Tripod Under 1k for EX1? Suggestions?
 

This summer (2009) I will be heading to Africa to shoot a documentary. I will be there for about 5 weeks and I need a good, reliable tripod with a fluid head that will support a Sony PMW-EX1 well. I think it would be good to have a tripod system that doesn't need a spreader.

I really like the Miller DS20 Solo but it is about $350 out of my budget.

Any suggestions for a tripod system $1000 or less?


THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

-Mikes

Bogen / Manfrotto | 351MVB2 Tripod Legs with | 503HDV,351MVB2K

For the money, I'm thrilled with the 5xx series heads (I own 2 501s - wish I would have bought 503's). They aren't about to put Sachtler out of business but when you're spending your OWN money, it's a decent compromise. Avoid the 501 head though. Teflon friction. Not as controllable when it comes to drag.

PS. This kit has a mid-spreader. Much better than a floor spreader IMHO.

Vinten PRO-06-HDVM for $999 at B&H.

Bogen bought Vinten or vice versa but they now share technology. I read somewhere that the Bogen 503HDV head and the Vinten Pro 6 head were basically the same head with different badging. I have had several different Bogen sticks/heads. While they were not "video elite cool", they were functional and durable and performed equal to products that cost a lot more.

Thanks for your responses!

I would really like to go without the mid-level spreader if possible. What do you guys thing about the 503hdv head with the 535k CF legs?

Here is the address to the B&H kit:

Bogen / Manfrotto | 503HDV,535K 535 Tripod 503 HDV | 503HDV,535K

Good Afternoon,

I have a vinten vision 6 and a gitzo 1380

The gitzo 1380 is surprisingly good!!! once set I can get it about as smooth as the vinten.

the 1380 head is availble for 990 dollars at b&H if you have a set of legs.

for a whole set up perhaps try the libec 38 A

Libec | LS-38M(2A) Professional Tripod System | LS38M2A | B&H



I have heard it is one of those sweet ones good and not beyond dimenishing returns.

check out the reviews on line!!

Michael, if you are serious about your work, forget Manfrotto and its derivatives....

Get the Libec LS 38, thats the best bang for the buck in your price category. In fact I see it below 500$ but that site is not sponsor here, so.... cannot tell you.

Are there any suggestions for tripods without spreaders?

Hi Michael,

I am looking at the 535 legs too. I bought the 351MVB2 legs and the 503 head and I wasn't too happy with the legs. I come from a broadcast background so I am used to higher end Sachtlers, Millers and O'Conners. The 351MVB2 legs were heavy, cumbersome and a general pain in the ass to use. Plus they aren't that tall, just a little higher than 5 feet, 6 feet with the 503 head. I would like a little more height myself.

I started a thread about the 535 legs and so far I haven't gotten much of a response other than Zsolt's suggestion. The 535s look good on paper though! Lighter, taller, and no pesky spreader. I use an EX1 too BTW.

The 503 head is pretty good for the money though!

thanks jesse. it's nice to know that i may be on the right track :)

OT: tripod upgrade for my fully-blown EX1 rig
 

With the RR matte box and glass filters, the 11" field/studio monitor, on-camera light powered from a 100 Wh brick battery, Letus Extreme 35mm adapter with a Canon lens - the overall weight of my EX1 rig has just exceeded 10 kg...

I need to upgrade my Manfrotto 503/535 tripod, and I'm facing a dilemma: being sort of loyal Manfrotto customer, should I opt for their 526 top-of-the-line head (up to 16 kg payload), or spend roughly the same amount on another, higher-end brand, like e.g. Libec LS-70 (up to 14kg payload).

Also similar would be the price for the highly regarded Miller Solo DS-20 combo, but it's rated 10 kg (no safety margin left).

I'd like to hear your opinions whether high-level head from Manfrotto are comparable to mid-range solution from their competitors, or still are considered "poor man's supports" :)

Wow, Piotr...............
 

I nearly choked on my corn flakes reading your post.

If ever there was an example of a Rolls Royce camera system (HD to boot) sitting on a skateboard support "thing", yours is it.

