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Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head

BH #GIGHF2W • MFR #GHF2W
32 reviews
Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head
Key Features
  • Load Capacity: 13.2 lb
  • Height: 2.2"
  • Weight: 1.3 lb
  • Arca-Type Compatible
The 1.3 lb Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head is ideal for bird photography, digiscoping, and video, and because of its built-in fluid cartridges, it provides a very smooth 360° pan and lateral tilt of -60°/+90°. The spring-loaded counter balance system maintains balance with a fixed drag, but tension can be dialed-in for more resistance. The head can support cameras and spotting scopes that weight up to 13.2 lb, and each axis locks down with its own independent locking knob. The 2.2" tall head is Arca-type compatible, and it includes a rubberized quick release plate with a standard 1/4"-20 male thread and a removable panning bar.
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Gitzo GH Series Video Head Overview

The 1.3 lb Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head is ideal for bird photography, digiscoping, and video, and because of its built-in fluid cartridges, it provides a very smooth 360° pan and lateral tilt of -60°/+90°. The spring-loaded counter balance system maintains balance with a fixed drag, but tension can be dialed-in for more resistance. The head can support cameras and spotting scopes that weight up to 13.2 lb, and each axis locks down with its own independent locking knob. The 2.2" tall head is Arca-type compatible, and it includes a rubberized quick release plate with a standard 1/4"-20 male thread and a removable panning bar.

UPC: 719821436874

Gitzo GH Series Video Head Specs

General
Head TypeFluid Head
Base Mount3/8"-16 Female
Camera Mounting Screw1/4"-20 Male
Quick Release Plate TypeArca-Type
Load Capacity13.2 lb / 6 kg
Number of Bubble LevelsNone
Friction ControlYes
Independent Pan LockYes
MaterialAluminum, Magnesium
Pan & Tilt Range
Lateral Tilt-60° to +90°
Panning Range360°
Physical
Base Diameter2.4" / 6.10 cm
DimensionsH: 2.2" / H: 5.6 cm
Weight1.3 lb / 590 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight2.295 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)13.9 x 5.8 x 3.8"

Gitzo GH Series Video Head Reviews

Good for birding scope, not perfect for photo / video

By Dennis
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-12

This head works fine with heavy scopes like the Kowa 883 (I have one) -- contrary to the last review. When you mount the scope the first time you might have to move the plate a few millimeters forward or back to initially balance the setup -- this is standard for any head / device connection! Cons: - It doesn't truly lock fully solid, but is good enough for birding, and even long exposure photos, if you are able to not jerk the camera between aligning the shot and triggering it. - The pan and tilt is not that fluid, esp. for video. Example: when you pan from point 1 to point 2, you have to 'overpan' slightly and then the scope will 'bounce back' a degree or two (unless there is no tension on the pan, but isn't that the point of a fluid head?). This is acceptable for scoping but bad for video. A major pet peeve of my own: - Without an adapter, this head eventually unloosens itself from my pricey carbon fiber Gitzo traveler tripod because the the bottom plate of the head, top plate of the tripod, and the carbon fiber neck on which the top plate rests are not constructed/machined to maintain tension with one another. This is a horrible experience that should have been found during testing. I solved it through the addition of a quick release plate + arca adapter, but this pricy workaround should NOT have been necessary. It's certainly not necessary with my other non Gitzo tripod. Well, at least it makes the tripod head faster to remove. I still suspect it's the best birding scope head at this price point.

Not Impressed

By Philip
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2021-10-26

Yes the action is smooth, but getting the scope to lock down in place without its moving is difficult. You really have to twist the lock to get it to stay. To me, this is so unwieldy that it renders the head undesirable.

Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head perfect for spotting scope

By Lisbeth
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-10-19

I recently purchased a Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head for my spotting scope. It is well-made, fairly lightweight at 1.3 lbs, and works perfectly with my Manfrotto 190 carbon fiber tripod.

Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head

By Gordon
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-06-27

I've been using this with the Gitzo Traveler Series 1. Light and I'm able to do smooth pans up to about 70mm. My video rig is less about 4 lbs.

Just like others have said - It doesn't lock!

By Devin
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2021-05-30

It looks nice and is lightweight, but as others before me have said, it will not lock. I have throw-away fluid heads that will lock up without effort, but no matter how hard you tighten this up, there's no locking. For me, it was especially bad on the vertical axis.

Nice but

By Peter
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-05-04

Well made, I find the pan is nice and smooth, the tilt isn't as smooth I need to do more testing. I have been using it with a Canon 5D III and 24-70 v II 2.8. It could be that I didn't balance the weight properly, will revisit again.

