Davis & Sanford
 

Joe,

Sounds like you are pretty happy with your pod. Whew, that's a relief to me. I would have been felt responsible if my recommendation had disappointed you but I was relatively sure that you would be happy for $150 or I would not have recommended it.

Your pics and description suggest that it is an excellent buy for the money.

What is the largest cam that you would recommend putting on this pod? I only looked at it very briefly in the store and kind of got the impression that the GL2 would be the max but I couldn't say for sure.

You may be able to buy better thumb screws for it at Home Depot or Lowe's. I think they sell something like this.

I am very happy with it. Maximum weight allowed on pod is 13 lbs. Gl2 is like under 5lbs.

Thumbs are nothing to worry right now, it may never be anything to worry about.

Good Tripod + Head for GL2
 

Hi!

Around 200$ which tripod+head is the best combination for my new XM2 camcorder? I film almost always in nature, outdoor.

I want a really really smooth horizontal movement.
So i guess i need a fluid head. But which one do you use/prefer?

In Hungary there are some manfrotto (128RC, 501 PRO, 503PRO)
and the Unomat PSV 909.

Are these good enough for my nature projects?

thx,
Marton

Marton,

I use the 503, it is very smooth and you have full control over the drag on tilt and pan to suit your specific needs.

Seconded - the 503 is very good value for the money. I've been very happy with it...

Robin.

If you go the Manfrotto way, I doubt you can get the 503 head + legs for $200 new here in Europe.
So you might want to raise your budget a little bit...

Don´t know why Manfrotto is made in Italy, but it´s cheaper in the US than in Europe...

Of course if can find that tripod set for about 200 in Hungary, let me know.. and maybe I´d be visiting Hungary soon :-)

In your case, doing outdoors..I think a ball leveler is a must.... so check that too.. otherwise you´d go crazy adjusting the tripod legs on uneven ground to get a leveled shot.

You are welcome here in Hungary :))

Yeah 503 isn't cheap..
But i'm not sure i need a ball leveler. The XM2 has a nice 16:9 horizontal guides, so i can check the correct picture :)

I second Federico's recommendation of a ball leveler. Even with your cam's horizontal guides, without a ball leveler you will need to adjust the tripod legs, shortening one, checking the level, adjust the leg again, check the level, etc. If you purchase the 503, the ball leveler is well under $100 (at least in the US), and would be a great convenience for you. It's just one adjustment at the top of your tripod.

Yeah, the ball leveller is definitely worthwhile for outdoors work, I don't know how I ever lived without mine. As Allen says, it isn't a question of whether you can get the tripod level, it's a question of how fast. With the ball leveller it only takes a couple seconds. Messing with the tripod legs can take a minute. I used a 3221 tripod without a ball for awhile and the leg snaps are really nasty on it and can pinch/bruise even when you're careful. You definitely don't want to mess with these any more than you have to!

The 501 is probably a good compromise for the money, but it really depends on what you're shooting. When you say "nature projects", would that include things like extreme telephoto shots of wildlife? I really found the 501 unacceptable for that sort of thing after several years of use and upgraded to a Miller DS-5. The Miller gives much, much smoother movement but this comes at a price... around $800.

If your budget is really $200 I think you'll need to make some compromises unfortunately. In that case maybe the ball leveller is something you will need to wait on. Aside from the nasty leg snaps, the Manfrotto 3221/501 might be a starting point for you. B&H sells it for $274 which includes a nice soft carrying case http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=217267&is=REG. You could save about $40 by using the micro fluid head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=332342&is=REG however I wouldn't do it for that price. I had one of these heads several years ago and was not happy with it.

Check out my report on this $150 tripod. I love it

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27011

What about the new 700RC2? It seems to have less "bounce" than the older micro fluid head.......

I have the 700RC2...

It´s a very good head... once you get the hang of it..
It´s not as soft as the 501, actually I find quite hard, but for my clumsy hands that´s actually a good thing.
But still I would not use it for very fast panning, (not that I have had the need to do that yet).

It´s also very small and light weighted so that´s pretty good when you don´t have a car and have to travel hour and a half by metro, train, bus and walk with all your stuff on your back

I´ve used this head with my XM2 and it has worked very well for me and it´s price is very good..

But I think it´s a little small for this size of cameras... and keep in mind.. It will do the job.. but it´s a very simple head so don´t expect more than it can give.

Once I borrowed the 501 head, I keep thinking I should have saved more and gotten that one.

Boyd

When i say "nature projects" it does not include things like extreme telephoto shots of wildlife.
Almost always at full wide range of my xm2's zoom.
I like the mountains, and the slow, smooth pans.

Thank you for the links!

Marton

Need a better tripod for my GL2
 

The free Miller I had lined up at a local TV station ended up being given to someone else *sigh*

Anyways, I need a better tripod than the crappy Sony remote tripod I am using right now.

