Manfrotto 504HD tripod first hands on review

Bob Pank#

Author: Bob Pank#

Published 1st September 2010


Well we’ve just got our grubby hands on the beautiful shiny new Manfrotto 504HD tripod system....
I believe this to be the replacement for the 503 head that we have many of and tend to use for cameras like the Sony EX1 and EX3 in our fleet.
Couple of things straight from the box..
Its light – even though the legs are metal.
Comes with the usual padded Manfrotto carry bag with strap that hire clients like so much when having to carry kit on the tube etc..
It has a mid spreader on the 546 legs which is a step in the right direction.
The head has a tension dial that is nice and sensitive and easy to adjust.
The tripod is capable of 9kg of load, so an EX1 or 3 or similar camera will sit very nicely on it even when loaded with mattebox, filters, top light, radio mic receivers and any number of other extras.
We even put a DSR 450 with HJ22 lens on it and it was fine to be honest, but we probably wouldn’t do that as a hire kit.
Looking on the internet, I notice an estimate price banding of approx £700 to £800 (the price variation is mainly due to which legs you order with the head) which is a good price for a mid-range tripod and looks like the perfect answer to our prayers for a mid range tripod for those newer mid range cameras.
So how was it for us ?
We don’t get out much – so forgive us if we seem a bit over keen and eager, but playing with new toys is something we take seriously!
The legs are the usual Manfrotto standard – easy to adjust and use with quick release latches that are simple to tighten with an Allen key if they should work loose.
The spreader is very handy and again easy to adjust for lower level shots. It can also be detached as required very easily.
The feet and firm and again easily detached for sandy/stony ground to give spikes only.
The head is very nice indeed.
For those of us used to the 501 and then the 503 this is a couple of steps in the right direction.
The baseplate is nice and long for heavier cameras and spreads the work load over the base of the camera so that the single screw thread on an EX1 for example isn’t going to give out so easily – something that happens to us with clients lifting the camera by the handle whilst attached to the tripod and wondering why the threads give out…
There are a selection of screws threads supplied – in my kit there were 2 of each size along with the locating pin.
A very nice touch is the locking nuts – they are free running on springs so that you can pull out the plastic knob and turn to tidy away once a nut is tightened.
The bubble is illuminated – another feature normally saved for the bigger boys.
Another bane of our lives has been the teeth wearing on the pan bar fitting in older models – Manfrotto have given the 504 the newer bigger toothed ring so that replacing worn parts is cost effective and easy and because of the bigger teeth that replacement will hopefully never happen.
Balancing is made easier because of the longer baseplate and locking system so that you can a nice balance on whatever camera you are using.

But the nicest part of the new 504HD is the pan and tilt system that allows you to dial in a proper fixed amount and achieve a proper drag on shots that only a higher end tripod would have afforded before this.
We have spent many happy hours playing with this new toy and showing it to several clients who seemed quite keen and did say they would certainly look at purchasing – although thought our obsession with a new tripod slightly odd !

Obviously we don’t get out much – but we do appreciate a nice new – user friendly tripod when we see one.
The tripod is due for release imminently and we shall be ordering a few for EX3 stock for definite.
Out of 5 Jims =

Ease Of Use = 4 Jims
Weight range = 3 Jims
Strength = 2 Jims (worries about the mid-spreader)
Looks = 5 Jims
Overall = 4 Jims

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