Official Tripod F.A.Q's

CARTONI FOCUS/MILLER SOLO VJ or BOGEN 519/MILLER SOLO DV?

CARTONI FOCUS/MILLER SOLO VJ or BOGEN 519/MILLER SOLO DV?

Hi DVXusers:

I will be using the HVX200. Anyone have some experience with these setups and/or preference? I have heard good these about all, even tried out the heads, yet still undetermined. The Focus is 100mm / Solo VJ sticks. The 519 is 75mm / Solo DV sticks.

What are the benifits in sticks, 100mm vs 75mm?

Benefits between Focus and the 519?

Priced Combo:

Focus/Miller VJ - $1,700 (affordable)

519/Miller DV - $1,500 (affordable)


I am determined to get the Miller sticks. Please shed some light.


Thanks, Jimmy
 
I have the 501 and I don't like it, all the camera operators I worked couldn't start a movement smoothly, it is good to hold the camera or to use a movement after started.
I was thinking in the 503, but I'm afraid it is just like the 501, so probably I'll go with the Cartoni Focus.

Ulisses
 
Miller Solo legs: DV 75mm or VJ 100mm for the HVX200? Has anybody had the chance to use both?

With the 75/100 adapter, would the Sachtler DV6 work well with the Solo VJ sticks?
 
Pear Ubu said:
Miller Solo legs: DV 75mm or VJ 100mm for the HVX200? Has anybody had the chance to use both?

With the 75/100 adapter, would the Sachtler DV6 work well with the Solo VJ sticks?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about using the adaptor, but so far I've been extremely happy with my Sachtler DV6 + Miller Solo DV legs :) I'm also liking the 519 w/ Solo DV legs also hehe
 
Sachtler would be ideal but 1st) I don't have the money and 2nd) there has been great reviews from other heads. I see a lot of people using the Focus. I would be happy, however, is the 519 as good as the Focus or better?, and what would the advantage be between both tripods?
 
jake stutheit said:
fyi to everyone looking for a bargain, solid, pro fluid head tripod, i just got a DYNATRAN 9903 on e-bay for only $400.00 straight from the manufacturer.
Click to expand...
I just picked up a 9905 after losing the 9903 auction. I'm cautiously optimistic -- Dynatran might be the best kept secret out there right now. A comparable tripod capable of holding 30lbs would literally cost thousands anywhere else.

They also sell affordable lighting, with similarly favorable reviews about the durability and overall quality.

For the prices they sell stuff for (via the auctions, not the website), it's almost a "no lose" proposition.
 
I have been using the F102 Focus which is 2-stage aluminum Cartoni legs and the Cartoni Focus head... Very nice, super nice, yes, but I thought I'd point out that it is quite a heavy sucker
 
Can anyone report on the Bogen 519? (Someone who has actually laid hands on it and can give some subjective feedback.) It seems that the cheaper Bogens do not have a good rep but a few people are reporting favorable things about a few gems in the group. Is the feature-rich 519 one of them?

I'm in the market for a head and tripod (mid level spreaders) for a HVX200 with most of the Redrock accessories, so I want to be in the 20 lbs range. It will be used for on-location shooting, but not really Run-N-Gun. Probably will need to interface easily with a track dolly.

I have a lot to buy yet so like all of us i am looking for good quality for a good price. I'd like to keep it around $1500. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Bob
 
Bob,

I've been using the 519 now for 5 months and I've shot a lot with it.
It's coupled with the 351MV, which is carbon fiber, and I've opted for this particular combo for its lightweight and practicality.

The Focus Head + Miller VJ, probably, moves better but I really like the double legs for the first 2 stages and the 519/351 combo is 5 lbs. lighter that the Cartoni/Miller combo.
I’ve used the Focus head with the Miller Sprinter legs and that’s a hell of a combo…Excellent but way to bulky and heavy for me.

At the end it all depends on what you're going to use this for.
For a studio, narrative or even a corporate setting I'll go for the Focus head.
For documentary, run and gun the 519 has been great for me.
 
Or spend 1700 or so instead of 1500, an get real light legs with the focus head... thehead is worth it's weight for what I've read, the legs from the F102 are great, but not super light maybe that's the way to go... two hundred bucks more for lighter legs... then you are good to go untill you go past 22 lbs.?
 
USLatinContent,

I'm thinking about getting the F102 set up. Can you measure how tall and small the tripod gets. When I called Ste-Man I got a different height than what i got out of the Cartoni catalogue. The person at Ste-Man thought the cartoni catalogue was right, but now I'm not sure! And did yours come with a midlevel spreader and rubber feet? And what'd you pay for it all told?

