Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Monopod is great! Quality at an altitude! Allows you to make a very smooth pan on a tripod, and in some cases replace sleyder. In a nutshell, the mobility of monopod and tripod, the picture quality.Quickly removable platform is identical to the Manfrotto 501 head. For me it is very convenient because I have a tripod with a head and now I can quickly swap the camera on a tripod with the monopod and back!

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

As a video professional I was looking for a support solution that was light and had a small footprint to use with my DSLR. I am very pleased with this monopod in both weight as well as durability. The only issue I had was a little "popping" that would come from the ball joint on the feet. After loosening the ball joint this monopod is just about perfect.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

WIth this monopod I'm able to move quickly, shoot from different heights and angles, and keep it steady all at the same time. It really is a game changer, and for run and gun b-roll, it's a must-have.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

This is a great tool. I almost gave it three starts but it's more like 3.5, because I would like to be able to lock the ball so I can occasionally leave the cam supported on the feet. I miss that about my old school metal "feet" Also if you work on the beach the sand will make the ball not smooth. The pan tilt works awesome! I replaced my old 503 head with the old screw on/off monopod with three rod feet. Heavy and awkward to assemble so I I bought this one. It will probably stay in my quiver since it lightened up my load by a substantial amount. As mentioned the only caveat is that you will never leave this on it's own with a cam on it. Even a small lens. I regularly leave a 5D with a 70-200 albeit collapsed balanced on the old one. Even in sand. SO…. if you shoot on the beach not so hot. Maybe the 701 head on an old style rod legs would work.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I primarily use this monopod to shoot video for weddings. It doesn't provide perfect stability, but it is a LOT better than a regular monopod, and is more flexible than a tripod. For run and gun situations where you need to be able to move around quickly, without a lot of setup and maintain stable shots - this product is a must have. The only reason I give it 4 out of 5 stars is because the tripod base is a little jerky and if not corrected, will "pop" in and out of place during your shots. You can actually hear the ball popping, not to mention see the bounce in the image occur. Before shoots, you have to either tighten or loosen the side screws. It's a problem - but it can be fixed! Highly recommended otherwise.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Borrowed a friends once and had to buy it afterwards!

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I love the MonoPod I have used on 2 commercial shoots with my Canon 7D and I love the ease of use and it's light wieght.
I am still getting used to it and I think I need to loosen the ball at the bottom.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I was using a regular Manfrotto monopod but this one really adds a new dimension. I can't imagine going back to the regular monopod after shooting video on a DSLR with this new improved device.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

We are professional shooters doing all 3-camera shoots (about 30 shoots per month) using Sony EX-1 and EX-3 cameras. We've bought several sets of these - new ones replacing old ones. We've used several brands but have settled on these as the camera shoes will also fit our Manfrotto tripod heads. Some have needed repairs (hence the replacements) to the arms and swivel base. Keep in mind that we use the heck out of these things and are always going from one location to another. My only real gripe is that they are a bit heavy. Overall, we will keep using these. And the adjustors work well without slipping (a common problem with others we have used).

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I say nothing special because I own the predecessor model. It works great as intended but creeps for certain movement.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

This is an amazing product. I use it for event videography all the time. Lots of weddings and concerts. HIGHLY recommend.

The one slight annoyance is the quick release switch comes up a little to close to the body of a DSLR camera. This can be fixed with an allen wrench though. Do this to save yourself some frustration.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

This is the second one we've bought. My wife had one and I was always trying to steal it off her.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Perfect for those wanting stability in shooting but mobility also for run-and-gun. This monopod allows you to create dynamic shots with tilting, panning, and custom movements with precise, yet smooth results. Very well made - expect to have it in my essential gear bag for years to come.

NOTE - Ball popping can sometimes be an issue but read you just need to add some bearing grease to fix.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I use this monopod for wedding and engagement videography. Along with my 5D mkII I've had no problems whatsoever. The monopod gives the versatility of handheld and the stability of a tripod. For any event videographers this item is a must.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Love it overall. I use it for video shoots. It's light weight enough to be able to pick it up and go while recording. You have to give it a few seconds after you record it to stabilize but it's flawless after that. Overall, a great buy.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Used this for the 1st time for a wedding I shot. I used this with my 7D w/ a battery grip and I was really impressed with the versatillity of this monopod..its goes pretty tall and very easy to adjust and maneuver around. Giving the various situations I was in and being that I was the only one shooting, I was able to move faster and quicker that I ever could vs using a regular tripod. There was a few issues with the ball joint in the feet which I think was my fault for tightening up the screws. It was a result in my failed attempt to have the camera free stand for static shots. Its something I will get use too and I'm not one of those really picky nerds, I'll manage!Anyways believe the hype, this monopod is forreal!

