Official Tripod F.A.Q's

503 okay for HVX solely?

503 okay for HVX solely?

In Jerred's review of the Cartoni focus he mentioned that he's enjoyed the 503's price/performance for use with his DVX for the past couple of years. But he said that the HVX with a follow focus and matte box was too heavy for it. Is the 503 adequate for the HVX alone, with just a shotgun attached?
 
I use a 503 for my HVX with the mattebox and it works fine.
It doesn't feel any different to me than when I used it with my llittle PD150.
 
I use the Bogen 516 fluid head with the 3046 leg or the 503 depending on the location and weather conditions. The 516 is heavy, but in a strong wind with a HVX it can make a world of diference. The 503 I use with the DVX and it is great have had no problems with eather. It all depends on what your shooting camera stability in adverce conditions and the weight you will except when going on location.

Hope this helps.
 
I have both the 501 and 503 both work fine with the hvx+matte box+ff+redrock.

Also I don't understand why most people keep mentioning that non-fluid head are "no good". I have 2 tripods, one with the 501 and one with the 503 and both are great heads. Frankly, I don't see much difference between them.
 
I have the miller solo with the 503, I recently got my geardear maattebox w/baseplate and 20 inch rods and am waiting for my brevis, when i attach everything to my 503 including my marshal HD monitor zoom control and focus and iris it just doesent feel completely secure, should i upgrade from the 503 or am i just worrying about nothing?
 
ok ok ok....lol

i've decided to pony up the extra monies and get a sachtler after reading so many reviews about them. I think I'm going to go with the DV-6SB + either the speedlock CF legs or the 2 stage aluminum ones...

any thoughts?
 
not wanting to bust your bubbles. the sachtler dv6 is made in costa rica. At that price range, also look at vinen vision 3. err... also made in costa rica.

But i heard those two tripods are way beter than the cartoni focus ,.... errr made in italy :)
 
you didn't burst my bubble hehe.

the vinten looks very good as well for right around the same price. I guess my new budget for the tripod is $2000, so either the sachtler or the vinten will work nice. Has anyone used both and can comment on them?
 
yeah, both are owned by the same company and both made in same factory. I heard the vinten is more complicated to serviced though.

i am saving up to get a sacthler dv6
 
Hi:

Just bought the DV-6SB. Forget the Sachtler legs, get the Miller Solo DV carbon fibre legs, they are amazing. Yes, the DV-6SB is made in a Costa Rica, so what? It is still a Sachtler, still German engineered and is still an amazing piece of gear. I bought a BMW 325i and it was assembled in South Africa. Still a BMW, still was a blast to drive. These days, we all drive Toyotas built in Kentucky, Sonys assembled in Tijuana, etc. We do live in a global economy so where a product is built is not as important as it used to be.

I have used the Vintens. They are good. I prefer the feel of the Sachtlers personally, their controls are more intuitive and also I owned and shot with a Sachtler Video 18 for years so my DV-6SB is just a smaller version. You will not go wrong with either but it is imperative that you try them side by side. You will know which one is for you in the first 5 minutes.

I highly recommend NOT buying the Sachtler or Vinten legs, they all have spreaders, are not that rigid and are short. The Miller Solo DV or the Gitzo 1325 Carbon legs can both go to amazing heights, as well as all of the way to the ground like a hi-hat, weigh less and DON'T have those God-awful spreaders that do nothing but get in the way and slow you down.

All the best,

Dan
 
Dan,

Where did you buy from? What would I expect to pay for the Sachtler DV-6SB head with Miller Solo DV carbon fibre legs?
 
I think it is possible to use the Sachtler legs without spreaders. However aren't legs with spreaders more stable???
Why arent'the carbon legs from Sachtler not rigid (carbon = carbon) ?

puredrifting said:
Hi:

Just bought the DV-6SB. Forget the Sachtler legs, get the Miller Solo DV carbon fibre legs, they are amazing. Yes, the DV-6SB is made in a Costa Rica, so what? It is still a Sachtler, still German engineered and is still an amazing piece of gear. I bought a BMW 325i and it was assembled in South Africa. Still a BMW, still was a blast to drive. These days, we all drive Toyotas built in Kentucky, Sonys assembled in Tijuana, etc. We do live in a global economy so where a product is built is not as important as it used to be.

I have used the Vintens. They are good. I prefer the feel of the Sachtlers personally, their controls are more intuitive and also I owned and shot with a Sachtler Video 18 for years so my DV-6SB is just a smaller version. You will not go wrong with either but it is imperative that you try them side by side. You will know which one is for you in the first 5 minutes.

I highly recommend NOT buying the Sachtler or Vinten legs, they all have spreaders, are not that rigid and are short. The Miller Solo DV or the Gitzo 1325 Carbon legs can both go to amazing heights, as well as all of the way to the ground like a hi-hat, weigh less and DON'T have those God-awful spreaders that do nothing but get in the way and slow you down.

All the best,

Dan
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for your response Dan. I thought that spreaders made the legs more stable also. I was looking at either the sachtler legs, or the speedlok carbon legs.

DV6 w/ sachtler speedlok legs:
382482.jpg


DV6 w/ sachtler alum legs:
383259.jpg


Miller Solo 2-Stage Legs
293495.jpg


Vinten Vision 3 with 2-stage alum legs
234296.jpg




It's a tough decision!!!! :(
 
If you plan on shooting anywhere besides indoors on a clean floor I would not get a tripod with a floor spreader. Go for one with a mid spreader, you'll be glad you did.
 
I am also looking at the "Sachtler speedlok legs" however with the DV8-SB which is according to the Sachtler cataloque the best combination in that price range.
 
yeah the DV8 adds $750 to the price of the DV6 w/ speedlok legs, so I don't think I can afford the extra money, and it probably isn't worth it with the hvx, etc
 
Assecoires you will keep longer than a camera. so it is better to invest more in those. In The Netherlands the combo DV8SB + speedlock legs cost 2939 euro incl 19% VAT (the VAT you will get back).
 
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