Thanks!
PJ Gaynard
Renaissance Filmmaker
Los Angeles / All-World
 
sure, I wanted to check that out too, I only got it a little while ago...
With the spreader on it goes to 2' 10.5" but since you can take the spreader off it really is all about how
low you are willing to go... you can take the rubber shoes off exposing metal pins (that are also threaded
for the rubber shoes to be screwed back on so wipe them off when in mud etc). You could bring an old
piece of rug and use the pins to dig into it, like that you could go quite low maybe even 2'. I just took the
spreader off, kept the rubber shoes on, on top of my rug, and felt comfortable enough to walk away with the
middle of the lens (while level) down to 2' 6". I only had a mic LCD hood and lens controller on it, heavier
set ups are, well, heavier... Sand bags are great idea too, one at the end of each leg... And if you really
needed a low shot you could make yourself a nice looking Home-Depot spreader out of 2 x 4, maybe even
one that you could adjust by making holes on it and throwing a bolt n' nut through the one that gets you
the lenght necessary...
Now for maximum height... shoes on, both stages maxed out and legs pulled in on the spreader it gives you
about a foot lower than Jarred's POV: 5' 8"... now without the spreader you can make it a monopod... or a
three-mono-pod... but you can't let go of it... so no spreader, shoes 1 ft. away from each other give you a
very wobbly 6' (about a full apple box away from Jarred's POV) but it is not worth the wabble because you
get 5' 10.5" 6' with no spreader and the shoes 2 ft. away from each other the extra inch and a half you get
won't change the shot enough for you to have to do it several times to pull it off without any sway...

so I'd say you can do 2' 6" to 5' 10.5" out of the box if you are careful
with a bit of rigging or possibly three 35lbs. sandbags you can go much lower
 
already posted this on another thread but I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY WITH MY NEW TRIPOD! i got a dynatran 9903 from e-bay, straight from the manufacturer amvona. this tripod is so rock-solid and sturdy, its like i got a new camera. i didnt realize how much my pans sucked until i put my hvx on this tripod. for people who dont have a real tripod, GET ONE! i waited too long, and regret not getting one sooner. its like a whole different level of video. anyone looking for a bargain pro tripod, check these out. they retail for 1100-1300, but are going for much less on e-bay ( i got mine for $400! ).
 
I absolutely agree that there is nothing wrong with something to be built in Costa Rica. My friend's wife was built in Costa Rica, and there is nothing low quality about her...wow...amazing. heh.

-shannon
 
Bogen / Manfrotto 516 vs. 519

Bogen / Manfrotto 516 vs. 519

I have a few comparison questions...please keep in mind that I am in this price range and that I could spend another $500 for legs.
(sorry about that layout...msg editor doesn't like tabs, tables, or spaces).

..................................516................. 519
..................................-----.................. -----

Price: ........................$527................$ 860

Diameter/Thread: .....3/8" Female..... 75mm 3" half ball

Quick release/
Wedge Plate:......... # 3272............... # 501PL

================================================

1 - What is the difference between 3/8" Female & 75mm 3" half ball?
(ie, what does that mean?) More importantly, how would that affect
me.

2 - Same for the quick release/wedge plate?

3 - How does 75mm make a difference vs. 100mm?

4 - A lot of people have said that the 525 legs are common with the 516/519.

5 - I see that bhphoto has 525mvb ($421) lightweight legs as well as 528xb ($619) heavyweight legs. Would either of these legs work for either the
516 or 519 head?

- Most of my work will be indoors, in one room with very little panning or tilting (ie, stationary work for a training video). However, it would be nice to have ability to do more things in the future. Strength & Durability is *much* more important than weight for me.

- I plan on renting out the equipment, so I would prefer to have very sturdy equipment that can handle rental usage.

- I would like something that is very easy to use, not complicated, more on the idiot-proof end vs. for an engineer.

- I'll end up needing to support typical stuff in future...matte box, Extension Tube, 7" monitor, etc.

- Preferable a removable on-ground spreader if it has one.


Thank you.

-shannon
 
Miller VJ vs Miller DV legs?

Miller VJ vs Miller DV legs?

Hi,

I definitely want to put my HVX200 on the Miller Solo Carbon Fiber legs...but unsure about which legs would be the better purchase over the long run (ultimately loading up the camera with accessories).

I'll probably get the Sachtler DV-6SB head, and I'm just wondering how this head (a 75mm head) would work on one or the other set of legs.

Would the Sachtler DV6 even work well (using, say, the Bogen 75/100 adapter) with the 100mm Miller VJ legs?

Thanks for any advice.
 
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After reading all these posts and seeing first hand most of the tripods discussed at BH Video in NY, I landed on the Sachtler DV6 head and Miller Solo Carbon fiber 2 stage legs. I also ordered a hardcase and the mounting plate (which was out of stock). Does anyone know where you can get the plate or how long it takes to come from BH as a back order?
Can't wait to get the rig.
 
i keep hearing that 503 head is pretty weak dude. if yoi plan on getting additional accesories that will add to the camera weight you may wannna try and step it up. jus an opinion.
 
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