The Manfrotto 502AH Pro Video Head with Flat Base is an affordable yet feature-rich professional head, improving upon the popular 501HDV with its sturdier construction and Manfrotto’s patented bridging technology, inherited from the 509 and 504 heads. This head is designed for executing cinematic moves with compact camcorders and DSLR cameras. It comes in two versions: the "AH" flat base version with a 3/8″-16 mounting hole, and the "A" ball base version available separately.
With a weight capacity of 22 lb and a counterbalance supporting up to 8.8 lb, the 502AH is versatile and robust. The balance plate offers a 3.27″ range to accommodate uneven payloads, such as those caused by matte boxes or DSLR rig configurations.
Manfrotto’s bridging technology ensures that the pan friction control is intuitive, easy to set, and protected against knocks. The head features independent locks for pan and tilt, with drag for both adjustable continuously from zero to the maximum level. This allows for smooth and confident operation using the included pan bar.