The MVH500AH is a light duty fluid head aimed at the travel and amateur video markets. The flat bottom fits standard photographic tripods (3/8" thread) and has a wide platform for DSLRs, making it a good choice for photographers dabbling in video production.BUILD: The cast aluminum fittings, removable panning handle, giganormous quick release plate and excellent fit and finish make for an impressive package. Plus, installation was easy: a few spins and the MVH500AH mated to the 3/8" bolt on my Manfrotto 190. It held my Canon 80D with EF-s 18-135 3.5-5.6 IS USM perfectly and delivered silky smooth pans. Drag is fixed but resistance is ideal for pans from 10mm to 200mm on APS-C and smoother than my larger and more expensive Manfrotto MVH502AH video head.The pan handle is comfy and provides plenty of leverage, making it easy to grip and steer. One thing I appreciate is the panning handle is not only adjustable for angle, but can be mounted on the left or right side. I’m right-handed but prefer panning with my left-hand, using my right-hand to work camera controls.QUICK RELEASE: The 500 sports a Rapid Connect (Q5) quick release and includes a single 500PLONG plate. The 500PLONG is the long (5.5") version of the 501PL plate. It's ungainly on a DSLR and obviously designed for the long and narrow form factor of pro camcorders. However, it’s designed to slide in the clamp like a rail, allowing it to be positioned for optimal balance.Mounting the 500PLONG takes multiple steps: angle in plate from above, snap in, position for best balance and, finally, tighten the thumbscrew to lock. Tabs prevent the plate from sliding out of the clamp if you forget to lock it. To release, unscrew the lock lever and press the release tab while lifting the rig out. Not quick but secure and easy to rebalance after a lens or camera change.I use the Arca-Swiss (AS) quick release system on my other heads. So I installed an AS compatible clamp (Sunwayfoto) on the head by mounting it on the 3/8" stud of the 500PLONG, yielding an easy to use quick release. Best of all, I can leave an AS plate on my camera and mount it on any of my heads without swapping plates. And, yes, mounting/removing the camera is faster with the AS clamp but I can still slide the 500PLONG for optimal balance.GOTCHAS: Unlike most other Manfrotto video heads, plates for the 500 can't be slid in. Instead, they snap in from above at about a 20 degree angle. Snapping in the plate is more difficult and slower compared to sliding in, especially with larger lenses and accessories attached to the camera. However, since I use an AS compatible clamp the before mentioned is a moot point for me.The extremes of the vertical tilt befuddle me: if I release my grip on the panning arm at the lowest or highest point of the vertical pan, the head is deflected in the opposite direction as if spring loaded. Of course I can hold the panning arm or lock it down but other positions in the pan-path hold position. I’m not sure if this is a feature or defect but my Manfrotto 128LP fluid head simply sits there instead of recoiling and doesn't need to be locked or held. If this is a feature, maybe it’s supposed to keep a heavy rig from suddenly crashing to the extreme of the vertical pan?FINAL BLURB: The 500 is a lightweight travel worthy video head and deal for shooting video with a small to medium DSLR. It's almost perfect but, if I were to grade the 500, it would earn an A-. But it nails the important things: silky smooth pans, easy to balance, is stable and has great fit and finish.