Use with larger spotting scope for birding

By Thane
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-24

I bought several video and pan/tilt heads for use with the Kowa TSN-883 spotting scope for birding. This one had a few major issues that made it not practical for birding. The plus side is the quality was very high, so if using for video or a smaller spotting scope it might be a good option. But with the larger scope, it wasn't able to balance correctly so the scope wanted to tip backwards all the time, even if I slid the ARCA plate all the way forward. The tilt control feature was not enough to overcome the weight either. The other issue is that I thought there was supposed to be a single knob to lock pan and tilt at the same time, but it was two knobs located on the left side. The knobs were a good size though and easy to operate. I do think that the scope tended to drop a little though after I locked the tilt. I ended up going with the Sirui VA-5 instead, which eliminated all of the issues except it does still have separate lock knobs for pan and tilt. Other good options were the SmallRig lightweight video fluid head (smaller size but not as good quality as Sirui), and manfrotto 128RC (similar issues as Gitzo and no ARCA plate, but the knobs locked tighter).

At very low pan speeds, a bit jerky

By Linus
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-05-16

I really wanted to like this product; it's very well built, seems sturdy and of high quality, it's pretty lightweight, and it fits without the connecting plate to my Swarovski scope. I also like the angle marker at the bottom. However, if I pan really slowly, which I do a lot when birdwatching, there is a slight jerk, so it moves not entirely smoothly but in small discrete increments. This makes it hard to follow birds flying. Panning vertically is much worse. I'm keeping it for now but if it doesn't get better I'll have to return it.

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Will this head fit the Gitzo Traveler GT1545TUS ...

Will this head fit the Gitzo Traveler GT1545TUS that I bought from you?
Asked by: Richard
Yes. That is correct! You would be able to mount The Gitzo 2-Way Fluid Head, onto The Gitzo GIGT1545T, Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod. You may want to add a leveler in between. See below. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/431861-REG/Acratech_1117_Leveling_Base.html
Answered by: Craig
Date published: 2020-03-27

How wide is the head from pan knob to handle lock ...

How wide is the head from pan knob to handle lock knob?
Asked by: Kevin
6 inches
Answered by: jabarih
Date published: 2021-11-09

Will this work/fit on a Gitzo GIGT0545T Traveler ...

Will this work/fit on a Gitzo GIGT0545T Traveler Series 0 tripod?
Asked by: David
Yes. The head takes either 1/4" or 3/8" mounting screws, the the two standard sizes used by most quality tripod makers, and the tripod specs say it uses either size, as, I think, does every Gitzo tripod or head I have ever tried, either larger or smaller than the Series 0.) My 2-way head came with an adapter between the two sizes, but they are also readily available, if you need one, at almost any good photo or hardware store.
Answered by: James F
Date published: 2020-12-01

Would it be possible to "perfectly" balance a 80D ...

Would it be possible to "perfectly" balance a 80D with EF 50mm f1.4 so that I can point the camera at any direction, at any tilt angle and the camera would stay absolutely "stationary" at the pointed direction?
Asked by: W
Yes the 80D with the EF 50 f/1.4 can easily be balanced on this fluid head.
Answered by: Marcell Makher
Date published: 2020-10-28

Will this head fit on Peak Design Tripod? Thanks ...

Will this head fit on Peak Design Tripod? Thanks in advance.
Asked by: Jason
I'm puzzled by the previous answer because Peak Design offers the Universal Head Adapter, which it appears would work. Can @hectorm confirm?
Answered by: Michael
Date published: 2023-01-02

Will this fit on a Gitzo 2545T tripod and will it ...

Will this fit on a Gitzo 2545T tripod and will it be able to hold a Leica Televid spotting scope with digiscope and SL2 camera?
Asked by: Liz
Yes, the Gitzo 2545T tripod and the fluid head will hold your setup with ease.
Answered by: Nicholas
Date published: 2021-04-07

Does that fit on the Traveler GT545T?

Does that fit on the Traveler GT545T?
Asked by: Pascal
Yes it does. You will be able to put this head on a tripod like B&H # GIGT0545TUS. https://bhpho.to/2ti0hEM
Answered by: Joseph
Date published: 2019-04-18

Do I need a different plate for the Swarovski ATX ...

Do I need a different plate for the Swarovski ATX 95mm?
Asked by: Ashley
I do not know what type of plate the Swarovski ATX 95mm has. From a brief search, It appears the mounting foot on that Swarovski is an Arca Swiss style mounting foot/plate. PLEASE do not take my word on this and verify personally before making any purchase decision.I have an older Leica spotting scope with an Arca Swiss type adapter plate which was required to mount on my non-video/fluid ball head. The Arca Swiss style plate mounted easily on the Gitzo 2-way fluid head without any additional adaptation required. I can tell you that the functionality of the fluid video style head is far superior to any standard ball or tilt/pan type tripod head.
Answered by: Jeffrey
Date published: 2020-10-17
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