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Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 142 ratings

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Purchase options and add-ons

Color Black
Brand Manfrotto
Compatible Devices Camcorder, Camera
Item Weight 13.44 ounces
Maximum Weight Recommendation 4 Kilograms

About this item

  • Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head - 501PL Sliding Quick-Release Plate - 10 Year Limited Warranty (6 Months + 9 Years & 6 Months Extension with Online Registration)
  • Payload: 8.8 lbs (4kg)
  • Base: 40mm flat base
  • Panning Range: 360 degree
  • Camera Plate: Includes Manfrotto 501PL Sliding Quick-Release Plate with 1/4"-20 Screw

Additional Details

Made in Italy
Shop products that have been wholly produced or have undergone their last substantial transformation in Italy. Discover more about “Made in Italy”, a label synonymous throughout the world with refined materials, attention to detail, and creativity.

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Frequently bought together

$129.88
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$229.00
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Sold by Fourth Arrow LLC and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
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$23.25
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From the manufacturer

Everything you need for your videos

Smoother Movements

Manfrotto technology for pan and tilt fluid movement to ensure smoothest footage

Leveling

Smart Leveling column to ensure perfect horizontal alignment in few seconds.

Compact & stability

The video head fits perfectly when folded and is steadily supported when in action.

Heritage & Innovation for the best video quality

True to its family heritage, Befree Live express the essence of a premium video support.

Manfrotto
Manfrotto Befree Live Aluminium Travel Tripod with Fluid Head Manfrotto Befree Live Fluid Head
Customer Reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
106
4.2 out of 5 stars
142
Weight 3.97 lb .84 lb
Material Aluminium Aluminium
Safety Payload 8.82 lb 8.82 lb
Min Height 16.93" 3.82"
Maximum Height 59.45" 3.82"
Head Type Video/Fluid Head Video/Fluid Head
Closed Length 15.75" NA
Pan Drag fluid cartridge with fixed drag fluid cartridge with fixed drag
Plate Type 501PL 501PL
Tilt Drag fluid cartridge with fixed drag fluid cartridge with fixed drag

Compare with similar items

This Item
Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head
Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head
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Price$129.88$61.97$54.99$89.99-28% $54.99
Typical:$75.99
$159.00
Delivery
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Customer Ratings
Value for money
4.0
4.5
4.3
4.8
4.2
Quality of material
4.6
4.4
5.0
4.7
Stability
4.4
5.0
4.8
4.6
Sold By
Amazon.com
Lixinshunyi
Leifrotto
Photo Guard
Lixinshunyi
SmallRig
compatible devices
Camera, Camcorder
Camera, Camcorder
Camcorder
Camera, Camcorder, Monitor
Camera
Camera
max. recommended weight
4 kilograms
6 kilograms
22 pounds
10 kilograms
8.8 pounds
10 kilograms
weight
0.84 pounds
30.97 ounces
1.7 pounds
49.6 ounces
0.39 kilograms
1200 grams

Product information

Warranty & Support

Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here

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Manfrotto

Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head


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What's in the box

  • Manfrotto Befree Live Video Head
  • 501PL Sliding Quick-Release Plate with 1/4"-20 Screw
  • Limited 2-Year Warranty (Plus 3 Year Extension with Online Registration)
  • Looking for specific info?

    Product Description

    The smallest and most lightweight video head in the Manfrotto range. The Be free Live Fluid Head has a dedicated sliding plate to balance the latest camcorders, DSLRs or mirrorless cameras with video capabilities. The new Manfrotto Be free Live Fluid head boasts awesome fluidity on Pan & Tilt and has a removable and foldable pan bar for extra portability. The Be Free Live Fluid head is extremely portable and weights just 0.38kg, yet it can support a payload of up to 4kg. It includes the Manfrotto 501PL sliding plate that enable you to perfectly balance your video equipment. This new video pan and tilt head gives the opportunity to have smoother movement during your footage and it is the perfect video fluid head for your lightweight travel tripod.

