tripod weithg range handling question

[tonacidigital]

Sorry for asking perhaps a very dumb question..but I noticed on some tripod heads..they give a range of ..for example handles 22-30 pounds.. does this mean that it won't handle anything below that range?

[tnle2]

It depends on the head and the counterbalance system. If you tell me the head I can probably give you a better answer. But if they are that specific on the weight range then yes it probably won't handle anything below the range. The reason is the counterbalance will be too strong for that weight so the head will always try to go back to level which is just as bad as it nose diving.

[tonacidigital]

tnle..thanks for the response. I am checking out the oconnor 1030hd and it can handle up to 30 lbs. Will this baby still work with my hvx200?

[vidled]

There's a little trick to make this work like butter: weights!
If you happen to have a head that's rated higher than the cam set-up, just make (or have someone make) some weight plates that go under the cam; ideally they should be substantially long, just a bit less length than the cam.
It's not perfect, but it works.

[tnle2]

tnle..thanks for the response. I am checking out the oconnor 1030hd and it can handle up to 30 lbs. Will this baby still work with my hvx200?

Ahh, you are in luck. I happen to be very familiar with OConnor heads. I have an OConnor Ultimate DV head myself. The OConnor counterbalance system is the only system that can go infinitely down to zero counterbalance. So yeah the 1030HD will work with the HVX200, but I think the head works better with a bigger and heavier camera on it because you won't be winding the counterbalance all the way to one of the limits. But technically, it will work with an HVX200. Instead of weight plates, you can also put more accessories on the HVX200 and especially if you position the accessory higher up (which moves the center of gravity higher). This has more effect than just adding weight to the bottom of the camera.

[vidled]

The OConnor counterbalance system is the only system that can go infinitely down to zero counterbalance.

That, I believe, is not universally true for ALL O'Connor heads, but might well be for the 1030HD, not sure
The suggestion to add on accessories higher up is a good one, but there might be only so much you can pile on! :)

[tnle2]

That, I believe, is not universally true for ALL O'Connor heads, but might well be for the 1030HD, not sure
The suggestion to add on accessories higher up is a good one, but there might be only so much you can pile on! :)

OConnor has been around for over 50 years so obviously it is not true for all OConnor heads ever built. But this dual axis sinusoidal counterbalance system was invented in 1990 so any modern OConnor head has it. Of course, I wouldn't recommend you operate an HVX200 on a huge head like a 2575 even if you can technically crank the counterbalance down to zero because the springs and the geometry of the system is designed for cameras 10-20 times as heavy and you won't have enough "mechanical resolution" to properly balance 5 lb camera like the HVX200.

So yeah, you should still follow OConnor's counterbalance guide and pick the right head for your camera weight and CG height. The Ultimate DV would have been ideal for the HVX200 but they don't make it anymore. The 1030HD is the next smallest head and again, not ideal for the HVX200, but at least you can operate it and then still throw an ENG camera on it.

[tonacidigital]

thanks for the info guys. I'm in line for a RED camera..so I need something that will be able to handle a caged, cine lensed and accessorized RED (in the distant future when I can afford the extra toys). For now, I will have the M2, with follow focus, and redrockmattebox (when it comes out)...so it won't be too featherweight for the oconnor. Since I am fairly new to the game... is it really worth it?? I have a budget for the 1030hd (but nothing higher..after red comes in..I will be broke like no joke)..just wondering if I should consider another alternative???hehe I guess I just need that extra little push to get it.. Man..to think I thought the cartoni focus was up there..this Oconnor is a freakin ferrari.

[tnle2]

There are alternatives from Cartoni and Sachtler but they also cost around $5K. If you are serious about getting this level of camera support, I would suggest you rent these heads first (it's not expensive to do this) and try them out to see if you like the way each one works. They are all a little bit different, especially in the ergonomics. But with that said, OConnor is definitely a name you can trust. On nearly every high-end film or commercial shoot there is either an Arri/Panavision geared head or an OConnor fluid head.