MINI TESTS
SPECIFICATIONS Material: Aluminium Head fitting: Flat Camera plate: Arca Swiss Base diameter: 37mm/1.5in Folded length of handle: 175mm/6.9in Extended length of handle: 240mm/9.4in Maximum payload: 4kg/8.8lb Dimensions (wxhxd): 200x75.5x54mm/7.9x3x2.1in Weight: 350g/0.77lb
levelling requires either adjusting the length of the legs or mounting it on top of the Peak Design ball head. This makeshift solution always bothered me; I prefer avoiding the inconvenience of having two heads stacked on top of each other or constantly altering the legs. A new addition to my Peak tripod is the Smallrig Video Head CH20, which comes at an incredible price of just £58.25/$70. This head boasts a smaller, lower profile and lighter design compared to its predecessor, while also featuring a self-levelling base. Despite its affordability, the CH20 is surprisingly well-built. The fluid-damped tilt is smooth, with resistance adjusted or locked using a solid lever on the left side. While its tilt range may not be as extensive as the Lightweight head, I found no issues with it. Next to that is a 1/4in-20 thread for standard accessories. On the right side, you will find a foam-covered handle which can be extended out to 240mm/9.4in or retracted to 175mm/6.9in. The camera plate mechanism lacks a sliding plate, limiting adjustment for the camera and lens combo’s counterbalance. Under the plate hides a magnetically attached hex key for tightening. The payload is low at 4kg/8.8lb but suits smaller cameras, aligning with my kit needs. While the head’s self-levelling range is limited without a 75mm bowl, it typically is enough. The build quality is commendable, with reliable locks preventing head creep, though there’s no adjustable fluid-damped panning. Despite this, it performs well for an affordable and compact option. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 An incredible-value and compact fluid video head Pros: Solid, well-built and small Cons: Arca Swiss is not popular
SMALLRIG VIDEO HEAD CH20 £58.25/$70 smallrig.com
With many cameras getting smaller, my mission is clear: to assemble the smallest, least-cumbersome tripod and head combination that’s ideal for travelling light. Dedicated readers may recall my quest for a set-up that not only delivers real performance, but also offers sufficient height, quick and secure locking capabilities for the legs, plus a fluid-damped head that doesn’t droop. I initially opted for the carbon-fibre Manfrotto Befree Live tripod and head combo. However, I was then tempted by the even more compact yet notably pricier Peak Design Travel Tripod in carbon fibre. Yet, completing my set- up required a real fluid head to fit on top. My search led me to the Smallrig Lightweight Fluid Video Head, which conveniently uses the same Arca Swiss fitting as the Peak Design head. This video head is very compact and only costs £93/$99. It features a damped, panoramic pan movement marked in degrees. Additionally, there’s a second, undamped 360° panoramic movement located just under the camera plate. But, proper
HEAD TO HEAD The
CH20 (right) is smaller than the Lightweight (left) and ideal for mirrorless
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