Best lightweight fluid head?

[Mr. Monday]

I'm specifically looking at the Leica VH1 and the Manfrotto Befree Live. Ignoring the obvious price difference, which one would be more steady/fluid for videography?

The Befree Live has the 'Fluid Drag System' but I don't see how this system is any different from the drag system used in the VH1.

The Befree Live has a higher payload but I don't believe that all manufacturers measure tripod payload using the same methods so I don't trust this stat.

 

[LandYacht]

I don’t have the Befree, but I do use the VH1. I’ve never used it for videography, so I suppose my experience is going to be limited help to you.

It’s a very smooth head. I’ve compared it to a few, albeit, cheaper heads, and it’s the best dollar for the weight head I’ve come across. I use a pair of 10x Zeiss HTs on it and it’s handles them with ease. I had a STS 65 spotter that I ran on it and that wasn’t a problem either.

I am sure that a camera is a whole different animal, but it has met my needs.

I run it on a CF tripod and find that when it’s fully extended and windy I do have to add some weight to the hook on the tripod to keep everything shake free.



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[mfllood3800]

I have the befree and will be trying it next week on an Az archery hunt.
So far my review is this:

It is pretty light and sturdy for the weight it can handle.
I have the Swaro 80 mm on it and it handles it just fine.

I do wish the adapter plate was a bit longer so I could slide the plate on the spotter to better balance it allowing less head tension for tilting.
Don't get me wrong- it works fine, but on some heads these plates are longer (at a weight penalty) but they allow a near perfect balance of the item on the tripod head.

The adj nobs are ok. The panning head works how I like them. I really wish the tilt nob was more of a lever type, than a round nob.
That's just me personally and others may like it the way it is.

The long arm works fine, but I wish it would swing 180 degrees or was shorter for binos.

Over all for the price point, it is a superb head.
I will review it more after having it in the field for a week.

It will be paired with the Swaro 80 and a ProMaster tripod.

 

[blkqi]

I think the Gitzo birding heads, the GH1720 and the older G2180, are the best lightweight fluid heads you can buy to handle a big optic. Use with a Manfrotto 501PLONG video plate to balance the scope.

 

[Camera Land]

I'm going to throw a huge curve ball here. The BEST light weight fluid head is the Sirui VA-5. It has an Arca Swiss plate and has a 6 year warranty. We have sold a ton of these with no complaints. Check it out on our website, Cameras, Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Rifle Scopes | Camera Land NY
Here are some features:

Fluid System for Smooth Pans and Tilts
Spring-Assisted Counterbalance
TY-70A Quick-Release Plate
Dual Safety Lock System
2 Bubble Levels

Give me a call or e-mail me with any questions

 

[Mr. Monday]

The adj nobs are ok. The panning head works how I like them. I really wish the tilt nob was more of a lever type, than a round nob.
That's just me personally and others may like it the way it is.

I much prefer the levers on the VH1 but fluidity trumps ergonomics for me.

I think the Gitzo birding heads, the GH1720 and the older G2180, are the best lightweight fluid heads you can buy to handle a big optic. Use with a Manfrotto 501PLONG video plate to balance the scope.

I'm going to throw a huge curve ball here. The BEST light weight fluid head is the Sirui VA-5. It has an Arca Swiss plate and has a 6 year warranty. We have sold a ton of these with no complaints. Check it out on our website, Cameras, Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Rifle Scopes | Camera Land NY
Here are some features:

Fluid System for Smooth Pans and Tilts
Spring-Assisted Counterbalance
TY-70A Quick-Release Plate
Dual Safety Lock System
2 Bubble Levels

Give me a call or e-mail me with any questions

I want to keep the head under a pound, both the Befree Live and VH1 are 13.4 oz which is why I was comparing these two directly. I will also consider the GH1720 at 1lb. I might just order all three and test them side by side if no one has done so already.

edit: It seems like a lot of people have had issues with the fluidity of the Gitzo heads.

 

[chuck.u.farley]

Not sure what price you have for the VH1, but it is just a re-badged Benro S2 that can had for $80 new. You can save yourself some money and some disappointment when you get it.

 

[blkqi]

edit: It seems like a lot of people have had issues with the fluidity of the Gitzo heads.

In my current setup I am using a G2180 and it is just as smooth as any video head I've owned for the types of payloads we use hunting. No, it's not as smooth or as stable as, say, my 700RC2 with the drag locked down, but IMO that is not the sweet spot of a compact fluid head. Without the panning arm I think this head is ~ 17 oz.

One thing I really like in in the G2180 is the counter balance system. Quick to setup, and once set it will balance my 85mm spotter with the drag knobs wide open giving me gimbal-like fluid motion.

I have no experience with Benro, but I have heard that S2 head is a pretty good value. For the record, Benro is a Chinese company that got started by knocking off Gitzo tropod gear.

