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.

This is the best option for both photo and video users. I am primarily a still photographer and use a gimbal. However, this fluid head has replaced my gimbal at a much lower price. The only problem is the manfrotto type plates. However, several manufacturers sell adapters that allow Arca swiss plates to be used.

READ THIS: Be cautious about who you order this head from. I ordered it from Ornem first and the 502 I received was obviously used and scratched up by the previous owner or maybe it was a demo/showroom model. I feel like Ornem was hoping some schmuck wouldn't have cared about the condition and I ended up receiving it. When you order something that is described as BRAND NEW, that is what you should expect and what you should receive, no questions ask. I returned it that same day and ordered it again through CaMan and the new one I received was, you guessed it, brand new. Before I sent them my negative seller feedback, I noticed that they had a couple negative reviews in the past 30 days. So I went ahead and put together my review and it was live in about 10 minutes. NOT EVEN 15 MINUTES LATER, my review as well as the other reviews left by unhappy customers had been deleted! How is this possible? Amazon should be the only one that is capable of deleting reviews because now, Ornem has a 100% unblemished record and customers will never know about situations like mine. THE ACTUAL REVIEW: This head is a beast. It's a solid build and the fluid drag system will give you buttery smooth panning and tilt footage. The only concern I had going into buying this head was the fact that it's made in China. Not to say that stuff made in China is bad, I've purchased plenty of great products made in China, it's just that Manfrotto chose to have it manufactured in China vs. Italy like the majority of their products that got me thinkin. I also ordered the 190 go tripod which is made in Italy so I was able to get a good idea of the build quality between the two. The 190 is flawless 5/5 no problem. The 502 is a 4/5, it's constructed very well but it appears they took some shortcuts on the finish. The one thing I noticed about the 502 is that as you're adjusting the fluid dials, there is this odd popping sound. My guess is it's the fluid within the head as you adjust it accordingly. Not a huge deal breaker as the head pans and tilts consistently in all directions but I am hoping that it will eventually go away. There is some play in the dials too but I was aware of that when I was doing my research on this head. VERDICT: In the end, I'm super stoked to have added the 502 and 190 to my setup and I highly suggest ordering either of these products if you are in the market for some sweet gear. Once again, BE AWARE OF WHO YOU ORDER THIS THROUGH.

I was looking to upgrade my tripod for video work and this baby comes highly recommended. After alot of research and Scratching my head going back and forth with the "Should I spend that much or shouldn't I" question I finally decided to go for it. I got this and the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 tripod and the combination of the two is just smooth and like a dream. The fluid head is great for those paning from Left to right or up to down product shots especially. Extremely sturdy build and the quality packaging and delivery were amazing from amazon and the seller especially with prime shipping. Now in terms of practicality,this fluid head is one of the best out there.However if you are someone who travels alot and carries a ton of gear already,then this is definitely going to add some extra kg's.Its heavy. The money and the weight though is totally worth the investment.Anyone looking to get great video footage and photos wont regret this buy. Hope this helped.. Peace

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Fault reported below resolved with replacement order. This item proved to be of exceptional build quality and thus great value for money at this price. As smooth as silk on both the vertical and horizontal planes under finely controlled continuous adjustment to produce languid cinematic effects while panning and tilting. Solid independent locking in both planes along with acutely angular positioning for those Dr Caligari's Cabinet weirding shots. Paired with a Manfrotto half bowl leveller, this rig was quick and easy to set up for any shooting scenario with confidence that it would all stay in place, all day, even under a hefty load. A 3/8" threaded hole at each side of the camera platform allow accessories such as field monitors and microphones to be rigidly stabilised off the camera body creating a more stable platform for sharper filming with less camera shake and cleaner audio. If there are better fluid heads available at even twice the price then you should buy one right away for a fabulous bargain. This is merely a very highly regarded piece of professionally engineered equipment at a very reasonable price. But it's a whole new level above its junior partner and streets ahead of the rest and many if its much more expensive competitors. Altogether, a bit of a photograhic and cinematic revelation. Original review: Red continuous fluid drag adjustment ring for panning function was seized on arrival and would not budge despite best efforts without putting it in a vice. Locking mechanism engaged and disengaged without issue and panning function itself worked very freely, probably set near minimum drag. This fault has previously been reported among earlier comments by another unfortunate buyer who was spot on. I'm giving Manfrotto another chance since this is my first brand purchase. Looks and feels very sturdy though and all functions otherwise perfect. Spring-back counterbalance on this model well suited to heavier DSLRs (eg. D850) and bulky lenses such as Sigma Art series with the automatic 4kg setting. Hoping for a better outcome after a further wait.