My local shop has these three kits available

MANFROTTO 190D+700RC2 MINI PRO VIDEO KIT - $249 Canadian

MANFROTTO 055A W/501 VIDEO HEAD - $329 Canadian

MANFROTTO 756B W/501 VIDEO HEAD - $438.99 Canadian

Which one of these kits would work best with a Moderately equipped GL2 (wide angle lens, big battery, shotgun mic, etc.)

Hi Jeff,

In my book "Killer Camera Rigs" I recommend using a surveyor's tripod. These are dirt cheap (about $65 U.S.), and work fine for DV work. You'll need a spreader (which I show you how to build as well). You'll save so much on your sticks this way that you'll have more money to spend on a fluid head. Get the best one you can afford! Having said that, you really don't need one rated for more than 6 pound cameras. I bought a used O'connor 25 years ago, and it's still going strong, so you might check ebay for a used head.

Good luck,

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Well I ended up ordering 028 legs (3046) and the 501 Head.

Should be here by the end of the week. Hopefully I made a good choice.

I wish I had checked this thread sooner Jeff, because I would have recommended going with a 503, and NOT the 501. I find it sticky when panning, unless it is loosened all the way, at which point it jiggles.

Others have said they have no problems, and it may just be my luck and a bad head. Hopefully your legs are heavier than my 3001 are, and will eliminate some of the problems I have.

I really wanted to get the 503 head, but I had to go with what I could afford right now, plus the 501 head was on sale.

The 3046 legs are pretty heavy duty so maybe they will eliminate some of the problems with the 501

ANYTHING will be better than my Sony Remote tripod that shakes violently everytime I touch the pan handle!!!!

Received the Head and Sticks yesterday and so far I am very impressed with them.
The sticks are almost 8 feet TALL when fully extended!!!
So far I really like the 501 head as well. I guess in comparison to what I was using, it is a HUGE improvement.

Here's a pic of it setup in my office
http://members.rogers.com/digitaliso/tripod1.jpg

And a shot of my GL2 on it at home
http://members.rogers.com/digitaliso/gl2_a.jpg

Tripod for my GL2
 

I just purchased a tripod, 59.99 @ Ritz Camera it's a Quantary, it's Ok. Is that a BAD Move? It seems like it has a weird pan to it, not that smooth. I dopnt know if it has a fluid head on it or not, it doesnet say. Any reccomendations on a tripod under 200.00, that has a fluid head?

There tooo expensive.

Please let me know

for $59.99 I highly doubt it has a fluid head.

I don't think there are any sub $200 systems that have a fluid head. Sorry.

I don't think there is a fluid head for less than $500 (head alone).

I recommended this pod to another GL2 owner and he said he was very happy with it. It is the Davis & Sanford, sold by B&H for $150. I just happened to see it one day in a camera shop and thought the head was much better than the standard Velbon and such.

There are two models. The ProVista with double tubes and the Super Brace, with single tubes.

ProVista...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=223630&is=REG

Super Brace...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=229577&is=REG&si=feat#goto_itemInfo

I just got Manfrotto 055CL legs and a 501 head for $340 CAD (around $250 US), and I am very pleased with it. I had a look at the Manfrotto 128RC head too, and thought that it was a good one as well, and a little more than $80 cheaper than the 501. You could put that on the Manfrotto 190 CL legs for under $200 US, and likely get much better results.

I upgraded from a Velbon CX586 mini-pro fluid head that I used with my old handicam, and the new setup is way more stable and fluid with the GL2.

Bogen Manfrotto
 

I got this one for my GL2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=283759&is=REG&si=spec#goto_itemInfo

And it's great. Out of all the tripods I researched, it's the tripod that folds down the smallest and adjusts to the highest shooting height. So it's pretty portable and still gives good height. The legs are all independent (which is a must for a decent tripod), the quick-release plate is handy, and the head is pretty smooth for panning (3-way). Helluva deal for $113 and Bogen quality.

Tripod for Canon GL2 camcorder
 

Does anyone have experience with the Gitzo G-1228 tripod legs? How about the Gitzo G-2380 video fluid head? I'm considering them as a combo to take while hiking.

Alternatively, is anyone familiar with the Manfrotto (or Bogen?) 3443 legs? How do they compare with the Gitzo legs above? Would the Gitzo head above work with the Manfrotto legs? If not, is there a comparable Manfrotto video head?

Stephen,
I use the Manfrotto 3443 CF legs for still photo work. It's a nice, light and compact tripod for photography.

But the problem with trying to use this, or the Gitzo, tripod for video work is that they're not really well designed for this application. Both have center columns and no accommodation for video-style heads, the better of which require bowls to accommodate their quick-leveling features. Also, photo tripods do not require the same degree of torsional rigidity that video/film tripod must have in order to prevent movement during pans and tilts. Basically, most photo legs just have to resist gravity and little else.

So I'd strongly recommend that you shop for a tripod and head specifically designed for video work. Bogen/Manfrotto makes several good models and combinations for relatively moderate budgets and loads (such as the GL2). Browse through this section to get some opinions (we have hundreds).

