Posted by Bill Farnsworth on 05/08/06 22:07

<gamefree12345@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1147114026.578523.217940@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
>I have been using a manfrotto 501 head for awhile. I can never get a
> smooth start when panning. There's always some resistance at the
> start. I tend to push it a bit harder than needed and create a
> slight
> jerky motion. Once it pans, the movement is smooth and acceptable.
> I
> have played with the tesnion adjustment but I can never get a smooth
> start. With practice, I can minimize the jerky start motion. It's
> not
> very noticeable in the video but one can see it if one looks for it.
> The interesting thing is that I can achieve a smooth start for
> tilting,
> but not for panning. Do I have pay big $$ for more expensive heads
> to
> get a smooth start for panning? Thanks.
>
> Michael

Probably. But, you didn't say how much your camera weighs. The more
the merrier AFAIC.
But usually you have to get the shear stress resistance down by
lowering the head's fluid viscosity. AND the only way to do that is to
rapidly pan and / or tilt the head a bunch of times to stir up the
fluid when you set up your shot.
It even happens on expensive heads. Especially when they are cold.

Give that a shot.

Bill F.
www.billfarnsworthvideo.com

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