My initial reaction was that you must be editing/watching the output of this odd pairing on your mobile phone or something even smaller, then I saw the 50" HD set listed so must assume you just need glasses instead.

This because your only comment about your existing, er, system, was that you'd run out of safety margin weight wise.

Nothing about the entire set up waving about like a 3am New Years eve drunk.

Joking aside, I did a quick mental tally up and reckon the camera system must have a ticket price well in excess of US$10k, and probably very significantly more.

Currently sitting on a support system costing a gnats whisker under a grand.

I see your current thinking is to double the budget and go for, er, a system, costing a whole 2 grand at the very most.

Now, I'm all for customer loyalty, it's a great thing, especially if the product can "do the business", but IMPO, Manfrotto shouldn't even be a a rank outsider for consideration to be sitting under that camera system.

Working on the tried and true "you get what you pay for" mantra, a camera system such as yours should really be matched to something that can do it justice, which is gonna cost one heck of a lot more than 2 grand.

Now, I'm a Vinten guy. If I had that camera system of yours, my choice of weapon would be:

Vinten | VISION 8 Fluid Head (100mm Ball Base) | 3441-3 | B&H

and

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

with

Vinten | 3781-3 Spread-Loc Mid-Level Spreader with | 3781-3

and

Vinten | 3532-3 Soft Carrying Case | 35323 | B&H Photo Video

I'll leave you to do the math.

I'm sure that just about everyone who uses gear at this level will have their own personal favourites that they'll rave about, the same as me.

My point is, do stick a Rolls Royce support system under that box brownie of yours, not a skateboard.

CS

Chris nice suggested setup. I am moving from a EX1 up to EX3 with a lot of extras and currently have a Gitzo 1380 with carbon legs. It has been great but way short of my new needs. I like your suggestion but will need to go to a rental house and have it as one of the many to check out.

I was at B&H and AbelCineTech yesterday and looked at the Miller Arrow 25 and was not impressed at all. Plastic and the one on B&H floor had a broken tilt lock. I like all alum system no plastic and a weight rating 4 times the weight of the rig as I did with my EX1.

I did the math, Chris, and even though what you're saying is absolutely right, I just cannot afford anything like this at the moment. As simple as that.

So perhaps I should re-word my enquiry: given my rig being what it is, and having just the Manfrotto 503/525 to sell away, plus some $1,000 to spare at the moment, what would be better (not: WHAT IS BEST):

- the sexy Miller Solo DS-20 (10 kg), or
- the Libec LS-70 (14 kg), or
- the Manfrotto 526 (16 kg) on some of their best legs?

Basing on the payload specs alone, I'd say the latter - but then, I never had an opportunity to "feel" the Miller.

What would you answer to my question put like this?

I just purchased this Bogen tripod system: Bogen / Manfrotto | 3193 Tripod (Black) w/526 Fluid | 526MVBKIT

It's heavy, but I think it will work well for my EX1, Ultimate setup.

By the time I add in batteries, HD monitor, etc. I was needing something that could support over 24lb and I couldn't afford a Vinten or Sachtler setup.

Still getting used to such a big tripod, but it's sturdy.

OK, well, seeing as how you asked...........
 

Hmm, my first suggestion is to ask the mods nicely if they'll move this thread, lock stock and barrel, over to the "Support Your Local Camera" forum, where it will get significantly more attention from the support officionado's.

Now, as to your dilemma.

I have been fortunate enough to have been the less than proud owner of a rubbish set of sticks & head, a Man....... (shhh, no names, no pack drill).

[I do stress that they were perfectly suited to my previous shooting arrangement with a Canon XL1s. It was the move to HD that threw the monkey wrench into the spokes].

I then upgraded the head to a Vinten Vision 3, at the same time as coming into possesion of a set of Man..... (shhh, etc) 528XB's for my jib.

What rapidly became obvious was that the V3 mounted on my original Man.... ( ) sticks was hardly any better than the original Man... () head, as the sticks had developed terminal Parkinsons desease as far as HD went.

Further investigations showed that both heads on the Man...() 528XB's were light years better, tho' with such a solid set of sticks under them, the Vinten could really stretch it's legs and streak miles ahead of the Man...() head.

