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Cartoni Focus 18 Fluid Head (100mm)

BH #CAHF1800 • MFR #HF1800
7 reviews
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Cartoni Focus 18 Fluid Head (100mm)
Key Features
  • Tilt Angle: +90°/-70°
  • Supports Loads Between 11 and 46 lb
  • Sliding Camera Plate
  • Euro-Style Quick Release System
Made from magnesium alloy and aluminum, the Focus 18 Fluid Head from Cartoni offers an infinite number of adjustable tension settings and a continuously variable fluid damping system on both pan and tilt movements. It supports loads between 11 and 46 lb, providing balance along its entire +90°/-70° tilt range.
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Expected availability: 7-14 Business Days
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$3,484.00
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Cartoni Focus Series Video Head Overview

Made from magnesium alloy and aluminum, the Focus 18 Fluid Head from Cartoni offers an infinite number of adjustable tension settings and a continuously variable fluid damping system on both pan and tilt movements. It supports loads between 11 and 46 lb, providing balance along its entire +90°/-70° tilt range.

Compatible with most ENG digital cameras including those from Blackmagic Design, Sony, and Canon, the professional-grade materials and construction quality ensure long-lasting durability.
 

Compatibility
  • Interfaces with all 100mm bowl base tripods
  • AH869 adapter for Cartoni P20
  • AH863 adapter for Cartoni Pedestal P40 P70+, P70 Steering
  • AT854 converter for 150mm tripods
UPC: 260725670531

Cartoni Focus Series Video Head Specs

Key Specs
Top Mounting
Euro Plate Quick Release/Sliding Balance Plate with 1/4"-20 & 3/8"-16 Screws
Head Type
Fluid Head
Load Capacity
39.7 lb / 18 kg
Weight
7.7 lb / 3.5 kg
Top Mounting
Euro Plate Quick Release/Sliding Balance Plate with 1/4"-20 & 3/8"-16 Screws
Head
Head Type
Fluid Head
Base Mount
100 mm Half Ball
Pan & Tilt
Pan & Vertical Tilt Only with Independent Pan & Tilt Locks and Drag Control
• 180° (-70 to +90°)
Counter Balance
Continuous
General
Load Capacity
39.7 lb / 18 kg
Accessory Mounting
1x Pan Handle Fitting
Bubble Level
Yes (Illuminated)
Weight
7.7 lb / 3.5 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
10.2 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
20 x 9 x 8.5"

Cartoni Focus Series Video Head Reviews

Love it

By William
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-03-04

Great head, solid, smooth, reliable

Excellent fluid head for the money

By Gary
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-08-05

I needed a good fluid head for my relatively light-weight hybrid setup (Sony A1 with 200-600G) for shooting birds. It's relatively light weight for a video rig (I don't use an external monitor) BUT dampening 1200mm focal length (with 2xTC) in the great windy outdoors requires a VERY beefy setup so light weight setups need not apply. I went from an E-Image GH06 (nice but not beefy enough) to the Focus 22 (nice but too heavy and can't counterbalance anything as low as 8 lbs even though Cartoni says you can) and finally the Focus 12. I later tested the new Sachtler Aktiv10 as well. The Focus 12 was the best of them all because it could PRECISELY counterbalance my light weight rig through a wide-elevation range without adjustment -- the Focus22, Sachtler and E-Image could not do that. I also prefer the continuous counterbalance and drag adjustments vs. the fixed adjustments used by Sachtler and E-image and many others. The Focus12 is also less expensive than many competing models. These positives are really important to me and outweigh a handful of niggling issues; (1) I don't care for the Euro plate and wish Cartoni had stuck with the standard Manfrotto for their non-professional line of heads; (2) you can't dial the horizontal or vertical drag to zero -- even at minimum settings there's still some drag present -- equivalent to a 1.5 on the 1-7 Sachtler Aktive10 if that helps -- so no whip-panning, and (3) the dial indices are useless compared to the more expensive Focus22 so you just have to set counterbalance and drag by feel. But overall the Focus 12 is a really good head for the money and gets a strong 4-star rating from me. I'm using it on the fantastic Sachtler Flowtech 100 tripod, but that's a review for another day. ;)

See any errors on this page?

Is cartoni focus 18 used in Hollywood ...

Is cartoni focus 18 used in Hollywood cinimatography like other major competitive brands?
Asked by: Asok
Cartoni is very well respected in Hollywood. However, this system is part of their entry-and mid-level user category.
Answered by: Victor
Date published: 2020-06-26

Can it convert to flat base?

Can it convert to flat base?
Asked by: Yuling
The Focus 8 is only compatible with 75mm bowl heads.
Answered by: Nick Y
Date published: 2023-04-12

I had trouble with a cartoni knob on a dana dolly ...

I had trouble with a cartoni knob on a dana dolly in the past, how well will this head attach to a dana dolly with the 100mm bowl adapter?
Asked by: Etienne
The unit will offer nothing but a great plug and play experience when using the any 100mm bowl adapter.
Answered by: hectorm
Date published: 2021-11-16

Is it possible to remove the bolt at the bottom ...

Is it possible to remove the bolt at the bottom of the bowl and use the thread instead? To fix the fluid head to the flat surface of the tripod platform?
Asked by: Borut
The threaded bolt at the bottom of the Focus 10 can be removed. It can thread on to other flat surfaces, but since the 100mm bowl itself cannot be removed it will be taller than a flat base head.
Answered by: Antonio
Date published: 2026-01-17

Can this head attach to a Gitzo tripod?

Can this head attach to a Gitzo tripod?
Asked by: Gary
If the Gitzo has a 100mm bowl, yes.
Answered by: Joe P
Date published: 2021-02-28

Is the handle reversible (to be used with the ...

Is the handle reversible (to be used with the bend pointing up for a comfortable underhand grip)?
Asked by: Jay
Yes. The pan handle offers full articulation.
Answered by: hectorm
Date published: 2022-03-15

Is the 75mm bowl proprietary, or will it work ...

Is the 75mm bowl proprietary, or will it work with a variety of 75mm bowl tripods?
Asked by: James
I bought a Focus 8 head and when I tried to attach it to my Innorel RT90C which has a 75mm bowl it did not fit right. I purchased a 75mm bowl adapter for another of my tripods,a Gitzo Series 3 Systemic, and everything worked fine. My warning would be if you have a "knock off" tripod like my excellent Innorrell RT90C you might end up with a fitment issue but if you have a big name tripod (gitzo, rrs, pro media gear, etc..) you'll be fine.
Answered by: Kip
Date published: 2023-10-29

Will Manfrotto Plates work ??

Will Manfrotto Plates work ??
Asked by: John
Yes, Manfrotto quick release plates are compatible: "The FOCUS 8 Fluid Head comes equipped with a sliding camera plate compatible with Sachtler ACE and Manfrotto standard plates" https://www.cartoni.com/products/fluid-heads/fluid-heads-75-mm/HF0800-focus-8/
Answered by: Eric
Date published: 2020-07-08
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