Considering a fluid head - A7Riv and Tamron 28-200

Craig Gillette wrote:

Spent a little time in a local store today looking at their display models. They had a number of Sirui and Benro video heads out. I didn't have any gear with me so got a feel for how some of the various heads and features feel unloaded. Panning seems pretty straight forward but not sure on the different tilt approaches, like counterbalancing and/or "tension" with a balanced load?

Impressions from today are a gimbal might still be the better approach for use with my 200-600 and large tripod (for me) and that I need to look more closely at the smaller video heads as more than a few of the video heads seem larger than I'd like to deal with generally.

I'm trying to figure out my "Perfect is the enemy of good enough." scale. Besides features, functionality, there is a price scale here. The shop had a bias towards perfect. I would prefer to spend less when possible.

I too had to make similar choices when i transitioned from stills to video {large FLM ballhead > video fluid head}.

Because all my video tends to be taken 'off the beaten track', i need to carry everything i am likely to need in my rucksack {which also needed to be a suitable compromise regarding size / usability and price range}.

I have three distinct / separate video set-ups, for different wildlife situations {although the set-ups sometimes will overlap}, and each of those set-ups needed to fit 'within' my main rucksack....preferably not strapped to the outside.

Therefore, my choice of fluid head also needed size/bulk and weight to be a consideration...along with the usual requirements {including my budget}.

I've just put my three set-ups in my gallery, along with my main rucksack, and everything {including tripods} will fit in there.

A larger/bulkier/heavier fluid head would possibly push me over-the edge, regarding my specific set-ups and ease of comfort when out and about.

The most obvious advantage for me when switching from a stills/ ballhead/ telephoto set-up {which would sometimes droop a fraction when framing and locking down}, was that the spring-loaded counter balance, usually removed that annoyance.

I would also suggest looking at E-Image fluid heads too.

cheers