Manfrotto 509HD Professional Video Head

Horrible reliability- the screw that affixes the camera plate keeps busting off in transport. The right side plate busted off. Do not recommend.

I am a film professional and use this on a daily basis. I upgraded from my 504HD heads to this guy. WOW its a beast. But it can take a lot more weight and it can balance very well. This company makes awesome stuff. This was the cheapest model head before you go into something like a Shactler or something on that level. I use this head with a C100 built up on a zacuto rig, EVF, shotgun mic, long lenses, teleprompter. It holds up.

Non-existent quality control. Manfrotto customer service is arrogant and takes zero responsibility. Bought 2 of their 509 heads both had issues. Got a 504 in a 509 box and the other was damaged in a way that was so careless it reflected almost perfectly the apathy of the Manfrotto customer service... art imitating life I suppose. They have a BBB rating of -D, go figure.

I bought it with 545GBK tripod. formerly I rented sachtler DV10~15 head&tripod kit for FS5 rig or used my own benro s7 fluid head for 5D Mark IV. the 509HD works really good, nearly par with sachtler head performance especially in smoothness of panning and tilting. it also features dual 3/8" sockets on the left/right side, easily attach monitors and accessories. I have tested up to 25lbs weight rig so it can handle almost all lightweight ENGs and cost-effective cinema cameras. The only weakness versus sachtler is panning & tilting at a same time is bit less smoother than doing only one movement at the time.

Great video head...