It did not take long however before the limitations of the 528XB for run n' gun video work became glaringly obvious, hardly being able to lift the combination being only one of the numerous problems.

The total incompatabilty of the V3 head with the Man...() receiver design being the biggest other.

Hence my move to the Vinten sticks I suggested to you in my first post.

Now, having gone all 'round the houses, what would I suggest for you?

My lesson from the above is that even a crappy head can be improved out of sight by being parked on a decent, rigid set of sticks.

My personal belief is that a set of sticks alone to do justice to HD cannot be had for less than 2, more likely $3 plus grand.

Any combination of sticks and head that tries to come in under that $3+ grand figure must be a very, very serious compromise.

OK, so.............

Do you compromise all round and have a underperforming head on ditto sticks?

(Funny, you've already got that, average everything).

Compromise on the head and get the decent sticks?

(At least you'll never have to buy another set of sticks).

Compromise on the sticks and get a decent head?

(You're probably looking at 3 grand+ for a suitable head and it's going to perform like a piece of shite on those dodgy sticks, not that a 100mm ball head will fit onto the 75mm bowl 525's anyway).

For my money (stand by for sheer heresey, guys.........) ditch your current sticks and get a decent set of Vinten/ Sachtler/ [enter famous support manufacturer here]/ NOT Miller Solo's under any circumstances/ NOR Man...() anything.

Keep your current head (did I just say that? Ohmygawd, where's the soap.....) and just accept it's bad now, it will be a heap better with the new sticks and when, down the track you can afford it, it will be sheer magic with a new head.

Of course I do realise you ain't me, so will see the situation through different coloured spectacles.

BUT, that's what I'd do given what I know.


CS

PS: Wow, the mods are on the ball today!

PPS: I do realise I haven't actually answered your precise question, and also realise that with your quoted budget, the above may not be possible (at this time).

I threw it out there to give you some thought provocation.

You have, indeed, spec'd one heck of a camera system however, and it really does seem criminal to have it sitting on anything but the absolute best (and this IS NOT a "big boys toys" thing).

To achieve my suggested aims, it may actually be worthwhile delaying any purchase untill you can get the sticks, at least.

Piotr: I'm not sure what the situation is where you are but you may be better served by renting a heavy duty tripod until you can afford your dream system UNLESS you are out using the entire monster rig several times a month. Renting a Sachtler Video 25 tripod here is probably $50 a day with a purchase price of somewhere close to $10k. That means that I can rent the tripod 200 times before it became cheaper to own it. Not sure if you HAVE access to a rental house like I do, though.

Chris is right: skimping on a tripod system is a losing proposition. Even in my previous post where I stated I was thrilled with my Manfrotto systems, the caveat there was "at the price". I NEED a heavier tripod soon as I start hanging more and more "toys" on my camera. I'll rent as required and save my pennies, nickels and dimes until I can afford my Sachtler in good conscience.

I'm using a Sachtler FSB6 head with the CF (carbon fiber) QuickLock legs (it's called something like that) with my EX1. I think it was around $1800. The FSB6 is a very nice head compared to anything Bogen I've seen and tested. You could move up to a DV6 head for a bit more control.

I can't imagine spending anything less on a tripod for the camera.

Shaun,

Very good suggestion, indeed - at least, looking at the rates you provide. However, where I live it's not possible to rent a high-class tripod whenever you want it, for the money you mention. I need to have my own, and - unless I find some real bargain - it's gotta be the Manfrotto's top-of-the-line, 526 system.

While I fully agree that Sachtler or Vinten do make better systems indeed, I personally think it's a little biased thinking what Chris is preaching... I mean, the Man (,,,) 526 head on their heavy-duty legs - even though inferior to any $6,000 Vinten or Sachtler - by no means can be regarded a "piece of shit supporting a Rolls-Royce", as Chris chooses to put it.

Chris, I can assure you that even with my 503 head, I can get totally acceptable, fluid pans and tilts from my fully-blown camera system - and I'm watching it on a 50" HDTV plasma at some 1.5m distance, not on a mobile phone :)

Hi again...........
 

