Sirui VA-5 Ultra-Compact Video Head

I tested 8 different video heads, compact heads, and pan/tilt heads ranging in price from .36-300, in conjunction with the Kowa 883, larger size spotting scope for birding. This one was a definite winner. The quality is decent but could be slightly more solid. The plate is really nice and has a safety feature that none of the others had. There's a little brass piece that comes up to prevent you sliding the head all the way off. You hold down the big red button to release it. Before I put the scope on the head and I was just turning it with my hands, I felt like it had way too much resistance, and had the most resistance of any of the heads I tested. But once I put the scope on, the others were all too floppy and the ones with more resistance weren't balanced correctly. This one I can get the scope pretty well center balanced, then the head has a little bit of tilt resistance to bring it back to center. Gitzo and Manfrotto heads couldn't handle this, weren't centered, so the scope was always flopping forward or backward. The controls are also decent, well placed, and logical compared to others. The only thing I didn't like 100% was the handle, but I ended up just removing it and I can control the scope with no issues. I assume this would be a good option for a medium-heavy video rig also.

I bought this for use with my vortex viper binoculars, haven't had a chance to use it yet, but very smooth fluid motion up and down as well as side to side. Very happy with my purchase!

I bought this to use with my new (heavy) spotting scope, and it works great. I was a bit worried about balancing the scope, and while the supplied quick release plate is ok, I ordered a Sirui PH-120 plate. This allows me to use 2 screws to secure the head, and a much better purchase for the plate in the quick-connect clamp. I previously used an ancient Gitzo fluid head, but it did not lock as well as the Sirui. Very nice so far. No complaints.

Great smooth action. Very stable. The option to adjust the lock plate takes a little getting used to. I use this head for my 20-60 Vortez Razor spotting scope. Great combination.

I chose this based on a lot of video reviews on using this for binoculars and spotting scopes. I have not had a chance to try panning with a video camera yet but have used these with binoculars. While this is a light weight head for lightweight cameras and optics it lacks fine tuning for adjustment. In my case its quite sufficient. To give up weight, you have to remove options. I do notice some earthquake with my 18x56 binoculars because I cannot fine tune the adjustment. Some of this may be in the tripod as well, its usually at the start and if I remove all tension I find my muscles do a poor job of keeping everything fluid. I put my binoculars on, do my best to put the arca plate in the best spot while compromising the position of my face and the balance on the head. It is repeatable once you figure this out. Then I adjust the up and down lock wheel until I get it to hold with my heaviest binoculars so it does not jump as much. For side to side I set the lever to where I can just start to feel friction. It will not keep my Vortex Kaibab from spinning unless I lock it. It holds well, short of a hight difference between the 2 manufacturers of binocular mounts, it is in the same spot every time. The ability to adjust between different arca Swiss plate dovetails is a wonderful thing. I added 2 of the model ty70-2 plates from the same manufacturer and was surprised to see that they were loose upon taking out the provided stock plate. Once I set it via the pull out plate lock lever both of the new plates are secure in a repeatable fashion. I'm liking the the ability to move the Handle towards the front. The only problems I have run into is: I cannot see the level bubble on the section where the head mounts to the tripod and I paired this with a Acratech Leveling Base which has a side bubble. Sometimes the handle runs into the big bubble on that, but with a quick adjustment I can move it, otherwise I stand on that side of the tripod anyway.