Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W XPRO Fluid Head Review and Test

Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W XPRO Fluid Head Review and Test
Link to Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W Head: http://amzn.to/1MKH1F3
Link to RC2 Plates for MHXPRO-2W: http://amzn.to/1RVFubm
Link to the Manfrotto 502HD Fluid Head: http://amzn.to/1RForev

Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W XPRO Fluid Head with Fluidity Selector Review and Test

Today we’re looking at the Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W XPRO Fluid Head with Fluidity Selector. Now despite its sophisticated-sounding name, the XPRO fluid head is one of Manfrotto’s newer fluid heads that is extremely affordable. So let’s take a closer look.

The Manfrotto MHXpro-2w XPRo fluid head is one of Manfrotto’s most compact and lightweight fluid heads, weighing in at a mere 1.7lbs. And this is extremely lightweight, especially when compared to something like the 502HD, which weighs in at 3.5 lbs. This is great for folks who travel a lot with their gear and need something lightweight. It has a flat base and mounts to any tripod that has ⅜” standard male thread. At its core, the MANFROTTO MHXPRO-2w XPRO fluid head is a very simple device. It has two fluid cartridges- one for panning and the other for the tilt axis. Both the pan and tilt axes have knobs that can slightly adjust the amount of fluid resistance and also lock each axis completely. Cameras mount to the head using Manfrotto’s RC2 quick release connector, which has a standard ¼-20 thread. And if you plan to use more than one camera with the fluid head, you can buy extra RC2 plates, and quickly change out cameras. The RC2 mount also has a safety lock that prevents you from accidentally releasing the camera. It can support cameras upto 8.8lbs in weight, and that’s more than enough for most mirrorless cameras, DSLRs and camcorders. One of the features that sets the Manfrotto MHXpro-2w XPRO head apart from other budget Manfrotto fluid heads, is the dual-tension balancing system. There are two settings. One for cameras with shorter lenses and the other for cameras with longer lenses. You can select either setting by rotating the g1ray knob on the right hand side. The settings work fine and helps to keep the camera balanced when shooting. Its base also has an extremely helpful fluid level, to make sure your camera and tripod are leveled out. The handle on the Manfrotto MHXPRO-2w XPRO fluid head is comfortable to use and can be installed on either side, depending on which hand you prefer to use, to operate the rig. The handle is more compact than handles on larger fluid heads and is about 11 inches in length.

The overall build quality on the Manfrotto MHXPRO-2w XPRO fluid head is pretty good. It’s made from a combination of cast aluminum and hard plastic. It should hold up pretty well for semi-professional and enthusiast use.

When we tested the Manfrotto MHXPRO-2w XPRO fluid head, it performed just as expected. The typical Manfrotto smoothness was evident. Videos were smooth and free of any jerkiness both in the pan and tilt modes. Now it certainly doesn’t have the option of precise fine tuning of the fluid tension, like you get with something like the Manfrotto 502HD. However, I really don’t see that as much of an issue for semi-professional and enthusiast users. In fact, I find that having less flexibility with the fluid tension allows users to focus more on the shot and less on the tension settings. It just produces smooth pans and tilts with very little setup or adjustment. Works superbly well, right out of the box, as you can see in these videos.

So should you buy this fluid head. If your are a semi-professional videographer or a filmmaker on a budget, this is an inexpensive tool that will add a lot to your production value and just plain makes your videos look cooler. For those folks, I definitely recommend the XPRO! It’s certainly not a heavy-duty fluid head for rough commercial use. If you want something more heavy-duty for daily commercial use, I’d recommend the 502HD. Feel free to check out our review of that fluid head. I’ll leave a link below. I’ve also put links to all the equipment I mentioned in this video, in the description below, in case you’re looking to buy any of those. Hope this review was useful, if it was, please LIKE this video and subscribe for more reviews. Thanks for watching and see you next time.