    Customer reviews

    4.2 out of 5 stars
    4.2 out of 5
    142 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality, weight and size of the camera support. For example, they mention it's a really solid tripod, easy to carry in a carry-on and that it performs well. That said, opinions are mixed on the smoothness.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    15 customers mention12 positive3 negative

    Customers like the quality of the camera support. For example, they mention it's well designed, compact, and reliable. Some say the fluid head is smooth. Overall, most are satisfied with the product's quality.

    "...with fewer adjustments. The quality of the fluid head, the smoothness of its movement, the condition of delivery, all make for high marks for this..." Read more

    "Initially, I was impressed with the size, weight and quality of this product. However, after its first use, the honeymoon was over...." Read more

    "The head nice, and i really enjoy casual video making and the portability of the unit. However two major issues everyone needs to consider...." Read more

    "...Every knob and part on this head feels as cheap as you can get...." Read more

    14 customers mention11 positive3 negative

    Customers like the weight of the camera support. For example, they mention it's lightweight, durable, and portable. Some say the form factor is great for backpacking and travel.

    "...So MVH400 being so lightweight, while being able to support the load, is a huge win...." Read more

    "...It needed to be compact and lightweight as well. This was all new territory to me, still is to be honest...." Read more

    "Initially, I was impressed with the size, weight and quality of this product. However, after its first use, the honeymoon was over...." Read more

    "...It is lightweight and quiet, which makes it great for self filming hunts...." Read more

    13 customers mention10 positive3 negative

    Customers like the size of the camera support. They say it's a compact size, lightweight, and a great head for small cameras. Customers are also impressed with the size, weight, and quality of the product. They mention that it easily fits in a carry-on or a large camera backpack, and that it works great.

    "...It easily fits in a carry-on or a large camera backpack...." Read more

    "...The MVH400AHUS is the perfect size and weight for starters!..." Read more

    "Initially, I was impressed with the size, weight and quality of this product. However, after its first use, the honeymoon was over...." Read more

    "...It fit and works great. But the head doesn't respond as well as one would expect based on the product description...." Read more

    9 customers mention9 positive0 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the performance of the camera support. They mention that it works well, is helpful for filming, and has smooth horizontal panning. The knobs are strong and handy, making it ideal for enthusiast/hobby work and self-filming hunts.

    "...Once adjusted for the needs at hand, it performed very well...." Read more

    "...It is lightweight and quiet, which makes it great for self filming hunts...." Read more

    "...This is ideal for enthusiast/hobby work. Would get 4 stars if it didnt permanently attach to my monopod" Read more

    "...Horizontal panning worked smoothly as expected, but vertical drag for smooth tilting was just non-existent...." Read more

    13 customers mention9 positive4 negative

    Customers are mixed about the smoothness of the camera support. Some mention that the pan operation is smooth while the tilt is a little, while others say that it's not as silky smooth as some $600 heads weighing over a pound, and that they can't get it to pan smoothly.

    "...with fewer adjustments. The quality of the fluid head, the smoothness of its movement, the condition of delivery, all make for high marks for this..." Read more

    "The quality of the video head itself is OK, the pan operation is smooth while the tilt is a little cranky...." Read more

    ""Awesome fluidity." Not even close. Pans fluidly, tilts like grinding metal. No fluid drag for tilting...." Read more

    "Good quality, moves smoothly" Read more

    4 customers mention0 positive4 negative

    Customers dislike the tilt of the camera support. They mention that it grinds like metal, relies on gravity and friction, and is a little cranky. Customers also mention that the camera continuously spins.

    "...Tighten the knob even a tiny bit and it grinds through the movement...." Read more

    "...It continously spins. Luckily the head isnt that bad for the size and portability, but if you need pro work then just get the 502...." Read more

    "...head itself is OK, the pan operation is smooth while the tilt is a little cranky...." Read more

    "...Not even close. Pans fluidly, tilts like grinding metal. No fluid drag for tilting. Basically, tilting relies on gravity and friction...." Read more

    3 customers mention0 positive3 negative

    Customers dislike the knob of the camera support. They mention that it's missing two knobs at location M and V, and the screw is missing.

