Best 2-stage Fluid Head Tripod for HVX and Canon XTi?

I depends if you are planning on doing a lot of camera moves. If not i would go for it because those sticks alone cost 650. Otherwise get those sticks and put a slightly pricier bogen head on it. I don't think that the ideal situation is ever offered in these fluid head and tripod combinations. It takes a bit more research to buy the 2 seperately, but ultimately that's how you get a better tripod. Hopefully some people will chime in on the Miller head and help you out.
 
I would consider purchasing a separate fluid head... I guess I never thought about doing that.
 
I dont know anything about the miller head, but those legs rock. I do however enjoy my Libec H38 head very much. Not too pricey either. That combo works great with my HVX and I dont see why it wouldnt work really well with a still camera too.
 
Okay here's the latest update:

I'm buying the Carbon Fiber Solo DV 2-stage tripod legs separately from a fluid head. I'm looking at the Libec H38, but I'd like to have one or two models to compare it to. Hopefully I'll have the combo ordered in the next week...

Thanks for your help.
 
I find it a little odd that you want to spemd more on the sticks than on the head, but hey, if the head ain't all that you can always replace it.
 
dogcat said:
I find it a little odd that you want to spemd more on the sticks than on the head, but hey, if the head ain't all that you can always replace it.
Click to expand...


I have no qualms with spending $650+ on the fluid head. The Libec, as it works out, just happened to be below that price point.
 
Hey Sbryan, i'm not trying to discourage you, or sound like a lame head. I recently bought the same sticks myself. I did a lot of research here on the site to hear the testemonials everyone had. I know Deputy Dog seems to like his Libec, but i didn't see any camera moves in his posted movie. If you think you will be doing mostly static shots, the fluidity and drag of the head are not very important. I started on a 80 doller manfroto head, then moved up to the 503(270$). I thought that would cut it, but as a newbie i was wrong. This year i bought the Miller sticks and the sacthler dv6 head. Most of the advice for fluid heads on here lead towards the pricier bogans, the cartoni focus, the vinten vision 3 and the sacthler dv6. The dv6 being the pricier of the lot at 1550. Regardless, you get what you pay for. My first impressions with the dv6 was how cinematic things looked. Not even for fancy moves or anything, but just when reframing the subject, which is something you don't really notice in movies for a reason. In any case, the miller dv heads didn't get great reviews for the price, that's why i commented on your initial purchace idea. As far as the Libec stuff, i didn't read very much on here. That's why i am saying to know what you need it for, (the head), try to test it out along with cheaper and more expensive heads. If you can't test them out, do more research here in the search because it's been covered so much that i don't think anyone feels like chiming in anymore. And by the way, those sticks aren't really all that compact compared to smaller manfrottos. If your deal is to do tons of backpacking it's not really a strap on the side of the photo backpack affair. But i could be wrong. Good luck with your purchace, and hopefully you can avoid going through too many heads like i had to do just to get that combined pan and tilt action i so dearly wanted.
 
Just for reference it was a one man movie and starring in it made it hard to move the camera :) the only other tripods that I've used that pertain to this thread are the 503, sachtler dv8 and the libec h38. The libec is smoother and easier to start and stop motion without poor movement than the 503. The DV8 however is in another league than both heads and priced in that league as well. By all means if you can afford a DV8 then go for it. It just has a better "feel" to it. The Libec works just as well for me in reality but if I was doing camera moves day in and day out as a paid operator I'd be looking at the sachtlers. My work involves handling corporate productions from start to end so many days I dont need a camera for anything. And there arent very many libec reviews anywhere. Not alot of people use them, probably because of the low pricepoint and not exactly the first name in tripods. I like mine though and I plug what I like :)
 
Hey deputy_dog (good name by the way), you don't have to be in every frame of your own movie, there always room for cutaways etc. The point was couldn't see the libec, but regardless, it may just well be a good choice for sbrian. It's cheap enough, yet costs more than the 503 to probably be well worth the cash. I'de rather learn on that than the 503 by what you are saying, and no matter what it will be a learning experience for sbrian. The dv6 is cheaper than the dv8, and probably all you need unless you really plan to weigh the mofo down. I don't think you have to be a camera operator day in day out to want your hvx footage looking more pro. It makes a huge difference on the footage when the camera moves look like what we are used to in the movies. Since the hvx gives us a decent approximation of film, you want to keep going with that approximation. That being said, i say he get's the f'n Libec
 
The reveiw is definately convincing, or at least trying really hard to be. Maybe there is no drift back. Apparently the cartoni focus head does have drift back. But I wouldn't be convinced by his self possesed writing that an 380$ head (libec)was better than a 800$ dollar head (cartoni). His beefed up set up didn't look too stable on that Libec head. But i agree for the price it's worth checking into.
 
