Fluid Head DIY Instructions?

[Mark B.]

Anyone know where I can find info on how to build a fluid tripod head? Seems like the ones for sale are too expensive. I can buy a milling machine, and a whole lot of metal for less than the cost of these video heads.

[ZzzZZz...]

you might want to check out this ebook... if you like it buy it.

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3654749/Killer_Camera_Rigs_That_You_Can_Build.pdf

no fluid head instructions, but a bunch of other ways to save some dimes

[Matthew Rogers]

The complexity of fluid heads would make it next to impossible, not to mention all the material that you'd have to go through to get a working, useful head. Now, if you were trying to make a geared head, that might be different.

Seriously, watch ebay for Sachtler, Ronford, Vinten, & OConner heads and see if you can't get a good deal. Then slap the head you find (if it didn't come with legs) on some good Libec legs. By watching ebay I got a Sachtler Video 18 II head for around $850 and then bought some Bogen legs for $450 brand new. The head will still work fine for the RED as long as I don't put a 25lb 25-290 lens on the camera. I will be replacing the legs, but I'm not sure exactly what I am going to do about that (still looking at Libec legs for that.)

Matthew

[Jim Exton]

An O'Connor 50 in good shape should run you around $900. Rebuilt Ronford standard heavy duty legs are around $1250.

It is going to be read hard to get a decent fluid head tripod that will hold the Red for under $2000.00.

Not impossible, but hard.

[ZzzZZz...]

I think it will be wise to wait a little, and see if the best ENG heads can do the job. Especially if you are using primes or still lenses, and enjoy a lighter setup.

[jbeale]

I took apart and reassembled an O'Connor #30 head. I have no idea what the weight rating is, but it is smaller than a #50 head. You can see some photos of the #30 at the link below. This is an old design and it is actually pretty simple inside. I've been told the modern fluid heads are more complicated.
http://www.bealecorner.com/fx1/OConnor30/index.htm

You can pick up old O'Connor #50 heads on Ebay for cheap but they may need refurbishing and that's about $1100 from O'Connor, just FYI. Unless your time is awfully cheap, that's still a deal over doing it yourself.

[chuck colburn]

The complexity of fluid heads would make it next to impossible, not to mention all the material that you'd have to go through to get a working, useful head. Now, if you were trying to make a geared head, that might be different.

Seriously, watch ebay for Sachtler, Ronford, Vinten, & OConner heads and see if you can't get a good deal. Then slap the head you find (if it didn't come with legs) on some good Libec legs. By watching ebay I got a Sachtler Video 18 II head for around $850 and then bought some Bogen legs for $450 brand new. The head will still work fine for the RED as long as I don't put a 25lb 25-290 lens on the camera. I will be replacing the legs, but I'm not sure exactly what I am going to do about that (still looking at Libec legs for that.)

Matthew

Mechanicaly speaking. gear heads are a lot more complex and require more precison in manufacturing and repair then any fluid head.

[Andrew Benz]

An O'Connor 50 in good shape should run you around $900. Rebuilt Ronford standard heavy duty legs are around $1250.

It is going to be read hard to get a decent fluid head tripod that will hold the Red for under $2000.00.

Not impossible, but hard.

Hi Jim,

I will have my O'connor 50 rebuilt soon, but where can I find a set of Rebuilt Ronford standard heavy duty legs for around $1250? That would be great info for me Jim... very much appreciated.

Also, I work in Memphis from time to time, it would be nice to say hello to a fellow RED owner.

Cheers-- Andrew

[albert rudnicki]

I am trying to get some info on Ronford Sticks I just got of ebay.
I have never worked with Ronford.
If Anybody has any experience with it, please share it.
Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290158204162&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:CA:11

[snodart]

Anyone know where I can find info on how to build a fluid tripod head? Seems like the ones for sale are too expensive. I can buy a milling machine, and a whole lot of metal for less than the cost of these video heads.

I looked into this a few times and didn't come up with much. Having a scrapped fluid head to dissect would be a great start. You might want to poke the brains of the guys over at the Home build stabilizer forums (http://hbsboard.com/). I know they have built plenty of remote pan/tilt heads for cranes... anyway, they might be able to get you started (or help you decide if it is worth the time and effort).

I got to move a RED around on a Sachtler set up last week. It sure did feel smoooooth. I'm all about DIY though and it sounds like a fun project to me.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

DIY Fluidhead aquisition process
1) Go to favorite retailer.
2) Choose fluid head.
3) Give money to cashier.

:sorcerer:

[jbeale]

Having a scrapped fluid head to dissect would be a great start.

Actually I'm curious about that point. Old model O'Connor #30 and #50 heads show up on ebay fairly regularly, but I have never seen any recent pro heads there (O'Connor, Sachtler, etc). I'm thinking that these items simply do not change hands on the open market, for whatever reason?

[Martin Drew]

Actually I'm curious about that point. Old model O'Connor #30 and #50 heads show up on ebay fairly regularly, but I have never seen any recent pro heads there (O'Connor, Sachtler, etc). I'm thinking that these items simply do not change hands on the open market, for whatever reason?

Newer heads do pop up from time to time, but you have to keep your eyes open. I think more of these sell through dealers than on Eay though.

Cheers

M

[Mark B.]

With Red getting popular, I don't think fluid heads are going to be available on the used market for very much below retail. Anyway, I'm not sure I'd be confident in dissecting one of the newer ones without causing too many problems with it. I'd hate to pull out something that couldn't go back in easily.

But those pictures of the disassembled oc50 was a good introduction to the stuff inside a fluid head. Maybe with continued digging I can figure more of the basic design concepts and come up with a plan of attack. Probably those of you recommending that I just buy a premade head are on the right track, but I owe it to my bank account to keep researching the DIY option a little more.

[Jim Exton]

Hi Jim,

I will have my O'connor 50 rebuilt soon, but where can I find a set of Rebuilt Ronford standard heavy duty legs for around $1250? That would be great info for me Jim... very much appreciated.

Also, I work in Memphis from time to time, it would be nice to say hello to a fellow RED owner.

Cheers-- Andrew

Hi Andrew.

Visual Products sells them. I just got a pair myself.

[snodart]

But those pictures of the disassembled oc50 was a good introduction to the stuff inside a fluid head. Maybe with continued digging I can figure more of the basic design concepts and come up with a plan of attack. Probably those of you recommending that I just buy a premade head are on the right track, but I owe it to my bank account to keep researching the DIY option a little more.

Yes, those pics were great to see. Thanks, jbeale.

I (uncontrollably) weigh the DIY option with just about everything (with some obvious exceptions). Of course, there have been a few cases in which it would have been smarter to just buy the damn thing. There is one thing I can say about DIY projects (for me anyway): if the majority of the crucial parts are on the inside, there is a pretty good chance that my time will be better spent finding a way to earn the money.

... but wow some of those heads are expensive.

[Andrew Benz]

Hi Andrew.

Visual Products sells them. I just got a pair myself.

Thanks Jim, I am headed there now.