Hi Chris:
I presently own a Panasonic DVX100A, HVX200 and HPX170. For tripods, I have my "travel" piece of junk, a Bogen 501 head on a Bogen MdVe tripod and I have my "real" tripod, A Sachtler DV6-SB on the Miller Solo DV legs. I used to own the Sachtler Video 20 when I owned my BVWD600. I cannot see lugging the Bogen all around France, it has fairly beefy legs and with the 501 head, it actually weighs quite a bit (and the 501 head is a POS anyway, but I refuse to check my $3,000.00 Sachtler when I fly and it's too large for carry-on).
I did lug the Bogen all over Scotland for a few weeks and along with the backpack, HVX200 camera, laptop, hard drives, batteries, wireless mic system, it was too much. I think I weighed it all before I left and the loaded backpack and tripod in the case, all together weighed about 40lbs with everything. Cannot do that again. I used to actually haul less weight overall when I had the Betacam. The batteries lasted longer, just grabbed the camera and sticks, which were heavy, but didn't have to lug the laptop to dump cards, six batteries to shoot all day, etc.
On an $800. 00 camcorder, I am not going to buy a $500.00 tripod. While I totally agree with what you say about all of the downsides of cheap tripods, I think I may end up just buying something really small and light and not doing many moves, cheap tripods work great for lockoffs ;-). I really would prefer to not even take a tripod but as you know, it is pretty difficult to get smooth hand held shots with a one pound tiny handful of camera. My main aim with the tripod is to buy something very small and light, which I know will equate to not very smooth moves. I was hoping to stay around $200.00.
Perhaps the combo of one of those little "wrap around a light post or tree" Joby tripods for tiny cameras and a small Cine Saddle, that might even be better? We will be covering a lot of country and places, in and out of cars and trains and I will be shooting in a huge variety of conditions. Just not sure of how to best stabilize the camera to at least some decent moves without dragging around the Sachtler (which I am definitely not doing).
Your advice is great. Seems like there is a missing link as these tiny camcorders are used for more and more professional projects where crappy moves are not really welcomed.
Thanks,
Dan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Soucy
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.
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