IFOOTAGE Video Fluid Head Komodo K5S, Aluminum Video Head for Tripod Monopod, Camera Fluid Head Mount for DSLR Camera, Camcorder, Monopod & Tripod, Payload 5KG/11LB

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. :)

I am a wildlife photographer and my lens and camera are not light. I've been shooting handheld for the last couple years. My elbow has been killing me to the point where it was affecting me when I shoot. After a lot of research, I wanted the the monopod with a petal. With my old mono pod I've found it hard to make adjustments. I asked my husband for the monopod for Christmas and I ended up buying the fluid head after trying other brands. This was monopod and fluid head was the best purchase because it has relieved a lot of the pressure and stress on my elbow. Plus, it's made my shots less bouncy and I've been able to keep the bird in frame better than when I shoot handheld. Now it takes a little bit of getting used to, if you're not used to it. And I do not leave my camera unattended. I always wear the shoulder strap, just in case. It can tip over, depending on the ground you're shooting on. I just don't take a chance. Always, hold on to your camera! I can't express how much I love this!

This is really a nice video head and is super light and compact. It is smooth on pan and tilt. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is that built-in counter balance or "return to zero" function is very strong. For my purposes it was too strong to try and self film. If the tilt counter balance was not so strong, this would be an amazing video head. And depending on your needs, it might be for you.

Well I screwed up, again! I bought the IFOOTAGE TC6S and tried it by putting my camera on top of the tripod and just adjusted it using the top of the center column. Wrong!!!!! It took me only one day to realize I desperately needed a ball head and it just seemed logical to buy the one that was designed to actually fit and be used with this tripod, and these two pieces of kit are made for each other. In fact I wouldn’t want to use any other ball head. The construction and quality are rarely seen in a unit at this price. I would have thought that it cost 3 times what IFOOTAGE charges for it. The parts are exact. Everything fits together and works smoothly. It has two safety features that prevents the camera from accidentally sliding or falling off. Also comes with a handle for panning or video. I’m just so impressed with IFOOTAGE products. I will recommend this tripod and ball head to everybody I see with a camera. Even if it’s an iPhone!!!!!

Working mostly in NYC, I try to pack as light as possible when taking public transportation. Got this head for a lighter tripod setup, which weighs less & packs down smaller than my main setup (Sachtler Ace XL on Miller CF sticks). This Komodo head on Sirui N-3204x sticks, with a leveler, provides enough tension for smooth-enough pans & tilts for my minimal GH5 rig (Movcam cage, 8" 15mm rods, rosette handles, small shoulder pad, SmallHD Focus). Panning tension is great for my full rig, but the counterbalance isn't enough for it (which is expected, as my rig is right at max load capacity). It's still possible to get smooth tilts, just need to careful. When I strip down my rig to reduce the load, all works smoothly. I typically bring the Komodo/Sirui setup when I'll mostly be shooting sit-down interviews. Overall, it's the perfect blend of portability and functionality at a good price.

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.

This iFootage head is extremely durable. I like how it breaks down easily to fit in my camera backpack. It also handles the weight of my Nikon Z50ii and a Tamron 4lb lense on my iFootage monopod, that I use to take photographs of wildlife