Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and MVT502AM Tripod Kit
The Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and MVT502AM Tripod System With Carrying Bag is a lightweight tripod system kit for DSLR cameras of video camcorders. The 502A Fluid Head is an upgraded version of the popular Manfrotto 501HDV Fluid Head (OTech Review). This system features aluminum telescopic twin tube legs in 2 stages and 3 twin elliptic sections, and a 75mm ball base. A fixed mid-level spreader provides added stability and the longer and wider quick release plate give more support for steadier shooting. I spent the day with my Canon 5D Mark II on this setup and personally was very pleased with the smoothness, ease of use and amount of control on the pan and tilt of the head. You can see some example footage in the video above.
Manfrotto 502A Fluid Head and MVT502AM Tripod System
Great review Olivia. Much better product than the Ravelli and probably any of the $100-$200 tripods out there.
@Steve Thanks! I’m loving this kit so far. Manfrotto has never failed me!
Another Great Review…
Anyway..whats the viewfinder thats on your mark II ??
@Aaron Thank you! It is the Varavon viewfinder. I did a review on it, you can find that HERE
Steve I think you are right. My Ravelli legs are great, but the head is kind of garbage if you want to move it. I am going to replace the head with the 502.
How heavy is it?
@Ruel In the link provided you can find all of the expanded specs. Are you talking about the fluid head or the tripod or both?
Hi, Thanks for the review. I just have two questions if you have time. What is the minimum height of the tripod? And what is the name of the cage you on your camera? Thanks
@Sarah All of the specs can be found in the link below, the cage is from PhotographyandCinema.com
great review… i love how you are using the GearBox there
Is there any maintenance with Manfrotto’s half-ball video heads to maintain smooth motion?
@Martin Not that I know of. We’ve never had to upkeep this aspect of any of the headds we have with ball mounts.
Thanks Olivia! Great review and thanks for demonstrating the whole kit. I was initially thinking head only, but that set of sticks along with the kit price point is very appeaing.
I noticed that this head has a weight limit of 8.82 pounds. With a HPX-170 and a slider, I could be right on the edge of that, or over the limit. Of course, I wouldn’t be panning with the slider on it, so does it then really matter, or could the head become damaged either way?
@Brett I wouldn’t mount your camera and slider on a video head. That should go directly on your tripod. If you want to pan and tilt while you slide, you would do this by placing the head on the sled of your slider and the camera on top of the video head. I demo that HERE along with some tips on how to use a slider.
Thanks for the info! What if I wanted to do a completely vertical action though? Might that be the only circumstance to mount to the head itself, or is there a way around that?
I also did an example of this in another slide video with the Konova, you can see how I did that HERE.
Great review…I keep up with your reviews regularly and have found some great gear on your site.
Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with this 502 head…I got a tripod with this head because, like you, I was impressed with the design, sturdiness and smoothness of operation. I was in a hurry because I needed a tripod and the shop was closing, and I drove home 2 1/2 hours, got it out and started tuning all the joints and setting up the leg tension the way I like with the included Allen wrench.
Then I realized the most amazing and frustrating thing about this particular 502 head: they put the vertical tilt lock on the RIGHT side of the head, rather than the LEFT side, where every single tripod I have ever used, consumer or pro, has it located. I have spent 14 years operating tripods with my right hand on the tripod handle and my left hand either on the camera lens or quickly dropping down to lock or unlock the camera tilt lock. No idea why they did this but it basically makes this tripod very awkward to operate.
And to make matters worse, they out the pan lock on the front of the head, rather than close to me on the back. So whether you’re trying to get to the pan lock or tilt lock, you have to reach way around.
So I ended up driving all the way back to the store three days later and traded up to the 504 model head and tripod, which supports twice the weight, but costs close to $800 rather than the $500+ I paid for the 502. For me, it’s worth it to have a tripod I don’t hate to use. The 504 also has a lighted bubble level, which comes in handy more often than you might think.
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for the quick look. It looks like it can handle the weight of that current rig, I’m wondering how it would feel after adding a FF, DP4 EVF, and a RODE VMP?
