I got my 501 head in January. Now I'm noticing a jump when panning to the left only. Everything else is smooth. I've tried loosening and tightening everything but nothing seems to make a difference. Am I in trouble here and need service, or is there something else I can do?

Check the tightness of the head to the sticks. Three screws underneath... sounds to me like those are loose.

Also, I have the 3246 Manfrotto, and if the geared center column is not locked, there is significant play when panning.

Try locking those up if it pertains to you.

Cheers!

Hey Chris thanks. One of the screws was just a tad bit loose. Tightened it up and all is well again.

i had been using an old velbon my dad probably bought in 1980 for the past few years and it finally went on the fritz recently, so i figured it was time for something quite a bit nicer.

I picked up the bogen 3021 Pro legs and a 501 head today after doing some looking around and feeling pretty scure with the choice.

As luck would have it, i seemingly didnt realize that the 501 head doesnt have any kind of horizontal compensation mechanism...i.e: it pans left/right and i can move it up/down, but i cant adjust at all for unlevel ground with the head itself.

obviously i can mess with the legs, but it seems that would take a lot longer than a simple adjustment on the head.

is this typical for "fluid heads" or is it simply a matter of choosing a different fluid head? I like the head a lot, it feels good, (even though i havent even mounted any camera on it yet) and it seemed like a good value for the money as well as a dependable brand name.

Hi Trey

I have the 501 and find it a very good solid video head.....
I use mine on an old set of Gitzo legs and had the same problem.

You need to get the Manfrotto/Bogen Levelling head that fits between the two.... they cost around 60-70$.

Do a search on say Yahoo 'Bogen levelling head' and you'll find what I mean..

They work really well...

cheers

Gareth

Hello Trey,
Professional field tripods and heads for video feature a ball-leveling mechanism that enables you to quickly level the head on uneven ground.

Your 3021 legs feature a center column instead of a bowl into which such a mechanism would normally be. Also, I think that the 501 head is not designed as a ball-leveling head.

But Manfrotto does make an accessory ball-leveler that fits between a tripod's center column and a flat-footed head. It might be just what you're looking for. See the Manfrotto page (http://www.manfrotto.com/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=12&itemid=746) on this product.

Hey, how is the golf swing analysis going?

thanks for the replys fellas...

i got the 3021 PRO instead of the regs because they did hvae a the bubble level in them and it wasnt but a few bucks more.

i'll have to check into that ball-level mech, ill also check into a couple other heads maybe, im just wondering if there is one that has it built in as that may be easier/better, although i think the bogen heads get quite a bit more pricey if moving up after the 501 model.

Bogen also sells the column and leveler combo, the 555B.

I have the 3502 ball leveller under my 501 head and it works great. You can't see the spirit level on the leveller (the 501 head covers it), but you can use the one one the head itself.

Hi guys, I have a 3 Manfrotto 501 heads all with missing pieces and was wondering where I could get replacements, since I have seem to come up dry at B&H. Specifically, I am missing 1 tilt tension screw, and 2 tripod plate lock screws. Also, anyone know of a good place to get replacement screws for normal 501 quick-release plates. Thanks a ton for any leads!

-David Frank

http://www.bogenimaging.us/service/service1.htm#Parts :-)

Thanks Bill. Always go to the source!

-David Frank

Unless you know the hardware section of your local store better than the employees, like I do. :-)

I just barely saw the new 501HDV head in a magazine and it looks impressive (from an artistic viewpoint). Has anyone tried it out and see if it is better than the old 501. I used to own the 501 and I didn't like it much, in fact I like my 701rc2 much better. This seems comprible to the 503 head, but I bet that Bogen intentionally made sure that the new 501hdv sticks in pans as much, or has some sort of deficiency that makes it hard to get good results, but I would like to be proven wrong.

Thanks in advance,

Holly

Holly, see my post here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=86894

Not a full review (only had the system six hours!) but first impressions are that it is a great improvement.

I'll be trying it out on a location shoot on Monday and then for two weeks shooting a documentary in Africa. When I get back I'll try and remember to report my findings.

Ian . . .

ok so i recently bought a 501 and i already have legs with a 75mm bowl. what piece do i need to buy so i can screw the manfrotto head onto the bowl

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=366662&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=366662&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

thanks but thats more than i want to pay right now. do you know if there is another brand that makes a half ball to fit my 501

edit- will this one work?

http://www.adorama.com/BG3284.html

No, that is the cheapest I could find at B&H.

so that one wont work?

You can mount the 501 head on anything which has a 3/8" NC machine screw. It just has female threads on the flat bottom plate. For example, I can use it on my Manfrotto 3221WN legs without a bowl, and can easily unscrew the 501 head and replace it with a couple different Manfrotto still camera tripod heads which I also use on those legs.

