Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I film a lot of action sport and I needed a strong steady tripod that I can take everywhere with me and this is it! The head flows great the legs are great and easy to adjust. i defiantly recommend this to everyone. Great price and great product!

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I use this item for a video camera that ways approx. 6lbs. It seems to handle it no problem. This is a sturdy strong tripod, good height though not to high. It has lots of knobs to control the pan, and vertical movement as well. I also like the fact that it comes with a case which is great for carrying the tripod. I had a 509 and this is a lot stronger, sturdier etc. of course you pay more for it. On the negative side it is heavy to carry around even with the carrying case.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

best tripod for my new equipment !

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

It's easy to set up and is very sturdy. the arms are interchangable which is one reason I chose it. Has smooth movement. The travel bag is a great bonus

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

Easy to use. Light weight. Very good

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

The 501 is a great head for the price.
It is not a rugged, robust fluid head-- but that's not what you're paying for. You won't find the smoothest movements coming out of this head, but for light cameras and simple setup it is a great system.

I, for example, use it for DSLR video. It's lightweight, which is a major plus when using a skeleton crew.

The sticks in this kit, however, are less desirable. Again, they are super light. That is a plus. But why the locks are positioned at the bottom as opposed to the top I do not know. This makes it very awkward to adjust the height.
Still, for the price they are a sound investment providing you won't need to support a heavy rig.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I shoot with the SONY EX3 and was looking for an affordable, solid and LIGHT tripod to bring when I occasionally have to work alone and can't carry a lot.

This tripod serves that purpose although it is surprisingly bulky when folded. It is lighter than others in its price range/unfolded size, no question, it has a good footing and the adjustment knobs aren't super cheap (which you might perhaps expect) but the compactness is something that bothers me. But I know that it is impossible to find something light/smooth/compact for this price so this tripod definitely gets my recommendation. It is pretty stable when you consider its weight and price and at the end of the day, that's what counts.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

The 501HDV head is nice. Smooth tilts/pans and the quick-release plate is a nice design.

The 547BK sticks are solid and easy to adjust. The verdict is still out on whether or not they'll be tall enough for event production, but I should have done a little more research beforehand I suppose. Fully extended it's the perfect height for me (I'm 6'4") but I wish I had another 6-8 inches.

The case that comes with the system is top-notch and looks awesome. I really like the look of the whole system, actually, and love the red accents.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

ITs a great tripod for the price, but you realy get for what you paid.

Is better to have a fluid tripod.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

This tripod was easy to understand, quick to set up and the carry bag was well designed. They thought of everything in this product, so you do not have to.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

The 501 HGV manfrotto head is great but the 547BK tripod system is not an ideal set of sticks. They are awkward and time consuming to adjust. On the plus side they have a fabulous case and are light and easy to carry around. Together a good value for the money.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

The head required more pressure than I would have liked to move in certain complicated movements but for the price you can't beat it. Rock Solid but by not means compact.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

Small but sturdy, very fluid head

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

Great buy for the price. I have worked with other more expensive tripods and this one does pretty good for what it is. I am a HD Video Shooter for an advertising department and it suites my needs great! Only con would be the fact that it's aluminum and not carbon fiber like my other tripod. The carbon fiber is much more expensive, but much more sturdy.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

Picked this up at a very good price here, my first order from B&H. I wanted a sturdier tripod with a bowl level since my last one was a Manfrotto 3221 Wilderness tripod and it was a pain to level.

The 501HDV fluid head is pretty great and it looks and feels very sturdy. There are lots of easy to use controls--pan lock, pan drag, tilt lock, tilt drag, and a balance system button that keeps the tilt angle in place without locking it. The balance system is cool, but it doesn't support the weight of my Panasonic GH2, indieSQUARE cage, Rode Videomic Pro, and Zoom H4n all piled on top of it.

The 547BK tripod feels cheap, shakey, and it's only a two stager without a center column, so don't expect to be able to do high-angle shots with it. I miss the reversible center column from my 3221 wilderness tripod which could be used for macro work--especially now that I have a macro lens. The spreader feels useless.

The bag it all came with looks and feels high quality and is certainly convenient, but the tripod and head don't fit very good. The top zipper of the bag has trouble fitting the 501HDV head and at times the zipper feels like it may break.

All in all, this is a pro looking and sturdy enough package for the newbie. For my level of work and weight load I think I should have gotten the next package up, though. This will just have to work for now.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I picked up 2 of these systems for a 7D and T2i. They're fantastic. They're nice and fluid, and even though light, they're sturdy. It's a lot easier carrying these things around than some of the bigger ones I use. I would recommend these to anyone.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I bought this tripod to shoot movies with my panasonic GH1. Light enough to carry around and easy to set up. Unfortunately, the mid-level spreader is not sturdy and not stable.

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

short films,music videos,documentary

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

I just wish it came with two arms... i had to get one seperate

Comments about Manfrotto 501HDV, 547BK Video Tripod System Kit:

this head and stix combination works fairly well.

For the price, the fluidity of panning and tilting
Is reasonably good. Tripod has lots of plastic parts
At this price points, so it could become a casualty someday
If one of the leg extension latches ever gets
compromised.

Tripod bag is pretty nice, protects fairly well
on an airplane flight.