Carbon Fibre or Aluminium ? at DVinfo.net

Gareth Trezise · January 19th, 2004, 11:50 AM

Is weight the only advantage for getting carbon fibre legs over aluminium?

Gareth

Jeff Donald · January 19th, 2004, 12:41 PM

Carbon fiber dampen vibration better, conducts heat less efficiently, and does not corrode.

Joe Sacher · January 19th, 2004, 04:41 PM

It also isn't just the weight of the tripod. Carbon Fiber makes your wallet weigh less too! :)

Riad Deeb · January 19th, 2004, 04:47 PM

cf is also stiffer than aluminum.

Gareth Trezise · January 19th, 2004, 05:34 PM

Jeff/Riad,

Thanks for pointing out those few other "advantages"

They are quite good ones actually.

Carbon fibre it is then and not only will the weight of the sticks be less to carry around but also the weight of my wallet be lighter!!

Gareth

David Ziegelheim · January 20th, 2004, 10:27 PM

Stiffer, resistant to dents and corrosion, lighter (this is minor when you include the weight of the head), and better balanced.
With CF the weight is toward the top. In aluminum, the extra weight is down in the sticks themselves, just harder to manuver.

It seems that CF costs about $300 more than the equivalent Al. When you count the costs of the legs and the head, the $$$ isn't that great. When you are under $1k, there really isn't a CF alternative anyway.

David Ho · January 21st, 2004, 12:31 PM

What are some good CF tripods?

David Ziegelheim · January 21st, 2004, 01:23 PM

You need to ask the question differently. For a specific camera or camera(s), what is the best tripod. The correct tripod for a DVX-100 will not work for a DSR-570 (with one or two exceptions) and visa versa. Then budget, and type of shooting.

Kent Fraser · January 21st, 2004, 04:29 PM

I just got the Miller Solo DV. Versitile, compact, relatively light (although not a big dif over aluminum), Quick to set and break down, very low angle ability, neoprene coating (nice up here in winter), and if looks are important, it's professional looking too. Takes different miller heads or buy it separate.

Kent

David Ho · January 21st, 2004, 04:34 PM

How about a CF tripod that's for the GL2?

Kent Fraser · January 21st, 2004, 04:48 PM

I'm using the Solo for the GL2.

Here's the Miller link for more info:

http://www.miller.com.au

Gareth Trezise · January 21st, 2004, 04:57 PM

The tripod I intend to buy once I've seen it and made sure it works for me is the Vinten Vision 3 with carbon fibre legs and spread loc mid level spreader.

It's for the Canon XL1 using various set ups ranging from about 3kg to approx 6kg. Wildlife fieldwork.

David Ziegelheim · January 21st, 2004, 10:24 PM

The Vinten has a very interesting force curve, like a Bilstein digressive shock (the hot setup). It builds force quickly to the desired level then increases it very gradually as panning speed increases. This works very well for slow pans. That could be important for long lenses in wildlife work.

Also, the Vision 3 uses easily changed springs (takes about 2 minutes) to adjust the counterbalance. You will be able to get it close for each of your different rigs.

You many also want to try the Sachtler DV6, but it will be more with equivalent legs. You want to consider the Vision 3 head with the Bogen Manfretto 542ART legs. Those legs include the mid-level spread with their version of the spread-loc, and it deploys in seconds. Literally. When the legs are together, you can open and close it. Spreading the legs locks them. And you can adjust the spreader angle, the length of the spreader legs (with a convenient button control), and the length of the leg segements individually (with convenient buttons). It may help you get the shots you would otherwise miss while setting up.

I would probably get the Vinten 3 head with the Manfretto 542 ART legs.

Ken Tanaka · January 21st, 2004, 10:58 PM

I have a Vision 3 head with the Vinten CF legs -- a very exceptional rig. Light weight (due in no small part to the cf sticks), durable, designed with ease of set-up in mind. The damped pan action that David mentions is really very nice.

What I did want to note here is one caveat concerning carbon fiber. Yes, it's very strong, rigid and non-conductive. But always be careful not to place excessive bending stress on the legs. When carbon fiber eventually breaks it shatters like glass, often spraying really nasty, sharp slivers everywhere.

This should not dissuade you from getting cf sticks. Just a cautionary note.

Gareth Trezise · January 22nd, 2004, 08:06 AM

The Manfrotto 542 ART legs and mid level spreader do sound very good.