Piotr,

Touched and honoured as I am to be quoted, I would rather you quoted what I actually wrote, rather than what you "think" I said.

I do not recall at any point making any disparageing remarks about YOUR current or proposed support system in any post, if you accept that my comments about both being somewhat under specified for the camera system it/ they are supporting, to be fair.

I also made no specific reference to the Man...() 526 head at any point.

[In case there is some confusion here, I was referring to the Manfrotto 528 (that's eight) XB heavy duty tripod legs in my previous post, not the 526 head, neither of which I rubbished]

My use of the term "shite" was, if you would care to re - read my previous post, in reference to the inability of even the best head on the planet to perform it's job adequately if mounted on a set of inferior sticks.

If you were unhappy with the operation of your existing 503 head, you would have said so -you did not, a fact which I pointed out.

This was the reason I made the suggestion I did in my previous post - keep the head and improve the legs in the short term.

I appologise if anything I have written has given offence. I have gone back over my posts with a fine toothed comb and can find nothing that to my mind would give rise to such a reaction, but then, maybe I'm biased.

Enjoy your new support system.


CS

Thanks Chris. And no, absolutely NOTHING in your posts has ever given me any offence whatsoever - you see, I'm 54 and cannot too easily be offended :)

Besides, I totally agree with most of your points, but I have a family to support so some $6,000 for a tripod is out of question in any foreseeable future for me.

Given that I'm using my camera in the full-blown configuration perhaps some 33% of the time, the 526 head which I can afford on the 350 legs are totally adequate for me at that time. I did a commercial DVD recently (3 events, 3 camera live music performance shot), where my camera was the "leading" one, and filmed the performer at its furthest zoom most of the time; yet my pictures are rock-stable. And that was on the 503/525!

The only other solution I might consider would be to leave it as it is (perhaps borrowing a good tripod system for those opportunities where I'm going to use my Letus), and save for a better system to only buy it within some year's time - in which case your thoughts have been really helpful; I'd certainly be looking at Vinten or Sachtler then:)

Hey, Piotr........
 

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Huh, 54 eh?

Try 56, now that's BAD!

How come a dumb Polack gets to write better English than most of the other posters here on DVinfo, that's what I wanna know?

[Now, if that doesn't get me in a sh*t load of trouble, nothing will, but I mean it, your English is even better than mine fercryingoutloud. Must be a nefarious Communist plot to take over the world, er, DVinfo, er, WallMart.]

Editors Note:

The above contributor was physically removed from his keyboard and confined to a secure facility untill such time as he is deemed fit to rejoin human society, or DVinfo, whichever comes first.

Could be some time, maybe untill tomorrow.


CS


PS: Live long and prosper, in the interim keep the bastards honest.


PPS: If you have any idea what the above is about, apart from a post depression high, do let me know, I'm totally stuffed if I have a clue.

Not to worry, Chris - post-depression highs manifest quite differently: one is likely to pay uncritical compliments to himself, and not to anyone else :)

Sage.......
 

very cool.

I rest my case.


CS

Love the Sachtler 0650 system and the larger Sachtler heads
 

Got my PMW-EX1 before the summer and 2 Sachtler heads and 1 Sachtler system since.
The Sachtler heads are very easy to setup, works well under cold weather, and tough to screw up with.

The larger Sachtler legs are kind of real heavy, so i use my DV8 head with a large Gitzo carbon fiber legs.

check out the photos here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/894484-post1.html

Since the above pixs, i have used the DV8 with additional mikes of assorted makers, the Zylight 90 on the hotshoe, various battery packs, and even the Letus.
At no time did the DV8 failed to properly counterbalance the weight or whatever weird setup rests on top.

paul

Another EX-1 tripod selection question
 

I don't want to hijack the other thread, and I don't have a rig as complicated as Piotr's so I started another thread.

Looking for sticks and head for EX-1. Basic set-up: camera with light, microphone. Someday may get 35mm adapter so it would be nice if tripod had a little latitude to add extra weight. I'm 6ft two. Would like to stay in the $1500 range.

I looked at the Sachtler packages and don't understand what differentiates one from another.

