Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Motion & Video => Topic started by: andybuk99 on August 03, 2011, 05:20:18 am
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I am a stills photographer and I am just about to start filming again after a number of years. I have a http://www.manfrotto.com/product/837...a_Tripod_Black tripod and I am wondering if to get a new head for this, maybe a manfrotto 701 or to get a cheap tripod and head like maybe this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Camlink-TPVI.../dp/B003HKACNA.
I will be shooting with a GH1 and the footage will not be fast moving.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
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The tripod, as long as it's stable, is not nearly as important as the head. The head is everything. Spend as much as you can on the head. If you don't, you'll be buying again later. A good head can make the impossible easy. A poor head will ruin shots forever.
Sachtler, Cartoni, O'Connor are the names to look for.
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Benro/Slik tripods are good and cheap. However, as Peter has said, you need a good head. Most heads look good for the first few weeks, but then slowly they start to lose calibration and smoothness.
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Sachtler, Cartoni, O'Connor are the names to look for.
+ Miller (http://www.millertripods.com/)
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+ Miller (http://www.millertripods.com/)
Manfrotto 536 carbon fiber. The biggest one they make. It is s still tripod but fast to set, very stable, put a good satchler head on it and it's heaven and will cut your setup time in half.
IMO
BC
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Im not onboard with vid tripods that dont have a spreader (like the 536 and smaller brothers)
- yes I have a miller solo - no spreader - but crave what my mates from the Beeb use (after years of experience)
Unlike my stills tripod that has a centre columb making adjustments of camera height is hard with 'sticks' that dont have spreaders
Us stills people seem to care about camera height and correct verticals in video more than video people
And with no spreader getting the right height becomes a dance between the three legs
I would suggest..
Go to a store and try some
Make sure that trial includes satchler speedlock, which to me is king of the hill in terms of man portable tripods
And by man portable I dont mean its a hiking tripod I mean its one you may be able to manipulate without an assistant
- im still after a hiking tripod - more the sort of thing chris suggests no doubt
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http://www.sachtler.com/?id=1108/product_tripods-100-mm_speed-lock-cf.html
reads..
"It takes just three quick movements and the Speed Lock CF is ready for action – and users don't even have to bend over! .."
Read and believe the bold bit if you are over 30
S
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I have been using the Manfrotto 503 for several years, and I like the way it damps pans and tilts to smooth them out.
It's more hefty than the 701, but you may want to get it anyway. Once you get back into filming, you may find you want a better quality camera, and that always means heavier.
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Us stills people seem to care about camera height and correct verticals in video more than video people
God Yes! I have an O'Connor 1030HDs with the 25L Carbon sticks and I would kill for a geared column and a head thats a cross between the O'Connor and my Arca Cube.
It's such a PITA to fine tune compositions on cine support.
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God Yes! I have an O'Connor 1030HDs with the 25L Carbon sticks and I would kill for a geared column and a head thats a cross between the O'Connor and my Arca Cube.
It's such a PITA to fine tune compositions on cine support.
Mr Barret
I beleive you are not poor..
http://ronfordbaker.co.uk/billet_bazooka.html
Check out the corner option too and other bits at the bottom of the page
Actually you can pick up Ronford legs pretty cheap its the other bits
S
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Sam,
Looks a little heavy but really damn nice. Thanks for the link!
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http://ronfordbaker.co.uk/billet_bazooka.html
Check out the corner option too and other bits at the bottom of the page
Actually you can pick up Ronford legs pretty cheap its the other bits
S
Nice link indeed.