Can you use a fluid head upside down?

[Bob Hayes]

Can you use a heavy duty fluid head upside down? I?m afraid it would pull it apart with a camera the weight of a 16 sr or a Sony F900.

[Matt Irwin]

I've seen an O'Connor 2575 used upside down with a Moviecam Compact (1000' heavy mag & prime) mounted by an underslung bracket. It worked flawlessly, so yes it can be done.

[Jeff Tanner]

Yes it can be safely done. I mount our SRII to an upside down sachtler 18 plus quite regularly on the end of a 6 foot jib arm. I attach the quick release plate to the threaded handle so that I can place the camera fractions of an inch off the floor/table/whatever.

 

Jeff

[Michael Nash]

Can you use a heavy duty fluid head upside down? I?m afraid it would pull it apart with a camera the weight of a 16 sr or a Sony F900.

 

If the head is big enough, sure. When in doubt, use a Weaver-Steadman for underslinging.

[John Sprung]

Can you use a heavy duty fluid head upside down? I?m afraid it would pull it apart with a camera the weight of a 16 sr or a Sony F900.

If you ever find one of the old NCE's from my early days, it's important never to let it get upside down or even laid on its side. There's no seal for the pan, and the glop runs out. It's a sort of slimey grease. I tried replacing it with automotive wheel bearing grease, but that didn't have enough drag.

 

 

 

-- J.S.