 

[Mr. Monday]

Not sure what price you have for the VH1, but it is just a re-badged Benro S2 that can had for $80 new. You can save yourself some money and some disappointment when you get it.

It does look like the same design. From what I have read, the Befree has a better drag system than the S2 so I think I will purchase the Befree.

Edit: You are onto something with this Leica re-badging thing, the Leica DH1 is definitely a rebadged Gitzo G2180 and the VH2 seems to be the same head as the one on the Benro Aero 4.

In my current setup I am using a G2180 and it is just as smooth as any video head I've owned for the types of payloads we use hunting. No, it's not as smooth or as stable as, say, my 700RC2 with the drag locked down, but IMO that is not the sweet spot of a compact fluid head. Without the panning arm I think this head is ~ 17 oz.

One thing I really like in in the G2180 is the counter balance system. Quick to setup, and once set it will balance my 85mm spotter with the drag knobs wide open giving me gimbal-like fluid motion.

I have no experience with Benro, but I have heard that S2 head is a pretty good value. For the record, Benro is a Chinese company that got started by knocking off Gitzo tropod gear.

If I decide to start digiscoping in the future I'll probably purchase the G2180 but for now the Befree is good enough at $75.

 

[Mr. Monday]

The Befree Live head arrived yesterday. The pan function has the perfect amount of resistance but the tilt doesn't have quite enough resistance to be smooth with a 65mm spotting scope. This makes sense considering the size of the tilt hinge. When I take into account the weight of the head I really can't fault it. I could save 2.5oz by switching to the outdoorsman pan head and have the same functionality but that would be a very expensive 2.5oz weight savings. It seems like there are a few options in the 1-1.5lb range that have a more beefy tilt hinge like the benro s4, sirui va-5, and feisol vh-40 but for video use with my main camera (Fuji X-T20) the Befree Live works fine.

 

[Owenst7]

The Befree Live head arrived yesterday. The pan function has the perfect amount of resistance but the tilt doesn't have quite enough resistance to be smooth with a 65mm spotting scope. This makes sense considering the size of the tilt hinge. When I take into account the weight of the head I really can't fault it. I could save 2.5oz by switching to the outdoorsman pan head and have the same functionality but that would be a very expensive 2.5oz weight savings. It seems like there are a few options in the 1-1.5lb range that have a more beefy tilt hinge like the benro s4, sirui va-5, and feisol vh-40 but for video use with my main camera (Fuji X-T20) the Befree Live works fine.

How heavy is your spotter? My BeFree tilts great with my 65mm Vanguard Endeavor.

 

[Mr. Monday]

I think mine weighs just under 45oz but I haven't weighed it, it's the Televid 62. The tilt works fine as long as I'm holding on to the scope or the handle, it's just not fluid with that much weight hanging off the front and back of it. Bigger heads have more drag and if I was taking video with a larger lens/camera I would buy something heavier, but the Befree works fine for my little Fuji.

 

[work765]

Will the befree live head fit on a Promaster tripod?

I just got a Vortex 65mm. And I would love to upgrade from my ballhead that came with the promaster to a small compact fluid head

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[Mr. Monday]

Will the befree live head fit on a Promaster tripod?

I just got a Vortex 65mm. And I would love to upgrade from my ballhead that came with the promaster to a small compact fluid head

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I'm using it on my Promaster XC525c right now with no issues. I will say that I have found metal shavings coming out of the base of the Befree head, so I would recommend looking at the other options.

 

[work765]

I'm using it on my Promaster XC525c right now with no issues. I will say that I have found metal shavings coming out of the base of the Befree head, so I would recommend looking at the other options.

Can you not send it in for a replacement? I feel like I keep ending up on it as far as it being light and decent quality for the price.

Anyone else have some fluid head recommendations? Looking to get one soon


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[Owenst7]

I'm using it on my Promaster XC525c right now with no issues. I will say that I have found metal shavings coming out of the base of the Befree head, so I would recommend looking at the other options.

If you're comfortable doing some investigation, I'd be really interested to see what is wrong in there. There's a torx head screw that holds the pan section together on the bottom of the pan joint.

I read a few reviews saying that was happening, but the two I messed with locally, and the one I ordered from B&H are all fine. I'm really curious what they are missing in the factory on some of these. There's not really a lot of moving parts, so I wonder if it's chips from machining the casting that just aren't getting cleaned out before they head to assembly.

I did notice the BeFree 290(?) Tripod has grub screws that create a friction fit to bottom of the head so that it doesn't unthread when you have the pan tightened down. If you rotate it hard enough against that, the screws will dig in to the aluminum plate under the head. Doesn't hurt anything, but it's not really pretty. I went with the BeFree live to get the half ball head to level it easily, and it doesn't have those screws. The head just spins on the 1/4"-20 stud and stays in place with the friction in the threads.