@Pete The Manfrotto setup would handle that load just fine!
Olivia,
Really tempted with that gearbox too – I’m wondering how is that connection to the quick release plate? Is it really tight, or do you find the gearbox shifting around a lot. I actually have the 502AH (flat bottom) head, and I’m trying to build my set up.
Thanks in advance!
@Pete I have not experienced any shifting, the connection is solid with the gear box.
Does anyone know if this head takes the same width plates as the 701 / 501
(I know the plates are longer on this new 502, but will they still fit on systems with the shorter 501 pl plate?)
@James they are indeed shorter by a bit over an inch, despite this, the QR plate still fits width wise.
thanks
I am debating between this kit and the 502 with 055XB (possibly XBPRO). I like the idea of being able to do low shots with the 055XB, although there is no 75mm half ball for leveling. I’m concerned that the 502 head may be too big for the 055XB. There are no photos on the B&H website that show the head attached to the 055XB sticks.
What’s your assessment of the 502 with the 055XB sticks, as compared to the 502 with this MVT502AM tripod? Do you think the 502 is too big for use with the 055XB? Would it be too unwieldy? Now I do like the 546 sticks but that adds 5 lbs to the kit. So for me it’s really between this setup or the 055XB.
@Randy I’ll pair the two up today and send you some pictures. Also, check out there leveling heads as bowl mount alternatives: HERE
@Olivia Actually I was looking at the option of adding a leveling head on the 055XB if that proved to be an issue. Your video on the options was great. I watched it a while back. The other thing I like about the 055XB alternative is the option to add spiked feet later, something the MVT502AM does not currently have available. Plus the low shots using the 055XB are a plus, as I already mentioned. Although the MVT does get pretty low at 24.8″ (which I assume is at the quick release plate height).
But the 502HD head is big. I don’t want it causing the center column to wobble when panning. the MVT502AM looks like a nice tripod, and both the MVT and the 055XB options are below 9 and 10 pounds respectively. The weight issue is important to me.
Thanks for pairing the two up and giving me your feeback. I really appreciate your assistance.
@Olivia Do you still have the email you sent with the photos of the 502HD with the 055XB legs? The email went to my spam folder and when I selected it and told it that it’s not spam, it was deleted from the system rather than being sent to my inbox.
I’m like 99.99% certain I didn’t tell it to delete it. And it wasn’t in the deleted items folder either. I saw your email and I was all set to view the photos. Sorry for the trouble. Thanks.
@Randy Yes! Will send again right now to the address for you attached to this thread. Let me know if you would like it to go to another email address.
Hi Olivia, would you also be able to send me those photos with the 502HD and 055XB? Thanks.
@Michael I just sent you an email to the address you’ve provided to leave this comment! Hope it helps
can you send this email of the pictures to me as well? I am considering the same option 502 head on my 055 sticks thanks!
@Elliott Sent!
@Olivia Thanks for the photos you sent of the 502 with the 090 legs. I ended up buying the 502 head and the 745 carbon fiber MDeVe tripod with built in 50mm ball. I made the decision after seeing the setup you photographed for me. Anyway, I wanted to thank you so much for your assistance. I sent you an email on October 19 with photos of my setup, along with additional information. Let me know if you didn’t receive it so I can send it again.
Thanks again for your help!
@Randy Wow, I’m glad the photos helped you out! I will double check my inbox now for your photos! This is so great to hear, thank you for sharing!
Can the 75mm ball base be removed to make the 502A head universal for all 3/8″ legs?
@SClaybrook HERE IS AN UPDATE TO THIS QUESTION: It seems I may have misunderstood your question. Randy’s response may be the correct answer: “@Olivia I think Clay was asking if the 75mm ball adaptor can be removed from the head so the head can be multi-purposed for bowl legs and flat 3/8″ stud legs. I actually confirmed with Manfrotto that the answer is NO. The 75mm ball does not unscrew like on the old 501HDV. That’s the reason I went with the MVH502AH head and the MDeVe tripod with 3/8″ mount but an integrated 50mm ball — so I can have the best of both worlds but still use the flat base head on a slider for instance. This is an issue for some people who want to use the head in various ways.”
