What fluid head do you use or recommend?

I was just glad to get Tim's old Cartoni Focus head, a very good deal, and I have to say that's more than enough weight for me at the moment. It's kind of delicate, and could be less clutzy with hard clicks, but 2 kilos at a reasonable price seems just right.
I wouldn't want to be carrying anything any heavier anywhere, Not to mention baggage charges just went up over the summer.
 
the sachtlers are good. you wont be disappointed by it if youve never had an amazing head to compare to. its just not in the same league as the Miller Arrow 25......
 
Well I have used many tripods so Ill just pop my quick thoughts out.

FOR HVX ONLY

Depends how much you want to upgrade.

Libec, no adjustment for drag - but they are the sweetest deal for the $ at the low end IMO. Something like the ls55 easily outperforms the low end Manfrottos

The Manfrotto 516-519 heads, made to take much more weight than the 503 so with HVX alone they can do a pretty good job.

Satchler (not sure if anyone on the board remembers me having mine stolen and in Japan of all places), DV6 is in another world by any comparison to the above.

I am now using the Vinten Vision series (Vision 11) on the HPX - IMO Vinten is just as good as the Satchlers / occoners / millers etc The set up im using has been worked pretty hard and its like butter.
 
I guess the Sachtler worked it's charm on you, huh Faith? ;-)

Congrats, it's the beginning of a long, beautiful friendship and it should last you a LONG time. I had my Video 20 for 8 years and I have had my DV-6SB for over a year.

Enjoy it! Welcome to the club.

Dan
 
I've heard only great thinkgs about it... congrats!
Well done... you will NOT regret it... I wonder if I should have instead of the Focus.
 
DV8 SB 100mm w/Miller Solo sticks?

DV8 SB 100mm w/Miller Solo sticks?

This thread couldn't come at a better time, I'm shopping for a head and sticks right now.

Has anyone tried mating the DV8 SB 100mm to the Miller 1505 sticks? Thinking that's the way I want to go but don't want to run into any compatibility issues. Do you need to swap anything out like with the Cartoni?

Also I do love the Arrow 25, but afraid it might be too much for the HVX when I want to shoot it bare (I think the low-end weight is rated for 7lbs.) Anyone using it?

Thanks!

Phil.
 
Deuceofspades said:
YES!!! Guess who just bought a Sachtler V6? :love4:

Already sold my bogen head, bye bye.
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I would love to hear from you on what you think of the Sachtler V6. I was looking at a Bogen 526 head and the 3193 tripod and have been a bit sceptical in buying one. After reading this thread I think I might be looking at the wrong head tripod setup for a HVX200 and might need to look at the V6.
 
phil i own the miller arrow 25 and the hvx and it works flawlessly when used with the hvx alone or in combination with nebtek hd monitor zacuto base plate zacuto double mount with plate and idx battery letus fe nikor lenses from 25mm to 300mm 26 inches of rods century matte box with two filters follow focus and ultralight monitor arm and it all sits on the miller vj solo sticks
 
Apple:

The Sachtler is in a whole different league than the Bogen 526. I would say the DV-6SB is the ideal head for an HVX-200.

Dan
 
Apple.Professional said:
I would love to hear from you on what you think of the Sachtler V6. I was looking at a Bogen 526 head and the 3193 tripod and have been a bit sceptical in buying one. After reading this thread I think I might be looking at the wrong head tripod setup for a HVX200 and might need to look at the V6.
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I think there is no ONE right set-up for a camera, it depends on what you prefer and what features are important to you and what you can afford, right?

So let me just say why for me it was an easy choice:

1. I wanted a good head at a price I could (kinda LOL) afford. That ruled out all the really gooooood high end heads, regretably...

2. I needed a head that could take the weight of the HVX+ adapter but was not too heavy itself (that ruled out the O'connors used heads etc..)

3. I needed a head that had a ball size compatible with my current bogen sticks (which I LOVE and want to keep). That ruled out the Cartoni $1000 model head.

