New video tripod - advice needed

[Hywel]

Hi All,

I could do with some advice on buying a new video tripod. I've been soldiering on with an old Libec bought more than a decade ago but it is properly wearing out and I want to upgrade.

I want to be able to use my fully-rigged Scarlet on it, around 7 kg. It would be useful to also take GH4 B-cam (almost zero weight by comparison, maybe 0.5 kg?)

It would be nice if it could go up to eye level, like my current Libec, and I like the ground level spreader but mid-level would be OK.

Carbon fibre for the tripod would be nice. A good fluid head is a must. Ideally able to take the two extremes (7 kg and 0.5 kg) but obviously if it can only take one, it needs to take the 7 kg Scarlet.

My first choice would be http://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/oconnor_c1237-0111 but I simply can't afford it right now. Nonetheless, the Libec is worn out and needs replacing.

Can anyone suggest a lower-cost but not totally rubbish alternative to the O'Connor? I can stretch to two or three thousand UK pounds for a decent one.

Cheers, Hywel

[Morgan_Moore]

I think im in quite a good place with 'sticks'

Basically I bought a Miller Solo legs and an Miller Arrow 25 head (I think miller replaced that line but still offer a '25lb' head of some nature)

(Now miller and satchler heads take the same plate but are in different positions.. which means your rig built for Miller might not work on a satchler which can be an issue if you are on a job with a load of satchler people.. if you do multicam go satchler)

I then found the Solo legs to be annoying for interviews as changing the height in small increments is hard. Solo legs are great for going super low though.

I then bought some big old satchler legs ex rental. If I had more money I would suggest the satchler CF speedlock as they are probably the easiest legs to handle in an interview situation. Having two sets of legs I then bought a shi_tty frotto head and 100mm bowl adapter.

So where am I now.. a good place..

Working very light with stripped back FS7?

Solo legs + shi_tty head.


Interviews with 'built FS7' (monitor, camera Vlock)?

A camera.. Satchler legs, Miller head.

B camera.. (GH4) solo legs, Sh_ty head.

Need low shots and a bit more mobile but still a built camera? (out filming nature.. or racing cars)?

Solo legs.. Miller head.

=====

In summary I would buy..

Speedlock CF legs and a Satchler head capable of 25lb load 100mm bowl.

Miller Solo CF legs, 100 bowl size

A shitty or not so shitty low capacity head with a 100mm bowl

id then mix n match as per shot/shoot camera choice/build.

S

[Morgan_Moore]

Plates!

Ive made all this lot work.

My cameras both have 577 frottos on the bottom.

My rig has 501 at the top and miller at the bottom

I have another miller plate with a 501 on it

My frotto head is 501 native.

Result?

Built FS7/rig goes on the miller
Stripped FS7 (no rig goes on the frotto or the miller)
GH4 (no rig) goes on the frotto or the miller

I use the 501/577 system cos it is cheap, Ideally Id do something with Arca/RRS I guess.

S

[fredjeang2]

Strongly recommend you check Vitten. (bbc standart)
They have a line that is affordable.

British enginering is great.

[Morgan_Moore]

Vinten? Part of the Vitec group who are ruining everything.. including satchler.

Thats why I like miller, but the satchler speedlocks are a good design (also used on evey bbc job Ive seen/done) even if I think the speedlock levers could break.

Talking British.

Ronford will custom make 100mm head and CF legs if you have a year to wait then they are quite affordable.

S

[Morgan_Moore]

Bags!


I love my Miller bag which I can get sticks/head, 2 light stands (or one and cheap slider), camera rig and much underwear into.. great for the airport.

Recent experience of speedlock bags maybe not so nice.

If you have a bigger fly budget then consider one of those hexagon boxes.

S

[Morgan_Moore]

Track/Dolly

It is worth considering the track you may purchase/hire - you want your big legs to fit - my oldschool (floor spreader) satchler seems to have the standard double spikes and rubber hooks that interface with dolly systems.

[fredjeang2]

Vinten? Part of the Vitec group who are ruining everything.. including satchler.

Lol...yeah, but that's politic.

[UlfKrentz]

I´m with Cooter, there are way better sticks out there but if you want to stay affordable take a look at Manfrotto 536/509HD

[fredjeang2]

I´m with Cooter, there are way better sticks out there but if you want to stay affordable take a look at Manfrotto 536/509HD

Grrrrrr 

http://derrannl.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/review-and-video-vinten-vision-blue.html?m=1

[Petrus]

I have a 800€ Manfrotto job, but the fluid head is not smooth, catches at start. So I bought a 1800€ Satchler, but the legs are flimsy. So I put the nice Satchler head on sturdy Manfrotto legs and bad Manfrotto head on flimsy Satchler legs. Now I have one good main tripod, one so-so for B-roll...

