vlogging, Live Streaming, Black

The best value video head on the market probably doesn't need yet another review, but at £149 you will likely not get a quality option like this brand new. Pans and tilts are just effortless, meaning you can get professional quality shots without the price tag associated. I personally use the head without the handle, as I can get that little bit more control and find this more comfortable, but the handle is sturdy once attached with the ability to mount either side of the head meaning left and right-handed users have choices. It's a big head, heavy but reassuring in its weight, as it feels very premium especially for the price. The dials and adjustment toggles are nice and chunky, everything feels reassuring and well thought out, so quick adjustments can be made on the fly. I would say be careful about leaving the head in cold areas, as the fluid movement does stiffen when cold and make a ticking or clicking noise. The camera mounting track is also great, but the rubber stopper that allows for various thread attachments have worn slightly which is disappointing. Pros: - Exceptional value - Professional level kit - Extremely smooth pans and tilts - Ergonomic and comfortable to use - High-quality and durable - Easy to master Cons: - Rubber track on camera mounting place can wear - Expensive to replace any lost parts

I only received mine yesterday, but have already returned it. However, I've seen enough to give it 5 stars. The reason for my return was simply that it's too large and heavy for my uses. I was aware from reviews that it was fairly large, but was still not expecting it to be quite as large as it is! It weighs as much as a heavy lens, plus due to it's size and less than ideal shape, it's not easy squeezing it into my large camera bag. I did some testing with it during yesterday, and found it had beautifully smooth movement for panning and tilting, and the adjustable torque for both gave an adequate range of adjustment. It's built very well indeed and is very high quality. I did find the packaging less than ideal (not Amazon, which is almost always poor, but inside Manfrotto's box) as the head had a fair bit of movement within it and not enough protection. It's a minor gripe though. In conclusion, I'd say that it's an excellent product. However, be aware that no matter how large and heavy you expect it to be - It's probably going to surprise you just how large and heavy it is. On my Three Legged Thing Travis tripod, which is what I'd call a large travel tripod, the head completely dwarfs the part it screws onto. It is still fairly stable and a decent fit, but I wouldn't want to use it on a smaller or less sturdy travel tripod.

I am mainly a stills photographer and in the past made the mistake of buying cheap tripods, these days I have a couple of Manfrotto tripods (travel + studio) because good quality kit makes a difference. When I started to experiment with video I quickly realised that I really needed some help if I was to avoid video output with jerky movements on panning etc. so after thinking it through decided to buy this video head to use on my existing kit. The first thing as others have mentioned is that I was surprised just how big it was compared to my existing heads which turns out to be no bad thing. It is superb kit with a variable resistance on your two key planes (horizontal/vertical), that you can choose to suit yourself and it really does the job, I am able to practice my 'moves' so that I can get smooth video results. A nice touch is that the handle/lever can be mounted on the right or left hand side to suit personal taste. One cautionary note for DSLR users: The camera mount is a long rectangular plate which is secured at two points, a release button on the back and a screw in knob on the right hand side which engages a lock on the slide. I am using a quite large Panasonic shoulder mounted camera on this head and it fits fine because the bulk of any video camera runs front to back however, a DSLR fits 'sideways', the bulk of the body being at right angles to the front. The problem with this being that the right hand securing screw for the camera mounting plate cannot be tightened because it fouls the underside of the camera body. This is not a problem if you are using a long telephoto lens which has a tripod mount so that it is the lens mount that you are fitting to the mount plate rather than the camera body itself. I have a 150-500 lens which I have mounted and it gives plenty of clearance to tighten up the side screw.

I purchased this head when I first started thinking about video work, having read reviews that it was a really stable option with fluid pan and tilt. All of that has proven to be true, and the build quality is impressive. Everything is very smooth, and when locked, it’s locked. The key controls are well positioned with precise control over resistance, but if you have never used a fluid head before, it may take you a while to adapt. The overall impression is that it will last forever, and this is a serious piece of equipment. The only negative is that the size and weight can sometimes make it inconvenient. I tend to use it more for studio-based work or locations where I can mainly travel by car because this is not something I want to carry on my shoulder while walking up a mountain. I am currently using this with my Lumix S5IIX, but it will take heavier cameras easily.

I bought this a few days ago and colour me impressed, at the price I paid £114 this video head is unbeatable. The construction is like a tank, yes it’s heavy but it is made of premium metals and plastics. I make videos on a professional level and needed a video fluid head that could easily accept the size and weight of my Panasonic LUMIX S1 and this is perfect. Panning is super smooth as well as tilt, there’s no gitters or jerks when using this just lovely smooth fluid motion. It was easy to set up and use as the design is laid out in a manner that is intuitive, the controls are all easy to access although I would have preferred the panning lock to be easier to access from behind the camera but not a big deal. The head has a counter balance system which makes balancing my S1 very easy, this gives you the ability to leave the camera tilted at the end of your movement if required. The locks are super strong and overall the ability to alter the amount of drag in any direction is simply perfect and has done wonders with my video work. I have used this head with a manfrotto tripod, a monopod and a high hat and it has worked perfectly for every case use scenario. I would say it’s probably not suitable for travelling with as it is very large and heavy but you could I guess but I wouldn’t personally. For the price I paid nothing comes close, it’s easily worth double the price and if you are on the fence about it then don’t hesitate just buy it now you won’t be disappointed.

I use this for nature still photography with a Sony A1 and a Sony 200-600 lens, on a sturdy video tripod. the fluid dampening is excellent, and once you have it all set up, you can easily track and pan with great smoothness, and then let go and you have the confidence that your camera won't budge until you decide to move it again. Top quality materials, design and construction - it is big and heavy, but that's exactly what you need. Some people don't like the panning lock being at the font under the QR clamp assembly, but I don't mind it being there at all.

Built like a tank and the counterbalance system works perfectly. You just let go of the handle and it stays where you left it with no creeping. Setting the balance point takes seconds. Totally smooth start to a pan or tilt from stationary. Tracking birds in flight is a doddle. The base plate fits rock solid to the camera and sliding it into the mount is child's play. It locks in solidly. Easy to assemble and disassemble the sturdy but light handle. The glide torque settings are easy to use and lock down. There's not a hint of wobble or looseness anywhere in the design. FYI the camera being used is a Sony HXR-NX5E which weighs in at about 2.5kg including battery. This is streets ahead of the cheap and cheerful head I was using. Well worth every penny and a perfect upgrade if you are finding a budget head a bit jerky and imprecise.

Superb product, as a keen amateur this product more than fits my needs.