TRI POD HEAD for HVX/SGPro Combo Suggestions.

T

Tim Naylor

Veteran
I have a cartoni focus but I find it too light for my HVX/SG PRO combo.

Full loaded this is what my tri pod must support
HVX 200
Zacuto Plate
2 sets of Rods
Vocas Matte Box / Eyebrow
Two 4 x 4 filters
Marshall 7" plus snoot hood
Isreali Arm
SG Pro Adaptor
Nikon Lens

This probably weighs between 12-13 lbs.

Focus is fine with my HVX on its own. I need something that doesn't break the bank but can definitely handle this load with ease.

I'm looking at the Vinten 3 through 8, Cartoni Gamma and Sachtler 8 through 12 head. Have no interest in anything Manfrotto. They're junk.

Any notions out there.
 
Anything up to Sachtler dv6 and vinten vision 3 are all made in Costa Rica, both are made in the same factory. The internal of the vinten is almost 100% identical with the Sachtler.

Sachtler DV 8, 100mm is probably the obvious choice. I also heard los of complaints of the 75mm Sachtler to be flexy.
 
Have you used the Vinten 3 beyond 12lbs. Don't really care about where it's built and blueprint similarities. Need to know form first hand users how they perform. Can a Vision 3 handle 12 lbs plus OK? I just know from firsthand experience with larger tripods that Vinten's perform much different than Sachtlers (ie. better). Just need to know about their smaller models.
 
Tim Naylor said:
Have you used the Vinten 3 beyond 12lbs. Don't really care about where it's built and blueprint similarities. Can a Vision 3 handle 12 lbs plus OK?
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With a jerk off response like that why would anyone else even care to reply. Why don't you call Vinten and ask them OK?
 
My apologies if I offended you. Didn't realize the tone of my writing sounded like a "jerk off". Anyway, I really am looking for first hand reviews. I've used the lightweight Sachtlers (4,6, and 8) and I find the action "springy" and not enough tension on the tilt. Everyone who waxes about the Vintens say their lightweights are much smoother than Sachtler (which is the reason I question the "blueprints"). I am well aware that Vitec makes just about everything that tilts or pans, save Cartoni. What I need to know is the performance of a V3,6, through 8 with a 10-12lb load (HVX, plate/rails, matte box, lens sgpro).

There's alot BS out there such as Cartoni saying the Focus can handle up to 22lbs. I like mine, but would not put more than 9lbs on it before it says "no mas". If a V 3 with a heavier spring can really handle 10-20lbs without feeling overloaded that's great.

So who out there has the inside scoop? And again, sorry for coming off like a prick.

Tim
 
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I guess it was the big capital OK and the way you brushed off the dude who tried to help with little info he had, that made it seem snotty. I feel you when there are a bunch of replies that have no use like this one when you are trying to find out something in a hurry so sorry about snapping back. I would have offered you to try my 510 rated for 18lbs but you originally said you don't like Manfrotto so I didn't reply.

PS. I like that last music vid you posted.
 
Don't want to fan a fire here but I don't feel there was anything even slightly snippish about Tim's comments. He simply indicated he wasn't interested in where things were built but how they functioned from someone who had first hand experience. He didn't deserve to slammed for it, and was very polite in his response.

I too have the same question out there and the same disappointment with my Cartoni focus. I have looked a little at the DV8 with the 75mm ball and didn't think it was a whole lot better, but didn't try it with my brevis. The 75mm ball is a non starter for me altogether.
The DV15 is strong enough but tends to have the opposite problem that you can't turn the spring tension down as low as I would like for a bare HVX .

I have a friend with a DV12 that I will try soon. I guess I should check out another friend who has a Vinton 3 but I don't tend to like them too much. Is the spring tension adjustable on that or is it the one where you have to change the springs? I want it to be adjustable.

Has anyone here tried a Cartoni Gamma?

Lenny Levy
 
jesus... tim. i have that whole rig on a 501 manfrotto. you'd probablly puke if you used it.......

i too am in the market for a new head. post personal experiences pleae!
 
