Featuring the 100mm Cartoni Focus 18 Fluid Head with H604 Tripod Legsis intended for users who shoot with loads between 13.2 to 40 lb and who need a lightweight system. The Focus 18 provides perfect balance along its entire +/-90° tilt range, and features continuous counterbalance adjustment.

The kit also includes the H604 Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Dual-Stage Tripod Legs, which feature 19 - 60" height adjustment and non-slip flip clamps; a metal ground spreader; a second pan bar; and a soft carry case with a foam interior, leather handles, shoulder strap, and exterior pockets. (The first pan bar is included with the Focus 18 Fluid Head.) Everything is designed, manufactured, and assembled at the Cartoni factory in Rome, Italy. The Focus 18 Fluid Head comes with the peace-of-mind of a five-year warranty, and all the other items retain their standard one-year warranty.

The Focus 18 consists of 127 parts, machined or cast to micro-metric precision and hand-assembled and adjusted to precision by one engineer at a time. A follow-up to the Cartoni Focus HD head and an evolution of the original Focus head, the Focus 18 incorporates the Sachtler Touch-and-Go 16 plate system, which is found on Sachtler's FSB and Video series heads, and integrates a new composite material in many parts that allows for a solid build while keeping the weight down. Of course, it also features Cartoni's renowned counterbalance and very smooth, "true" fluid drag. The Focus 18 uses the same patented Delta silicon wedge counterbalance system used in Cartoni's successful Delta head. The Touch-and-Go 16 plate system will allow you to efficiently move your camera between compatible heads in a studio setting, and will also future-proof your head for such possible uses.

The new composite material that's used is a sophisticated non-metal that's much stronger than aluminum, and yet lighter. It is used in the tilt fluid knobs, pan fluid gears, and other parts throughout the body. This composite is also highly resistant to the stress of weight, bending, rubbing, and extreme temperatures, so where it's used in the mechanisms of the head it actually provides for more stress endurance, in addition to saving weight. This composite is the result of a collaboration between Cartoni and the Department of Physics and Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome.

The Focus 18 features a Cartoni-patented labyrinth modular fluid drag system, which consists of individual pan and tilt modules. Each module contains two main sections that have thin concentric rings inside them. The rings in one section interact with the rings in the other, with aerospace industry silicon paste fluid between them that provides resistance. The two sections are never fully disengaged from one another, so movement is always smooth and with no play. With there being separate pan and tilt modules, pan drag and tilt drag are accordingly independent, yet work together to allow smooth, uninterrupted motion in any direction. Cartoni performs a laser-assisted, diagonal movement test on every head to ensure that there isn't even the slightest digression from a straight-line movement.

The pan drag control is a large ring in the center of the head that's easy to use even without looking. This and all other controls are designed with ergonomic grips that will feel secure between your fingers. There is also an illuminated bubble level that will be very helpful in dark settings.

Focus 18 Fluid Head (100mm), 127 Parts    13.2 - 40 lb Capacity    Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Dual-Stage Legs    Ground Spreader, 2nd Pan Bar, Carry Case    Perfect Balance Along +/-90° Tilt    Touch-and-Go 16 Euro-Style Plate System    Labyrinth Modular "True" Fluid Drag    Continuous Counterbalance and Drag    Non-Slip Flip Clamps with Safety Locks    Made and Hand-Assembled in Italy

• Focus 18 Fluid Head (100mm)
• H604 Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Dual-Stage Tripod Legs
• Metal ground spreader
• Second pan bar (one is included with the Focus 18)
• Soft carry case

• 100mm Ball base
• Supports loads between 13.2 to 40 lb
• Perfect balance along entire +/-90° tilt range
• Sachtler Touch-and-Go 16 Euro-style plate system
• Incorporates a sophisticated lightweight, extremely hard, and highly stress-resistant new composite material
• Labyrinth modular "true" fluid drag system
• Independent pan and tilt drag, with no play
• Continuous counterbalance and drag
• 127 Parts designed, manufactured, and hand-assembled at the Cartoni factory in Italy
• Five-year warranty
• Large pan drag ring in the center
• Ergonomic grips on all controls
• Illuminated bubble level
• Includes a pan bar attachable on either side

• Heavy-duty carbon fiber dual-stage tripod legs
• 176 lb Load capacity
• 19" Minimum height
• 60" Maximum height
• 28" Folded length
• Non-slip flip clamps with safety locks

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is the 75mm bowl proprietary, or will it work with a variety of 75mm bowl tripods?

A: No. Unit is designed based around a 75 mm Half Ball that is removable.

Q: 2. 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?

A: The unit will offer nothing but a great plug and play experience when using the any 100mm bowl adapter.

Q: 3. Struggling to counterbalance a 6 to 8 pound camera setup (Sony z280) on the Focus 12. Any tips? I can't get the camera to hold position when tilted down or up. I have no problems balancing on a Focus 8. Thanks for you help.

A: The Cartoni Focus 12 Fluid Head (100mm) (B&H# CAHF1200) features a continuous counterbalance system that is designed to provide counterforce in all orientations so as to make it easy and smooth to return to a level position. It can still tilt, however, to a full +90 degrees or -90 degrees, so you should still be able to point in your desired direction. If you would like to reduce the effective counterforce then you'll want to add weight to your camera.

Q: 4. Does the quick release plate load from the side or the rear?

A: this is a slide load quick release plate and will load from the rear

Q: 5. 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?

A: Further exploration into this specific product has actually brought us to confirm that it is NOT possible to fix the fluid head to the surface of the tripod platform

Q: 6. Is the handle reversible (to be used with the bend pointing up for a comfortable underhand grip)?

A: Yes. The pan handle offers full articulation.

Q: 7. How can I mount this to a tripod with a flat base?

A: It's not possible as this has a 100mm half ball,

Q: 8. What is the total weight of this setup?

A: The legs of the Cartoni Focus 8 Fluid Head with Red Lock Tripod System weight 7 lb, while the fluid head weighs 4 lb, making the combined total weight 11 lb.

Q: 9. I have Miller style plates will it work? with this Cartoni Focus 8 or Focus 12

A: no Miller plates will not work on the cartoni tripods

Q: 10. What is the warranty?

A: Cartoni products come with a 5 Year Warranty. It is 3 years out of the box and you just need to register the products with Cartoni for an additional 2 years to be added.