[UlfKrentz]

Grrrrrr 

http://derrannl.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/review-and-video-vinten-vision-blue.html?m=1

Fred?? What did I do to make you angry? I know it´s probably a very personal preference but I really hate those middle spiders. The 536 is a solid tripod and can be bought for a reasonable price. There are definitely better heads out there, neither the 509 nor the pointed to vinten heads are true fluid heads - that´s why they are cheaper. The 509 is rated for 13Kg and is appropriate for a rigged Scarlet. BTW Manfrotto / Avenger also belongs to Vitec and yes, they make better light stands than video tripods.

[fredjeang2]

Fred?? What did I do to make you angry? I know it´s probably a very personal preference but I really hate those middle spiders. The 536 is a solid tripod and can be bought for a reasonable price. There are definitely better heads out there, neither the 509 nor the pointed to vinten heads are true fluid heads - that´s why they are cheaper. The 509 is rated for 13Kg and is appropriate for a rigged Scarlet. BTW Manfrotto / Avenger also belongs to Vitec and yes, they make better light stands than video tripods.

Ulf, I was teasing of course! It was a joke. And it worked 

I often do that with my girlfriend. I thought she knew me but
She falls on the trap each time. I simulate to be angry and then
She justify herself with a superb and sophisticate argumentation
I could write novels with. Then when she realise I'm laughing,
She goes even more crazy like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpo8RDyOEWY

watch it to the end, it's hilarious. You remember Patrese?

[UlfKrentz]

Yeah, seems I picked up the bait :-)

[Hywel]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm not going to go with another low end one, if I am spending money I want to get a decent fluid head plus sturdy tripod that'll last me at least another decade, and preferably until I retire.

If it wasn't for the fact that the video side of my business is under attack by censorship in the UK I'd just buy the O'Connor and be done with it: I can afford the cash, but I'm just not sure if I'm going to be allowed to continue to profit from the fetish fashion stuff without moving out of the UK. (Which we've decided not to do as a matter of principle).

I've hunted around for second hand O'Connor 1030 and found a few in the US but with VAT/import duty etc it is too much of a pain. Second hand O'Connor in the UK appears to be almost unheard-of... which I guess speaks well of the quality of the kit. General opinion seems to be that it'll outlast you. and probably your children too.

Maybe I'll just bite the bullet.

Cheers, Hywel

[fredjeang2]

Holly crap!
That definatly does not fit in the Fiat 500!


Ps: at the cost of the head, ypu could buy 3 fiat 500 with
Their new 2 cylenders turbocharged.
You put a Cooter logo on each car and when on set it
Would look crazy. A motion crowd with 3 fiat 500 tunned up.
I drove it and absolutly
Love it. It is like riding a Harley. Got less horsepowers than
The Abbarth but sensations are great. They developed
This engined with Formula 1 solutions.
I bite into it.

The fun thing about this 2 cylenders is that it requires
To be on the highers RPm to deliver, it likes it.
So the difference with the Abbarth it is like driving a Kart.
I would say it's even funniest in use. But I don't think
It's available in the US but just Europe so far.

[fredjeang2]

Wicked! A 500 fleet with Coot logos

[Christopher Sanderson]

Has anyone used the RRS FH-350: Fluid Video Head?

It seems a reasonable price for a lightweight but high quality head - especially if you already have the tripod, cup and leveler

[Hywel]

Hi All,

In the end I bought the O'Connor 1030D. "When you buy decent gear you only cry once", as someone suggested.

Wish I'd bought one years ago now. It is on a completely different level from the Libec/Manfrotto stuff I've owned for video before, and substantially better than the hired stuff I'd played with, too.

Despite being only slightly heavier than the Libec I was using, it has lovely damped motion, adjustable counterbalance that really works for light loads as well as heavy, and hold the head steady as a rock at ninety degree tilt. The adjustable friction just works.

I'm sure an Arri geared head is even better, but for now... the O'Connor is just what I needed.

Cheers, Hywel

[Christopher Sanderson]

I'm curious you mention this, cause you turned me on to the small gitzo fluid head, a real fluid head and they make a larger on I've ordered.

They won't hold a RED1 or Arri but everything else is fine and Chris, as you know they are real fluid and pan like nothing I've seen for the price.

That little Gitzo head is great for the size & price - but I find it awkward to make fine adjustments to the resistance and hard to get a really smooth start to a pan. Once in motion, it works well. I am looking for something with more finesse that doesn't cost and weigh a ton.