OT: Manfrotto 501HDV getting stiff

smashguy37 wrote on 5/30/2010, 6:49 AM

I use a 501 head to do wedding videography for a local company. I was training a new person a few weeks ago and I'm not sure if they somehow did something, but I'm certain that ever since then tilting the camera has become much more difficult...there is a lot more tension there.

I can unscrew the tilt lock and friction knob until they are practically ready to fall off and it doesn't help any. I'm using a Canon XH A1s by the way. It's tight enough I don't even need the lock on...it won't go anywhere on it's on. The counter balance doesn't seem to make it any looser either (it just won't bounce back up).

It's just a real PITA when I have a zoomed in shot and I'm trying to make careful adjustments, and it's sticking and jumping like a really bad head. I've been using the head since about February 2009 and my boss just bought a new 501 head and I did a side by side comparison the other night and the new head feels just like my head did like a month ago...nice and smooth.

I might see if I can take someone to look at it when I get a moment, but I figured I'd ask here first...sorry for the off topic.

Comments

richard-amirault wrote on 5/30/2010, 9:09 PM

craftech wrote on 5/31/2010, 4:53 AM

I have had this problem for years with the 501 and so have others Some people have it with pan and some like myself with tilt. On a similar head someone over at DV Info tried this and said it worked. The problem occurs when the camera has been in a fixed position for "too long" and you go to tilt it. It will stick and cause a noticeable jump when you try to break it loose. Then it will be fine as long as you don't leave it in the same position for "too long" (undefined amount of time). The problem is called Stiction and usually occurs on heads that aren't really fluid heads (like the 501 and 503). I wonder if heating the head periodically with a cigarette lighter would help??

Just kidding.

John

EDIT: If what I described is not your problem and the friction is there all the time, perhaps the set screw that attaches the head to the legs is too tight. Also there are 94 User Reviews over at B&H for the 501HDV that may be more helpful. I have the original 501, not the 501HDV.

baysidebas wrote on 5/31/2010, 6:16 AM

I avoid this problem with my three 501s by having my crew "exercise" the heads for 30 seconds before each shooting session. You'd be surprised at how effective this procedure is.

ushere wrote on 5/31/2010, 6:49 AM

as bayside suggests, 'warm-up' head before use. i've been doing this ever since i can remember - it was one of the first things i learnt at the bbc in the late 60's. - and so far i've used a huge number of heads, from cheap and nasty through to high end ones and they've usually all worked to the best of their ability WITHOUT 'sticking' - (though it wont cure a crappy head in the first place ;-)

biggles wrote on 5/31/2010, 7:23 AM

I made the mistake once of loaning my tripod to a trusted friend at church. When I got it back he apologized for the fact that he had let someone else operate it and they had inadvertently unscrewed the tilt friction knob with the result that all of the 'bits' fell out.

I was faced with the task of re-assembly without knowing if anything was missing.

I found the spare parts pdf's on the following web page absolutely vital:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/spare_parts_db_detail/site/manfrotto/op/normal/cache/off/lang/en?id_spare_items=877

Oh and I did get it all back together in the right order and I have never, ever loaned my tripod again!

Wayne

smashguy37 wrote on 5/31/2010, 8:38 AM

It seems to always be that way. You wouldn't notice the sticking with no camera on and just moving it around, but it's definitely there when you're zoomed in and any sticking becomes very noticeable. I've tried "exercising" the head a couple times throughout the day, but it doesn't seem to help.

The screws that attach the head to the legs -- would that possibly help the tilt? That would seem to be a pan "fixer". I'll give it a shot anyway, but I haven't adjusted them,

smashguy37 wrote on 5/31/2010, 9:12 AM

Update - Exercising it a lot seems to help until it sits for a bit, however when I tilt upwards it seems to be okay, it's when I go to tilt down it gets stiff.

However, it's not really like 'stiction' for the most part, it just feels like I have the friction knob cranked or something, I couldn't make it very loose to save my life.