ManfrottoMVH500AH, Lightweight Fluid Video Head with Flat Base, Sliding Plate for Rapid Camera Connection, Supports Multiple Tripods

Bought this as a lighter weight option for field use and it’s working out great with my large scope and camera equipment.

I’m torn with this product as from first glance, it seems to be a very high-quality tripod head, but has a few questionable design flaws. To start the mounting screw hole is for a much larger screw that is not on most tripods especially for “lightweight” tripods The included adapter is too short and caused damage after a few hours of use. I had to buy a larger adapter. The second problem might just be me, but I’m a little disappointed they used a proprietary, mounting tape. Form my understanding manFrodo is not new and many people have their mounting plates, but it seems that industry standard uses orca Swiss plates. I went from having numerous mounting plates and options to now just having one plate that I have to use on all of my cameras and Riggs. I have bought a converter, but it doesn’t seem to have the same advantages is the standard plate that comes with the head. Other than that the tripod head is high-quality.

1) It is wide, so the Sony Alpha Cameras (I have A7 IV) do not open the battery door to 90 °, but this is still nothing, tolerable. But the clamping screw does not allow you to pull out the battery without moving the quick-release plate. It rests directly on the screw. So you need to loosen the lock, move the plate, replace the battery and put the plate back in its original position, which in turn is not very easy, since there is no scale with markings on the plate. Even lower priced heads have a scale.2) No scale with markings on the plateIn general, given these shortcomings, I put 4 stars

As cameras get smaller my old tripod weighed in at 11 pounds. The new one is around 3 and works better.

Modified the head with a Kirk attachment and cannot be happier. Use it for stills and videos now. A-grade product.

Nonetheless mindful that stuff happens, I have never purchased a Manfrotto/Bogen tripod, head, accessory arm, plate, etc. that did not operate flawlessly and, after many years of heavy use, still operate flawlessly.I recently ventured into video and decided to invest in a fluid head for panning in place of the joystick and standard ball heads I use for still photography. My camcorder is a Panasonic HC-VX1K with Shure VP83F LensHopper mic that, together, come in at well under the advertised max weight (5 kg) for this head. The mounting plates easily snaps on and off and includes a horizontal stabilizing pin for cameras that have a built-in receptacle for such. The arm can be mounted on either side and can be attached at any angle. The camera balance is easily set and constant. As is the case with all Manfrotto products I have purchased, the head is of substantial quality: there are no flimsy or cheap parts.Most importantly to me, this head has what many fluid-head reviews lack: it pans absolutely smoothly from a dead stop to start and continued movement; I can detect no difference in force to overcome its static inertia and maintain its dynamic inertia. In other words, my panning videos have no sudden, jerky starts and no interruptions or hesitancy as I pan.As the preponderance of the reviews here testify, this head is a jewel and I unequivocally recommend it for use within its 5 kg limits.

This review is for the Manfrotto MVH500AH Lightweight fluid head. I have had this fluid head for about a month and have used it quite a bit. I use it strictly for photography and not video. Prior to having this fluid head I had a Manfrotto ball head. It worked fine except I never liked the quick release plate that came with it. I became intrigued with this fluid head when I saw it used and recommended by photographer, teacher and YouTuber Hudson Henry. After watching a few of his videos I decided to make a purchase. The panning and tilting motion are smooth and fluid. I actually shot my first panorama with this. There are only two knobs to use, one for panning and one for tilting. Very easy to use and handle. There is a leveling bubble when you tilt the head up so you can level the head. I use it for landscape photography, wildlife photography and astro photography. The fluid head acts as a gimbal head, very easy to use for bird photography. One of the photos I included shows a mirrorless camera and a 200-500 lens mounted on it. The fluid head carries them with ease. I doubt that I would ever go back to using a ball head. This does everything I need it to do. I absolutely love it and highly recommend it.

Good fluid head, just a bit heavier than the Amazon description which lists the head at 2.5 grams. Think it's more like 1 kg. I checked the Manfrotto website for weight, it states 1.98 lbs. This head is very heavy, very stable, works great, some of the components could've been (should've been) metal yet were plastic. Due to weight considerations for my backcountry Coues and elk hunting, had to return it and get something a bit lighter. If you're in the market for a proper fluid head with great motion and don't mind a bit of weight, this is a very good choice for the money.

Possesseur d'un trépied video et d'une rotule Manfrotto 502, je souhaitait retrouver la qualité Manfrotto sur une rotule destinée à mon trépied photo et le modèle MVH500AH pouvait s'y adapter. La rotule est fluide. Elle permet de faire de chouettes panoramiques. La qualité Manfrotto à prix raisonnable.

Well what can I say, I now completely get it why Manfrotto has such a reputation amongst Tripod gear.This is the second tripod gear I am buying and I must say, I wish I had invested on a manfrotto earlier.I have purchased a Manfrotto MVH500AH fluidhead along with a Manfrotto MT190XPRO4 tripod legs. And this combination is a beast of a setup.Everything feels so premium and works so well. The fluid head system is so smooth while panning and I am completely blown away with the quality I felt while using this product.I highly recommend you all to somehow invest into MANFROTTO if you are planning to buy a tripod. Yes they are a bit expensive for an average Indian, but trust me, this is worth the investment. I am pretty sure that I will never have to buy another tripod anytime soon.Just go for it.

Great! Using it on top of a monopod

Love this item. It’s made very nicely- the material used is solid. It moves firmly, with no creeks and slips. It’s buttery smooth.I bough it to use with my Fujifilm mirror less camera and the xf100400 lense. It handles the weigh if this combination very well. Balances perfectly and Remains in the position I last left it in. I use it primarily for bird photography. While I am just 2 weeks into it, I have found my photos to have improved quite a bit.I totally enjoy using this fluid head. I highly recommend it if you are looking for one and do not have a very heavy camera + lense set up.

Article conforme à la description. Rotule fluide et précise.Elle supporte parfaitement le poids d'une longue-vue pour observer la faune sauvage.Je recommande