4. I needed a head that had a level control at the bottom that would still allow me to close my Bogen sticks ALL THE WAY when I am done. I found that Cartoni were a problem, because the shape of the big knob you tighten or losen to readjust the level of your head on the sticks, was too large and I could not close my sticks anymore :(... Sachtler has a narrow, unobstrusive but well shaped handle that allows me to close all the way... Yeyyyy!

5. I needed a head with a plate that was easy to engage and disengage. Always hated the Bogen 503, it was a battle everytime I wanted to put my camera on the head. The Sachtler is so simple, you just place the camera plate down (no sliding necessary) and it immediately, automatically LOCKS perfectly in 0.5 seconds. Same for removal. No more need to struggle for 2 minutes trying to align the plate to the head...

6. I needed a head with friction control that had NUMBERS - Oh boy, that ruled out most of the heads in my price range, including the smaller Cartoni head as well as most of the Bogens.

7. I needed a head that was black (goodbye Vinten, goodbye Cartoni). I don't know about you, but if I can , I prefer my gear to look good. A grey head on black sticks just doesn't quite do it for me.

8. I wanted a head that had the drag control easily accessible (Bogen did a terrible job when putting their drag control UNDER the top plate. I always hated it.). Vinten was a bit better but still awkward. Cartoni, not bad, but Sachtler head has them all beat: This is the best set-up of all the ones I saw and tried. AND the drag numbers are in TWO places for pan and for tilt (so 4 sets of numbers altogether) , so you can see them no matter which side of the tripod you are sitting or standing near. Could be handy when doing a dolly shot for exemple.

9. I needed a head that was smooth, could do diagonal pans smoothly and would stop, without noticeable recoil at the end of my move and STAY there. Even if the camera was a bit tilted forward or back. That pretty much ruled out a lot if not most of the low end heads.

The Sachtler V6 head was the ONLY head that offered all above. So it was an easy choice. No agonizing on what to pick here.

NOTE there is another Sachtler head can't remember the exact model number, that also has a 6 in its model number. So careful, the one I bought is the one with FIVE drag settings, not THREE.

OK, need I say more??

And this is what I did to my Bogen 503 head: :nads:
 
puredrifting said:
Apple:

The Sachtler is in a whole different league than the Bogen 526. I would say the DV-6SB is the ideal head for an HVX-200.

Dan
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation, this seems to be the general consensus of most here on the forum...

I will be looking at getting a V6 after the holidays... :happy:
 
Deuceofspades said:
I think there is no ONE right set-up for a camera, it depends on what you prefer and what features are important to you and what you can afford, right?


And this is what I did to my Bogen 503 head: :nads:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I see that you have researched this very intensively and I agree with most of your points, heck, I agree with all of them. I will be looking at the V6 and will more than likely go with it over the Bogen. Now to find the model with the 5 drag settings and I will be all set...
 
Thanks Mark, that's great. So there's no over-balanced "bounce-back" when it's tilted down to max? That's great, I tried it at the DV Expo and loved it, but they didn't have an HVX on it at the time...

Phil

mark viducich said:
phil i own the miller arrow 25 and the hvx and it works flawlessly when used with the hvx alone or in combination with nebtek hd monitor zacuto base plate zacuto double mount with plate and idx battery letus fe nikor lenses from 25mm to 300mm 26 inches of rods century matte box with two filters follow focus and ultralight monitor arm and it all sits on the miller vj solo sticks
Click to expand...
 
I'm at one with my DV6SB.

I fooled myself I was buying a proper head when I got my Manfrotto 516 on 351CF legs, but was constantly disappointed with it's action.

After one shoot of a yoga session, after numerous snags, jerks etc, the first thing I did after was to order the Sachtler Head with Miller Solo legs.

My Manfrotto is reduced to my static tripod for an unmanned second camera.

The action of the head still gives me great pleasure, and a great combo all in all.

As PureDrifting said, the perfect head for the HVX.
 
THE SACHTLER DV6SB, REVISITED - enjoy the shots!

No problem balancing all this:

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