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Manfrotto 612 Nitrotech Fluid Video Head

BH #MAMVH612AHUS • MFR #MVH612AHUS
 86 reviews
Manfrotto 612 Nitrotech Fluid Video Head
Key Features
  • Flat Base with 3/8"-16 Mounting Thread
  • Use with Tripods, Sliders, Jibs & More
  • Nitrogen Piston Counterbalance Mechanism
  • 8.8 to 39.7 lb Continuous Counterbalance
The Manfrotto 612 Nitrotech is a flat base fluid video head designed for the versatility needs of the independent content creator who's engaged in different types of projects. Thanks to its flat base with a 3/8"-16 mounting thread, as well as its relatively compact and lightweight design, the head can easily be moved between a compatible tripod and a slider, jib, monopod, and various other gear. One of the key features of the 612 Nitrotech is its Nitrogen gas piston counterbalance mechanism (hence, Nitrotech), which allows continuous counterbalance adjustment—as opposed to stepped or fixed—for the head's full payload range of 8.8 to 39.7 lb. Additionally, an upgraded fluid technology significantly improves continuously variable drag performance and enables smooth and judder-free pan and tilt movements.
In Stock
$799.00
$67/mo. suggested payments for 12 Mos.
with the credit card.§ 
or Save the Tax with the credit card.‡ 
Protect Your Gear
Add a protection plan from $54.99
Used from$478.95
Payload
0 - 17.6 lb
8.8 - 26.4 lb
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Manfrotto Nitrotech Series Video Head Overview

The Manfrotto 612 Nitrotech is a flat base fluid video head designed for the versatility needs of the independent content creator who's engaged in different types of projects. Thanks to its flat base with a 3/8"-16 mounting thread, as well as its relatively compact and lightweight design, the head can easily be moved between a compatible tripod and a slider, jib, monopod, and various other gear. One of the key features of the 612 Nitrotech is its Nitrogen gas piston counterbalance mechanism (hence, Nitrotech), which allows continuous counterbalance adjustment—as opposed to stepped or fixed—for the head's full payload range of 8.8 to 39.7 lb. Additionally, an upgraded fluid technology significantly improves continuously variable drag performance and enables smooth and judder-free pan and tilt movements.

Providing further flexibility, the head's camera plate system features a side-lock mechanism that allows for quicker and safer mounting of your camera plate and camera load. Instead of having to align and slide in your camera plate from the rear, you're able to conveniently tuck in one side of the plate from the top and then push and click on the other side.

The 612 Nitrotech offers two rosette mounts for attaching the included pan bar on either the left or right side. These rosettes also feature Manfrotto's Easy Link system for mounting accessories via an articulating arm. Each rosette has a 3/8"-16 port in the center and both Manfrotto and ARRI anti-rotation slots surrounding the mounting port. The Easy Link system is designed to support Manfrotto articulating arms equipped with anti-rotation pins or those with ARRI locating pins to prevent twisting. At the same time, standard articulating arms can also be attached.

Other features of the 612 Nitrotech include improved resistance to lower operating temperatures in comparison to previous Nitrotech models and improved ergonomics and materials used for the different knobs.

Key Features
  • Flat base with 3/8"-16 mounting thread allowing for use on tripods, sliders, jibs, monopods, and other support gear
  • Nitrogen gas piston counterbalance mechanism allows for continuous counterbalance adjustment for the full payload range of 8.8 to 39.7 lb
  • Upgraded fluid technology enabling smooth and judder-free pan and tilt movements via continuously variable drag performance
  • Easier, safer side-lock camera plate mechanism
  • Two rosette mounts with a 3/8"-16 port and Manfrotto and ARRI anti-rotation slots for attaching the included pan bar and a standard or anti-twist articulating arm
  • 5.9" height
UPC: 719821443087