Look at this: sachtler: Stativsysteme

and then this:sachtler: Stativsysteme

Two different packages, same components (head, stix and spreader) yet the min and max heights are different. How can that be??

What makes an MD set of stix different from 2MD? Is is the number of sections? Website isn't at all clear about this?

Any known issues with these legs?

Any reason to go up to the DV6 head and legs, which would bring payload to 20lbs at a cost of another $300 for the basic camera (which I think is only 7 lbs)

Also, for EX-1 owners: Which is the preferred plate: Snap & Go or Touch & Go? I seem to recall reading somewhere that one of the plate systems didn't allow for proper positioning under the camera.

Thanks

Paul,

My problem is I own the rails rigs from Redrock Micro, which use the Manfrotto 357PL plate (55mm wide).

Can you advise if such a plate adapter can be screwed to the Sachtler DV8 SB "Touch & Go" type of QR plate, and the whole rig will still rest sturdy on the Sachtler head/tripod?

piotr,

please have a visual look here:

Sachtler*>*Camera plates

if this does not help, let me know and i'll call my sachtler contact.

paul

Being of a cheap disposition and basically unmoneyed, (as mean as cat s--- and about as half as pretty may be a close description), my solution was a little different.

Provided you can abide the tripod being a little heavier, there are some good older black wider Miller heads out there in on-line auctions on timber or black alloy sticks which are near to rock steady.

Good ones are the doubly side supported styles like the LPT which has an external disk lock and single side tilt friction screw. The similar older non-locking heads with the two friction screws for tilts in back of the head also work well. The friction thumbscrews will have likely had a decent clout and become bent and need replacing.

The EX1 is so light that I use the bent friction screws backed off completely and there is still heavy drag when chasing aircraft in flight.

The smaller heads with a single side support for the mounting plate can still be okay but these can have become a little unsteady on the pan movement.

Some of these older Millers may have been neglected, extruded their friction lube and become surface galled and may bind unless the friction is left backed off.

Mounting the EX1 to these can be achieved by buying in cinecity's jumbo mattebox for JVC GY-HD100. One form of this kit includes a baseplate mount with screw for the JVC which fits EX1 and a support bracket for the rods.

This support bracket fastens to the face of the baseplate via two allen screws. This also has a row of tripod screwholes in it of both sizes. This will fit on the Miller LPT's larger floating baseplate screw and lever.

The downside of this is that you have to frig around doing up and undoing the Miller Thumbscrew/Lever fitting unless you add a wedgeplate which of course takes back to square one.

The tripod screw hole on the EX1, like most of Sony's prosumer cams is not deep enough for a standard small tripod screw.

You will likely need to cut a 1mm spacer to place under the camera for all tripods or wedgeplates or file down the end of the tripod screw about a millemetre so that it does not bottom down in the hole before tightening onto the fitment. If you are cheap, a folded piece of Weeties packet or a piece of truck inner tube is fine.

The black aluminium extending legs of the time used a single larger t-screw for lockoff. The system is basically an old style girling brake actuator which uses a chrome ball under the threaded end of the t-screw for a wedgecam and two tapered followers which bear against the tripod legs.

The ball is often missing so if you end up with a sliding leg which won't lock off, you local cycle shop should be able to find you a bearing ball which will do the job.

Paul Chiu wrote:

"if this does not help, let me know and i'll call my sachtler contact."

Paul, if you please checked this for me, I'd be grateful. The reason of my doubts is that the Sachtler's "Touch and Go" QR plates look sort of recessed in relation to the upper head surface; I'm not sure whether - if I attach my Manfrotto 357PLV adapter- they will attach and detach without problems.

And BTW, I'm thinking of Sachtler (and not Vinten, which is the second on my wish-list), because of DV 8 claims of perfectly supporting/counterbalancing anything in the 1-12 kg range. This is my case, as the bare camera is just 2.5kg while to fully-blown rig - just above 10kg... On the other hand, Vinten Vision 8 specs are 5.5 - 14 kg. Will there be a real-life difference between the two with just the naked camera?

Speaking of Sachtler DV 8, there are two version s- with the 75mm and 100mm half-bowls; what is the difference in practical terms (I mean, the DV 8/100 is more expensive, and uses more expensive 100mm tripods; how are they better than the 75mm versions)?

