Manfrotto MVH502 fluid head

Manfrotto’s new MVH502 fluid head replaces its popular 501 head, but has been completely redesigned to use Manfrotto’s bridging technology.

It will carry up to 4kg, be available either with a flat base or an integral 75mm ball, and should ship by April. Features include: a larger camera base; larger sliding plate; fixed counterbalance; and two 3/8-inch threads for fixing accessories. A complete kit, with tripod legs, should cost about £450.

It is based on the same design as the recently introduced 509HD, which carries up to 13kg and has three stages of counterbalance, plus “a levelling/balancing memory to make it easier to rebalance the tripod if going between handheld and tripod,” explained Peter Novell, Manfrotto’s video channel sales manager (pictured). The 509HD costs about £660, or £1,160 with legs.

By David Fox