Prosumer video fluid head for Canon TA-100 and Bogen 3192? at DVinfo.net

Dan Peterson · November 16th, 2024, 01:26 PM

Hello,
Life intervened and it's been a long time since I've been here!
I'm *just* a hobbyist.

I snagged a Manfrotto Bogen 3192 from shopgoodwill for a song.
Here is parts view: 3192 Version 4 Video Tripod | BogenTripodParts.com

I have a Canon C100 Mark II with the Canon TA-100 tripod adapter (and its quick release plate).
Post #7 of this thread shows both sides of the TA-100: https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-x...e=pocket_saves

My question: What would be a good prosumer video fluid head to use with the C100 (and TA-100 plate) and the Bogen tripod? I believe the screw on the tripod is 3/8" where the fluid head would connect to it.

Thank you for any help or suggestions!

Chris Soucy · November 17th, 2024, 01:45 AM

Hi Dan,

Been a while since I've seen your type of question here so I'm a bit rusty on the subject, but pretty well any flat based head with a 3/8" socket will fit that Manfrotto half ball base.

From there the usual place to start is budget, though as it appears all your gear so far is S/H you might get lucky and get a good deal on a head that when new was 10 times the price.

My suggestion for prime head options is continuously variable counterbalance, pretty well above all else, all things being equal. This allows you to set the counterbalance so that no matter where you set the camera tilt angle, the camera will stay at that angle even with no hand on the pan bar and minimum drag set. It is truly worth its weight in gold.
To get that right you need to know the all up camera rig weight fully configured and select a head that can deal with that weight plus a bit more. As that camera looks a tad on the tall side thus raising its centre of gravity I'd guesstimate adding about half a pound to the actual rig weight for safety with the heads c/b range.

You may find that the TA - 100 adaptor is surplus to requirements as many, if not all, p/t head quick release plates will allow the use of either 1/4" or 3/8" bolts to the camera. If that isn't clear lets start with the tripod:

tripod/ half ball flat top adapter with 3/8" bolt; pan/ tilt flat bottom head with 3/8" socket; p/t quick release plate with 1/4" bolt; camera OR : p/t quick release plate with 3/8" bolt; TA - 100 adaptor with 3/8" socket; TA - 100 quick release plate with 1/4" bolt; camera.

(I have a vague feeling I've made that even murkier than it started)

If they're still in the DVinfo archives you should be able to dig up some of my reviews of camera support gear from the early Triassic which goes into this stuff in a lot more detail.

I'm only really familiar with Vinten, Sachtler, Libec and Manfrotto from those reviews and things have changed somewhat, particularly the prices, since then.

I'll stay tuned for the next exciting episode.

Regards.

CS

Dan Peterson · November 17th, 2024, 02:16 PM

Thank you for your reply, Chris!
I hadn't thought about the whole counterbalance component. I know that's importance from my still photography experience using a balanced gimbal with a big telephoto lens, which makes all the difference fatigue-wise. :-)
I'll ponder your points and update when ready.
Thanks again!

Derek Heeps · December 31st, 2024, 11:38 AM

Dan ,

I know it has been a few weeks , but those legs look very much like clones of my Manfrotto 350MV legs ; mine have 100mm half balls , and normally used with the 116 Mk 3 heads for my larger cameras , but for smaller cameras I also use one of them with a Manfrotto 505 fluid head , which was also available as a Vinten and possibly a couple of other makes . Unlike other Manfrotto heads , the 505 actually is a proper fluid head and comes with five different coloured springs to counterbalance cameras of different weights ; these can now be picked up quite cheaply , and I just bought one for £75 the other day . The head also uses a sliding mounting plate so that , after you have selected the most appropriate counterbalance spring , you can make fine adjustments by moving the camera forward or backwards in fine increments , then locking the plate off .

The only thing with the 505 is it comes with a 75mm ball which is part of the head and cannot be removed , so you need a 100mm to 75mm adaptor ring , assuming your Bogen legs also have a 100mm ball . The ring is not an expensive item .

As for your tripod plate , that to me looks very much like a shortened Sony VCT-15 plate , the triangular section at the front , and the release handle looks the same, or very similar , and the small foot for the front end of the camera looks very much like the ones on my Sony PMW-F350s and my JVC GY-HD251 .

If you look on eBay , you will see that people like SmallRig make lots of plates that look very similar to this design , and some of their plates also have fitments for 15mm rails , if you wish to use a matte box or other accessories . However if you don't need that , the linked picture of your camera shows that it looks to have a standard 1/4" thread mount , so you could just mount it straight onto the manfrotto sliding plate .

