bogen 503 head, but which legs? $500 or so limit

M

muchachotron

Member
hi folks. i've been researching my first "serious" tripod purchase and it looks like, for my budget (~$500), a 503 bogen kit is the ticket. right now i primarily shoot indoor sporting events (roller derby, a nice fluid panning head is definitely a plus) but i also would like something that i wouldn't loathe carrying around for shooting outdoors. i want to get something that is going to last me for a while, so although i can't justify or afford a high end tripod, i don't want to regret a shortsighted purchase.

i was originally trying to choose between a few tripods at about half the price of a 503 kit:

Davis & Sanford ProVista Airlift w/fm18 head ($250)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=349250&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

smith-victor propod V ($200)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=329000&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


i have heard mixed remarks about those tripods on this forum, but it seems that the overwhelming advice by dvx'ers is to get the 503 head with whatever legs you can afford. thus, i think i've narrowed my search to these kits:

bogen 3221wn/503 ($494)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=217268&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

bogen 351MVB2/503 ($495)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=387808&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


i've read nothing but praise for both of the bogen combos listed above. the wilderness seems very nimble and versatile but that second bogen kit looks like an irresistible deal (75mm half bowl, mid-level spreader, rubber shoes, padded case). it also comes with a free camera bag, but i don't think the dvx would fit in it so that's not all that much of a bonus (maybe for accessories only). there are a handful of other leg/503 variations on the b&h site in my price range, but they all seem pretty similar and i'm not sure what makes one superior to another (756B, 3068, 3046, 3181 w/ half ball, 3182 w/ half ball, 745B w/case). if anyone would recommend others in that list, by all means do so.

i don't even really understand what the "75mm half bowl/ball" is, if someone could explain that to me i'd be thrilled. also, can you remove the mid-level spreader from a tripod in which the spreader is factory-installed (such as the 351MVB2), or would the legs not lock in place anymore?

so, dvx users -- should i invest in the 503 combo, and if so, should i choose one of those packages? i know this sort of question is asked to death, but these threads are also extremely helpful for me and others to whittle down the huge amount of choices and be happy with our purchases. thanks for reading my long post.
 
muchachotron said:
bogen 351MVB2/503 ($495)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=387808&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


i've read nothing but praise for both of the bogen combos listed above. the wilderness seems very nimble and versatile but that second bogen kit looks like an irresistible deal (75mm half bowl, mid-level spreader, rubber shoes, padded case). it also comes with a free camera bag, but i don't think the dvx would fit in it so that's not all that much of a bonus (maybe for accessories only). there are a handful of other leg/503 variations on the b&h site in my price range, but they all seem pretty similar and i'm not sure what makes one superior to another (756B, 3068, 3046, 3181 w/ half ball, 3182 w/ half ball, 745B w/case). if anyone would recommend others in that list, by all means do so.

i don't even really understand what the "75mm half bowl/ball" is, if someone could explain that to me i'd be thrilled. also, can you remove the mid-level spreader from a tripod in which the spreader is factory-installed (such as the 351MVB2), or would the legs not lock in place anymore?

so, dvx users -- should i invest in the 503 combo, and if so, should i choose one of those packages? i know this sort of question is asked to death, but these threads are also extremely helpful for me and others to whittle down the huge amount of choices and be happy with our purchases. thanks for reading my long post.
Click to expand...

I actually have this combo and love it a lot! Yes, you can remove the spreader and ajust it so the legs and spread further apart. Also, the bowl is designed to act as the leveler. So you would extend your legs out to the height you want and adjust the level using the bowl. The bag it comes with is made for the tripod only. It has a pocket on the inside to hold some paperwork and the tripod handle.

Hope that helps. :)
 
thanks movietroll. i wanted to note that the camera bag that is listed on that b&h 351MVB2 page is a "Kata EXO-12 camcorder case" (in addition to the tripod case you described). probably not useful for the dvx itself, but it could hold some cables/tapes/granola bars i guess.

is there a difference in sturdiness between the 3221WN wilderness tripod and the 351MVB2, since the wilderness lacks the spreader?
 
No Problem...

I listed the specs for each set of legs below. Besides that, the 3221WN is a single leg with the extentions inside the legs. The 351MVB2 has two legs with the extention down the middle of the two. If you look at the pictures you can kind of make that out. I choose the 351MVB2 because it looked more stable. Hope that helps.

Specifications 3321WN
Maximum Height:71.3 inches
Minimum Height:25.2 inches
Maximum Load Capacity: 13.3 lbs
Weight: 6.2 lbs

Specifications: 351MVB2
Maximum Height:62.9 inches
Minimum Height:19.8 inches
Maximum Load Capacity:13.2 lbs
Weight:12.5 lbs
 
I also have the 503/351 kit and it did come with a tripod bag.

I really like the quick release levers on the legs. They allow you to very quickly extend the legs and set them independant to length. Much better than an older set of bogen sticks with telescoping tubes and friction twist "lock", that I have.

Ken :)
 
Another DVXer with the 503/351MVB2 combo. Great bang for the buck! The bowl leveler is very handy... You'll rarely, if ever, need to extend the legs to differing lengths again to get level, unless you're shooting on extremely uneven ground.

I bought mine from Calumet Photo in Philadelphia. Great people and wonderful service - had some problems with my Steadicam Merlin (gimbal assembly began to fall apart), and they accommodated a return past 30 days with very little fuss.
 
Ditto. I have this as well. After fighting with a piece of crap tripod on my last film, I vowed never to let that happen to me again. When it came time to buy my own, I went with the 503/351MVB2 and I haven't regretted it. As a neophyte filmmaker, I need all the help I can get!

I'm sure you'll be pleased with it.

Good Luck!

Bill
 
which is better 75mm half bowl or 100mm which one is needed for a 8 footer and an fx1 cam

thank you
 
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