Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

I purchased the Manfrotto 504HD head as an upgrade from the 501HD since it wasn't cutting it in terms of fluidity. The 504HD should've been, at least, the first head to start out with especially when shooting with DSLR setups. The fluid movements in both pan and tilt are smooth throughout the movement from start to stop - no jerking or sticking at all.

Other features that come handy are: Counter balance knob to keep your camera from drooping down vertically on either end when letting go of the pan/tilt arm (engage it by tilting back and forth first), drag knobs on both the tilt and pan to decrease or increase force, illuminated bubble level, and the looks of the head itself project a professional appearance. I also like that it comes with a 75mm bowl which fits my 535 carbon fiber sticks!

The only "cons" I can think of is the adjustable drag on both tilt and pan. It should provide a bit more pressure since I have it set to maximum all the time and still feel that it should be more, but that's my preference.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

The Manfrotto 504HD is a great day to day tripod head. With it's fluid design it works great. I primarily use Canon DSLRs and this tripod is the perfect size for them.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Great head...first one to feel pro

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Great movement, sturdy and strong. Accommodates my camera (HPX170) nicely, and brings a level of professionalism and poise to all my shots.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

One of the best heads out there. I have absolutely no complaints. This beast is smooth as Christmas. You can go light with a DSLR or toss a monster on here and it will be perfect. Truly an unbelievable head. Like total butter! Very professional, very beautiful.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Using the head with the MVB525 legs, and a built up AG-AF100 setup. Holds the weight of the camera package and pans and tilts smoothly. Great upgrade from the 501HDV head. It just couldn't hold the payload.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

This is a wonderful head. I have used a cheap head a tripod for a while ($300 range). I could get pans and tilts with a little work but if I wasn't ready and had to move a little fast to follow something - oh it was ugly. This head is a dream. I set it up to balance my camera perfect. I can set up the drag of the pan and tilt to my needs and if something moves unexpectedly I still pan and tilt smoothly.
When I get my monitor it has a threaded hole to attach it. Like a said this is a great head!

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

I think this is a great fluid tripod head and especially for the price. Definitely a step up from the 503HDV. It's definitely more fluid, balances better, and is much easier to adjust. Although it has a longer plate, it also works with the 501pl that works with the 701HDV, 501, & 503HDV. I wasn't impressed with the new legs that come with the standard kit, so I'm just using it with the legs in my 503hdv kit.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

this has to be the best fluid head i have ever owned. with the tension knobs you can adjust the speed of the pan and tilt functions that this tripod will execute. the long quick release plate is also a plus it helps balance your system better and is versatile for new gear as well i would recommend this fluid head before any other brand its like having an O'Connor head without the O'Connor price. hope that helps.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Great Smooth Movement

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

I just got the 504HD head and it only took about five minutes to review: A high quality, professional FLUID head. I originally purchased the 501HDV which was totally inadequate (it actually is NOT a fluid head but a graphite friction head, impossible to get smooth pans or tilts, especially on telephoto)I admit I have high expectations. My previous tripod/head was a Sachtler Caddy used with Sony DXC D30/PVV3 Betacam. The 504HD gives me what I need with the new camera, Sony HXR-NX5U. smooth, adjustable settings. No bounce-back at the end of move, just smooth-period. The LED bubble is great (no more flashlight mouth). Bottom line: well worth the additional [$] more than 501HDV. No comparison in functionality. The 546B tripod with off-ground spreader is another winner from Manfrotto and has similar function to the Sachtler Caddy I previously used.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

The 504 is a great, affordable head. I use it with my xha1. More than adequate for a camera that weight. You could easily go heavier. Movement is fluid and easily adjustable. No jerk at start up. Love the light on the level bubble.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

I bought this head to use when recording video with my Canon 5D2 or 1D4 and a variety of long, heavy lenses, ranging from the 70-300 DO, the 28-300, the 100-400, the 300 f/2.8, and even the 600 f/4. So far, I am very impressed by the smoothness of the pans, and even simultaneous pan and tilt movements.

When I bought it, I didn't pay sufficient attention to the product details, and I didn't notice that it was for use with a 75mm bowl adapter, as the B&H picture could very well be attached to a flat tripod plate. Fortunately, I had a Gitzo bowl adapter that fits both my Series IV and Series V carbon-fiber tripods, so I could put it to use immediately. However, I normally use a flat plate tripod adapter, and all of my tripods and heads are equipped with a Manfrotto 394 quick release plate, for easy interchangeability. That obviously wasn't going to work with the bowl attachment, so I promptly ordered the Manfrotto 325 flat plate adapter, so I could use the 504HD on top of my Gitzo crank center column.

Major disappointment!

The 3/8" attachment screw on the 504HD is unnecessarily long, and won't fit the Manfrotto-recommended 325 adapter! I sent off a e-mail query to Manfrotto, but after three days with no response, I gave up, and used a metal saw to cut off 7/8" of the long screw. I took care to thread a 3/8" nut on first, so that when I removed it, it would smooth out any problems with the threads. The saw cut is a little uneven, and I may take a grinder to bevel the end a little better, but NOW IT WORKS, both with the 325 adapter and with the Gitzo bowl adapter and the original threaded handle.

