Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Brockett
Is there such a thing as a quality tiny light tripod?
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Now, this one I can answer with no further input.
When it comes to HD, the answer is a zero hesitation, categorical "NO".
Which is a bit of a bugger really.
Unfortunately, the resolution of your Vixia is exactly the same as any other HD cam, no matter what it's size and weight.
Ergo, all the things you buy and use a "grown up" tripod to guard against - wind up, backlash, receiver warp, sticky pans and tilts, shakes, rattles and rolls etc etc, show up just as bad on your matchbox as they do on a F900 HDCam or a XHA1, to name but two.
As soon as you start cutting down that "grown up" tripod and head to "apparently" match your matchbox camera, you end up throwing away the very things you need to prevent the above mentioned list of video horrors.
Of course, one of the things driving this is that these matchboxes retail for under a grand in many cases.
Now, who in their right mind (apart from the few enlightened ones) is going to whack one of those sub - G matchboxes on a 3 grand set of sticks and head?
Not a lot, and that's for sure.
Think of it this way:
Would you (or anyone) whack a Panaflex or any 35mm or even a 70m film camera on a Libec 22?
Of course not, it would be squashed flat, and if it wasn't, the footage would look worse than hand held.
Now, shrink that Panaflex, 35 or 70 mm camera to matchbox size, but keep the original resolution.
Gonna try it on a Libec 22?
Don't think so.
[Before the "bovver boys" decide to give me a right kicking, I'm not saying HD video has got to 70 mm levels, or even 35 mm - yet!]
Bottom line - it is no longer anything to do with size or weight (within limits, of course).
It's resolution, pure and simple.
So, what gives?
You go HD with a dinky cam, and your average tripod system looks exceedingly average, to put it mildly (I think I'm being overly complementary actually).
You want it to look like pro HD?
Average support ain't gonna cut it.
Of course, I do feel like a complete twat when I've got my HV20 perched atop my FiberTecs and VV3 head.
Well, I mean, it looks totally, utterly rediculous.
A sub G camera sat on a 5 G support system.
Can't tell the video from my A1 on the same sticks tho' (operator error excluded, of course).
Fear not, Dan, I don't think I'll try selling you on anything like I'm using.
I'm pretty sure (er, I think) we can find sommat a tad less pricey.
Still need an answer to my first post however.
CS
PS:
I claim no personal emnity towards Libec in general or the LS 22 in particular.
I could have used the usual suspects but have decided to give Manfrotto the day off.