Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsFor the price, it's hard to beat!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013
I bought this head for my travel Benro legs, and it really impressed me! I just bought the Manfrotto 701HDV which is smooth but has no tension controls. This was about the same weight, a third of the price, and worked very well. I was quite impressed.
There are only 3 issues I noticed. (1) The camera plate is very easy to put onto the tripod, and it secures firmly. However, the plate itself seems to loosen itself after a bit. This can add unintentional jumps to some of your shots. (2) The second one is less of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying. On Manfrotto heads, you can change the handle/grip to either side of the head very easilly. However, the grip takes a bit longer to put on and take off, and it only fits on the right side. (3) Although it claims to have variable tension, it doesn't vary that much. This is not a terrible thing (as my more expensive Manfrotto doesn't have it) but it is something to keep in mind. You're not getting the Manfrotto 502HD with this.
Overall, you can't beat the price. I love how this is light but sturdy. It worked well on both of my tripods. The issues I had come with the fact that this is a budget head more than anything else. Just remember to make sure you really tighten the screw on the camera mount, and your good to go.
