Great, great vid. Thanks for it! You just gave me an incredible piece of information, as I'm myself searching a budget fluid head for my church (have the legs already).
I just tested an Avella 504 and a iFootage K5s. The Avella is lighter, same fluidity and the spring loaded counterbalance is frictioned enough that can keep the tilt angle without locking it. If this last part is the most important for you and you don't want to spend 500$ for it, I'd go for the Avella (or the many exactly same model from many brands)
Is the "new" pole you posted the only permanent pole you installed? Are the rest of the cameras on tripod type legs? Trying to decide when to do which. Obviously dont want to drill somewhere that's not going to be left there for awhile.
Very nice! IMHO, I think there are "2 kinds" of Manfrotto - one made in Italy and the other in China (?!) - same fluid head but a little difference on product quality. Have you tried a Benro S6Pro or S8? Maybe iFootage Komodo 5 or 7? Any opinion?
In our experience we found the Manfrotto to have very average build quality and exhibit intermittent stiction problems while panning. We now use the E-Image GH08 & GH10. These are seriously underrated video heads and are true fluid heads. I have my doubts about the Manfrotto being a genuine fluid head
Thanks for the video. I have been looking for one the past few days for our church. I found the Sirui AM-25s on amazon and its supposed to be continuous drag. Do you have any feedback on it?
Most of these are compatible with 75mm bowl tripod legs. If. you get a half bowl with a 3/8 mount you'll be good with most budget legs. from there the bowl goes up from there. 100mm bowl is if you have a really heavy setup and need that extra support but that's mainly if your shooting a short film or a movie.