Manfrotto Nitrotech Series Video Head Specs

Key Specs
Camera Plate Features
Quick Release
Camera Plate Type
504PLONG
Camera Mounting Screw
1 x 1/4"-20 Male with Locating Pin
Base Mount
Flat Base
Counter Balance
Continuous (8.8 to 26.4 lb / 3.99 to 11.97 kg)
Drag Type
Fluid
Load Capacity
8.8 to 39.7 lb / 4 to 18 kg
Camera Plate
Camera Plate Features
Quick Release
Camera Plate Type
504PLONG
Camera Mounting Screw
1 x 1/4"-20 Male with Locating Pin
Head
Base Mount
Flat Base
Counter Balance
Continuous (8.8 to 26.4 lb / 3.99 to 11.97 kg)
Pan Handle Fittings
2 x Rosette
Bubble Level
1 x Illuminated
Accessory Mounting
2 x 3/8"-16 Female Thread
Pan & Tilt
Drag Control
Pan: Continuous
Tilt: Continuous
Drag Type
Fluid
Vertical Tilt
+90° to -70°
Panning Range
360°
Independent Pan Lock
Yes
Independent Tilt Lock
Yes
General
Load Capacity
8.8 to 39.7 lb / 4 to 18 kg
Operating Temperature
-4 to 122°F / -20 to 50°C
Weight
5 lb / 2.27 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
6.5 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
30 x 20 x 9"

Manfrotto Nitrotech Series Video Head Reviews

Works great with Red Komodo

By Craig
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-09-18

I bought this for use with a Red Komodo and it balances fine. No issues, very smooth, seems well built

Buy something better

By Andrew
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2023-02-04

So disappointed that I didn't return it earlier... after using it it became frustrating on several fronts. The quick release mechanism is finicky at best... you can't get enough tension on the counterbalance...even for a lighter camera... I ended up using the brake ...and you know how that works... totally inferior product for the price paid.

Amazing pro level video head

By Gleb
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-11-05

I've used this in some colder environments with great results. Going to be testing it out in some sub-zero environments in the mountains this winter, and I'm sure it'll work well there, as well.

Big Step Up from 502AH

By Robert
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-05-20

Good feature set. Smooth pans and tilts. Easy to set up.

OK Fluidhead, with some potential major flaws

By MATTHEW
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-05-08

I bought this fluid-head in 2021, to try and improve my wildlife videos/panning, so it was not as shaky/jittery as my gimbal had been. The fluid motion on the pan/tilt on this head is pretty good. Overall it works as I expected, in that regard. The included handle you can take off, is also decent, and I use that often. Although a pretty big oversight IMO, is that if you don't to use the handle, or depending how it's setup, you are left with exposed grooves where handle meshes into. Which, when I went to grab my tripod a few times, I almost cut my hand pretty bad, with how it is designed/machined. I ended up having to take a spare tripod nub/foot I had, and some foam and I screwed it into there/tried to cover it up, so I don't slice myself open in the field at some point. However the really big flaws with this head, is if you are moving around alot/carrying a big telephoto lens/over your shoulder. Even if I tighten down the pan/tilt knobs as far/hard as they will go, I've had my lens break loose over my shoulder and either start flipping backwards/upwards behind my head, or many times it's also broken loose on the pan knob, and sorta swung my lens and hit me in the head! For the price of this thing, that's pretty bad, unless this is defective or not sure. My lens is heavy (8.5-9lbs + 2-3lb body), but should still be within the limits of what this can support. USUALLY what something says it supports 20LBs+~ for example, it can actually go above that. But this head does not handle heavier weight too well on the knobs, at least my copy. The Pan knob/switch is also very tiny/doesn't feel to robust and is not in the greatest spot. I thought I would also like the auto leveling option as well, but I ended up hating it more than liking it. Since I'm moving around alot outdoors/over hills and un-even terrain. If I get my lens dialed in, so it's balanced, but then if I move onto SLIGHTLY sloped terrain, the auto leveling feature can start to make my lens drift upwards, sometimes pretty quickly, so I have to catch it/watch it, so my lens / tripod doesn't dump over or whatever else. It's either moving my lens when i don't want it to, or otherwise I gotta lock/tighten down the tilt knob off and on, like my gimbal, or rather, alot more often than my gimbal, which is part of why I wanted a fluid head in the first place, was to not have to keep loosening/tightening stuff all the time. In the end, I have to worry/baby sit this more than my gimbal almost, which is really too bad. I do like the fluid motion of this/the handle, the quick release plate/setup is nice. Overall it feels pretty well made, but just is really too bad the pan/tilt knobs are so weak and the auto-leveling can get really annoying/potentially dangerous.