I don't recall if it was the Gitzo web site or not, but I thought I saw somewhere the Gitzo G-1228 legs worked for video as well as still photography.

Do you know how the Gitzo or Manfrotto compare to the Libec M20?

Has anyone used the Gitzo G-1348 legs?

I have not noticed the torsional rigidity problem Ken refers to with my G1127 legs, but the very lightness of the legs means that they tend to move on smooth surfaces when panning - Newton's third law and all that. Hanging a weighted bag from the centre column helps.

When I bought them I tested the torsional rigidity against similar Manfrotto and Velbon legs and the Gitzo were markedly superior. Perhaps French carbon fibre has something the others do not!

A solution to the rapid levelling problem is the Manfrotto Compact Levelling head (Cat. no. 438 in Europe, Bogen code 3502 in USA).

The problem then, of course, is that adding extras like this cancels out the weight gain of those lovely expensive carbon legs.

GL2 tripod head Manfrotto 3126
 

Purchased the 3126 head yesterday then took it outside to test it. Feels good but I noticed on playback that the pans and tilts were kind of jumpy or uneven/inconsistent speed. Is it just me, the operator, who needs more practice or is it the head itself? What are some suggestions for the GL2 if you want smooth action while shooting short films? Is this a good head for this type of shooting(movies, drama, etc.)?

Jay

Hello Jay:

The most important feature or rating of tripod and head combos is its max load. In my experience I would set that, at least, at twice the weight of the camera. The 3126 is rated at 8.9 lbs. and seems plenty enough for the GL2 to keep it stable. I assume you've got enough tripod capacity for BOTH the head+camera combo.

The issue of jumpy pans and shifts are more likely related to the "locking" screws' tension. For a completely fluid (pun intended!) experience I normally keep them loose since good heads have a certain amount of spring-loaded resistance for smooth starts and stops. If you keep those screws too tight then you intend to lock down the camera and prevent its movement. Coupled with spring resistance, normal friction will cause those jumpy pans and shifts.

Mabuhay!

Mariano

I recently purchased a 700RC head (one step above the 3126) that had a noticeable stick at the beginning of the pan. I took it back to the store and got a second one that worked perfectly - very smooth.

Zoomed in?
 

Were you zoomed in? Slight imperfections in controling pan or tilt will be more noticable if you are zoomed in. When zoomed in tight, even touching the handle might cause a little jiggle in the image. So it takes a VERY light touch to get smooth pans and tilts when zoomed in.

Thanks for all the input. MARIANO, do you own the 3126??? If so, have you shot any movie stuff with it and how does it look? Is it as smooth as any higher priced head if I do leave the screws all the way loose? Thanks,

Jay

Hello Jay:

I actually use a 701RC2 fluid head sitting atop a 055WNB tripod. It has a neat feature that allows the mounting plate to be moved forward/backward in order to "balance" the camera (i.e., in theory, locks the shift/tilt even if the locking screws are not tightened).

I only tighten the locking screws ever so lightly just to prevent "drift" but, of course, pan and tilt against the spring load. I do get smooth footage. During wedding vows I like to tighten the screws for a rock-steady framing.

Cheers and Mabuhay!

Mariano

This is a bit off topic, but here goes... I'm shooting macro with my gl1..
What tripod is best suited for this?

Problems During Marco Filming are:

1. Hand vibrations/jittery...
2. More vibration during change of direction... (i.e. panning right to left, then quickly left to right.)

Any Fluid head suggestions?

Thanks,

John

Tripod for GL2?
 

Hi all:

Can anyone suggest a decent (reasonable priced) tripod for my GL2? I was wondering about the remote devices, too- do these all attach to the tripod or are they hand held and connected to a wire? Suggestions appreciated. My price range of course is in the low-low budget area....

As soon as you can, you will want to get a real professional video tripod. They make a world of difference. But in the meantime you can get the one in the link below for about $130. It's an excellent value. I have one and it served me well until I got a really good tripod. I still use it occasionally for noncritical events when I don't want to lug in my heavy tripod. It's reasonably tall with a geared center post and bubble level, it's lightweight, has a built in remote control on the handle that works with the GL2, comes with a bag, and has very smooth pan and tilt movement even though it's not a fluid head. The down side is that it is not ruggedly built. So if you hit it with your knee while filming, or even take hold of the pan bar carelessly, you'll get some shake in your video. I don't think you can do better than this for the money. The zoom control on the remote works quite well. The link below is for B&H but they are currently out of stock. You can find more stores at pricegrabber.com.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=179980&is=REG

Thanks- but what's the remote do? Is it to minimize shaking during filming? Is this attached to the tripod or is it held in your hand? I was considering the Davis & Sanford ProVista Video Tripod, but then I'd need the remote device. Thanks

The remote is built into the handle of the tripod. It has a record/pause button, a power standby button and a zoom control rocker. Also a button to take stills. There is a cord that plugs into the LANC port on the GL2. The idea is that the same hand that controls panning and tilting can also smoothly control the zoom.