I was a bit surprised though that the 542 ART legs weigh 4kg (According to the Manfrotto site) but the Vinten cf legs only 2.6kg

January 19th, 2004, 11:50 AM	#1
Gareth Trezise Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	Carbon Fibre or Aluminium ? Is weight the only advantage for getting carbon fibre legs over aluminium? Gareth

January 19th, 2004, 12:41 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Carbon fiber dampen vibration better, conducts heat less efficiently, and does not corrode. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 21st, 2004, 12:31 PM	#7
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	What are some good CF tripods? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

January 21st, 2004, 04:34 PM	#10
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	How about a CF tripod that's for the GL2? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

January 21st, 2004, 10:58 PM	#14
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I have a Vision 3 head with the Vinten CF legs -- a very exceptional rig. Light weight (due in no small part to the cf sticks), durable, designed with ease of set-up in mind. The damped pan action that David mentions is really very nice. What I did want to note here is one caveat concerning carbon fiber. Yes, it's very strong, rigid and non-conductive. But always be careful not to place excessive bending stress on the legs. When carbon fiber eventually breaks it shatters like glass, often spraying really nasty, sharp slivers everywhere. This should not dissuade you from getting cf sticks. Just a cautionary note. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 19th, 2004, 04:41 PM	#3
Joe Sacher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 177	It also isn't just the weight of the tripod. Carbon Fiber makes your wallet weigh less too! :)

January 19th, 2004, 04:47 PM	#4
Riad Deeb New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9	cf is also stiffer than aluminum.

January 19th, 2004, 05:34 PM	#5
Gareth Trezise Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	Jeff/Riad, Thanks for pointing out those few other "advantages" They are quite good ones actually. Carbon fibre it is then and not only will the weight of the sticks be less to carry around but also the weight of my wallet be lighter!! Gareth

January 20th, 2004, 10:27 PM	#6
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	Stiffer, resistant to dents and corrosion, lighter (this is minor when you include the weight of the head), and better balanced. With CF the weight is toward the top. In aluminum, the extra weight is down in the sticks themselves, just harder to manuver. It seems that CF costs about $300 more than the equivalent Al. When you count the costs of the legs and the head, the $$$ isn't that great. When you are under $1k, there really isn't a CF alternative anyway.

January 21st, 2004, 01:23 PM	#8
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	You need to ask the question differently. For a specific camera or camera(s), what is the best tripod. The correct tripod for a DVX-100 will not work for a DSR-570 (with one or two exceptions) and visa versa. Then budget, and type of shooting.

January 21st, 2004, 04:29 PM	#9
Kent Fraser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 75	I just got the Miller Solo DV. Versitile, compact, relatively light (although not a big dif over aluminum), Quick to set and break down, very low angle ability, neoprene coating (nice up here in winter), and if looks are important, it's professional looking too. Takes different miller heads or buy it separate. Kent

January 21st, 2004, 04:48 PM	#11
Kent Fraser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 75	I'm using the Solo for the GL2. Here's the Miller link for more info: http://www.miller.com.au

January 21st, 2004, 04:57 PM	#12
Gareth Trezise Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	The tripod I intend to buy once I've seen it and made sure it works for me is the Vinten Vision 3 with carbon fibre legs and spread loc mid level spreader. It's for the Canon XL1 using various set ups ranging from about 3kg to approx 6kg. Wildlife fieldwork.

January 21st, 2004, 10:24 PM	#13
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	The Vinten has a very interesting force curve, like a Bilstein digressive shock (the hot setup). It builds force quickly to the desired level then increases it very gradually as panning speed increases. This works very well for slow pans. That could be important for long lenses in wildlife work. Also, the Vision 3 uses easily changed springs (takes about 2 minutes) to adjust the counterbalance. You will be able to get it close for each of your different rigs. You many also want to try the Sachtler DV6, but it will be more with equivalent legs. You want to consider the Vision 3 head with the Bogen Manfretto 542ART legs. Those legs include the mid-level spread with their version of the spread-loc, and it deploys in seconds. Literally. When the legs are together, you can open and close it. Spreading the legs locks them. And you can adjust the spreader angle, the length of the spreader legs (with a convenient button control), and the length of the leg segements individually (with convenient buttons). It may help you get the shots you would otherwise miss while setting up. I would probably get the Vinten 3 head with the Manfretto 542 ART legs.

January 22nd, 2004, 08:06 AM	#15
Gareth Trezise Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	The Manfrotto 542 ART legs and mid level spreader do sound very good. I was a bit surprised though that the 542 ART legs weigh 4kg (According to the Manfrotto site) but the Vinten cf legs only 2.6kg