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Balancing a Scarlet with Manfrotto 509HD

Ben Scott

Ben Scott

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Hi all,

Just picked up an ex demo 509HD head in mint condition but sadly lacking a manual or instructions of any kind. A quick play with it on the 536 carbon legs and it transpires I have no idea of the process for correctly setting the counter balance etc on it and no matter how/where I seem to have it it is tipping forward or backward which seems at odds with statements on here about how perfectly balanced it is for them.


So form the moment you have your Scarlet and/or rig attached to the baseplate, what's your process for balancing the camera?

Thanks in advance.
 
A dovetail will work wonders for balancing. I almost never use a tripod without one to balance camera. Never use Manfrotto heads, are you maxing out the weight?
 
Are you asking how to use the little electronic device to indicate proper balance? If so, there's a good little video on the subject if you find the product on B&H and click on the video. It's very simple.
 
Well, I used the little electronic device and set it so it was green on both sides, but the tripod does not stay properly counterbalanced in that stae regardless of the level of CB I select. So I assumed there was a knack to it.
 
Is the tension set to high? both on the tilt and the overall tension control on the side. The big one should be at 3 or 4, though you should still be able to balance it at low tension with just the right spot. I have the 504 and I can get a kitted out scarlet to balance on it at the lowest tension setting.
 
Read the manual. Like Stephen states, there are tons of adjustments you can make on this head that would affect balance. I love it.
 
Thanks Stephen. I saw that video but still seem to have the issue of the head not staying level when it is supposedly balanced. Thought the manual might have some extra info or that one of you lovely people might have experienced that too.

Cheers anyway :)
 
For what its worth, when my friend bought a new tripod head and sticks he realised that neither came with instructions on how to put a 100mm head on 100mm bowl sticks, nor could he find any videos on the net on how to do it.
Sometimes manuals aren't as complete as people want them to be
 
Just got my 509HD today. God it is a BIG bastid. Thought my sadly-fading sweet old Sachtler 18II head was hefty, but this! Controls seem nice tho, and motion is smooth, so we'll see. On the handy "30-days-to-return" guarantee with B&H so will carefully try it out. Not really much else with these features for the price. Focus HD looks interesting for same price (certainly smaller!!) but less range of adjustments it seems. A replacement Sachtler was over double the price. Well, least I still have the fab CF Sachtler sticks to mount it on...

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska
 
Many people here know I have been using exclusively Manfrotto supports for the vast majority of my project - including some high-profile ones. I had initially the 526 head - but that was to support the much heavier RED ONE. When 509HD came out - the switch was inevitable. I love this head and IMHO it is the perfect match for both Scarlet and Epic. I know most "pro" shooters here shun at Manfrotto, since it's focus was always photography and video - not cinematography. But that's like ditching the new Canon C-lenses, just because Canon did not use to make cine lenses... The 13kg payload is much more then Your rig will ever weigh - unless you are putting on some insanely heavy lenses - and mind You I am using it comfortably on frequent basis with the Canon's 800mm monster of a lens...

About the ABR - You need to realize that it is an Advanced Balance RECORDER - as supposed to Advanced BALANCER - it does not balance the head for you, it records a properly balanced head position and lets you recall it at will to speed up future setups of the same rig. So you need to start with balancing the head yourself. I highly recommend these steps:

How to get your tripod ready:
1. turn the counterbalance and tilt drag to their minimum setting
2. make sure your head is horizontally balanced (using the bubble level)
3. position your camera setup in to the head until the safety pin engages (at this point it can not slide out)
4. while gently holding onto the top (camera) handle move the setup back and forth until it does not tilt in either direction when you let go
5. press and hold the red ABR button between the two LED's for few seconds - at this point you have "recorded" the correct balance position
6. go ahead and first set the correct counterbalance setting in relation to how heavy your rig is
7. then adjust the tilt drag to your desired level
8. finally adjust the pan drag to your desired level
9. Voila! Until you change the configuration of your rig - you are now ready to work...

How to use the ABR:
10. when you remove the camera and then place it back on the head (without changing it's configuration) - press gently the same red ABR button for a split second and release
11. the LED's will blink in the direction you need to move your rig in order to return to the previously recorded balanced position
12. move your rig back and forth until both LED's light up solid green - you are now back at the balanced position

Now some may ask why not just balance the camera every time you put it back on.
Well - to start with you would not need to reset all the counterbalance and drag settings every time you do so...
And also - sometimes You position the camera for a specific framing and you do not want to move the head - this is especially when you appreciate the ABR...

Ultimately it is up to you whether you use it or not...

Peter
 
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