Finally, an actually tutorial for a tripod that shows off proper counter balance. After all of those TH-camrs demoed the nitro tech Manfrotto tripod back when it came out and no one understood its main feature. A stepless counter balance adjustment, I almost lost it.
It's a good idea, Carl. Sensible pragmatic advice for newcomers. Should bring in some more customers. It's not just price - although that's important - but also good customer support that matters and I've always had that from ProAV. Gives the firm a 'head' start! BobUK.
Thanks. very useful info. The cheaper fluid heads I saw don't have counter balance adjustment, and I learned that having drag adjustment is not the same thing. I want to be able to point my P950 at the sky and have it stay put if I let go without having the head bounce back to level. Looks like a fluid head with continuous counter balance adjustment is the way to go but it will be more expensive.
Really helpful. More to add to my shopping list. I hope this is the first of many videos to help me fill in some important gaps in my knowledge like the demo of the sandbags done by you on the lighting course. So I am now in the market for the best value counterbalance head and of course from ProAV.
THANK YOU ! Great video and right to the point I have a manfrotto nitrotech n8 once set i am enjoying it. Took a while to set because I did not have initial balance set.
Just got the FSB8+Flowtech 75 combo. Coming from the Manfrotto 502, I must say, it is so nice to have a proper counterbalanced fluid head. My C200 and blackmagic rigs are much happier haha.
Hi folks. After ProAV advice I bought the Manfrotto 438 for my C200 (both from ProAV). It's a mid range head but with variable counterbalance and is working nicely. Not too heavy for me to carry about. BobUK.
Recently bought the GH06 from you. The GH06 is impossible to balance due to the steps. I cannot use 0 and neither 1 (too much counterbalance) with my setup, so how much weight do one need for level 1?
Another great video with helpful advise. I have recently been wondering about my tripod spreader mechanism and how to use it best. Do you have a video on this? Thank You
Glad it helped. No video on spreaders specifically i'm afraid. Spreaders are very simple though, they simply keep your legs the same distance apart as you move the tripod around. Ground spreaders are only really useful on flat surfaces like indoors. Mid spreaders are more practical for most situations. Most of them you can extend as well, which means when your legs are at their shortest length, you can get the camera slightly closer to the ground. Carl
That's good Carl Thanks, By the way it was a hard depression to make but I went with the z90 Sony as opposed to the canon 405. Those videos were great too. Sony can thank you for that sale. Tom
By the way, what about cameras with moving lenses like my P950? when you zoom in or out the weight of the extending lens shifts forward and back, then I think the initial center of balance point you showed at 2:44 has changed and the counterbalance will not work correctly anymore. Is there a solution for that?
Would you recommend the likes of a Manfrotto 504 head for a Blackmagic USRSA Mini rig, or would the level of counterbalance in that kind of head be insufficient for such a payload?
Thanks for the video. For use with light cameras, which head has the lowest level of counterbalance, in other words will work well with the lightest cameras while still offering counterbalance? Thanks.
I use a carbon fibre Kenro tripod for my GH5, but its been giving me issues alot. What do you recommend for a GH5, cage, Atomos Ninja V, XLR1 adaptor and Sigma 18-35mm lens? I need a smooth video head, but legs strong enough to hold all that.
Finally, an actually tutorial for a tripod that shows off proper counter balance. After all of those TH-camrs demoed the nitro tech Manfrotto tripod back when it came out and no one understood its main feature. A stepless counter balance adjustment, I almost lost it.
Could not agree more with Robert. ProAV has always given me help and support ahead of sales
Great to hear!
Carl
It's a good idea, Carl. Sensible pragmatic advice for newcomers. Should bring in some more customers. It's not just price - although that's important - but also good customer support that matters and I've always had that from ProAV. Gives the firm a 'head' start! BobUK.
That's excellent to hear, we're glad that we've been able to help out!
Dan
Thanks. very useful info.
The cheaper fluid heads I saw don't have counter balance adjustment, and I learned that having drag adjustment is not the same thing.
I want to be able to point my P950 at the sky and have it stay put if I let go without having the head bounce back to level.
Looks like a fluid head with continuous counter balance adjustment is the way to go but it will be more expensive.
Really helpful. More to add to my shopping list. I hope this is the first of many videos to help me fill in some important gaps in my knowledge like the demo of the sandbags done by you on the lighting course. So I am now in the market for the best value counterbalance head and of course from ProAV.
I’ll let Liam know and he can send you some options Philip
Glad this video helped!
Carl
Thanks for the information! This is absolutely useful tips!
THANK YOU !
Great video and right to the point
I have a manfrotto nitrotech n8 once set i am enjoying it. Took a while to set because I did not have initial balance set.
Another excellent & informative video thank you
Thanks for your useful video. Cartoni tripods have the best balance system, I find.
Great advice .Received my first Fluid head tripod yesterday (Activ8/Flowtech 75)
Just got the FSB8+Flowtech 75 combo. Coming from the Manfrotto 502, I must say, it is so nice to have a proper counterbalanced fluid head. My C200 and blackmagic rigs are much happier haha.
Thank you for sharing! It made a huge difference for me.
Hi folks. After ProAV advice I bought the Manfrotto 438 for my C200 (both from ProAV). It's a mid range head but with variable counterbalance and is working nicely. Not too heavy for me to carry about. BobUK.
Recently bought the GH06 from you. The GH06 is impossible to balance due to the steps. I cannot use 0 and neither 1 (too much counterbalance) with my setup, so how much weight do one need for level 1?
You'd be surprised how few videos there are on this topic on TH-cam
Another great video with helpful advise. I have recently been wondering about my tripod spreader mechanism and how to use it best. Do you have a video on this? Thank You
Glad it helped. No video on spreaders specifically i'm afraid.
Spreaders are very simple though, they simply keep your legs the same distance apart as you move the tripod around. Ground spreaders are only really useful on flat surfaces like indoors. Mid spreaders are more practical for most situations. Most of them you can extend as well, which means when your legs are at their shortest length, you can get the camera slightly closer to the ground.
Carl
That's good Carl Thanks, By the way it was a hard depression to make but I went with the z90 Sony as opposed to the canon 405. Those videos were great too. Sony can thank you for that sale. Tom
By the way, what about cameras with moving lenses like my P950? when you zoom in or out the weight of the extending lens shifts forward and back, then I think the initial center of balance point you showed at 2:44 has changed and the counterbalance will not work correctly anymore. Is there a solution for that?
Would you recommend the likes of a Manfrotto 504 head for a Blackmagic USRSA Mini rig, or would the level of counterbalance in that kind of head be insufficient for such a payload?
what base plate do you have on that GH06? I need a plate for mine but I havent found anything that fits...
Very informative tutorial. Thanks, Carl. :)
Thanks for watching, we're glad it was useful.
Dan
Thanks for the video. For use with light cameras, which head has the lowest level of counterbalance, in other words will work well with the lightest cameras while still offering counterbalance? Thanks.
There’s lots of choice!
Have a look at the E-Image gh06 which I used in this video. Or maybe the Sachtler Ace XL
Carl
Cheers Mate !!!
I use a carbon fibre Kenro tripod for my GH5, but its been giving me issues alot. What do you recommend for a GH5, cage, Atomos Ninja V, XLR1 adaptor and Sigma 18-35mm lens? I need a smooth video head, but legs strong enough to hold all that.
I'd probably go for the E-Image GH06 like the one I use in this video: www.proav.co.uk/e-image-gh06-761at-aluminium-tripod-system
Carl
Great thanks for sharing.
What model Sony is that in thumbnail
That is the Z190
Carl
Oh, so this is called "Counterbalance".