 

[Mr. Monday]

Can you not send it in for a replacement? I feel like I keep ending up on it as far as it being light and decent quality for the price.

Anyone else have some fluid head recommendations? Looking to get one soon


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S&S Archery was the first guy to find out about this issue, it was happening on the first head he received so he returned it for a new one and it happened on the replacement head as well. This is why you don't see the Befree head on his website. I'm debating sending it back but it hasn't really affected the function of the head other than that it's nearly impossible to get the pan to completely lock.

Other options from lightest to heaviest: Benro S2, Sirui VA-5, Gitzo GH1720, Feisol VH-40, Gitzo G2180, Benro S4, Manfrotto MVH500AH

If you're comfortable doing some investigation, I'd be really interested to see what is wrong in there. There's a torx head screw that holds the pan section together on the bottom of the pan joint.

I read a few reviews saying that was happening, but the two I messed with locally, and the one I ordered from B&H are all fine. I'm really curious what they are missing in the factory on some of these. There's not really a lot of moving parts, so I wonder if it's chips from machining the casting that just aren't getting cleaned out before they head to assembly.

I did notice the BeFree 290(?) Tripod has grub screws that create a friction fit to bottom of the head so that it doesn't unthread when you have the pan tightened down. If you rotate it hard enough against that, the screws will dig in to the aluminum plate under the head. Doesn't hurt anything, but it's not really pretty. I went with the BeFree live to get the half ball head to level it easily, and it doesn't have those screws. The head just spins on the 1/4"-20 stud and stays in place with the friction in the threads.

I believe that the metal shavings are a product of tightening and removing the head from the tripod. The pan screw doesn't completely lock the head from panning even when it is tight, so there is some slippage when tightening the head to the tripod and when removing the head from the tripod. My theory is that the slippage is causing some of the metal on the pan screw to be ground off. If you want to test it on your head just tighten the pan screw as tight as you can then force the pan to rotate.

 

[Owenst7]

S&S Archery was the first guy to find out about this issue, it was happening on the first head he received so he returned it for a new one and it happened on the replacement head as well. This is why you don't see the Befree head on his website. I'm debating sending it back but it hasn't really affected the function of the head other than that it's nearly impossible to get the pan to completely lock.

Other options from lightest to heaviest: Benro S2, Sirui VA-5, Gitzo GH1720, Feisol VH-40, Gitzo G2180, Benro S4, Manfrotto MVH500AH


I believe that the metal shavings are a product of tightening and removing the head from the tripod. The pan screw doesn't completely lock the head from panning even when it is tight, so there is some slippage when tightening the head to the tripod and when removing the head from the tripod. My theory is that the slippage is causing some of the metal on the pan screw to be ground off. If you want to test it on your head just tighten the pan screw as tight as you can then force the pan to rotate.

Yeah, I had suspected that and did everything I could (including over tightening it and wrenching on it) on two different heads on display in stores, and first thing when I ordered mine. I have not been able to replicate it. The inconsistency is what's leading me to think it's likely to be machining chips not getting cleaned out.

I'm just really curious, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a defective one so I can take it apart and identify the problem.

If it's grinding from being turned while overtightened, from looking at mine, I believe the problem is likely that the little jack plate that applies friction to the lobe is digging in to the lobe. It's either formed to a smaller radius than the lobe, or the edges are sharp. Either could be fixed quickly by knocking the edges down with a hand file. Not that I wouldn't just return it as a defective product, I'm just curious from an engineering persepctive, and if it's caused by something that may come up later from wear, I'd like to know before it comes up with mine.

 

[work765]

What are thoughts on how the SIRUI VA-5 Ultra-Compact Video Head compares to the benro s-2? The VA-5 seems to have some solid reviews from most people. How’s the Benro S-2 stack up though?


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[SHTF]

Using the Gitzo Traveler Tripod and the gitzo gh2720qr Birding head, Its tripod heaven. I dont even run a spotter on it just my Bino's and my cameras. I got extremely lucky and got both of these for a huge discount. Its a sweet setup. Also running the Slik 634 with Benro S2 head and that is a stellar combo also. Slik 634 will run you about 225$ S2 head I got for 80$ on S&S Archery.

For the Gitzo I have it setup with an Area-swiss plate as I refuse to pay 40$ for spare plates. (Very inexpensive to buy from Amazon) It works really well. Ive done alot of deep research on tripods. There is a learning curve you need to know about the tripod Carbon Fiber to find the value in something like a Gitzo setup. I was like many out there its just a tripod..... till you pay 100$ for something that is complete garbage. Thats why I went with quality. I wanted to make sure what I have wouldn't fail me out in the field.