Lenilenapi said:
Don't want to fan a fire here but I don't feel there was anything even slightly snippish about Tim's comments. He simply indicated he wasn't interested in where things were built but how they functioned from someone who had first hand experience. He didn't deserve to slammed for it, and was very polite in his response.
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No fire anymore. To me it looked like a "shuddafookup if you don't have the info i want". So if I read it that way its possible someone else might have also but its all personal perception.
 
Also depending on the mood of the person when they read it effects the perception. I can say I wasn't in the best of moods then.
 
well you are closing out a 30 day shoot aram...... i wouldnt expect you to be farting butterflies.
 
To be perfectly honest, I didnt take no offence from tim's reply. He just said he wasnt interested in where the product was made.

Personally I disagreed with him. When I spend my hard earned cash, at least i want to have some QC and integrity in the product that i am purchasing. But its his money and he can do whatever he wants with it. Its none of my business.

I have not personally used the vinten vision 3, that is why i did not response back. I have used the vinten video series, DV8 and the cartoni focus (which i think is really not that much better than 503).
 
Thanks for being human on this site. That's why I come here, ideas , help and entertainment. Anyway, I've used the higher end Vinten's and Sachtlers and I love them, but I'm looking for that holy grail - a tripod that'll work with the HVX naked and fully outfitted with adaptor + marshall. It's a tall order. One tripod I tried at Abel the Panther T10 and Panther X15. Excellent but not cheap. T10 is small but has a lot of tilt tension (which I like) and X 15 is just a thing of beauty. Same price as a Gamma head. Anyone with reliability reports on Panther. The build is amazing. All metal!

Didn't mean to slay Manfrotto users but I find they fail the long lens test and are poorly built (strip easily on the rosette, constantly come out of adjustment, etc) and suck with diagonal moves. Long lens test: fully telephoto, pan left/right and see if it settles on the spot without the slightest kick back. Cartoni Focus blows this completely. Panther, Gamma , Vinten 10 + and Sachtler 15 and above pass. They all kill my pocket book and are not suited that well to a naked HVX.

Still haven't tried any lightweight Vintens (8 and below), Cartoni Laser, Miller or Libec.

Anyway, I've almost been tempted to buy an old OConner 100. My focus sells in the next few days. Any anwsers to this tripod conundrum are hugely appreciated.
 
Beat Takeshi said:
I guess it was the big capital OK and the way you brushed off the dude who tried to help with little info he had, that made it seem snotty. I feel you when there are a bunch of replies that have no use like this one when you are trying to find out something in a hurry so sorry about snapping back. I would have offered you to try my 510 rated for 18lbs but you originally said you don't like Manfrotto so I didn't reply.

PS. I like that last music vid you posted.
Click to expand...
Don't want to get in a semantic pissing match but "OK" literally means what I meant - can it handle the weight okay. Meaning, can it handle the weight in decent, agreeable way and not make me suffer (or whatever the workin definition of OK,okay,ok is). I capitlized because I thought that is how one abbreviates okay. Tone, sarcasm and any snarky laden snideness, are not OKay, OK, okay, ok, okeelee damn dokee with me.

About those tripods......
 
Tim, you liked the Gamma then? How was the price?

Is that one step up from the Focus or is that the Laser?
I suspecte the DV12 would be OK as well.
 
Gamma head is truly awesome. Smooth as silk. Built like a tank. Like the smoothness over the Sachtler. It's about 3200.00. It's a few steps up from Focus. Load: 10-32lbs. At this price, you're in the Panther X15 price (7-30lbs). X15 is truly a well built piece of machinery. Panther T10 is a real oddity. It's as small as my focus, but far better built. Only 3 levels of drag but unlike low end Sachtlers or Focus the drag increments are truly different from eachother and depiste it's size, it's tension can handle my package. It's in the running. It's really a different class altogether. Ideally I'm hoping to spend no more than 2000.00. I'll be checking out a D12 this weekend will report.

Anyone who can give me the scoop on Vinten, holla.
 
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