Komodo K5 Video Tripod Head Fluid Drag Pan Head for DSLR Cameras, Camcorders, Monopod and Tripods

Not sure why this head has mixed reviews, but glad I decided to try it despite them. I have used the Manfrotto 501 for years, but wanted something more compact to match my iFootage Cobra II C180 monopod, and the K5 was designed as a match for it. The most common complaint I've seen is that it isn't very smooth, and not adjustable in terms stiffness for pan or tilt... Which I don't really understand, because it is very smooth and am able to adjust both. It has a counterbalance, which some said the tension is too high; again, I found it just right with a smaller camera (A7III and 45mm lens) and it would be even less tense with a larger camera. I read one reviewer here on Amazon said it feels cheap like an old car door... I have no clue what this means, but the K5 is extremely well built and feels premium in all aspects.The thing to remember is that it is a super compact, entry level pro head. It's not going to compare with heads that cost 4x more and are 3x the size. For what it is intended as, it is actually amazing.Highly recommend.

very happy

This fluid head allows smooth panning and tilt motions. It is designed for light and medium weight cameras, up to 11 pounds. Unfortunately, the balance spring is much too stiff for the cameras that it is designed to hold. The spring is supposed to protect the user from having the camera slowly tilt down (or back), when the fluid head is not locked, and the camera operator releases the pan/tilt arm. However, the tripod head has the opposite problem. If the camera operator releases the pan/tilt arm when the camera is tilted up or down, the spring jerks the camera back to near horizontal. The jerk is especially severe when the operator has tilted the camera near its maximum range of tilt motion, that is, +90°/-83°.While there might be a camera and lens combination out there, which is under 11 pounds and needs a spring this strong, I think it would be rare. With my heaviest DSLR and longest, heaviest lens, the spring was still much too strong. The quick release plate allows some adjustability of the balance point for the camera and lens. Even adjusting these to the extremes, I couldn't get the proper (im)balance to match the spring.My video cameras are lighter and more compact than my DSLRs, and need even less from the spring (or better still, no spring). The manufacturer told me that my fluid head was operating properly, and I should just use the tilt lock. This is not a good solution, since releasing the lock causes the head to jerk, and it is difficult to control. Besides, if the manufacturer believes that using the tilt lock solves any tilt issues, then they could say that the operator doesn't need the spring, and can always use the tilt lock. That is what I would prefer.

Ordered separately, I got the Gazelle TA5 tripod first. Amazon was out of stock for the fluid head and I got that about 2 weeks later when it was in stock again. I really like the tripod. I got the aluminum tripod instead of the carbon fiber one. I like something a bit more solid, more sturdy, personal preference. Yeah it is heavier but I'll deal with it all in the name of getting nice clean, clear, sharp images. Plus I get a good work out, no need for the gym :o). At the bottom of the tripod legs are rubber pieces for solid non-slip stable placement. These pieces can be rotated and a pointy spike can be exposed for good placement on rock or dirt/sandy/irregular ground surfaces. As you can see the legs have 3 extension stages for irregular surfaces that may be encountered out in the wild. When releasing the legs using the quick release tabs, the legs slide out with ease. The tabs lock down easily and grip the legs into the selected position-they do not slip. Removal of the center post allows the tripod to 'get down' fairly close to the ground, you know, for those back breaking shots (last picture). Make sure you have your remote cable with you when using the tripod in this fashion :o). Now for the fluid head....As for the fluid head it works great for me. The head has the ability for pitch & yaw movement and it is fairly smooth for the panning shots, although there may be some products out there better for that specific purpose. On the left side of the camera/fluid head, (pictured) next to the IFootage logo, the red button is for releasing the camera/slide gauge from the fluid head. (The slide gauge mounts to the bottom of the camera and a 1/4" or 3/8" screw is supplied to fit what ever threads your camera uses). On the right side of the camera (pictured) just above the Komodo 5 logo is the red tear drop with arrow thumb screw that clamps the gauge slide to the fluid head once the fluid head and camera are placed on the tripod---balanced. In conjunction with the red release button the camera can easily be removed from the fluid head. The other nice thing is that the camera will not slide out (in either direction, forward or reverse) from the fluid head until the red button is pressed, hence your camera won't accidentally just fall out until that red button is pressed for release. Adjacent to the tripod's level bubble indicator (pictured) is the red tear drop thumb screw that controls the panning motion. Just below the red release button (large black wing nut with white lock and unlock arrow indicators) allows adjustment for the camera to tilt down or up. The two red twist 'knobs': one controls for pitch/yaw and the bottom one is for raising and lowering the center post. The handle can be assembled on either side of the fluid head. For my ease of use rating I give it 4 stars. I would have liked to see the red teardrop fasteners a little larger. Ergonomically they are a little bit on the small side, but they do their job. I know, I know, I went into a bit of detail, but I figure they are both IFOOTAGE products and I have them both, why not just do a combined critique. I hope this helps anyone who is thinking of purchasing these products. I believe they are engineered very well. Good luck and happy imaging!!!

I bought this and a bunch of other products after watching one of my favorite YouTubers showcase these products. Then afterwards I got a bunch of videos in my feeds with all sorts of small channels talking about how great these products are, and I smelled a marketing campaign. While there is nothing wrong with promoting ones products I do feel like YouTubers aren't being really honest when they don't pay for products and act like this is something they just picked up...Anyway...Happy to report this fluid is is really good. I'm using it with a G9 which is a rather heavy mirrorless camera and an assortment of Panny-Leica lenses. I think the nicest feature is it is "sprung" or tuned to counterbalance pointing your lens down, which makes smooth panning upward motions much easier with heavier lenses. You might not like this though if you aren't expecting that--I didn't hear this mentioned in the reviews I watched.It comes in an OVERLY nice box with laser cut neoprene. iFootage please think about just putting this in a cheap cardboard box and saving us some $$$ and the environment. Who keeps tripod head boxes? Thankfully the branding isn't too bad on this with a single iFootage logo on the side...still too much. The tripod I bought from them looks like a Nascar track...Anyway I think the price is solid, the quality is good, and you should consider picking one up. :)