Can the ball be removed from Sachtler DV 4II or Cartoni Status Pro like the Focus? at DVinfo.net

Les Wilson · November 18th, 2010, 07:41 AM

I am looking for a head to do double duty on 75mm ball sticks and a flat top slider. Miller Tech support responded in less than 60 minutes that it's DS-10 head doesn't separate and suggested Sachtler and Cartoni. Sachtler and Cartoni have been radio silent for days.

The ball on my Focus can be removed. Does anyone know if the Cartoni Status Pro ball can be removed for use on a flat top mount?

Barbara Jaumann · November 19th, 2010, 02:36 AM

The ball on Sachtler heads can be removed as well

Les Wilson · May 3rd, 2011, 06:23 AM

Epilog:
While there are 3 nice screws appearing to hold the bowl on the Cartoni focus, the bowl is an integral part of the pan mechanism and cannot be removed.

$850 later, I had a Sachtler FSB-4 in my hands and while it has a bunch of screws that make it appear like the bowl is removable, it isn't. This is confirmed from Sachtler support.**So while the DV4 II *may* have a removable bowl, the current FSB version doesn't.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · May 3rd, 2011, 10:41 AM

The Manfrotto series of heads can easily be removed from the ball part.
The 701 is a good candidate for fitting on a slider.
I've even used the 503, but it all gets too heavy for smooth movement, other than a straight slide, so it's over-kill...

Les Wilson · May 5th, 2011, 07:08 AM

Can there be more than one Epilog? :-)

Barbara Jaumann from Vitec group looked into this on my behalf. Turns out that when I asked Sachtler support if the ball can be removed, they answered correctly that it's an integral part of the pan mechanism and can't. However, removing the ball is a specific solution the desire to mount the head on a flat mount slider and travel tripod.

According to Barbara J, if the flat mount thread is no more than 8mm long, the threaded rod of the FSB-4 head is designed to be removed (carefully and with decent umpfff). The design of the bowl is such that is decently flat at the bottom for mounting. She also mentioned some customers have done this.

Just thought I'd pass this on.....kudos to Barbara J. and Sachtler Tech support for fast responses. Amazingly fast actually.

November 18th, 2010, 07:41 AM	#1
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Can the ball be removed from Sachtler DV 4II or Cartoni Status Pro like the Focus? I am looking for a head to do double duty on 75mm ball sticks and a flat top slider. Miller Tech support responded in less than 60 minutes that it's DS-10 head doesn't separate and suggested Sachtler and Cartoni. Sachtler and Cartoni have been radio silent for days. The ball on my Focus can be removed. Does anyone know if the Cartoni Status Pro ball can be removed for use on a flat top mount?

May 3rd, 2011, 06:23 AM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Can the ball be removed from Sachtler DV 4II or Cartoni Status Pro like the Focus Epilog: While there are 3 nice screws appearing to hold the bowl on the Cartoni focus, the bowl is an integral part of the pan mechanism and cannot be removed. $850 later, I had a Sachtler FSB-4 in my hands and while it has a bunch of screws that make it appear like the bowl is removable, it isn't. This is confirmed from Sachtler support.*So while the DV4 II may* have a removable bowl, the current FSB version doesn't.

May 3rd, 2011, 10:41 AM	#4
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Re: Can the ball be removed from Sachtler DV 4II or Cartoni Status Pro like the Focus The Manfrotto series of heads can easily be removed from the ball part. The 701 is a good candidate for fitting on a slider. I've even used the 503, but it all gets too heavy for smooth movement, other than a straight slide, so it's over-kill... __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

May 5th, 2011, 07:08 AM	#5
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Can the ball be removed from Sachtler DV 4II or Cartoni Status Pro like the Focus Can there be more than one Epilog? :-) Barbara Jaumann from Vitec group looked into this on my behalf. Turns out that when I asked Sachtler support if the ball can be removed, they answered correctly that it's an integral part of the pan mechanism and can't. However, removing the ball is a specific solution the desire to mount the head on a flat mount slider and travel tripod. According to Barbara J, if the flat mount thread is no more than 8mm long, the threaded rod of the FSB-4 head is designed to be removed (carefully and with decent umpfff). The design of the bowl is such that is decently flat at the bottom for mounting. She also mentioned some customers have done this. Just thought I'd pass this on.....kudos to Barbara J. and Sachtler Tech support for fast responses. Amazingly fast actually.

November 19th, 2010, 02:36 AM	#2
Barbara Jaumann Vitec Group Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Munich Posts: 23	The ball on Sachtler heads can be removed as well