Manfrotto Showcases 500 Video Head

At the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas, Manfrotto, world leader in the equipment and accessories industry for photography and imaging, is showcasing the new Manfrotto 500 Video Head. A lightweight fluid head designed for users of the latest HDSLRs and video cameras, the 500 replaces the 701HDV and becomes the smallest head to be built around Manfrotto's successful Bridging Technology.

"We are happy to debut the new Manfrotto 500 video head, as it provides vastly improved support and balance for equipment while not sacrificing ease of use, safety or efficiency," said Wayne Schulman, Sales & Product Manager, Video. "The 500 delivers beautiful shots, ensuring smooth and controlled camera movement."

Better support and balance for your equipment
The "hollowed out" structure of Bridging Technology heads gives the 500 a great advantage. Without sacrificing its low weight, it has a top plate that's broader, for better support of the wider shape of DSLRs. The top plate is also longer, so its sliding plate has a greater range of adjustment to balance the shifting center of gravity of a DLSR or camcorder used with interchangeable prime and zoom lenses.

Faster, easier and safer to use
Manfrotto has also made the 500 faster to set up and safe to use. The new side lock lever allows the camera and sliding QR plate to click quickly into the head from above. You will find it is simpler to remove the camera now as well. There is only one locking control to release, and the camera lifts easily out from above.

The 500 is set to a fixed counterbalance of around 5 pounds, but locking power on the tilt axis ensures the head is perfectly stable under camera equipment weighing up to 11 pounds. To allow an external monitor or other accessory equipment to be fitted and properly supported, the 500 has an industry-standard Easy Link 3/8" connector.

Beautifully smooth shots 
The 500 has professional fluid cartridges on both pan and tilt axes to ensure that every movement made with the camera is smooth, controlled and gentle.

The 500 is available as a stand-alone head, in either flat-based or 60mm half-ball versions, in a kit with twin aluminum leg tripod or single carbon fiber tubes tripod. The combination between the 500 head with the patented fluid monopod is also available. The head's comfortable pan bar can be switched between left and right sides depending on personal preference.

For more information, visit www.manfrotto.us.