GTC Patron Sachtler, a Videndum plc brand, has added four new models to its award-winning aktiv™ and FSB Mk II fluid head ranges. The aktiv16T and aktiv18T, plus the FSB 16T Mk II and FSB 18T Mk II, are designed for ENG and documentary professionals working with larger shoulder-mounted rigs, supporting maximum payloads of 16 kg and 18 kg.
Barbara Jaumann, Senior Product Manager – Sachtler, says:
With these new models, we’re giving operators the freedom to work faster with heavier camera setups, without compromising balance or stability. Whether you prefer the lightning-fast SpeedLevel and SpeedSwap of aktiv or the classic, proven tie-down design of FSB Mk II, those systems can now handle bigger payloads with the same speed, precision, and reliability that defines Sachtler.
Sachtler’s aktiv heads deliver ultra-fast setup with SpeedLevel™ technology, enabling operators to release, level, and lock in seconds without taking their eyes off the action. The SpeedSwap™ system allows rapid changes between tripod, slider, or handheld setups, and the innovative mounting design enables extreme low-angle shots when paired with a flowtech® tripod.
FSB Mk II offers the trusted ergonomics, smooth drag, and finely tuned counterbalance professionals expect, with a traditional tie-down design that works across Sachtler tripods, Hot Pods, and small pedestals.
Broadcast cameraman Andreas Niederkofler of Nikocam GmbH, Bruneck, Italy, has been using an aktiv18T flowtech system with his Sony PXW-Z750 shouldercam:
With the aktiv18T, I can perfectly balance my heavier rig in seconds. Switching between the flowtech tripod and other supports for different angles is just as quick, and the whole system is so compact it’s easy to carry between locations. Compared to my previous setup, I’m faster on every shot – and that speed often means I capture moments that would otherwise be gone.
Visitors to IBC 2025 will have the first chance to see the new heads at the Videndum stand, 13.A05. The aktiv16T, aktiv18T, FSB 16T Mk II, and FSB 18T Mk II will be available from October 2025 as head-only units or in complete tripod systems, including flowtech and ENG configurations.
