Hi
I worked with a Manfrotto 501 for years. It was ok. Not perfect, but ok.
Yesterday I got my Sachtler DV6 with CF legs. Boy-oh-boy - it's another world! Yes, it's in a much higher price range, but it's also... just professional gear and I love to work with it (had a shooting today)!

I have a DS20 Solo DV Carbon Fibre System. Amazing tripod!

http://www.miller.com.au/products.cf...&productID=181

I bought it at Abel Cine Tech

http://www.abelcine.com/store/home.php

Cost was $1,475, not including shipping.

I run an EX1 with Letus Extreme and the Letus rails.

Scott K.

I was in a similar boat a few weeks ago.
Plenty of Google searches.

In the end I went with the Gitzo 1380 head and the Gitzo 3531LSV legs. I know Gitzo legs are great and everyone who owns a 1380 head loves it.

B&H. Still waiting on both.

As mentioned, I would go to B&H.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in the mix. I'm not one with deep pockets either but finally sucked it up and got the Sachtler FSB-6 with the carbon fiber legs and can't recommend it enough. The head is just amazing and a great investment.

- Ray

[QUOTE=Scott Karlins;881814]I have a DS20 Solo DV Carbon Fibre System. Amazing tripod!

http://www.miller.com.au/products.cf...&productID=181

I TOTALLY AGREE... I took the recommendation from Steve Gibby who is a 30+ year pro for the best run and gun system for the RED and even better for the Sony since its a bit lighter.

I could not recommend it more, very good head and light. You can add weight to it for more inertia and better performance. MILLER is one of the best manufactures are well known in Hollywood. Bogan has always got mixed reviews and is more pro-sumer... but its up to you. You get what you pay for in this case.

To Scott and Gregg - ref, the Miller Solo CF legs:

How is the folded length? I am trying to find good CF legs that can be attached with bungees to my old Kata backpack. I will be shooting by myself in a remote part of Asia in October.
I hear many knocking the single tube, but I also see many good reviews of the Solo legs.
With the Miller head, how is the total weight-length? and finally do you know the merits of the DS10 versus the DS20
Thanks.

miller is perfect tripod for ex1

We'd have maybe six DS10 Solos, work very nicely with EX1. The DS20 might be too much head for the EX1. Unlike some of the more expensive heads Millers heads don't adjust down to zero counterbalance so pick a head that matches the weight of your rig. And it'll be lighter to carry too.
The Solo legs are fairly short when retracted so tying them to a backpack is feasible. The good things is they also go quite high and the extra height can come in handy and don't forget you can lock the legs out at crazy angles which is usefull in rough terrain and awkward situations.

[QUOTE=Greg Voevodsky;881938]
I will throw my vote in for the Miller Solo DV as well. I have the 10 and wish that I had gotten the 20.

Daniel Weber

i had a gitzo g1380 head years ago, and i really liked it -- heavy for a smaller head, nice and smooth, and built for war. i remember gitzo used to offer a spring kit separately but it was pricey and i haven't seen it sold since then. a colleague had a fixed spring g1380 a few years back, and i remember he was having a hard time figuring out how to swap the springs in his model, or even if he could do it.

i'm currently using a cartoni focus which has worked well for me, and it handles my 14-15lb rig nicely. good head for the money, but the 22lb capacity spec is a bit optimistic i think.

Thanks everyone - I did notice the Solo's being used on Phil Bloom's Blog, so there is proof for you!

I will order them this weekend. So that's the legs... I just need to decide on the DS-10 or 20, but at least I am headed in the right direction.

I did an extensive search about 6 months ago. I wanted great quality, light weight, fast setup, mid level spreader and illuminating bubble. All important features to me. Price was not a big consideration.

I looked at Cartoni Focus, Sachtler FSB-6, Vinten Vision 3 and others. One thing I read was the Cartoni and Sachtler had a "bounce back" effect. I can't remember the technical name for that, but when you pan and release your hand pressure, you can see a very slight recoil. The Vinten 3 apparently did not have this, making it probably the best of the group.

Although I read great things about the Miller DV10 Solo, I did not consider it because it lacked the mid level spreader and illuminated bubble. The Vinten had a great head but I really hate that the tripod is not black and I really wanted a black tripod to blend in better.

So I chose the Sachtler FSB-6 with the carbon fiber legs from B&H. I love the legs and the head is what I was expecting. It does have a slight bounce back effect which is my only complaint, even though I knew it when i bought it. But it does have all the other features I wanted; light weight, fast set up, mid level spreader and illuminating bubble.

I just bought two EX1's so now I need a second good tripod. I am reconsidering the Vinten Vision 3 or another Sachtler.

has anyone compared the DS20 to a Cartoni Focus. I've been wondering whetehr i need to go up as far as an Arrow25 to be able to use an Ex-1 with 35mm adapter , Nikon zoom, mattebox and a Panasonic monitor all on that head. It will be close to 20 lbs. Its already 15 lbs without the mattebox and monitor.

