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Manfrotto #200 Lightweight Fluid Video Head - $60 (GTA)
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This fluid video head perhaps looks a little unsophisticated by comparison with some of Manfrotto's later designs, but don't be put off by the lack of flashy styling. This is an extremely well-designed and robust head.
The body is made from Manfrotto's special technopolymer called "Adapto", so it won't suffer from metal corrosion and paint chipping/peeling as some of their alloy heads can if used in damp conditions. Therefore, this head is perfectly suited for bird-watching and similar activities (and weighing just 600g, it is ideal for carrying around). The Manfrotto original 200PL-14 quick release plate comes with an anti-rotation peg that engages with the secondary hole in the mounting plate of most spotting scopes and some video recorders to stop them from swivelling on the plate. The peg can be removed if it is not required.
The tilt axis bearing comprises a large precision-ground metal axle with large ball-races at either end, making the head extremely stable and the movement smooth and precise. The pan axis features Manfrotto's standard fluid-drag cartridge design. Friction is adjusted and the axes are locked by turning the two T-head knobs.
I have adjusted the pan axis thrust bearing to remove the slack that Manfrotto usually leaves in the setting of these bearings (any slack can allow the head to wobble very slightly when the pan axis locking knob is released, which is most unsatisfactory when using a spotting scope). The movement on both axes is now smooth, taut and precise.
Everything works perfectly and the head is in excellent condition, as the photos hopefully show.
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