Official Tripod F.A.Q's

I have searched all over the site for comments on the Matthews M25 tripod. It sells for $180 and has received praise on other web sites. I am broke after spending my money on a camera and a mic. I don't do a whole lot of panning or tilting. I want a stable image for my interviews in a doc I am doing.
 
BurningTuna said:
I have searched all over the site for comments on the Matthews M25 tripod. It sells for $180 and has received praise on other web sites. I am broke after spending my money on a camera and a mic. I don't do a whole lot of panning or tilting. I want a stable image for my interviews in a doc I am doing.
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I've never used one, but theres a review I found, http://www.videomaker.com/article/13346/

Looks alright, just beware, no adjustable drag.
 
Bought Libec LS-38(comes with fluid head). Great tripod and fluid head for the price! I highly recommend it. HVX with SGpro, SGfollow focus, lenses, ikan monitor, matte box, and steel handle that I placed on top. All together camera setup is about 7kg , 60cm long and it supports and balances it very good. Great tripod. Highly recomended. For the price very surprisingly good quality!
 
I have been using Miller solo dv sticks with a Sachtler FSB6 for a while now... borrowed gear - but now it's time to purchase my own gear. I went with an old O'Connor 515 (used, cheap) and I'm looking at spreaderless carbon legs. My dilemma with the legs: since the O'connor is a 100mm I looked at the Miller Solo VJ and the Gitzo 3540.

The price is the same when you add all the accessories to the Gitzo to match up with the Miller (leg pads, carry strap, spiked feet, bowl). I need legs that are light wt and get me low to the ground -

Here's what I found so far: The miller legs set up quicker (they drop down on their own once the colettes are loosened), while the gitzo's need to be pulled out. The gitzo is lighter to lug (2.5lbs lighter) and you can put a 100mm or a 75mm bowl on top making them more adaptable. The miller VJ comes as a 100mm but you can always get a 75mm adapter to fit the 100mm bowl of the VJ if you ever decided to go with a 75mm head. Of course if you went this route you'd be lugging more wt with the VJ and adapter. This makes the Gitzo more adaptable in my mind.

I'm not sure about the warranty... Gitzo has lifetime warranty listed on site, but when you get them they say 1 year. Miller has 3 year warranty. ???

So my initial testing - I have used gitzo for years with my still photography and used borrowed Miller DV for my video. So far my conclusion is this: the gitzo is lighter and more adaptable, the Miller sets up a bit faster. While the Miller's also hold more wt that is a non factor right now as I shoot a DVX100 pretty bare bones - the leg locks are different, but I'm not sure if this really matters - they both work.

If anyone can add some more insight to these two legs I'd really like to hear this now - I have both sets -and one will get returned - I can't really test out the gitzo's for video in the real world since I work in marshy/somewhat harsh environments which would eliminate my ability to return them - so info on the Gitzo legs is welcome as the Millers get alot of attention with filmmakers and the Gitzo hardly a mention - Plus I can test the Solo DV legs and they are really the same as the VJ legs, just a bit smaller - and lighter -

thanks in advance -
 
Hey, just looking for any reccomendations-- I'm buying my first tripod because I'm getting a LEX soon. I've either borrowed tripods or just shoulder mounted before, but I figure I need one now. Anyway, my setup is going to be an XH-A1, letus extreme, letus rails system, and a redrock follow focus. I only have about $500 left after the other purchases, so does anyone have any reccomendations for something that will be able to hold this setup and give me acceptable performance? I hear really mixed reviews on the 503HDV, so I'm kind of wavering on that. Thanks!
 
Hi All,

My question is: can you use the little canon hv20 with a tripod like Libec LS-38 (load capacity 17.6 pounds)? I mean, isn't the camera gonna be too lightweight for the head to be properly fluid? I know some heads are rated e.g. 0-20 pounds so then it's obvious but for this one bhphoto only gives the max load so I'm curious...

So far (2 weeks) I've been using the Manfrotto's 701RC2 calling itself "fluid". My shortest review: jerky crap - stay away...

What I mostly do now is learning/practising/experimenting with the little hv20 on landscapes and panoramas all over the country (as I'm currently a truck driver) so I really need smooth pans. That's what some people here say the libec best offers for this kind of money ($675 @bh).

In some time I'll be planning the hpx 170 to be my main cam and it should be supported by the libec, right?

Or, is getting an old o'connor ($250 @ e-bay) and miller sticks ($450 @bh) a better idea. Though, I'm not so sure about getting some used stuff in a precise equipment like this. Plus the o'connor is hefty for an hv20... (too hefty?)

I would probably be happiest to get the sachtler dv-6sb with miller solo sticks but is there a point in shelling out $2,300 to put a $1,100 camera on it (I use pal) until I get the hpx170? Plus again, wouldn't the hv20 be too light?

