Looking for comments for the Sachtler DV-6sb

[Art White]

I have a Panasonic HPX 300 and I'm looking for a tripod head combo. I think this is a good value but I don't know:

Newegg.com - Sachtler DV-6SB Carbon Fiber Tripod System

Looking to see if anyone has any comments.

Thanks!
Art

[Stephen Mick]

I have one that I used with my EX1 kit and absolutely loved it. The head is so smooth and it's not super-heavy. I paired the DV6SB head with the Miller Solo DV carbon-fiber legs and could not have been happier with it.

--SM

[Art White]

Somebody else, I can't remember, has your same set up and likes it. Thanks for responding.

Art

[Garrett Low]

I use this very same setup with my EX3 and agree that it's a great setup. I'm slowly loading more and more on my rig so I may be having to step up soon but if I do I'll be getting another Sachtler.

When I was looking for a good support system I tried a lot, and spent a lot of money doing the "I know I'll find the one cheap tripod that's great" route. In the end I discovered that there were no free lunches and to get smooth pans you just have to be willing to spend the money. I waited and found a used setup in great condition and could sell it now for as much as I paid.

IMHO the only tripods I'd look at are the Sachtler and Vinten, unless of course you have crazy amounts of money and can afford an O'Connor.

Garrett

[Mike Beckett]

I use the same combo on my Sony V1 and it's just superb. Faultless. And I've been through quite a few tripods from no-names, Libecs and lower-end Vinten Protouch too (think Manfrotto, only better).

I believe that the DV6-SB has been superseded by the new FSB models. The FSB-6 would have been more than adequate for my V1E if it had been around then, but it depends on your expected maximum load. It is cheaper than the DV6 was; I think the FSB-8 is the new equivalent of the DV6-SB.

Vinten Vision 3 AS would also be well worth considering too, there's a lot of good press about them around this forum. I don't have any personal experience of those though, but there's a bloke called Chris from Down-Underer who seems to be quite a fan!