I'm just not happy with the 400 series manfrotto I just got. It's exactly what I was wanting, light, but it's no where near as smooth as my previous MV500AH. Is there something in between those, weight wise that's still really smooth. This one pans and tilts fairly smooth once you get it moving but it's very jerky on the first move. I mainly didn't like the MV500AH because of the stiff counterbalance spring for my setup. Need some recommendations before my return window runs out for this fluid head. It's a good head, it just doesn't fit my needs. If anyone wants it, it's brand new $90 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The Benro S4 is a bit smaller than the MVH500 with basically the same features. I believe it's basically the same as the old Manfrotto 501hdv. I kinda wish I had never sold the 501hdv. The MVH500 is fine, but it's definitely larger. Another suggestion would be to try the Sirui VA-5. It looks to be a nice and compact fluid head that should meet your needs. I cannot specifically speak for the quality or function of that specific head, but I have P-204SR monopod from Sirui and it is build with an extreme high quality. I was blown away by it's quality and some of the features and thought that was put into the design. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from Sirui in the future.
I've read, and read and read reviews on these heads. I'm seriously debating on getting the 500 again. I read on the VH-10 and VA-5. There's reviews saying the VH-10 is not as smooth as the 500 manfrotto. I'm very torn. I liked the 500 other than the size and counterbalance. I wish you could check these things out. I need this one to work, opening day is in a week and a half. I have to get something ordered Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's always a risk ordering something without getting a chance to try it out. Nothing really wrong with the 500. I don't really care for the extremely long plate. Seems unnecessary. I had a Vanguard fluid head for a while that I was never really happy with. I replaced it with the 500. Have you considered the fourth arrow brand fluid head? I have not tried it so I can't give any recommendations.
I just got another 500. I didn't mind the long plate. You can really dial in the balance and rely on knobs less Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I would get on ebay and try to score a Manfrotto 701HDV head. They discontinued them, but you can find them used. They are a scaled down version of the larger 501 and 503 heads. You can usually find them on ebay for $100 or so. I recently tore one of my originals apart and re-greased it. They are butter smooth if you pack them with a good white lithium grease. They are easy to tear apart and rebuild. A couple of guys at my office also shoot video with light camera setups (Sony AX53's I think). They use the small Manfrotto 700RC2 heads. They really like them. I had one of these heads probably 8 or 9 years ago on a small Canon HV30 camera and I remember it being a decent head.
I like my 500. It's larger too but I haven't put my hands on the 502 to compare. Looking at specs I would expect the 502 to be bigger than the 500 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
