PRO VIDEO TRIPOD MANFROTTO 503 HDV - USED 3 TIMES LIKE NEW in AEROGLEN, Queensland for sale
Manfrotto 503 HDV Tripod Head Camera Manfrotto 503HDV, 525PKIT Kit
Tripod kit for heavier handheld camcorders. 503HDV fluid head, 525MVB tripod with ground-spreader, MBAG90P padded bag.
Nice Head Light: Manfrotto released its 503 tripod head a while back, then updated the design, added a few features and dubbed it the 503HDV. As usual with Manfrotto, you can purchase most of the parts separately, so, if you have good legs, you might need to upgrade...
Nice Head Light
Manfrotto released its 503 tripod head a while back, then updated the design, added a few features and dubbed it the 503HDV. As usual with Manfrotto, you can purchase most of the parts separately, so, if you have good legs, you might need to upgrade only your head. We're reviewing everything the tripod came with, but we will focus mostly on the 503HDV Pro Fluid Video Head.
With image stabilization now common, you might not want to bother with a tripod, but there are times you must lock that camera down, and you need a reliable tool. Extreme long shots will highlight even the tiniest hand-shake. Stationary subjects require a tripod.
The Head is Everything
The 503HDV head is more than just a modified 503 design. The 503s we used in our first vidcasts in 2005 were sturdy, but they took a beating. For the year that we aired our show, the tripods carried camcorder, direct-to-edit devices, two heavy XLR mic cables and teleprompter. The tripod plate let us balance the load well, but, over that year, the head couldn't take the weight and abuse and became inoperable. The new 503HDV head design is for larger, more robust camcorders or those that carry accessories like mics, lights, teleprompters or big lenses. It weighs a bit more than four pounds and is wider and sturdier than the original. (We were happy that the original plate fits this head.)
What's New
The main tilt, lock and drag function is now on the left side, which is meant for efficiency, not to be PC for left-handers. Most shooters stand on the left of a tripod-mounted camera, to see the viewfinder and use the left-sided camera controls. It just makes sense that the tripod controls are also on this side, so you don't have to play hide-n-seek for those most-used controls. Traditionally, tilt locks are on the left, and tilt drags are on the right, while both lock and drag for the pan are on the left.
The pan lock on Manfrotto's tripod heads are on the back of the head, and the pan drag is directly under the mount plate, a bit cumbersome to reach. The pan drag dial is smaller than on the 503 and was harder to adjust. Large fingers might struggle a bit. Tilting the head forward before mounting the camera gave us easier access. We like the tilt drag on the left, since this is the button you grab often while shooting, especially if your subject is in motion.
At right is a built-in fixed four-step counterbalance spring for camera balance - nice if your load changes often.
Our favorite new accessory is the illuminated LED leveling bubble, with a low-power disc battery. What a great idea! Too often we've searched in dark locations to set the level button.
The final change to the 503HDV head is the telescopic arm control. Assembled for right-side use, the arm can move to the left side, or those who use LANC attachments (Local Application Control Bus System) can add an extra arm. You can easily remove the arm to return for repair or replacement, so you don't have to send the entire head.
A Leg Up...and Up
The 503HDV head came equipped with the 535mpro 3 Section Single Tube tripod. The legs are carbon fiber and magnesium, lighter but stronger and more durable than aluminum, and are sturdier and thicker than those on our older 754 model. Fully collapsed with the short center pole, the 734 is 6.5 inches shorter than the 535. Raise the legs to max height, and you're shooting way higher than everyone else. Fully extended, the tripod with head is more than 6 feet high. The 503HDV looks like a solid giant standing
