This impressive yet small tripod fluid head announces itself on the market with a 10 kg load capacity. This means it can accommodate almost any DSLR or mirrorless camera (with lens) on the market, but at 355 grams, it offers amazing advantages for travel photographers or those seeking an extra-lightweight setup. With a 40 mm tripod base and a length of just 80 mm from base to plate, the fluid head measures 90 mm at its widest point. With the optional 200 mm handle, you're ready to go.
But what is a hydraulic fluid head, you might ask?
Most tripod heads are called ball heads because the mechanism that enables panning and tilting is a ball mounted in a base. A fluid head contains a pressurized water chamber that dampens or slows down sudden movements and vibrations, allowing the user to smoothly pan, tilt, and track video.
Once you have the Ulanzi U-190 fluid head When you pick it up, you'll notice a few things. First, you'll feel a metal design that's very well crafted. The solid, smooth, matte finish is very pleasing to the eye and is complemented by the color palette of black, silver, and red, all matte. Second, you'll notice that the hydraulic mechanism always strives to keep the tripod plate horizontal. Thanks to this pressure, you can effortlessly pan and tilt the tripod slowly and smoothly. Third, you'll find four knobs adorning the fluid head.
The top knob loosens and tightens the tripod plate (to which the camera is attached). The next two knobs are next to each other. The smaller knob holds the handle in place when you want to attach it. The handle can be inserted on either side of the fluid head and can be bent down, out, in, or up. This knob holds the handle securely in place by using small teeth inside the knob to grip the position you choose. The other knob next to it is larger and locks the fluid head at any desired tilt angle (up and down), from -80 degrees to positive 90 degrees. The fourth knob has a beveled surface and locks the fluid head's pan function.
The fluid head's swivel function can be measured by a 360-degree base plate, which is indicated by a small downward-pointing arrow at the bottom of the fluid head. A 3/8"-Internal thread for attaching the fluid head to the tripod. The U-190 is supplied with a ¼ 20"-Insert and a small tool for attachment, for smaller tripod mounts and other accessories.
Fluid heads are the perfect addition for anyone shooting video, as this little beauty is robust enough to support heavy equipment yet small enough to be easily transported. I tried it out on my Nikon Z6 with the 14-24mm wide-angle lens, which weighs just under 2 kg, to see how it performed. I found that anything over 1.5 kg starts to lose the feel of the hydraulic pressure you're pushing against to achieve a smooth pan and tilt movement. However, if you plan to use the U-190 Fluid Head primarily for stills, you shouldn't experience any limitations due to the weight. Just make sure you mount your camera securely with the baseplate (or your own L-bracket), and that the tilt knob is also locked so your camera doesn't wander or fall off.
The Arca-Swiss interface means that any tripod mount other than Manfrotto's can work seamlessly with the U-190. The included mount is also slim, elegant, and up to the task, reminiscent of the Falcam 38 plates used for the Ulanzi quick-release system.
Click here to U-190 Mini Fluid Head to buy!
