I actually built my own motorized slider from the Varavon S900. Looks ghetto as all hell but works for me. I'm using it on a job in Miami right now but will post some pics soon.

thanks for all the great info and links folks, very helpful

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Gotcha. My bad. It's that variable axis you are talking about. Sorry. I use a tripod mount adapter for lenses so I can rotate how the camera mounts easily so I never really even thought about your problem.

I'm so confused here. Why can you not do that with this head? This head does everything my Bogen 316 head does. And that head is studio level! I've panned and titled with the head while my slider was at a 90 degree angle. Yes, not easy or ideal, but it worked. Am I missing something here? I might be a few beers in to understand what you mean. :) Do you mean setting the slider up 10 degrees on one side?

@kavadni Yes, I know what that does. So does the head in the link I posted. Did you even look at it? This isn't my first day at the rodeo ;)

@ade4all Why wouldn't you just buy another head that can support that weight? It will be cheaper than all that riser and convertor crap and weigh less. What's the payload for your AF100? I have a head, the same as the varavon one that I purchased that handles 10 pounds easy. Varavon just slapped their name on it. Dracast and Cowboy use it as well on a light duty tripod I have. Here's the link. It's very fluid and smooth, plus you save an assload of money.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0072B0UMI/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00

Buy it via Amazon Prime and if you don't like it, return it!

BTW, It has the same or larger payload rating than the 701. I have not used the 701 but I've used this head with my HVX200, with a wide angle lens attached and a DTE and it actually worked pretty good. That's alot of weight!! I had a 501HDV and IMO, this head worked better. The 501HDV had a very small amount of backlash, this other head didn't.

thanks Kavadni I'm in the U.K. and am struggling to find it on ebay or any uk supplier, have bought from bh before but I guess for this I'm paying for them to import it into USA from korea then export to the UK - I dont suppose anyones got a link for a more direct way of doing it, the tight arse in me says this is an expensive way? cheers for all the help

What I like about Konova are their legs. Varavon legs are much different and not as good (they are like old konova design). Also I want to have a motorised version, sadly Varavon doesn't sell them (yet?).

What I like about Varavon is bigger shaft and bigger roller bearings. Also I like their Block head with dial and buble leveler.

I have Konova now, but I'll switch to Varavon if they will change legs and show a good moto version.

thanks for all the info - a few more queries - is there a high hat solution for the Varavon, cant seem to find one but would be interested in using my Vinten vision blue head which has 75mm ball.....have seen a lot of folk seem to just use the screw on type manfrotto 701 head but am not convinced it would handle the weight of an AF101 & allow for smooth tilts, pans etc? Any feedback would be useful, thanks

@vicharris

Are Konova good sliders? They are.

But. Payloads are just marketing bullshit here.

Only thing that matters for such sliders is diameter of steel rods.

Varavon Lite has smallest rods, Varavon S has bigger rods than K2 or K3. Period.

Your usage of word "same" is just unacceptable for me. As you always assume absolutely different thing under this - "in my humble opinion they looks similar to me". This is how you must words this.

To be short, both Varavon sliders had been designed as things for certain real goals, long after Konova.

@V: I consider Konova AND Varavon on equal terms and best bang 4 buck if you re-read what i said. Its just lack of motor for their Sliders. I was hoping they would have one. I hope they have some in the works and plan to release them soon. I don't have any connections whether paid or indirect with either companies so its not an advertisement.

Considering S and K3 my comparison, I compared closest I could find.

But it is also not fair comparison, as Konova alternative to Varavon S is really K5, not K3 (K3 is made for much lighter cameras and use 6mm rails only, same as K2).