Another view...
 

One factor not mentioned often when people are contemplating tripods is to think about what types of movement you will need to perform most often. I currently own two different tripod systems:

1. Bogen 501 head with Bogen mDve legs

2. Sachtler DV-6SB head with Miller Solo DV carbon legs

Basically, cheap tripods are great for interviews, which is what I mostly shoot. Think about it, you rarely move the camera much during sit-down interviews, therefore a cheap POS like my Bogen is great if you are shooting sit-down interviews.

However, cheap tripods are incapable of smooth starts and stops and are incapable of performing a smooth simultaneous pan and tilt. If you need to shoot movement smoothly and precisely, its simple, you need a real tripod. If you shoot with long lenses, you need a real tripod

Dan

Hi again, Piotr..................
 

The primary difference between 75 mm and 100 mm units is sheer mass in the receiver build.

The beefier 100 mm units significantly strengthen the receiver assembly thus improving the resistance to warping and flexing.

It also moves the leg pivot points out relative to the sticks/ head centre vertical axis, thus giving yet more stability.

You should experience a measureable difference in rigidity between two units of identical build characteristcs but different bowl widths.


CS

hi piotr,

i just made 2 calls, one to my sachtler/vinten tech rep, his name is rick low at 818-847-1193 and he's out until jan 5, 2009
then i call the east coast USA rep at 888-484-6836 x155 and they are doing half days before the holidays.
so, i'll call them next week.
in the meantime, does the bottom of your bogen plate have several holes, one for the main screw and another for the anti-twisting function.

if so, i don't see why they would not work, even with the recessed design of the sachtler platform.

i have used stuff you're using, just not that make. they have all been rock solid on either my sachtler smaller 0650 system with the DV6 SB as well as the larger 100mm DV8/100.

heck, i can stand on the DV8 with no problems.

and what dan brockett and chris soucy said are dead on, the 100mm gives me perfect counterbalance in moments where i am 6 rows back in a concert and following a dancer across the large stage.

you cannot do this smoothly with a smaller ball or legs.
the 100mm DV8 gives me the security to ensure the dancer moves horizontally, with perfect framing, without stress, work, or hassle.

paul

Many thanks, Chris and Paul, for all your precious advice.

almost decided...
 

Thanks guys for answers.

I'm decided to go with the Sachtler DV 8/100; which legs do you recommend:

- aluminium (the model 0860), or
-carbon fibre (the model 0862)?

I mean, the CF is lighter, but is this specific model also noticeably stiffer than alu?

carbon legs and perhaps another brand altogether.
 

piotr,

the dv8/100 (sachtler# 0806) is a great choice. i have used it now for 7 months and loving everything about it except for the weight, so you guessed it, i recommend the carbon fiber legs.
the system kit (sachtler# 0862) is a fabulous deal, offering the 100mm dv8 head and the eng2 carbon legs with spreaders and case at a price for the head and legs alone.

sachtler: Stativsysteme

if you're in the usa

sachtler 0862 | B&H Photo Video


for us, the carbon legs feels same as the aluminum, just lighter and on paper, the carbon supports 88lbs vs. the aluminum's 77lbs.
i'm about 155lbs and the (sachtler #5386) carbon legs support me with no sense of flexing.

ok, so you may remember that in my photo, the legs did not look sachtler.
yes, those are gitzo gt3530ls carbon legs

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...8-img_0372.jpg

specs here:

Gitzo | GT3530LS Long Systematic 6X Carbon Fiber | GT3530LS

those gitzo legs with a gitzo 100mm bowl assembly as in the picture provides a great tool on the road.
for one, it's half the weight of the sachtler carbon legs and supports to 40lbs on paper.
so for the terrains where i may not have lights and other stuff on it, it is more than enough.

the negative is not having a spreader, so that may be an issue for you.
for me, i don't need spreaders on hills anyway plus the minimum height with the gitzo carbon legs and my pmw-ex1 gear is under 6". with the 5386 sachtler legs, it's over 18", so i can do plants and horizon shots easier with the gitzo than the sachtler. the lighter system weight helps my neck and back as a bonus.


just an alternative for you if it works for your jobs.

paul

Paul and Chris (or anyone else who could express your opinion :);

Buying a Sachtler DV 8 system, I'm really making an enormous financial effort, considering how much I spent recently on my EX1 peripherals; therefore I'd ne very grateful for a most impartial and objective opinion on what Chris has already commented (in his non-compromise fashion):

- do I really need to go for 100mm bowl, or would the 75mm be just enough?

