My Vinten Vision Blue comes today!

Len Rosenberg · July 21st, 2012, 10:13 PM

Hi David, I have a Vinten Vision 3 that I will use with a Canon XF100. Since the 3 and the Blue weigh about the same and can both handle light pay loads, is there any point in getting the Blue? Seems like the 3 may be the better quality head. How do they compare in function and features?

Many thanks.

Len

Chris Soucy · July 21st, 2012, 10:57 PM

Think I can answer that............

I have the Vision 3, 3 AS, Vb and Vb5 here currently, along with two sets of Vb sticks and a set of Vinten FibreTechs (oh, and others).

The major difference btween the V3 and the others is the continuously variable counterbalance, which is a godsend.

With the V3 you're stuck with the spring rates, which are, to be honest, not brilliant.

As for handling, pans, tilts etc, you'd have to be pretty anal to find any difference, quite frankly.

I can't think of any feature of the V3 (springs and body colour aside) that the others don't share, the drag system is the same, ditto bearings, ditto everything down to the lock levers.

If the V3 floats yer boat, go for it (I use mine for my HV20 dinky cam, simply remove the spring entirely, dial in about 4 tilt drag and it's good to go).

If it doesn't, step up to the the Vb. Whatever you do, unless you're shooting an I-Max system, don't go near the Vb5, that thing is just plain wicked, in that it requires the camera to weigh in at about 20lbs! (I jest).

CS

Len Rosenberg · July 21st, 2012, 11:05 PM

Thanks Chris, that's great info. For what I'm recording, I can set it and forget it, so continuously variable resistance is nice but not necessary. I'll stick with the 3. What do you recommend for light weight legs, no spreader?

Len

Chris Soucy · July 21st, 2012, 11:53 PM

Ah, well, on that subject I'll have to remain zipped, as I have no personal experience with either light weight or spreaderless systems whatsoever.

One word or warning, however, if using the V3 (or any Vinten head for that matter) with another manufacturers sticks.

That 3 lobed clamp knob, with it's huge clamp cup, can lead to serious problems with some sticks with regard to levelling ability.

On most it would appear to work fine (-ish), on others the levelling can be reduced to practically nothing, as the clamp cup or knob hits the reciever underside and that's it, game over.

I have a set of Sachtler SpeedLock 75 CF's here, where the Vinten (and Libec RS250 head) can be fitted, but have zero, nix, nada adjustment whatsoever.

A set of Manfrotto 520 and 528XB sticks didn't fare an awefull lot better.

Watch out, it's dangerous out there!

CS

Len Rosenberg · July 22nd, 2012, 12:23 AM

Thanks Chris. I replaced the clamp knob of the Vision 3 as soon as I got it, it's terrible. I use a straight knob from a Gitzo ball assembly, works great and lots of tilt room.

Zexun Tan · July 22nd, 2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

That 3 lobed clamp knob, with it's huge clamp cup, can lead to serious problems with some sticks with regard to levelling ability.
...
A set of Manfrotto 520 and 528XB sticks didn't fare an awefull lot better.

Watch out, it's dangerous out there!

CS

Hey Chris! Thanks for your info so far! I wanna ask if you've got any experience with the Manfrotto 535 / "Gitzo-ish" legs and vinten heads? I just bought my Vinten VB and somewhere in the future I might want to get a single-tube leg for travel. Thought that the 535's might work.

Chris Soucy · July 22nd, 2012, 09:37 PM

Hi, Zexun..........

I can't say from any personal experience anything about the 535's, never even seen one.

However, Len seems to have solved the biggest compatability problem with the Vinten head, ergo, the clamp knob, by replacing it with a Gitzo unit.

May work for you, may not, simply can't say.

Can't even get access to Gitzo stuff here, there's simply no market for it, so I'm never going to be able to independently verify the veracity of that claim, though I have no reason to doubt it (and no, I can't see me importing anything from wherever just to verify a perfectly valid claim!).

Guess you're simply gonna have to suck it and see if you like the taste.

Good luck.

BTW, how's the military suiting you? Nah, maybe you'd better not comment.

