Manfrotto 503HDV Pro Fluid Head

Manfrotto’s 503HDV pro fluid head, introduced at NAB, includes a new triple-spring counterbalance feature that’s adjustable to four positions, giving you smoother tilt and the added insurance that your lighter-weight camcorder won’t fly off your sticks. The knobs on the new model are also larger and intuitively placed, as is the blue LED bubble level— a convenient way to see what you’re doing in low-light conditions. And for those of you who like to do a lot of pan and scan, you can now replace your worn out pan handle rosettes without sending the entire head into the shop. Manfrotto expects to ship the 503HDV this summer, both individually and as part of several upgraded Manfrotto tripod kits. $338 (single unit); kits range in price from $683 - $1,200. www.bogenimaging.us