Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

The tripod foot of this monopod is a brilliant design, but unfortunately it sits beneath a typical, cheap, aluminum monopod with plastic leg locks that slip with the least amount of pressure and are not adjustable or able to be tightened up.
If you are interested in the mini-tripod foot (and it is a brilliant design for shooting video), look at the the 561 model....yes, that one is way too heavy but the leg will at least lock.
That Manfrotto isn't offering this mini-tripod foot in a really strong, lightweight monopod in their Gitzo line is a shame, but this 560B-1 model, even for lightweight rigs like a Sony NEX 5, just slips with the least amount of pressure.
Great idea, poor execution.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

This is a great monopod: the feet (which fold up when not needed) provide a firm base and the built in fluid base is great for smooth panning. However, you can't do any tilt moves without a fluid head with a handle. The head that comes with the monopod isn't much to speak of and you can't create a smooth tilt with it.

I bought this because I already own the Manfrotto 701HDV Fluid video head, and because I was looking for a monopod that was slightly smaller than the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1. If I didn't already have a fluid video head, I would have bought the 561BHDV.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I bought this monopod as a replacement for a cheap tripod that I had been using. Both the pan and tilt worked perfectly out of the box when I first tried it. However, after about an hour, the tilt head developed a problem with sticking. This problem seemed to be more pronounced on carpeted floors.
I attempted to correct the problem by loosening the ball joint with an allen wrench, but once I had loosened it enough for the tilt to work properly, the monopod panned at the ball joint instead of the fluid joint.

Solution: Silicone spray.
I added a small amount of silicone spray to the ball joint, which smoothed up the tilt just enough without causing it to pan at the wrong joint.

So after some tweaking, this monopod works great, and is ideal for situations where a tripod is impractical.

Note: If your pan is stiff, I would NOT recommend adding silicone spray to the fluid head joint, as it is the wrong lubricant to use for that sort of joint.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

well,i am using this monopod with a canon xl-2. i am using it for wedding records and i am so satisfied from the result. you can just stand as you r using a tripod and just move as it is a monopod.fluid-head so atractive.170cm height is good.and so strong , it s manfrotto so..i can not say sth as "not good" but andything can be better and ia m waiting a better one from manfrotto. :)

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

This monopod had helped me enormously in getting stable video shots with my GH1. The only gripe I have is that when you move the stick forward/backward or to the sides with it placed on the ground it can stick and make jerky movements. The panning works very well.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

Is megatastic a word? Well it is a fantastic little monopod that is lightweight, easy to use and helpful in production. I just purchased it and used it with a lightweight Sony video camera. I like the small tripod legs that fold and the small footprint makes it a huge plus in tight areas.

I would not put my betacam on it but then again, I don't use my betacam anymore! I will be trying it out with my SLR this week and overall I absolutely love this tripod and recommend that you should have one of these great tools in your tool box, and you can get it from B & H Photo.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

Although I've been using Manfrotto equipment for quite a while, my first two items I bought from this brand are something I didn't expect them to be.In this case, the monopod worked well for the first 4 hours of use, but then it got to a point where the fluid head was behaving like a cheap $30 bucks tripod.Everything else is OK. Well built, good grip, nice rotating head and strong clamps, but just what it has to do OK, it, just, don't. [...]

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I purchased this monopod to use for property videos as a Realtor. I wanted a product that would allow me to have steady filming while at the same time to be easily portable since what I do is move quickly between locations, rooms and terrains. A tripod would be too cumbersome to fold/unfold through doorways/stairs, etc.
I am very impressed with the quality of this unit. It is solid and well engineered. The handles and latches work perfectly. Very easy to expand and close and has a great quick release mechanism for both video and SLR cameras. In it's compact mode I use it to steady the video while moving through houses.
Although the price is a little higher than other monopods I'm sure anyone would agree that the quality in this unit will last for years.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I purchased this monopod due to extra legs which added some stability. Also the weight is just right, it's light and compact. I really like using the fluid head to take pictures, it helps me move the camera on the fly and keeps the base solid due to the extra feet. My 7D with a 17-55 and battery grip felt to be a bit much on the monopod. When I shot without the grip, the monopod was much more stable. Great monopod all around, stable, light and compact.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

Use the Monopod for weddings.. The foldable feet make it very stable and the fluid head is very smooth. A lot easier than carrying around a tripod. Highly
Recommend!!

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I use this to shoot video on a Canon 7D for concert and interview. It's lightweight, stable and easy to set up.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

The surprising versatility of the 560B-1 makes it a compliment to any kit. I originally purchased one as a flash mount but have found so many other uses that I've now purchased a second.

I frequently use the 560B-1 as a mount for a "GoPRO HD" utilizing the GoPRO tripod adapter. The 560B-1 is a great monopod but it's true value is at its base. The 560 can 'stand' thanks to three small feet that quickly and easily fold out of the way without needing to screw the feet on or off as with some other models.

The fluid ballhead is extremely basic but still workable.

What it isn't: This is not a tripod replacement and you will never achieve the 'look' of a high quality fluid head.

What it is: An extremely light and very mobile monopod that can stand on its own, with a flash, a small camera, or a GoPRO.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

This monopod is pretty nice, but I was expecting it to be a bit sturdier like the Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head - for video work this is a much better option than the thinner 560B-1.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I am using the monopod for off camera flash. It is lightweight and compact and saves me from lugging around heavy and cumbersome light stands.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I tried this out for some video on my my D7000. Works great! The ball head is smooth and does not stick. The unit is light and easy to fold up or extend. I really like the quick release on it also. The fold out legs are just large enough to give me more stability for shots or video panning stability.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

This is a gift for my wife who found that a tripod is too inconvenient and a simple monopod too shaky (yes, she's picky). I think this makes her really happy now.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

I use this for video and stills. On the plus side, for small-footed monopods, this one is steady, light weight and inexpensive. There does seem to be something strange with the fluid ball at the base, but I have not tried to oil it yet. It kind of clicks sometimes when I lean it far over. I generally would use the larger Manfrotto monopod for more extreme maneuvers for video work, but this one is cheap, and 3 lbs lighter. For stabilizing basic video shots and stills, this is great.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

This is a great monopod for the price. It swivels well, holds steady, has great little legs to steady it, and mounts a small camera very well. However, the bottom swivel doesnt seem to lock off for holding a camera completely steady. There seems to be no mechanism to completely lock off the swivel at the bottom... hmmmm, design flaw?

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

If you buy this I highly recommend changing the head to something else or if you want to use this for video, buy the version that comes bundled with a video head. I bought this to use for video with the intention of buying the video head later so I didn't have to spend so much at once. Strong enough build, opens and collapses quickly. Very versatile. I read the reviews that said I should oil the ball joint of the feet before use because it was too stiff. I tried it out at home before using and thought it was fine. But trust me, even if it feels fine out of the box, make sure you oil the ball joint anyway because a few hours into the job I was noticing that it was sticking on me.

OIL BEFORE USE.

Comments about Manfrotto 560B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head and Quick Release:

easy to use but not safe to let it stand by it self..