November 16th, 2024, 01:26 PM	#1
Dan Peterson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 61	Prosumer video fluid head for Canon TA-100 and Bogen 3192? Hello, Life intervened and it's been a long time since I've been here! I'm just a hobbyist. I snagged a Manfrotto Bogen 3192 from shopgoodwill for a song. Here is parts view: 3192 Version 4 Video Tripod \| BogenTripodParts.com I have a Canon C100 Mark II with the Canon TA-100 tripod adapter (and its quick release plate). Post #7 of this thread shows both sides of the TA-100: https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-x...e=pocket_saves My question: What would be a good prosumer video fluid head to use with the C100 (and TA-100 plate) and the Bogen tripod? I believe the screw on the tripod is 3/8" where the fluid head would connect to it. Thank you for any help or suggestions!

November 17th, 2024, 01:45 AM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Prosumer video fluid head for Canon TA-100 and Bogen 3192? Hi Dan, Been a while since I've seen your type of question here so I'm a bit rusty on the subject, but pretty well any flat based head with a 3/8" socket will fit that Manfrotto half ball base. From there the usual place to start is budget, though as it appears all your gear so far is S/H you might get lucky and get a good deal on a head that when new was 10 times the price. My suggestion for prime head options is continuously variable counterbalance, pretty well above all else, all things being equal. This allows you to set the counterbalance so that no matter where you set the camera tilt angle, the camera will stay at that angle even with no hand on the pan bar and minimum drag set. It is truly worth its weight in gold. To get that right you need to know the all up camera rig weight fully configured and select a head that can deal with that weight plus a bit more. As that camera looks a tad on the tall side thus raising its centre of gravity I'd guesstimate adding about half a pound to the actual rig weight for safety with the heads c/b range. You may find that the TA - 100 adaptor is surplus to requirements as many, if not all, p/t head quick release plates will allow the use of either 1/4" or 3/8" bolts to the camera. If that isn't clear lets start with the tripod: tripod/ half ball flat top adapter with 3/8" bolt; pan/ tilt flat bottom head with 3/8" socket; p/t quick release plate with 1/4" bolt; camera OR : p/t quick release plate with 3/8" bolt; TA - 100 adaptor with 3/8" socket; TA - 100 quick release plate with 1/4" bolt; camera. (I have a vague feeling I've made that even murkier than it started) If they're still in the DVinfo archives you should be able to dig up some of my reviews of camera support gear from the early Triassic which goes into this stuff in a lot more detail. I'm only really familiar with Vinten, Sachtler, Libec and Manfrotto from those reviews and things have changed somewhat, particularly the prices, since then. I'll stay tuned for the next exciting episode. Regards. CS

November 17th, 2024, 02:16 PM	#3
Dan Peterson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 61	Re: Prosumer video fluid head for Canon TA-100 and Bogen 3192? Thank you for your reply, Chris! I hadn't thought about the whole counterbalance component. I know that's importance from my still photography experience using a balanced gimbal with a big telephoto lens, which makes all the difference fatigue-wise. :-) I'll ponder your points and update when ready. Thanks again!

December 31st, 2024, 11:38 AM	#4
Derek Heeps Major Player Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Glasgow , Scotland Posts: 273	Re: Prosumer video fluid head for Canon TA-100 and Bogen 3192? Dan , I know it has been a few weeks , but those legs look very much like clones of my Manfrotto 350MV legs ; mine have 100mm half balls , and normally used with the 116 Mk 3 heads for my larger cameras , but for smaller cameras I also use one of them with a Manfrotto 505 fluid head , which was also available as a Vinten and possibly a couple of other makes . Unlike other Manfrotto heads , the 505 actually is a proper fluid head and comes with five different coloured springs to counterbalance cameras of different weights ; these can now be picked up quite cheaply , and I just bought one for £75 the other day . The head also uses a sliding mounting plate so that , after you have selected the most appropriate counterbalance spring , you can make fine adjustments by moving the camera forward or backwards in fine increments , then locking the plate off . The only thing with the 505 is it comes with a 75mm ball which is part of the head and cannot be removed , so you need a 100mm to 75mm adaptor ring , assuming your Bogen legs also have a 100mm ball . The ring is not an expensive item . As for your tripod plate , that to me looks very much like a shortened Sony VCT-15 plate , the triangular section at the front , and the release handle looks the same, or very similar , and the small foot for the front end of the camera looks very much like the ones on my Sony PMW-F350s and my JVC GY-HD251 . If you look on eBay , you will see that people like SmallRig make lots of plates that look very similar to this design , and some of their plates also have fitments for 15mm rails , if you wish to use a matte box or other accessories . However if you don't need that , the linked picture of your camera shows that it looks to have a standard 1/4" thread mount , so you could just mount it straight onto the manfrotto sliding plate .