It's the bomb for broadcast and mirrorless

By David
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-05

We are using this in a worship Livestream setup with a Sony a6400 and Tamron 70-300 lens from about 60' to the stage. My impression is that this setup is on the edge for what this head is intended for. In other words, the head is designed to hold a lot of weight and our setup is a bit light so that when you tilt and let go, there's a bit of back-drift before the frame settles in. However, it is SUPER SMOOTH and worth every penny! Livestream pans are incredible and very broadcast-like. We don't do too many tilts, so it is very acceptible for our use and I highly recommend it!!!

Great, until it broke.

By JC
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-23

There are plastic parts that don't hold up to a lot of the rigor that a lot of tripods and heads are subjected to - especially on the floor of moving vehicles between locations. I bought this head in August 2020 and this breakage happened in April 2023.

Counterbalance overstated

By Andrew
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-20

Mounted Sony 600mm with a7R4 plus Ninja V and microphone. This is probably not even half of stated counterbalance (~4kg, advertised counterbalance is 8kg). Couldn't counterbalance even at max settings. Don't know if unit is defective or they just hype the numbers. Gonna think about getting either 612 or Sachtler.

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Is the plate a standard Monfrotto and compatible ...

Is the plate a standard Monfrotto and compatible with other Monfrotto video heads?
Asked by: Russell
Yes it is. This includes the 504PLONGR Camera Plate which is compatible with most of the other heads like the 502 and 504.
Answered by: Joseph
Date published: 2020-01-21

is this Nitrotech different than the traditional ...

is this Nitrotech different than the traditional fluid head?
Asked by: an
Yes. Fluid drag is common to most good heads, but each model has different types of counterbalance. When a camera is well counterbalanced on a head, with a little fluid drag, it can be left hands free without drifting up or down. It also means more even balance throughout the vertical range, as opposed to very stiff when not close to horizontal. This counterbalancing leads to more even tilts, and fluid drag also means more even tilts and pans. Counterbalance also means you can leave it hands free without the camera tilting forward and falling over to the ground. Good counterbalance is vital for live shooting with heavy cameras but also helps with smoother movement for filming. Some heads have 3 or 4 weight settings which is limiting. This head has an infinite variation, between limits(2-12Kgs for the N12) of camera weight that it can handle. It uses a pneumatic spring to do the counterbalancing and is adjustable in minute variations. The 608 and 612 models are supposed to have ungraded fluid drag over the N8 and N12.
Answered by: Paul
Date published: 2021-04-09

What it is the difference between this one and ...

What it is the difference between this one and the Nitrotech N12 Video Head?
Asked by: Matthew
This is the new version of N12
Answered by: Yuqi
Date published: 2020-06-24

Being a flat base, do you get any slip at ...

Being a flat base, do you get any slip at connection between half ball adapter and the fluid head when your pan drag is set to greater resistance?
Asked by: Marcus
No. The unit offers set screws to prevent slippage when fastened properly there is no need to worry about using the unit to pan and etc.
Answered by: hectorm
Date published: 2022-02-01

can I add a second arm?

can I add a second arm?
Asked by: Joan
Yes. Please review the following item Manfrotto Telescopic PVC-Free Pan Bar for Select Manfrotto Video Heads BH #MAMVAPANBARL • MFR #MVAPANBARL https://bhpho.to/3KpXZrv
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what if my gears are let's say only 2kg in some ...

what if my gears are let's say only 2kg in some setups. the Counterbalance is still going to work?
Asked by: Vasile
The load will need to be between (8.8 to 26.4 lb / 3.99 to 11.97 kg) for proper performance.
Answered by: Joseph
Date published: 2020-11-01

Has anyone used this head at the maximum weight ...

Has anyone used this head at the maximum weight capacity? I am looking at using it on a slider with my F5 + heavy Canon Cine 17-120 lens. Approx 25-26 pounds. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.
Asked by: russell
This is a very high quality video head that will work well at the higher end of the load capacity.
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Can this head hold a Blackmagic Ursa broadcast ...

Can this head hold a Blackmagic Ursa broadcast camera with shoulder mount handle, studio view finder, Fujinon XA220SX8, focus and zoom controls?
Asked by: HBC
Yes, this fluid head has a load capacity of 8.8 to 26.4 lb and will handle your rig.
Answered by: Marcell Makher
Date published: 2020-11-04
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