Considering a fluid head - A7Riv and Tamron 28-200

CaliforniaDave wrote:

Craig Gillette wrote:

Ordered a Sirui VH-10x and VA-5. Currently there are rebate offers in the US for Sirui that helped some and I found some "sale" pricing on the VA-5 and/or AM-5V (the Amazon version) in addition to the rebates. So, pricing helped in choosing.

Until I actually get doing more video, it's difficult to predict what will or won't work. Lots of variables, whether it's camera sizes, actual subject choices, the types of movements needed, etc. Ratings, recommendations and reviews help but for every recommendation, it seems there is a a counterpoint out there. (Not unique to this gear choice by any means.)

The VA-5 as a smaller head to replace the ball head for video and general uses on my smaller tripods. I'll likely add a leveling device.

The VH-10X is larger, bigger than I think I'd want a lot of the time, generally suited to larger camera/lens combinations, adds pan control functionality, may be suited to replacing the larger ball head on my largest tripod. It already has a half bowl and I have an adapter, too.

A couple of days wait and the weather is starting to moderate so will get a chance to get out and try them.

One of things that you are going to discover with the VA-5 (and it might also apply to the VH-10X), is that Arca plate compatibility can be iffy with it. The TY-70A Arca plate that came with my VA-5 works with the VA-5, but many of my numerous other Arca plates from various manufacturers, which work fine with all of my other Arca clamps, will not work with the VA-5. This even includes some Sirui Arca plates that I own, which will not work with the Sirui VA-5 clamp! The reason that this problem exists is because of the unusual design of the VA-5 Arca clamp, which includes an extra metal clamp piece that interferes with many Arca plates. If you only plan to use the TY-70A plate, this won't be a problem, but I have multiple cameras for which I use various Arca plates, so this doesn't work for me.

Since the cameras I expect to use it with have l brackets (or simple plate) running crossways, I'm expecting to add a clamp and pretty much leave the original plate in place, clamped in but perhaps moved some for balancing.  With plates and heads from several sources, all of mine work but the different "safety" buttons or cut outs don't always match up well.

Another thing that I didn't like about the Sirui VA-5 is that it seems to have a strong "return" spring in the tilt mechanism, so that if you let go of the handle, with the drag unlocked, it will try to return the tilt to horizontal. My other fluid heads don't behave this way. Perhaps it is an attempt to counterbalance, but I never found it useful.

That's one of those things that will likely take some time to resolve (for me).  Been reading up on counterbalancing.  Seems like there is so much potential for different weight and balance in putting together cameras, lenses, and all the attachables that perhaps it's an attempt to fit a "one size fits some" (adjustable  in some ways or not) to a head and then go with it.    Trades have to be made, whether it's in design choices to hit a selling price or as a buyer to keep a budget under control.

So my VA-5 just sits in a box, unused. If you decide you are happy with the VA-5 you ordered, I'd be willing to sell you mine for way less than what you paid, as mine is just gathering dust now (not actually gathering dust, as it is in a box.)

I don't think I'll have come to a decision inside the return window so maybe we'll both have dust catchers?