Actually, I found a way to convert the MVH502A to a 3/8″ female: the Manfrotto 325N. It looks promising, though it adds some weight and size.
@Olivia I think Clay was asking if the 75mm ball adaptor can be removed from the head so the head can be multi-purposed for bowl legs and flat 3/8″ stud legs. I actually confirmed with Manfrotto that the answer is NO. The 75mm ball does not unscrew like on the old 501HDV. That’s the reason I went with the MVH502AH head and the MDeVe tripod with 3/8″ mount but an integrated 50mm ball — so I can have the best of both worlds but still use the flat base head on a slider for instance. This is an issue for some people who want to use the head in various ways.
@Randy thank you for catching that! Yes, I did not properly understand what Clay was asking. I will update my response with this! Thanks again
Thx for the great review. Best one I’ve found anywhere. Can you tell me…what are the names/models of the viewfinder and the contraption you had surrounding the camera. What is that? Thx!
@Jeff Thank you.. The cage is the P&C Gear Box (CLICK HERE) and the viewfinder is Varavon’s Multi Finder, which is actually on sale right now (CLICK HERE).
Hi Olivia!Thanks for the review! What do you think this combination stable enough to use Konova K3 80cm slider ? I would put the slider to Manfrotto-MVT502AM Tripod tripod with 520 Ball .And use the MVT502AM head mounted on the slider. I use Canon 60D, maybe later 5D MIII. Thanks in advance.
@Roland A few things here, first off, you will need a bowl adapter to fit the head to the slider. In theory, this combo could/will work, however, I think it’s going to overkill and you will have very little stability on the slider. I think you’ll probably be best off using something like a 701HDV or a head about that size. The 502AM Head is pretty darn big and getting it onto the K3 is going to require the slider itself to be very stabile and weighted down in order for it not to topple over from being too top heavy. If you want to get a more affordable head, maybe something like the WF717 as a less expensive alternative.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-701HDV-Fluid-Video-Mini/dp/B001AT314M/
I have been doing a lot of research on this tripod kit. How sturdy are the legs? And since there is a spreader connecting all three legs, the tripod is probably not able to go very low to the ground then? Thanks.
@Christopher The legs are very sturdy, I’ve found it to be a great option for our heavier setups. The lowest you’ll get this tripod is about 2 feet.
Thank you so much! Have you by any chance used the Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and 535 CF Tripod System before?
Debating between the two. Love how the 535 sticks go down much lower.
@Christopher No I actually have not. I’d say the two biggest differences are the minimum/max height and weight capacity. Consider what you’re shooting style is, what you need and as always- read the reviews!
what dolly do you recommend for Manfrotto MVH502A Fluid Head and MVT502AM Tripod System?
thanks
@Joty How will you be using the dolly? This all depends on the style of wheels.
Hey Olivia i just recently purchased a 5d markiii and I wanted to ask you what tripod head you think is best between the 502A, the 502HD, and the 502AM? If you had to choose one of those 3 which would it be?
Thanks again for all your videos and blog!
@Josh I have not used the Manfrotto 502HD Pro Video Head with 75mm Half-Ball personally. But just taking a look at it, I think it’s a really great option as your go-to video head. There is also the addition of drag control on this head that the Manfrotto Mvh502A Head does not have. They both support the same weight and take the same QR plate (504PLONG) but I’m not sure if one is built wider than the other. The Manfrotto MVH500AH Fluid Video Head with Flat Base is another option as a smaller more portable FLUID video head. This has pan but no drag control.
I have a 502 HD and want to get a QR plate for my Nikon D5100. What smaller plate will work with the head and my camera. The included plate is too long. Kirk makes a plate, but its for the 501.
@David The QR plate for the Manfrotto 501HDV Pro Video Head will also fit the Manfrotto 502HD Pro Video Head. I don’t know which Kirk plate you are referring to so I can’t be sure that one in particular is also compatible with your 502HD.