Hello, below a try at a summary for the current "fluid heads" (for digiscopy stills and video), with key info such as weight, load max and recommended, price (taken from BH when possibe to make it even), image, birdforum feedback and dedicated threads if available ...
Note : I'm currently looking for one (to set up a swaro ATS 80 + 20mm +G6 and adaptator : total weight 2.6kg), with head weight as a key criteria. Below list only contains below 2kg heads, and not gimball ones.
So going by brands :
Gitzo :
G2180 :
http://www.gitzo.us/series-1-soulid-238-quick-release-fluid-head
picture :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/435028.jpg
weight : 0.57kg
load max : 4kg
counter balance : adjustable (as said on gitzo site but more on off from what I understand)
bf feedback : quite mixed
price : $259
G3280 :
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...thm/t300_0d54a8b1445be9448b845f377fdefc61.jpg
weight : 1.4kg
max load : 5kg
bf feed back : quite good (if not very good)
price : $309 (gitzo site)
GH1720QR :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images150x150/709793.jpg
weight : 0.5 kg
max load : 4 kg
bf feed back : quite good ? (maybe not for video)
price : $274
GH2720QR
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...c589664382d5c9534c51ac45e00a86.jpg?1413742757
weight : 0.7kg
max load : 6kg
bf feed back : quite good ? (maybe not for video)
price : $349.90
Manfrotto :
MVH500AH
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...20842cc442adc6767ff5234ddbef46.jpg?1413829128
weight : 0.9 kg
max load : 5 kg
pre set counter balance for 2.4 kg
bf feed back : good (great ?) up to now.
price : $166.50
MVH502AH
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...67cc607f7f514da5510d7ec2686fbc.jpg?1413829128
weight : 1.7 kg
max load : 8kg
pre set counter balance for 4kg
price : $190.95
BENRO :
S4 :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/896856.jpg
weight : 0,7 kg
mx load : 4kg
price : $133.00
S6 :
weight : 1.4 kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance adjustable on tilt.
price : $160
Sirui :
VH10
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...6235&is=REG&cm_sp=ZoomImgs-_-DTLpg-_-MoreImgs
weight : 0.9kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance pre set to 2.2 kg
price : $199.95
bf feed back : mixed (or good ?)
VH15
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/1066275.jpg
weight : 1.7kg
max load : 10kg
counter balance pre set to 4kg
Price : $299.95
Berlebach
552
http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=94&sprache=english
weight : 0.79 kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance : yes for over 2kg
Some others suitable ?
Price : 395€ $504 (on the site)
---------
Ok will stop there .
I'm leaning towards the gitzo ones (G2180 or GH2720QR), the small manfrotto (500AH), or the sirui VH10 at this time..
Any info on the Benros ?
Some key ones not in the above list ?
Note : I'm currently looking for one (to set up a swaro ATS 80 + 20mm +G6 and adaptator : total weight 2.6kg), with head weight as a key criteria. Below list only contains below 2kg heads, and not gimball ones.
So going by brands :
Gitzo :
G2180 :
http://www.gitzo.us/series-1-soulid-238-quick-release-fluid-head
picture :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/435028.jpg
weight : 0.57kg
load max : 4kg
counter balance : adjustable (as said on gitzo site but more on off from what I understand)
bf feedback : quite mixed
price : $259
G3280 :
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...thm/t300_0d54a8b1445be9448b845f377fdefc61.jpg
weight : 1.4kg
max load : 5kg
bf feed back : quite good (if not very good)
price : $309 (gitzo site)
GH1720QR :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images150x150/709793.jpg
weight : 0.5 kg
max load : 4 kg
bf feed back : quite good ? (maybe not for video)
price : $274
GH2720QR
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...c589664382d5c9534c51ac45e00a86.jpg?1413742757
weight : 0.7kg
max load : 6kg
bf feed back : quite good ? (maybe not for video)
price : $349.90
Manfrotto :
MVH500AH
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...20842cc442adc6767ff5234ddbef46.jpg?1413829128
weight : 0.9 kg
max load : 5 kg
pre set counter balance for 2.4 kg
bf feed back : good (great ?) up to now.
price : $166.50
MVH502AH
http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media...67cc607f7f514da5510d7ec2686fbc.jpg?1413829128
weight : 1.7 kg
max load : 8kg
pre set counter balance for 4kg
price : $190.95
BENRO :
S4 :
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/896856.jpg
weight : 0,7 kg
mx load : 4kg
price : $133.00
S6 :
weight : 1.4 kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance adjustable on tilt.
price : $160
Sirui :
VH10
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...6235&is=REG&cm_sp=ZoomImgs-_-DTLpg-_-MoreImgs
weight : 0.9kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance pre set to 2.2 kg
price : $199.95
bf feed back : mixed (or good ?)
VH15
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images200x200/1066275.jpg
weight : 1.7kg
max load : 10kg
counter balance pre set to 4kg
Price : $299.95
Berlebach
552
http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=94&sprache=english
weight : 0.79 kg
max load : 6kg
counter balance : yes for over 2kg
Some others suitable ?
Price : 395€ $504 (on the site)
---------
Ok will stop there .
I'm leaning towards the gitzo ones (G2180 or GH2720QR), the small manfrotto (500AH), or the sirui VH10 at this time..
Any info on the Benros ?
Some key ones not in the above list ?
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