So to me it appears the only difference between those two items is in the lower part which attaches to the tripod bowl. You need to make sure that it fits your existing tripod, either one should work fine with the 501 head.

Sorry, didn't see the edit. Yes that one is the same product, only with a longer handle.

Thanks for the help everyone! i think im going to go with the 28 dollar one

ok so i recently bought a 501 and i already have legs with a 75mm bowl. what piece do i need to buy so i can screw the manfrotto head onto the bowl

Return your 501 if you still can. I hate mine. 501 Pro, and it's not a fluid head.. (fluid like movment...) which means its a decent friction head. 501HDV supposedly isn't much better. 503 HDV is getting good reviews, and apparently has gell packs. Or if you can swing it, a 516.

Hi I've just bought a second hand 501 head and looking around it working out what it all does BUT what does the small leaver do by the small round level do?
Or can someone tell me where I can download a PDF of the instructions?
cheers
andy

It tightens the tripod plate attached to your camera. Once you insert the plate, move it to where your cam is balanced, then turn that lever. It will hold the plate in that position.

http://www.manfrotto.com.au/PDFPages/Manuals/501.pdf

Please help! Does anyone know the options i have to fix my Manfrotto 501 HDV Tripod in Southern Europe.I am located in the Algarve, Portugal and recently bought my tripod off the internet.I have broken a leg support and need fixing immediately.Just tryin to figure out my options on how to go about fixing this. Any help would be greatly appreciated


http://www.flickr.com/photos/29061915@N03/2713118173/

[QUOTE=Orlando Arroja;913654]Please help! Does anyone know the options i have to fix my Manfrotto 501 HDV Tripod in Southern Europe.I am located in the Algarve, Portugal and recently bought my tripod off the internet.I have broken a leg support and need fixing immediately.Just tryin to figure out my options on how to go about fixing this. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Yeah! Buy a Gitzo.

Hi Orlando,

Your Flickr photo is listed as "private", so we can't see which part is actually broken....

Anyway, according to Manfrotto's website, Dulcifoto (www.dulcifoto.pt) in Lisbon (nowhere near the Algarve, I know) is the main distributor for their products in Portugal. I'm betting that they can either service it for you or order the appropriate spare parts if you want to tackle it yourself. Also, Manfrotto's spare parts page is here:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/spareparts/site/manfrotto/cache/off

You should be able to find an exploded drawing of your tripod there with all part numbers listed. Keep in mind that 501HDV is the tripod head--the legs should have separate tag with their own model number.

Yours,

Hoi

I've got a BM 501HDV head on my tripod and I'm searching for another tripod head that will fit the mounting plate on the camera. I've built myself a DIY steadicam and I'd really like to be able to have the tripod head on the steadicam so that I can just pop the plate off the BM tripod and go straight to the steadicam instead of taking the plate off and then screwing the camera onto the steadicam.

I've looked up the 501HDV heads and they're pretty expensive, even on their own. I don't necessarily care to have an expensive head on the steadicam, so anything would work. Doesn't even necessarily have to be fluid.

Basically, my question is this: what other (cheaper) tripod heads will fit the BM 501HDV mounting plate? Is it a standard plate size and design that will fit most any head? Or does it have to go on a head from the BM HDV line (the 501 being the cheapest in that line to my knowledge)?

Thanks for your help!

501 (the old one) 503 (the old one) and 503 from Bogen.

I THINK some of the Vintens and Sachtler will also fit but not sure which ones.

Maybe go to the giant auction site and look for an older 501

Don

Bogen makes quick release units (about 2cm in height) that accept the 501 plates. I use one of these for exactly what you're describing and it works beautifully. My base plates never leave my cameras anymore.

Alec Moreno
http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com

Thank you so much for that valuable info, Hoi.Much appreciated! For real.Thanks

hope this works

http://www.flickr.com/gp/29061915@N03/0v0165

Hi Orlando,

Glad I was able to help. Can't tell for sure from your photo, but it looks like you have a 525MVB tripod, which means the spreader is model # 3138. If you can't fix it, a new 165MV spreader (the 3138 replacement) goes for about $70 US.

Cheers,

Hoi

Will 3221 legs work with 501HDV Head.

Yes it should. The head is shown as an acessory to the 3221 legs at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/217266-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3221WN_3221WN_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

I have the 3221 legs and 501 standard head and the combo works fine. For quick head leveling I recommend the 3502 compact leveler. This mounts between the legs and the head. The 3221 legs are very vesatil and will allow shooting just about down to ground level. The 3221 also comes with a short adaptor plug that can replace the center column if you don't need it and want to reduce some weight.