After reading Jarred's review, I'm leaning towards the cartoni focus head at $800 from BH.

Sale Link

HB-207-L(1).jpg


You're saying my sticks won't fit in that bag? That's a bit of a damper... You would think they'd be perfect for that bag because they don't have the center attachment.
 
I've got that bag and the Miller Solos and they fit but they're big enough to make it feel like the bag is going to pull me over and putting it on with tripod attached is a feat to say the least. In that pic of the guy wearing it my tripod would be a tad over his head to put it in perspective. I think this bag is really made for still photo tripods. Awesome bag though.

As for the head I think Libec is the budget choice. My point on shooting day in and day out was that I dont doubt the Libec would produce the same moves as a DV8 or 6. I just like the feel and useability of the sachtlers and if I shot everyday I'd probably opt that direction albeit at a much higher price. The libec is very stripped down (no drag adjustment) but very well built tripod. I'll agree that the review is a little "strong" but after having the libec myself I cant disagree with anything the he said about the head. As for the problems he had with the cartoni focus I dont know. I've read alot of good things about that head but some searching turns up some bad too. Isnt the Cartoni a 100mm head? The DV solo sticks are 75mm so you'd need to step up to the VJ sticks or get an adpater of sorts. So it comes down to whats your budget? My theory is spend what you need to spend but dont spend anymore so you can spend that on things you didnt need :)
 
Dog_cat - good point I suppose I could've used camera moves without me in the shot but whats the fun in a shot without anyone in it. The wife was at work and I really just wanted to play with my camera so I made a quick and easy 2 minute (maybe less movie). If I get out of work early tonight I'll try and get some footage posted with some camera moves in it. Nothing fancy though - it wont be the cinematic masterpiece "late for work" was so dont get too excited :)
 
I don't think anyone on this forum would agree that a 370 dollar head (libec) could undoubtably be as good as a 1500 dollar head (dv6). But i think we are open minded enough to hear you out, and see some results. I think sbryan is getting in over his head not realiseing that the tripod in the picture is a totally compact light weight still camera tripod. he will need an adapter for the 100mm cartoni head to fit the 75 mm bowl. If he buys a good kit he'll have a killer set up, but a serious monster to take on long hikes.
 
dogcat said:
I don't think anyone on this forum would agree that a 370 dollar head (libec) could undoubtably be as good as a 1500 dollar head (dv6). But i think we are open minded enough to hear you out, and see some results. I think sbryan is getting in over his head not realiseing that the tripod in the picture is a totally compact light weight still camera tripod. he will need an adapter for the 100mm cartoni head to fit the 75 mm bowl. If he buys a good kit he'll have a killer set up, but a serious monster to take on long hikes.
Click to expand...

I wanted the rain slick cover and enough room for my cameras. I haven't been hiking since boy scouts. lol.u8o00

I do a bit of weight lifting and have broad shoulders... I think I can manage lugging it around.
 
Ok footage is going to have to wait until this weekend. I've got a convention to get some footage ready for but during the rendering I can dvxuser my time away...

Anyways. I never said the libec was as good as the sacthler. If it came across that way I apologize. I can make pans/tilts come out just as well with either head. I'd rather do it with the sachtler. Its like taking two cars racing and one is a chevy and the other a porsche. Pretend its a fast chevy though and they both tie in the race. I'd rather be driving the porsche. But the chevy is cheap and I dont see any point in spending more than a chevy for my needs. If my needs were the work of a shoot every day most of the day person I'd shoot with a porsche... err a sachtler or something in that price range. Its just a feel thing to me. The sachtler is silky silky smooth where the libec is just smooth. In the end the footage looks the same. Your mileage may vary.

As to strapping either tripod to the bag it aint gonna work. I really dont think anyone can manage it with any ease. I've lifted my fair share of weights and dont even bother with this much weight on my back. It just doesnt balance and tries to pull all 180 lbs of me over. The tripod ends up too far off of your body and has a fair bit of leverage. So just beware. If you can handle though by all means go for it. But that is a tiny tripod in that picture. Sweet timing!! My render is done!! Back to editing!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top