CS

Zexun Tan · July 29th, 2012, 05:50 AM

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the reply, I guess Len did get to solve the problem! It's been a tough journey so far but I'm still in one piece after BMT ;) Sucks to not have enough time to do any creative work I want though!

Cheers,
Zexun

July 21st, 2012, 10:13 PM	#16
Len Rosenberg Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Port Washington NY Posts: 106	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Hi David, I have a Vinten Vision 3 that I will use with a Canon XF100. Since the 3 and the Blue weigh about the same and can both handle light pay loads, is there any point in getting the Blue? Seems like the 3 may be the better quality head. How do they compare in function and features? Many thanks. Len

July 21st, 2012, 10:57 PM	#17
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Think I can answer that............ I have the Vision 3, 3 AS, Vb and Vb5 here currently, along with two sets of Vb sticks and a set of Vinten FibreTechs (oh, and others). The major difference btween the V3 and the others is the continuously variable counterbalance, which is a godsend. With the V3 you're stuck with the spring rates, which are, to be honest, not brilliant. As for handling, pans, tilts etc, you'd have to be pretty anal to find any difference, quite frankly. I can't think of any feature of the V3 (springs and body colour aside) that the others don't share, the drag system is the same, ditto bearings, ditto everything down to the lock levers. If the V3 floats yer boat, go for it (I use mine for my HV20 dinky cam, simply remove the spring entirely, dial in about 4 tilt drag and it's good to go). If it doesn't, step up to the the Vb. Whatever you do, unless you're shooting an I-Max system, don't go near the Vb5, that thing is just plain wicked, in that it requires the camera to weigh in at about 20lbs! (I jest). CS

July 21st, 2012, 11:05 PM	#18
Len Rosenberg Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Port Washington NY Posts: 106	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Thanks Chris, that's great info. For what I'm recording, I can set it and forget it, so continuously variable resistance is nice but not necessary. I'll stick with the 3. What do you recommend for light weight legs, no spreader? Len

July 21st, 2012, 11:53 PM	#19
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Ah, well, on that subject I'll have to remain zipped, as I have no personal experience with either light weight or spreaderless systems whatsoever. One word or warning, however, if using the V3 (or any Vinten head for that matter) with another manufacturers sticks. That 3 lobed clamp knob, with it's huge clamp cup, can lead to serious problems with some sticks with regard to levelling ability. On most it would appear to work fine (-ish), on others the levelling can be reduced to practically nothing, as the clamp cup or knob hits the reciever underside and that's it, game over. I have a set of Sachtler SpeedLock 75 CF's here, where the Vinten (and Libec RS250 head) can be fitted, but have zero, nix, nada adjustment whatsoever. A set of Manfrotto 520 and 528XB sticks didn't fare an awefull lot better. Watch out, it's dangerous out there! CS

July 22nd, 2012, 12:23 AM	#20
Len Rosenberg Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Port Washington NY Posts: 106	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Thanks Chris. I replaced the clamp knob of the Vision 3 as soon as I got it, it's terrible. I use a straight knob from a Gitzo ball assembly, works great and lots of tilt room.

July 22nd, 2012, 09:37 PM	#22
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Hi, Zexun.......... I can't say from any personal experience anything about the 535's, never even seen one. However, Len seems to have solved the biggest compatability problem with the Vinten head, ergo, the clamp knob, by replacing it with a Gitzo unit. May work for you, may not, simply can't say. Can't even get access to Gitzo stuff here, there's simply no market for it, so I'm never going to be able to independently verify the veracity of that claim, though I have no reason to doubt it (and no, I can't see me importing anything from wherever just to verify a perfectly valid claim!). Guess you're simply gonna have to suck it and see if you like the taste. Good luck. BTW, how's the military suiting you? Nah, maybe you'd better not comment. CS

July 29th, 2012, 05:50 AM	#23
Zexun Tan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 102	Re: My Vinten Vision Blue comes today! Hey Chris, Thanks for the reply, I guess Len did get to solve the problem! It's been a tough journey so far but I'm still in one piece after BMT ;) Sucks to not have enough time to do any creative work I want though! Cheers, Zexun