There is a slight amount of adjustment play with the 325 -- not nearly as much as with a bowl adapter, but enough to allow a minor adjustment in leveling, using the very convenient lighted bubble level on the 504HD.

For those long lenses that have their own lens foot, I use a Wimberley Arco-Swiss adapter that is mounted to a Manfrotto 394, which is in turn mounted to the long 504PLONG lens mounting plate. Between the Arca-Swiss plate and the 504PLONG, I can mount almost any lens and get it to balance reasonably well.

For shorter lenses, I have mounted another Manfrotto 394 lens plate to the Zacuto Gorilla plate that I mounted to both cameras, for use with their Z-finder.

Finally, I have mounted a 5" Manfrotto Mini-Hydrostatic Arm to the 3/8" threaded socket on the right side of the 504HD, and screwed my Zoom H4N 4-channel audio recorder onto it, so that it is readily visible. I'm probably going to order the longer 7" Manfrotto Hydro-Static arm and use it to mount my LitePanels LED light on the left side of the tripod head.

These additional sockets are great, because they free up the camera's flash socket for my Rode shotgun mike, which is equipped with a "Dead-Cat" windscreen. And because of the great illuminated bubble level, I normally don't need my three-way bubble level (except for those lenses with rotating tripod collars).

If it weren't for the absurdly long attachment screw and the unfathomable incompatibility with the Manfrotto 325 bowl adapter, and the lack of response from Manfrotto, I would have given the 504HD five stars. But after the required surgery, I'm really very pleased with it.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

If you can spend a few extra dollars and don't need to support as much weight I'd probably go with the Vinten Blue series. If this is not the case, this is by far the fluid head in it's class for the money. The only thing I don't like is that I wish you could add even a bit more tension on both the x and y axis for even smoother tilt's and pans. I really do love this tripod head though.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

As a wildlife filmmaker for over 20 years I have used a wide variety of tripods and heads. Some costing 3-5 times the 504HD. So far I am very pleased with this head. Besides being very smooth the illuminated level already saved me while shooting at night in the field.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

I use this head with a Canon 7d on a full rails setup. I first found this at BH when asking an employee for a head that has a locking mechanism that does not get blocked by the body of the camera like it does on my 503. He showed me how to adjust the mechanism on most heads to tighten at the correct angle so the camera is not hit, and also showed me ones that would not need this adjustment.

Anyway, I think the head is perfect for this size camera and setup. The counterbalance system is pretty good, although when the camera is REALLY front heavy it is not going to stop it from falling forward so beware. Pan and tilts are much smoother than my 503 and the overall look is very appealing.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

The 504HD is amazingly smooth and the counterbalance system works great. It is bigger than it looks in the pictures but it is one solid head. I put mine on a Gitzo GT3541LS tripod. In order to do this you will need the GS5320V75 75mm Bowl Adapter to mate the Video head to the tripod. This combo works great. This bowl adapter takes the place of the flat plate (GS3320SP Systematic Flat Plate) that comes with the GT3541LS. The alternate model tripod GT3541LSV comes already equipped with the 75mm bowl adapter instead of the flat plate. Personally I use both setups, the flat plate adapter for my photo ball head and the bowl adapter for the 504HD for video. You can switch them out by loosening one screw on the tripod. Just make sure you tighten it back down securely. I was a little disappointed in the B&H technical support when I called to make sure these were the correct parts that I needed to use with my tripod. When I told him the tripod I had, he told me the 504HD would not work with the GT3541LS period. After I pointed out the fact that the bowl adapter was sold separately and asked why would this not work, he said oh well maybe it will ??? Trust me this is what you need if you want to use the 504HD with a Gitzo that comes with the flat plate. Alternately you can by the two as a combo until here at B&H. Look for the 504HD Video Fluid Head w/ Gitzo GT3531LSV Carbon Fiber Tripod combo.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Much more control over my camera movement.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

A very nice upgrade from the 503. The wider platform supports full rails with accessories better than many other models. The action is smooth and the weight not bad at all.

Comments about Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Video Head:

Very nice tripod, but they could use some better quality control. The tilt tensioner was not working properly, making loud clicking noises when tilted and not causing any variation in the tension when adjusted. I popped the cap off the tensioner and backed off of an aircraft nut about a quarter turn and it worked properly. I am a little surprise they let something out of the factory like this.
The tripod itself has some nice features at this price point. I use it with my Canon 5D Mark II for shooting video. I especially like the ability to use a magic arm on each side of the head to support a monitor and Zoom H4n. This pretty much negates the need for a cage, and lets you quickly remove the camera to shoot from a shoulder rig (with the help of a quick connect) or shoot is as a still camera. I will be interested to see how durable it is and how the fluid cartridges hold up.