got a safari...
 

Hi jack,

thanks again for the advice jack but I got today the safari and I am quiet happy with it. I looked alot around on these and other forums and it seemed that the 701head is superlight but just not good enough for my xhA1 and wideangle mounted on it. same story for the legs,they seem solid but they dont have a levelingball. the safari does have carbon legs, has this leveling ball (not allways adjusting the legs all the time!) and the head is so far great...this weekend i will take it outdoor for a test and I will let you know..

guess a superlight fluidhead is not invented yet...

greetz

I have just purchased a Canon XH-A1 w/ a Brevis MP1.1 35mm Adapter (with Flip) and rod supports...Any suggestions on a tripod that is going to carry this kind of weight and allow for smooth pans and tilts?

Hi Alex..............
 

What did the camera and all attached bits cost you?

Fancy spending the same again on a support system?

Think you better read the whole of this thread and weep.


CS

Gitzo GT253LVL for XH-A1?
 

Has anyone used the Gitzo GT253LVL tripod? I'm interested in how it would work with my XH-A1. I'm also interested in how well the G2180 and G2380 heads would work both with the tripod and with the XH-A1.

I occasionally use the Canon wide angle lens - does that make a difference for this tripod with either head?

Tripod for my XH A1S?
 

Hi guys:

i need to buy a tripod for my XH A1S, any suggestions on which one ot get?

Also the base plate which connects the camera to the tripod do i have to buy it seperately or that will come with the tripod aswell

Thanks

Several people have been happy with the Libec LS38 tripod. You can get it with a mid-level spreader instead of a ground spreader also.

a helpful sponsor with a good price
LS38M(2A)

I use a miller DS 10 / solo and it's great, you get get super low and also it extends v.high. The head is pretty good too.

J

I have the Libec LS38 and also used the LS21 I think its called

ok, so the libec38 seems to be a great budget tripod. But the review doesn't say if the head is removeable for use on other supports, eg a hi-hat. I often do low level photography and video, and often in areas where a there isn't enough room to use a tripod with it's legs splayed right out. So I'm considering a hi-hat and a tripod. But don't really want to end up getting with two heads. Can anyone enlighten me?

Currently I'm using a 50mm levelling head on the Manfrotto 190B that I use for stills photography. But it isn't quite man enough for the Canon XHa1, especially when panning. And that set-up doesn't go down anywhere near low enough (it's back to the fixed tripod head for that).

is Miller 10 better then Bogen 503HDV/ with 351MVB2K legs ... ?

i am looking to get a tripod for my A1s too and at the moment using Manfrotto 503HDV, 351MVB2K with Canon XL2 and was thinking if i should get another Manfrotto or go for MIller 10... price is around $400 more for miller 10 .. is it better then monfrotto (the one i have), why should i spend another $400 and get Miller 10 over Bogen 503HDV/351MVB2K ?

This is the tripod i use current:

Manfrotto by Bogen Imaging | 351MVB2 Tripod | 503HDV,351MVB2K

i use a 501hdv head on 755XB MDeVe legs. i like this setup cause it is a sturdy tripod yet i can walk around the field with it easily from spot to spot. depends on what your shooting i suppose. though i like the manfrotto cause i also attached the baseplate to my glidecam for easy switching between the two supports. not sure if the other one mentioned has those accessories. good luck!

dan

I have a Libec 38. Yes, it's a ball leveling head and you can put it on a hi-hat. I think it's 75 mm but don't have it at home to check right now. It's the only system I know about in that price range that doesn't do the dreaded "bounceback" at the end of a pan. It's adequate for the XH A!. I use a Lee Wide Angle bellows lens hood, which holds two 4x4 filters, for a mattebox (doesn't need rails) and usually have a Sennheiser wireless receiver mounted on the camera. Total package comes in around 7 pounds. The Libec38 handles that OK but any more weight and I'd want a bigger head. I bought mine from Tapeworks Texas, by the way (a sponsor on here). Great guys to deal with, and it was actually cheaper than B&H. I got the mid-level spreader for convenience (you can drop one leg down on a step, etc.).

+1 on Bill's and others comments on the Libec. I have one and the decision was made based on quality construction, head smoothness, and the LACK of backlash - an issue with other units costing far more.

The Libec is often viewed as a budget unit - after some experience with it I now view it as one of the best bargains out there.

I have a Libec. The model number I don't recall right now. I also have a Cartoni Focus. Whilst the Cartoni is a better overall unit, the Libec is a great value. Here's what I like about the Libec:
- Very stiff legs
- Very light
- Very stable
- You can get smooth pans with it but stops and starts are tough and you really have to work at it
- No backlash. None. Nada. Zilch. The Cartoni cannot say that.

For what I do, I need the Cartoni. However, you'd do yourself a disservice if you didn't look at the great options that Libec offer.

Tripp - I first purchased a Cartoni but returned it the next morning due to the backlash. I'm not sure what good juju Libec does for the cost but it works :-)

+1 for the LS38.

The Libec 38 has just gone to the top of my list. thanks

I have the 503HDV now, I just purchased it used and it seems to be pretty inadequate. The pan drag adjustment seems erratic, and stops and starts aren't as smooth as I would want.

Would the Libec 38 be a useful upgrade? My budget is around $800 for the tripod. Should I push that to include a Miller DS-10? What about the Sachtler FSB-4 or -6?

(I'm putting around 7/8 pounds on it)

I have the Libec with my XHA1 and RR M2E and love it - amazing tripod at the price - you will not be dissapointed!
I got mine here - http://tapeworkstexas.com/ls38m_2a_.html - and it was on sale through them, i'm not affiliated in any way.
Cheers,
Brian

HDV501 or HDV503 for XH-A1s?
 