I feel the libec ls-38 is most reasonable in my situation.. What do you guys an gals think? And, like KHOR, I've heard mixed opinions (more bad ones) on the Manfrotto 503 hdv, so for me - after my crappy "fluid" manfrotto - it's out of the question.

Plus, isn't the ls-38's max height (61") too short for a guy like me (6 foot tall). I have a bad back, y'know? :huh:

Lotta questions - thanks in advance (I cross post in general hardware since me noobie not sure)
 
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Hi dariomik,

Did you find out anymore info about the Libec LS-38 with the HV20? I'm considering one for my HV30 and wondering if it will be doable without adding extra weight below the camera (until I pony up for more accessories like a 35mm adapter).

I think I read somewhere that you can remove the springs in the head and that helps for lighter cameras.

Also, if anyone knows if the Libec is available in Canada, that would be cool too.
 
The same here, I 'm planning to get HPX170 on Sep. For now I considered playing with HV20. Also I ordered Libec LS-38 for my HV20. That would be arrived on Friday. Will keep you guys posted.
 
Thanks appy. Looking forward to hearing how you do with the Libec 38 and HV20.

Oh, and I looked up that thread about removing springs from the head - it pertained to the Matthews M25. Not sure if you can do the same with the Libec.
 
503 problems can you help me please

503 problems can you help me please

Hello I really dont know who to ask, I have looked all the over the net with no luck. I have a manfrotto 503 tripod. Recently when I lock the tripod up for just vertical shots, there seems to be about 5mm free play left and right, its making certain shots impossible now. Is it just something i can tighten internally to solve the problem? :shocked:
 
@ Jeff L

I decided to go with the Libec LS-38. Got it last night and my first impression is very positive - didn't have time to play a lot with it or view the footage but it feels sturdy, solid and high quality. As for the head - I got the impression (again, only a couple of minutes with it really) it really IS fluid :) (both bare hv20 as well as cam + beachtek adapter + canon wide angle converter (quite heavy) + ntg2 on top).

I'll try to keep you posted whenever I get a chance to lay my hands on it more seriously (a week or so) and I'm also curious what appy finds out.

Cheers
 
Hey dariomik,

Glad to hear your first impression is good.

It will be great if a bare HV20 can pan and tilt smoothly on a Libec LS38. On my HV30 I have a Raynox 6600 WA, hot shoe mic, and home brew mattebox (Cokin filter system with half a Staples index card box cut to shape and attached). It's still pretty light.

If it proves to be too light, I might add some weights; someone in another thread suggested adding the weights they use for counter balancing car tires to a rig.

But it sounds like I might not need to. I look forward to hearing more about how you get along with your setup.

Thanks,

- Jeff
 
Hi Chris,

I have also an old Universal head and I am also very satisfied. Your head looks to be a much newer model than mine. Does the great knob at the side (where the letters are) work as a Counterbalance? (My Universal has only 2 knobs; one for both directions, break and dampening in one.) For which weights is the counterbalance constructed, if it is a counterbalance at all? Whats the weight of your head without tripod?

Thanks
 
O'Connor 515 head

O'Connor 515 head

I made my decison to go with the Miller VJ solo sticks - I have an old O'Connor 515 head on top - it blows the doors off of Sachtler 6. I didn't expect to notice that big of a difference - but it's smooth smooth smooth. So my recommendation is if you find one of these on ebay you won't be unhappy - the only downside is wt - these things are beasts!
 
Will these work together?
Miller Solo DV Legs
Libec H 38 head

I have a feeling that the legs are "too good" for the head? I am shooting with an A1 with minimal accessories - wide angle, on-board light, shotgun, wireless mics.

I really wanted to stay in the $600 range, but I need spreaderless legs so I can drop it to the floor.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Rightsider - I've got that exact combo and love it. Yeah I kinda felt the same way, but the head is really smooth, just not all that expensive.
 
Ironically Sticky threads are the least likley to recieve a reply, but let's give it go...

I have a tripod budget of $1000. I really want the Miller Solo DV CF legs and they come in around the $675 mark. So that leaves me around $400 for a head. I was going to go with Libec H38. Am I crazy to put sticks ahead of the head?? My reasoning behind this is simple. The head I really want is probably in the $1500 range. I think rather than compromise on BOTH head and sticks and get middle of the road on both, why not use the max of my budget on great sticks and the remainder on a perfectly acceptable head for the time being?

That way when I have the cash to upgrade the head, my sticks will be solid and I'll be set. Stupid thinking or should I totally do the opposite and maybe get a Vinten Vision 3 for $900 and throw it on some really cheap sticks for a few months?
 
Not stupid at all. Sounds completely rational to me. If you have a great head on a set of sticks that flex then do you really have a great head?. You won't get the performance your head is capable of unless your shots are strictly static and locked off in which case a performance head isn't critical anyhow. Building from the ground up as you propose sounds like it leaves all the doors open for an upgrade path later. From what I read here, the H38 is a great head and those sticks will likely be with you for a very long time.
.02,
 
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