3 Way Tripod advice

D

DeadEyesSmiling

Well-known member
Hello there,

I'm looking for a good 3 Way Tripod head for around 50.00 bucks. I'll be using it for an HVX (bare at first, but eventually will be adding 35mm adapter and mattebox, and would like it to cover those as well) Any advice, or do any of you have experience with any of these? Thanks so much!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/318595-REG/Giottos_MH5000_MH_5000_3_Way_Pan_Tilt_Head.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-3-...62QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3325QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/221362-REG/Slik_615330_Able_300DX_3_Way_Pan.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/333983-REG/Slik_618706_SH_706_3_Way_Pan_Tilt_Head.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/269982-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_390RC2_390RC2_JR_Tripod_3_Way.html

And for the Sliks, does it really matter what type of camera you use it for as long as it doesn't go over the weight capacity (they say they are for SLRs)?

-DES
 
Crickets chirping....

These are not for video cameras,but for still cameras. They are cetainly not for cameras with 35mm adapters and accessories. You are inviting disaster by using one of these with your HVX.

Buy a Bogen 503 at the very least. For the accessories you eventually plan on adding you should be spending in the $1200.00 range for the tripod head alone (ideally).
 
I'm in agreement with hotchkiss.....
Some of the ones you mentioned I would be scared to mount my still camera on much less the HVX
 
Yes, why do you need a 3-way head, unless you're going for locked off shots, in which case lok for a geared head eg Manfrotto 400, which will take a 10x8 monorail camera.
Add up the weight of your kit, then look for a head with a bit more than that capacity in your price range.
Obviously if you're looking at $50 you're not going to get much. As hotchkiss said, look at the Manfrotto 503, over here it's about £180, say $350-400.
If you're planing to fork out for a 35mm ataptor, you should be looking at a comensurate head, and don't forget the legs.
Cheers,
Dave
 
$50 wouldn't buy a handle for the type of tripod you should be using to mount a HVX camera on. As has been pointed out, the bare minimum you would need to spend is almost 10 times that amount. If you're going to be adding mattebox, adapters, etc. expect to be spending around $1500 for a decent tripod.
 
Is this a troll to get us all foaming at the mouth?

Hmm...$5,100.00 for camera, at least another $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 for cards, another few hundred for bag/accessories. $50.00 tripod?

Sounds like somebody bought too much camera. The budget of a camera should always include all of the accessories needed to make the camera work as a system. I would much rather have an HDV $3,500.00 camera and a decent tripod then an HVX and the cheapest tripod made.

Good luck!

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
I would much rather have an HDV $3,500.00 camera and a decent tripod then an HVX and the cheapest tripod made.Dan
Click to expand...

Amen.

Years ago, when I was starting to buy gear, the first thing I purchased was my tripod ( sachtler 18P/ Gitzo carbon fiber sticks) . I could use that set of sticks with whatever camera that graced it's tripod plate- from DV to a Digibeta. Absolutely no regrets. A good tripod is more important than the camera IMHO.

The best camera in the world will be limited by a crappy tripod. Conversely, a good set of sticks will allow one to squeeze every last bit of quality out of even a sub par camera.

Rant over. ;-)
 
I am only planning on using this for locked off shots. I get it for the 35mm adapter and rails, but the HVX weighs in at 5.5 pounds by itself, so why wouldn't a head that has a rated capacity of 9-13 pounds (as the above do) be capable of holding an HVX? I guess I just don't understand... Thanks again!

-DES
 
I wouldn't put my cheapest still camera on a $50.00 tripod. Weight ratings mean nothing on these, you have to worry about if the sleeves that hold the leg tubes will give way.

You have a nice, new expensive camera, at least spend $300.00 to $400.00 to get a POS Bogen? They are not very good but if you don't plan on any moves, they are fine for lockoffs and you won't have to worry about having your new HVX hit the ground.

Dude, $50.00 for a $5,000.00 camcorder? Does not compute.

Dan
 
I understand what you are saying about the relative cost of the HVX vs. tripod head, but I guess what I don't understand is based on what I've seen of other "professional" rigs.

... I'm working on a DIY car rig, and wanted to use one of my listed heads as the head on that(I was actually leaning towards the Giottos, rated at 13lbs.). I've seen other car rigs use even less of heads (Varizoom uses a simple ball head http://www.varizoom.com/products/supports/vzautorig.html, and the vfgadgets pro gripper http://www.vfgadgets.com/Pro_Gripper.htm has been said to be rated to 8-10 lbs. and looks pretty flimsy http://www.freshdv.com/2007/01/freshdv-test-bench-video-review.html, and here's a pic of a DVX on an even cheaper 3 way head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5258-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3025_3025_3_D_Head.html on only one cup: http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/7292/1174226650.jpg). Of course, my rig would be used with straps to further secure the camera and I'll be using three cups rated at 40lbs. each, but I need a three way head for its versatility in positioning. I already have a Bogen 3063 head, but it doesn't have that third dimension of rotation. Thanks for your feedback on this, guys, I'm not trying to be an idiot, just trying to find something that works.

-DES
 
DeadEyesSmiling said:
I understand what you are saying about the relative cost of the HVX vs. tripod head, but I guess what I don't understand is based on what I've seen of other "professional" rigs.

... I'm working on a DIY car rig, and wanted to use one of my listed heads as the head on that(I was actually leaning towards the Giottos, rated at 13lbs.). I've seen other car rigs use even less of heads (Varizoom uses a simple ball head http://www.varizoom.com/products/supports/vzautorig.html, and the vfgadgets pro gripper http://www.vfgadgets.com/Pro_Gripper.htm has been said to be rated to 8-10 lbs. and looks pretty flimsy http://www.freshdv.com/2007/01/freshdv-test-bench-video-review.html, and here's a pic of a DVX on an even cheaper 3 way head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5258-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3025_3025_3_D_Head.html on only one cup: http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/7292/1174226650.jpg). Of course, my rig would be used with straps to further secure the camera and I'll be using three cups rated at 40lbs. each, but I need a three way head for its versatility in positioning. I already have a Bogen 3063 head, but it doesn't have that third dimension of rotation. Thanks for your feedback on this, guys, I'm not trying to be an idiot, just trying to find something that works.

-DES
Click to expand...

Dead eyes,

That additional info makes a bit more sense. A three way head seems like a good solution, but the part of this that makes me nervous is all of the additional accessories on the camera- especially on a car mount. Not only will the weight be a consideration but all of the surface area as well - that will be catching the wind. Combined with the awkward weight distribution of the lense adapter etc..., that head may still not be enough, even though it is technically rated for the weight, and even though it will be strapped down.

Is it possible to get your hands one and try it out? Using it sight unseen would make me nervous.
 
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