Arrow 25 is alot more dough though.

leonard,

can you post a link to the ex1 35mm adaptor for nikon lens?
thanks!

i went to B&H yesterday and played with the heads and to purchase some mikes.
they had a manfrotto 519 with the EX1, seem awfully large for the EX1.
the gitzo 1380 was nearby and that seems ideal for your EX1 with attachments. the 1380 was holding a 350 and it was so smooth.
speaking of smooth, i thought with the proper adjustments, the 501, 502, and 519 manfrotto heads nearby can be as smooth as the 1380 gitzo, but the gitzo was much smaller in bulk, if that is an important factor to anyone.

paul

think you should look at my site for that...little bit of info there!!

www.philipbloom.co.uk

Thanks again Phil!
and thank you for the response to my stuck pixel issue.
it is now clear that the EX1 had some fancy built in function that equalize the voltages to the sensors. it checks the output signals, if uneven, than adjust them so they are. it did the job for my baby EX1. let's see if it holds....

paul

Very good to hear about the Gitzo 1380 head Paul. Thanks!

I don't think that you can say smooth and manfrotto in the same sentence.

It is not physically possible for a manfrotto head to be smooth!!!!

Daniel Weber

If you order the head and legs together they will be a lot cheaper.

If you are going to use rails, 35mm adaptor, etc. then I would get the 20 head.


Daniel Weber

yes ds20 is the head to go for

Thanks - I just checked in here before ordering - and the DS-20 will be my choice. No one has the Solo DV combo in stock, but I am about to click the B & H order button ... done!

Phil,

Do you find the DS20 to be stable for moves on a long lens with the full adapter set-up?
I notice that a lot of what I seen in your shorts has been a lock off, (That's not a criticism BTW I really love your stuff) and where I've been frustrated with my Cartoni is when I am all the way zoomed in on a long lens especially trying to track subtle movements say in an interview.

The Arrow 25 can handle it but i can't seem to find a DS20 to try out. The Miller sales people have suggest the Arrow rather than the DS20, but of course its more expensive. I'm also wary of a 75mm tripod in the same situation.

lenny

adorama has the miller ds-20 head. i did not call to confirm.
i am down to choosing another head for my second cam, either the miller or the gitzo g1380.
the legs though, i am going gitzo g3530s or the longer lvs version. the miller carbon legs are 5.5lbs and the gitzo at 4lbs.

paul

Hi Jenny

I got my Sachtler DV 6 this week with cf legs. Great combo! You should be able to get rid of the bounce back effect by balancing the camera correctly and getting the right positions of the counterbalance knob and the vertical and horizontal fluid dumping settings. My EX stays perfectly in every position of the head without bouncing back.

Thanks, I will try it again :)

rainer,

how much is the dv6sb with carbon legs, i gather the speed-lock 75cf (#4588) goes for there in germany?
i am leaning toward a set myself after testing it at a store last week.
that quick flip of the legs is better than my gitzo's.
the way the 10 steps counterbalance set while the camera is on the head is very fast and allow for fine control. sweet.

paul

I'd also be interested to know what options there are for a better-quality head than the 503HDV which will also attach by a 3/8-16 screw.

I currently have a Manfrotto 701RC2 on a 756XB tripod. I'd like to keep the 756 but I now need a head which will support the EX1 at around 3kg (6.5lbs).

Does anyone have any recommendations? I've heard mixed reviews about the 503 and wondered if there's anything better available.

Plate for EX3?
 

In the video Philip Bloom presents on
http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...r=sony_pmw-ex3
, I can see the EX3 fitted on to something that looks like Sony VCT-U14 tripod attachment plate. Has EX3 brackets for this plate? Philip, what gear did you use?

Sony product ref:
http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowP...tegory=Tripods

IN THE UK THIS http://www.videogear.co.uk/index.php...&productId=676

in the US http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Bloo...od_mounts.html

Thanks for that link, that device looks superb, a great idea.

And, I would love it if Letus would sell a short version of the up down risers for there original rails... :)

Scott K.

that's a good idea. Have you asked them?

Yes, I sent them Email. Would be very cool if they could do it, or already have.

Scott K.

Tripod Conundrum - Too Many Hats - EX1
 

I think I might be looking for a solution that doesn't exist, but I wanted to chime in with everyone here to see if I'm missing something...

I have an EX1 that I use for two, fairly different purposes.

1) Documentary work in third world countries where I will be carrying the equipment over long distances for most of the time (light, simple setup is obviously needed).

2) Fictional shorts with a mini35 with full rail system that's fairly heavy itself.

Is there a system that can do both on-the-go documentary work and support a mini35 system that isn't over $3k?

HAS ANYONE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE MILLER DV20 SYSTEM AND A MINI35 RIG?



From what I've found so far...
For the documentary work, the Miller DV20 system with the Solo Carbon Fiber legs seems to be a sure bet, but while at B&H, one of them said that the Miller head doesn't have enough surface area to stabilize a full mini35 rig - so I'm not sure if that would work with the fictional shorts.

