Fluid video tripod head

[Rui_Guerra 6]

Hi all,

 

I wonder if someone have already tried any tripod fluid video head underwater, form smooth pan/tilt camera movements? If so, what brand and model have provided the best results/durability?

 

First of all, do you think it his really necessary a fluid head to achieve that level of camera movements smoothness, or, since the rig is underwater, a regular (no fluid inside) pan/tilt head is enough?

My main concern is about how long will a fluid video head survive in the salt water conditions, maintaining it's fluid movements. I'm considering, for now, a Manfrotto MH055M8-Q5 ( just for the ability to shoot both photo and video in the same dive) or a dedicated fluid head like the 503 SERIES.

But of course I would like to hear any other suggestion that you might have...

Thanks!

Cheers,

 

[r4e 24]

How seriously do you take your work? The level of your perfectionism will affect your choice of the head. The Manfrotto MH055M8-Q5 is relatively inexpensive, so the price alone might justify trials. And the eventual corrosion will not feel so bad.

 

If you plan to do proper fluid pans/tilts with a tripod, you'll need to weigh it down for it to become a stable platform. You'll need more weight than without video pans/tilts. For a proper job you might consider selecting such a tripod that its legs can be spread out more than the normal 30-60 degrees. A larger/heavier tripod with add-on weights will affect your dives as well. Consider using lift sacks.

 

However, you might want to consider other choices as well:

 

A monopod would be lighter and easier to transport whilst swimming. You can perform tilts and pans even without a video head.

 

A dedicated small u/w tripod like the TLC tripod. Corrosion will be far less a problem.

http://cerella.fi/?product=tlc-underwater-tripod-with-pan-head-and-11-legs

[ChrigelKarrer 52]

I use above water this head: Manfrotto 128RC Micro Fluid Video Head.
It is a cheaper head and works reasonably fluid in air and i think it will work near perfect in a fluid,

as it will attenuate unwanted movements.
A solution for no current conditions would be to add stabilizer fins to slow down movements of pan and tilt.

Disassembling and washing trougly with destilled water will slow down corrision!

 

Chris

[kc_moses 142]

ULCS do make a pan & tile tripod head, have you looked at it?

 

http://reefphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_160&products_id=5591

[Rui_Guerra 6]

Hi all, thanks for the answers.

 

I do take my video job seriously. For years I've used regular topside tripods (Gitzo) and ball heads underwater. Caring them underwater its not a problem (although I admit that some times a lift bag will be very handy..)

But now, after 15 years of use uw, my Gitzo head (ball head) needs to be replaced. I have disassembled it many times to clean it, and thats why I wonder if that will be possible with a fluid video head and, if not, how long will it last.

 

Many times I've used them in situations where a small / dedicated uw tripod will not work due to its limited size/high. In some very limited situations I've used a monopod, but most of the time, I need a tripod so a head is a must.

TLC tilt/shift head looks good but I'm not sure about the smoothness of the movement. And i don't need the legs. But, anyway, I will look more carefully at this option, especially because of it's corruption free constrution.

ULCS looks too small for the kind of gear I need to put on it (DSLR housing + external monitor + arms and two lights).

 

Cheers,

[r4e 24]

I have a Manfrotto 516 videohead plus a Manfrotto 161MK2B tripod for interactive use plus a number of smaller Manfrotto tripods for static cameras. I have not compared this against other models so I cannot say if it is "best", but, it has worked for me when needed. However, I dive mainly in waters that either have silty bottoms/ship decks or virtually no bottoms at all. Thus it is quite rare for me to haul this big rig with me. Considering the silt I cannot let my fin touch the bottom or ship deck. Consequently the fluid drag of the video head has to be set at a small value to enable panning/tilting the head whilst you are floating behind it.

 

Due to the above, I prefer to take a small tripod with me for opportunistic dives. The small tripod gives slightly more weight and inertia even when using the camera whilst swimming freely in water. Please notice that the TLC T/S head does not have dampening fluid in it and it is meant to be mounted on arms with 1" balls, i.e. not on a regular topside tripod.

 

Only for carefully preplanned shots would I consider to take a proper video tripod with me. The sea water here is far less salty than in the Atlantic, so rinsing with fresh water has been sufficient and I have not bothered to check the inside of the head.