    "...plate, so after my first use the head has become useless as the screw is missing...." Read more

    "...The reason why I'm giving only three stars is that the product is missing two knobs at location M and V (location described in the user manual)..." Read more

    "...Basically, tilting relies on gravity and friction. Loosen the thumb screw and your camera drops fast if you don't hold on to the handle...." Read more

    Youtube-inspired awesomeness!
    5 Stars
    Youtube-inspired awesomeness!
    I saw a youtube video by Hudson Henry where he explained why he uses fluid heads for photography. I was inspired me to get one. I considered the Manfrotto 502AH, but it looked too heavy and too bulky for traveling. I saw Manfrotto introduced the Befree tripod series and was excited that the head was sold separately because I already own a Manfrotto 190CF.Originally, I was planning to get a 3-way head for the flexibility, precision, and ease of changing from landscape to portrait (I like photographing both landscapes and people). Fluid heads pan and tilt smoothly, but cannot reorient from landscape to portrait without some extra hardware. The great thing about the 190 series is that the center column adjusts 90 degrees, so I had a built-in solution. There were two more additions I made: I added a $50 leveler between the tripod and the fluid head, which makes it a total breeze to level to the horizon for perfect panoramic shots, and I added a quick release adapter. The fluid head comes with a slide plate, which I found got in the way of doing manual adjustments of my lens. The QR adapter makes my life so much easier.When it comes to traveling, the arm of the fluid head adjusts down quickly and easily (as seen in photo). Weight-wise, the leveler added more than the fluid head. I'm super happy with the configuration and the enhanced flexibility to track things quickly in the wild (birds, etc.) with fewer adjustments. The quality of the fluid head, the smoothness of its movement, the condition of delivery, all make for high marks for this transaction.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Holds 6+lbs well-balanced camcorder
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
    For travel it just may work. I got a DVX200 to support - a 6.6 lbs beast of a camcorder, and this setup being for travel, every extra gram is a liability. So MVH400 being so lightweight, while being able to support the load, is a huge win. The head is not as silky smooth as some $600 head weighing over a pound, but it is smooth enough. Regarding others saying it can't support specified load, well, if the load is off-center, you probably will have a problem. For a DSLR with a large, heavy lens, make sure you attach the head to the lens ring, not to the camera body, to have a chance of reasonable balance. Fixed-lens camcorders usually have their attachment tread close to the center of mass, so you should be good. See attached picture if you are skeptical.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2018
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Youtube-inspired awesomeness!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2018
    I saw a youtube video by Hudson Henry where he explained why he uses fluid heads for photography. I was inspired me to get one. I considered the Manfrotto 502AH, but it looked too heavy and too bulky for traveling. I saw Manfrotto introduced the Befree tripod series and was excited that the head was sold separately because I already own a Manfrotto 190CF.

    Originally, I was planning to get a 3-way head for the flexibility, precision, and ease of changing from landscape to portrait (I like photographing both landscapes and people). Fluid heads pan and tilt smoothly, but cannot reorient from landscape to portrait without some extra hardware. The great thing about the 190 series is that the center column adjusts 90 degrees, so I had a built-in solution. There were two more additions I made: I added a $50 leveler between the tripod and the fluid head, which makes it a total breeze to level to the horizon for perfect panoramic shots, and I added a quick release adapter. The fluid head comes with a slide plate, which I found got in the way of doing manual adjustments of my lens. The QR adapter makes my life so much easier.

    When it comes to traveling, the arm of the fluid head adjusts down quickly and easily (as seen in photo). Weight-wise, the leveler added more than the fluid head. I'm super happy with the configuration and the enhanced flexibility to track things quickly in the wild (birds, etc.) with fewer adjustments. The quality of the fluid head, the smoothness of its movement, the condition of delivery, all make for high marks for this transaction.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    10 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2019
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

    Top reviews from other countries

    Translate all reviews to English
    A.McKeachie
    1.0 out of 5 stars Missing parts
    Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2022
    Adrian Villegas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pequeño y Funcional
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 13, 2019
    Greg Riccio Jr.
    1.0 out of 5 stars Very delicate
    Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2018