For cameras like EX1, Z1 and alike, 75mm is appropriate, with 100mm being required by the full-sized cameras. On the other hand, if I attach all the goodies to my EX1 (see the pic), which category does it belong?

And the price difference is quite substantial, with the DV 8/100 system at some GBP 2,100 and the DV8 (on the same legs) at GBP 1,600 (prices without VAT).

BTW, looking at my own setup above, I somehow have some doubts whether something as long and heavy can be fixed to the Sachtler DV 8 (or DV 8/100, for that matter) using this proprietary QR plate rather than a full-sized, slide-through one:

sachtler: Fluid heads

Hi..............
 

Yep, "no compromise" it is.

Funny thing is, a serious scrute of that photo tells me you don't take any prisoners either.

You're gonna have video wannabees drooling all over their keyboards right across the planet.

Which does kinda beg the inevitable: "Why are you asking the 75 mm vs. 100 mm" question.

The sheer length of that setup screams 100 mm.

Then take into account the sheer mass of that system and 100 mm is a forgone conclusion.

You don't appear to have compromised on one single thing with that rig, don't spoil it for the wrong support choice.

I do need to ask a fairly serious question at this point tho' -

"How, exactly, do you get that rig from point A to point B, set it up, do your shoot etc etc without a small truck and a team of helpers?"

The reason I ask is quite valid to your support choice.

I have two 100 mm tripods.

One is my beloved FiberTec's, CF, supports nearly 100 pounds, yada, yada. Maybe 14 pounds weight including head. Say, US$5k.

The other is a set of Manfrotto 528XB's. Steel and alloy, rated to 50 kg (110 pounds) officially but capable of heaps more. 21 pounds + including Vision 3 head. Say, US$800.

Both as close to shooting with the camera bolted to concrete as it's possible to get.

FiberTecs for run and gun? Yep, no problem.

528XB's for run and gun? Get real.

Not only do they weigh a ton, they don't go low, and you need to be an Olympic weight lifter to get 'em to go high.

BUT!

If you don't "do" run 'n gun, which that photo sort of implies, then they are pretty well as rock steady as the FiberTec's and one heck of a lot cheaper.

Similar systems are done by a number of manufacturers and are quite reasonably priced.

Soooo, if finances are tight, you could go Sachtler head etc but go 528XB sticks as an interim solution.

Pretty they ain't, but solid they are.

Whatever you decide however, it's gotta be 100 mm.

There's my 2 cents worth.


CS


PS: Gee that's a nice system.


Drool.

A bit of clarification............
 

on my setup, and the reasons for it.

I had a set of Manfrotto 520's (precurser to the 525's) and a 503 head.

The combination was hopeless for HD (IMPO), so decided to upgrade the head to the Vinten Vision 3.

At the same time, and in the same shipment from B&H, I bought the set of 528XB's to park under my somewhat humungous jib system (a job they do exceedingly well).

It did give me the opportunity to compare the 520's against the 528's (not in the same country, let alone ball park) AND the 503 to the V3 (ditto).

Now, if my new head had been almost anything but a Vinten, I would quite possibly have been content to use the 528's for my run n' gun work as they were, with one or two quibbles, stellar.

It was that V 3 head that put a spanner in the works.

I very quickly discovered that Vinten V x series heads are pretty well incompatible with anything non Vinten.

They can be made to mount (but only just) and they do have some angle ajustment (but not a lot).

Overall, less than wonderfull.

A great deal of agonising later (sort of similar to what you're doing), I raided the piggy bank for the FiberTec's.

Glad I did, but is was, indeed, an "ouch" moment in the wallet department.

So, now you know how I know what I know.


CS