I'm looking to update the tripod head. Looking at either HDV501 or HDV503. Price is almost double on HDV503. Is it too way or overkill to use HDv503 on XH-A1? What's your suggestion?

thank you!

In my opinion the 503 is underkill!

So I should go with something even more than expensive than HDV503? Any suggestion?

Thanks

Hi Taky.........
 

Is this a bare XH A1 or pimped?

Bare I would suggest the Sachtler DV 6 SB.

Sachtler*>*75 mm

Pimped enough, the Vinten Vision 3 AS.

Vinten | Vision 3AS Pan and Tilt Head | www.vinten.com

For more on the V3 AS, my review:

Vinten Vision 3 AS Tripod (1 of 4) DV Info Net

The Manfrotto's just can't cut it with HD (IMHO), it's as simple as that. Avoid or regret.


CS

It is for XH-A1s with the Canon WD-H72 wide angle lens adapter.

I already have the manfrotto tripod so I would like to stick with the same brand. But I will check out the links you sent. thanks

XH - A2s??
 

Hmm, think there must be a mistype there somewhere, else NZ is getting stiffed on new Canon gear..............

Bad luck on the Manfrotto tripod, better luck next time.

If you want/ need to stay with Manfrotto, your next best bet is the 519 head, at least it has variable counterbalance.

tripods, heads, monopods, light stands, camera supports, lighting supports, professional tripod 519 - PROFESSIONAL FLUID VIDEO HEAD


CS

It's XH-A1s. Sorry for the typo.

wowo the 519 head is almost triple the cost of 530HDV... it's out of my budget. I guess I will stick with 530HDV. I'm also getting the 3520 leveling interface

Manfrotto 3502 - Compact Camera Leveler

You didn't mention a budget...........
 

Quite rightly, David said:

I take it that from your coment about the "Camera Leveler" you don't actually have a 75 or 100 mm ball tripod to start with? (Your link just goes dark with no response, so no help there).

What can I say, this is no way to run a railway?

You're running an HD camera, don't stick it onto a sub - SD support.


CS

Tripods
 

Can anyone recommend something affordable that gets the job done for XH-A1..I am also looking to use it to hold a small back up camera on occasion...

Libec LS-38 is my pick.

The Libec 38 is what I use. I think it's about the cheapest one you can get that's adequate for the camera and doesn't have "bounceback" at the end of a pan.

The smaller and cheaper Libec 22 is very smooth but just a bit undersized for the camera's weight. However, it can be used if you have a steady hand, and use the horizontal lock at the end of a pan--there's just a bit of bounceback to it but it is controllable. It's difficult to do perfect moves with the 22 when zoomed in very far, and it doesn't go up high enough to suit me. I got one when I first bought the camera because I wanted something very light weight. It was useable and I liked it for the compact size and weight, but I sold it and got the 38. I have the TA-100 tripod adapter plate, a bellows matte box, 4X4 filters, a shotgun mic and wireless mic attached to the camera, so it was a bit too heavy for the 22.

A good place to buy a Libec in the U.S. is from Tapeworks Texas, a sponsor here. They were cheaper than B&H when I got mine.

I have a Matthews 25 and am very satisfied for the price.
http://www.videomaker.com/article/13346/

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=REG&A=details

I did an extensive search which resulted in a Libec 38, bought it a few moths ago and am very happy with the robust design and smooth pans!

RW

I've happily used the "Sunpak 7575" with my heavy XL2 and now XH A1s. It can handle the weight of the XL 2 and surely the A1s, it has two quick release plates, bubble levels and a smooth 3 way pan system. The online pix don't do it justice.

It's only $80.00 It's big brother is $90.00.

It would not surprise me if the Matthew 25 and the Libec came from the same factrory. The look excactly the same as does the Wako tripod.
Wako en Libec both come from Wako industries.

The Wako is made in China:
http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2...pod-KH-25-.jpg

Libec is a British company, with the tripods being made in Japan. The Wako could be a cheap Chinese knockoff that's equally as good, but who knows.

From a post I made in Nov. '07:

I spoke with a Matthews rep, and found that the legs are actually the same as the Libec TH-M20, and the head is a new design from Matthews. It's made in Taiwan.

Tripod/Head Advice XH-A1
 

Hey guys, I'm new here to the forums and I'm still trying to learn the skills of the trade. I bought an xh-a1 recently and have been using it with a Manfrotto 503 head on Manfrotto sticks (don't know the model #). No surprise I am having the same issues a lot of you have with the 503 head. It sticks like crazy when trying to pan, it's about to drive me crazy, almost impossible to get a good smooth pan.

So my question is can you guys recommend a good tripod/head combo for around $1,200 that would meet my needs. I am shooting weddings, engagement videos and corporate stuff. But I really want my stuff to look professional and want to acquire the correct equipment in order to do so. I also am about to purchase a 7D so is there a combo that would work well for both cameras? Thanks in advance.

I know this subject has been exhausted, so even links to relevant threads would be helpful. I apologize for beating a dead horse with this thread but could really use some advice. Thanks.

Anyone? Sorry about the newb question.

Bumpity bump.......

If I was looking at something to buy that would be suitable for your camera, I would seriously be looking at a Vinten Vision 3AS head. I think your existing tripod is a 75mm, so it should work on it.

Vinten | Vision 3AS Pan and Tilt Head | www.vinten.com