Tripod Query
 

Hi all. I am in the process of purchasing a Sony HVR-Z1E camera. Can anyone recommend a good tripod? My knowledge on this is very limited, so any advice will be much appreciated. (I'm based in Northern Ireland, UK). Thanks.

James,

Hello from just up the M2!

What is your budget? Approx UK prices are below:


These I think are non-starters:
£30 - Cheap tripods. Don't even go there
£160 - Libec 650DV - it'd be fun putting a Z1 on those!
£200 - Libec 950DV (still a bit flimsy - not sure I'd trust it with my V1, let alone the bigger Z1)

These fall in to the "OK" category - strong enough, though not perfect:
£400 - Libec LS-38 (much more robust - will hold the Z1 easily)
£400 - Manfrotto 503HDV with 525 2-stage legs. Whether this is better than the LS-38 is debatable.
£600 - Vinten Pro-6HDV (503HDV head re-badged, with heavy, sturdy Vinten legs)

These are the good guys!
£1000 - Starting price for a Vinten Vision 3. This is where you want to be if you can afford it!
£1200 - Starting price for a Sactler DV6SB.

The Vinten Vision and Sachtler models are the start of the "serious" tripods, and it's where I want to get sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, there's no NI-based dealers that carry a really good stock, at least not that I'm aware of. So it's kind of hard to try before you buy.

We use Vinten Vision 3s with our Z1s - once you've tried them, you won't want anything less, even if it means selling the family silver... :D

Thanks for all your advice to-date. One further query. If a teleprompter is being used in addition to the Z1E camera, what tripod would be recommended?