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Use it for covering events. Dramatically helps steady shots and is easy to move around with. Just be careful with the ball joint on the bottom, keep a hand on the monopod while the camera is on, can fall over if left unattended.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

AMAZING unit gives very smooth motion and is very stable. This version with the stripped down 701 head works beautifully. Frankly don't see a need to get a video head for my tripod now since I can't see advantage in more stability. Easy to use this with a foot on the back foot of monopod and the handle tucked under your arm pit allowing use of both hands to grasp and control the camera. I manually focus and zoom so this is a good thing. Like the inclusion of a bubble level too. Not light weight but reasonably inobtrusive footprint allows ease of setup in crowded environments.
On internet there is clear tutorials from pro videographers explaining techniques with this unit.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

I've never owned a monopod with feet until now. What a great idea! The feet on the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 are a solid starting point for this wonderful stabilization tool. Move up just an inch and you'll find the fluid pivot point. The entire monopod pivots 360 degrees from here which makes total sense as you'll almost definitely have at least one hand gripping the upper body of the monopod during filming. As you've already read, this monopod is very tall. Unless you're an NBA player, you'll find that 561BHDV-1 has a greater useful height than you do. I suppose if you're standing on a chair, the height can be fully expended. The fluid head at the top obviously doesn't rotate, but it does pivot up and down. It's a fine head and matches the quality of the rest of the monopod.

I also recommend checking out Stillmotion's more formal video review of monopod use during video, starring the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1. Just search for those keywords in your browser of choice. Happy shooting.

Comments about Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod W/Head:

Just getting back into photography again and since my station in life has changed a bit since my H.S. days, I thought it was time to invest in some quality gear. Initially, I wanted a modern crop-sensor cam that really excelled in video but also gave great stills results as well.

After my A77 purchase (mostly being used to film short films of my family), I desperately needed a way to stabilize my takes so I could pull focus with my rail mounted F.F..

After examining all the options including shoulder mount rigs, tripods and camera stabilizers, I came across a short film on Vimeo by Stillmotion highlighting the use of monopods as a versatile, portable, dynamic way of stabilizing the camera. The video featured the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 monopod. Later, I also found a video review by Caleb Pike on his "DSLR Video Shooter" website that featured the same monopod in a shootout comparison.

Seeing the price nearly had me opting for a cheaper model, but like the old saying goes, I didn't want to buy twice so I pulled the trigger on this and hoped that it was everything I had seen in the aforementioned reviews.

When the monopod came, I was *totally* impressed in both the build quality, ease of use, and super-silky motion afforded by the fluid head and fluid cartridge in the base. MUCH better than the friction based drag mechanism I had used to that point.

The monopod gives an impressive reach capability and is extremely stable with the feet deployed, but it's equally easy to use if you can't/don't want to use the feet although you do give up some stability.

The best part for me was the quick release attachement on the head. The plate and in turn your rig is solidly held in place. Cheaper tripods and monopods I've used in the past were pretty sloppy at the quick release. I can only attribute the solidity to the extremely quality materials used in this monopod. Additionally there is a stop screw and release catch to keep your camera from sliding off the end of the head...which obviously would $uck in ways stuff should not $uck.

On the negative side, the monopod is pretty heavy and when collapsed is marginally portable for a casual photographer. Additionally, I wish the head would accept a top mount rather than slide-in interface with the quick release plate.

In some ways I think the monopod is probably the most under-rated piece of gear in terms of camera stabilization; usually associated with sports photographers. However I've found a good monopod only makes the process MUCH more fun and relaxed for a wide variety of photography/videography.

Clearly, the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 represents an awesome value for "pro level" features and build quality...if you're looking for one and you can stretch into the price, don't even hesitate.