I'm looking at maybe a Sachtler DV-6SB as a head, then finding some good carbon fiber solo legs from either Miller, Manfrotto, or Gitzo to attach them to if the Miller DV20 system won't work? But will that work?


Any thoughts or experiences would be INCREDIBLY helpful as this is my first $500+ tripod purchase so I'm not very knowledgeable.

Hi Zack..................
 

May I get a couple of points clarified before making any suggestions?

The words "I use" in the second line of your post implies (obliquely) that you use some form of camera support system already.

May I ask what it is and how you have found it in practice?

The reason I ask is the dreaded "EX1" in the header (nowt wrong with an EX1, substitute any other HD camera and the effect is the same - HD camera? Support? Uh Oh!).

What format is your final product, SD or HD?

SD is far and away (light years) more forgiving of camera support failings than HD.

How heavy, exactly, is your EX1/ mini35/ lens(s)/ rail system?

This bit isn't a suggestion, just a word of advice, based on perceived wisdom, both from users and Miller themselves - the Solo's do not, in the main, get rave reviews from HD shooters O/P'ing in HD.

That brilliant single stick design, whilst a miracle of engineering, was never going to be able to match twin stick suports with regard to wind up/ down/ rigidity.

You never want to pan/ knock/ bump/ breath on camera/ sticks, you'll be fine with them.

I'll await further info before saying another word.


CS

Thank you Chris for the response.

I have a very basic, prosumer tripod at the moment that I find is a terrible experience to say the least. However, I have used a few Manfrotto systems before, and they're not bad but leave a lot of room to be desired.

Most of my material will be mastered in 1080p and the delivery is 720p usually, so those little vibrations, bumps, and movements will come out.

The lens system is fairly heavy, I'd say probably around 13-15 lbs total with the camera and rig. Without the rig (when I'm doing documentary work) the camera is about 6 lbs with battery.

OK, well............
 

I think you've answered the "solution that doesn't exist" question for me.

There is no, zero, nada, zilch etc etc etc solution which is both light to transport and as solid as a brick wall to keep that HD camera still.

My best suggestion (well, actually, my ONLY suggestion) is to go for the best solution your wallet can afford plus 20%, and think of hiring native bearers for the third world stuff.

Bottom line, the better the tripod, the heavier it's going to be. Ditto the head. You can shed a couple of pounds going CF, but a decent one will still bust your whatsits on a long treck.

If you're prepared to spend $3k +, any of the top names can field a pretty good line up.

My favourite (and, IMHO, the best camera support available for less than $15K, but then, I'm biased - I have one!) is this:

Vinten | 3498-3 ENG/EFP 2-Stage Fibertec Tripod Legs | 34983

Much to my utter amazement, B&H still have them on offer even tho' they were discontinued last Christmas.

Here's my review of same:

Review: Vinten FiberTec video tripod -- everything you want to know. - The Digital Video Information Network

They will, most certainly, when married with an appropriate head, bust your whatsits on a long treck.

Solid? Hah! You could jack a Mack truck up on 'em.

Rigid? Makes anything made by Manfrotto look like a toy (and a good many of the more worthy opposition, come to that).

Check 'em out.


CS

Go with something solid, Sachtler, Vinten or Miller, my experience is limited to sacthler and larger vinten heads.

For my own work, with a Z1 at the moment, I use a DV6SB on a pair of 2stage alu sachtler legs. I regret that i didn't buy the Speedlock CF legs, but the budget didn't go that far since i needed a hard shipping case for travel. And it's not the lightest setup, CF ain't that much lighter either, but it's a pleasure to use.

I would take a look at either DV6SB or DV8SB, with either 75mm(lighter) or 100mm(stiffer legs) bowl. Tested a Ex1 with Vocas MB250 on my system, just dial the SB and of you go. A good tripod should be seen as an investment as it will outlast you camera by at least two years.

And yes, Manfrotto and Libec feel like toys compared to even the smaller high end tripods.

Hi Zack,

I just recently got a Sachtler DV6 SB witht the CF Speedlock legs. I was using a Cartoni and the Sachtler is really a huge jump up. Even with teh CF legs it isn't light. But most fo the time I'm not moving too much and I usually don't have to hike too far with it.

I use it with a lightly loaded Canon XH A1 set up. I also had a Miller DS10 set up I was using. I think the Miller and the Sachtler legs are about equal. The head is a different story. All I can really say about the DV6 SB is WOW. Super smooth. I was torn between the DV6 SB or the Vinten Vision 3. I tried both and they were both very good, head and shoulders above anything else I tried. The deciding factor for me was that I couldn't get the Vinten with an above ground spreader. So if I wanted to add it, it would have cost another $800.

I'm happy with the Sachtler,

Garrett

Looking for best tripod
 

I have now a Sony XDCAM-EX1 camera but my tripod is a cheap one a little bit shaky.
I am looking for a very good tripod with a light weight and efficient and easy to use with fluid head, but my budget is limited to $1,000.
Can someone advise me?