Carbon Fiber Tripod
- Thread starter Gladiator
- Start date
I have a CF Sachtler and love it.
Thanks David
I looked at that one as well but decided I wanted the extra height capabilty of the 755cx3. I intend to pan. tilt, and zoom with it.
I bought the Miller Compass 15 with Carbon Fibre Solo legs (3-stage). It's not cheap... but it IS THE BEST I have ever used. The tripod and head can handle much heavier equipment, however it works PERFECTLY with the bare HMC150.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS. Not yelling.. just EXCITED!
So if you can afford it, get this one.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS. Not yelling.. just EXCITED!
So if you can afford it, get this one.
Dave ©
Well-known member
15 lbs? Seems pretty heavy. Any recommendations on a sub-10 lb tripod? Or is that just too light?
L Train
Active member
I just got those legs with a 501 Head and I love it.
I have some lighter Manfrotto carbon fibre legs with a light fluid head, and it is good for travel. But any panning will not give me the professional result of the Miller. Not even close.
Maybe you should consider the Miller DS5 with Solo legs. Unfortunately they won't sell the carbon fibre Solo legs with the DS5 fluid head, only with aluminium legs for some strange reason. The difference in weight is about 500 grams (~1lb) and the only option if you want carbon solo legs is to buy the components separately from Miller which cost you almost double. Miller's weird marketing ploy is to get you to upgrade and buy the DS10 if you want the carbon fibre legs, but I personally don't like the DS10 at all. The spring loading is too high, the drag is all wrong, and it has a useless nylon physical drag screw that you would expect on a toy. It's just not for me.
The DS5 is about a third of the price of the Compass 15 and excellent in all respects including value for money (Miller probably come close to just breaking even on it). However it does NOT COME CLOSE to the Compass 15 with all the variable drag settings, build and finish, etc.
Again... only if you can afford it.
L Train - Are you happy with the Solo legs? Did you get the 2-stage legs or the new 3-stage Solo legs? I got the 3-stage and it is incredible in terms of range - tens of centimeters from ground level to almost 2 metres off the ground. If only it was quick release rather than screw tighteners.
By the way I sound like a Miller representative. Not so! My experience with Miller is that the engineering is second to none, however their sales force on the other hand is absolutely pathetic. Unless you are a big player, they mess you around and are completely unhelpful. Obviously I had a terrible experience with them.
It should, however, not take anything away from their absolutely excellent engineering!
Maybe you should consider the Miller DS5 with Solo legs. Unfortunately they won't sell the carbon fibre Solo legs with the DS5 fluid head, only with aluminium legs for some strange reason. The difference in weight is about 500 grams (~1lb) and the only option if you want carbon solo legs is to buy the components separately from Miller which cost you almost double. Miller's weird marketing ploy is to get you to upgrade and buy the DS10 if you want the carbon fibre legs, but I personally don't like the DS10 at all. The spring loading is too high, the drag is all wrong, and it has a useless nylon physical drag screw that you would expect on a toy. It's just not for me.
The DS5 is about a third of the price of the Compass 15 and excellent in all respects including value for money (Miller probably come close to just breaking even on it). However it does NOT COME CLOSE to the Compass 15 with all the variable drag settings, build and finish, etc.
Again... only if you can afford it.
L Train - Are you happy with the Solo legs? Did you get the 2-stage legs or the new 3-stage Solo legs? I got the 3-stage and it is incredible in terms of range - tens of centimeters from ground level to almost 2 metres off the ground. If only it was quick release rather than screw tighteners.
By the way I sound like a Miller representative. Not so! My experience with Miller is that the engineering is second to none, however their sales force on the other hand is absolutely pathetic. Unless you are a big player, they mess you around and are completely unhelpful. Obviously I had a terrible experience with them.
It should, however, not take anything away from their absolutely excellent engineering!
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8string
Well-known member
I have an 150 and a Manfrotto 535 (carbon fibre) and a 503hdv head. It seems more than adequate for the camera, even in the high winds of the Pacific NW coast. I just shot a little web piece for a friend to introduce the Wintergrass participants to the new Hyatt location. I have a lot of panning on this tripod in this short piece, as my friend is working on a narration right now, and we are shortening it up even more for the web. If it seems a little odd, it's because it's because some of the pans have been sped up for the purposes of narration. I usually pan pretty slowly. Anyway, be gentle, it's still a draft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v995E1sN0VA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v995E1sN0VA
Allan Black
Veteran
I agree with davdav. After working up through a succession of sticks the Compass 15 with the 3 stage CF Solo legs rock. The balance and drag systems are very well designed.
Interestingly the CF sticks are not that much lighter than the aluminium but they're far more stable. I got a factory demo here and they showed how the screw locks work. Most folk tighten them too much, you hold the legs together and basically flip the locks tight. Also once you get your comfortable standard working height, mark the legs with a waterproof pen.
The only downside I couldn't run to buying their hard case. I looked at making one out of PVC water pipe, but the size made it too heavy. Had my rig since last August and won't part with it. I'm not employed by Miller and paid full price.
Cheers.
Interestingly the CF sticks are not that much lighter than the aluminium but they're far more stable. I got a factory demo here and they showed how the screw locks work. Most folk tighten them too much, you hold the legs together and basically flip the locks tight. Also once you get your comfortable standard working height, mark the legs with a waterproof pen.
The only downside I couldn't run to buying their hard case. I looked at making one out of PVC water pipe, but the size made it too heavy. Had my rig since last August and won't part with it. I'm not employed by Miller and paid full price.
Cheers.
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8string
Well-known member
Jeez! The price of this tripod that is rated to 55 lbs seems absurd for a 150! I mean I spent about $750 (there is a rebate apparently going on right now) on the Manfrotto and Bogan head, but the notion of spending over $2k for a tripod like this seems like vast overkill. I'm sure it's a sweet tripod, but am I missing something here?
8string
Well-known member
Ok. But why buy a 150 if you need to buy a $2k tripod to mount a 3.7 lb camera??? I worked in 4x5 and 8x10 camera work in the 70s, major product photography, and I never needed a tripod capable of carrying 55lbs for those monster cameras. Heck, I don't really care one way or the other, but go check out the Manfrotto I mentioned, get a bigger head if you need one. I think that the Manfrotto is just about right, and it's plenty of heavy enough to make you feel like you are lugging a heavier tripod. Send me the difference in price (G). Or buy a B camera!
I agree - it's a lot of money. My view is this: I like having the best. I was always frustrated that my video never had the ultra smooth results I wanted. The Compass 15 makes it child's play.
Also I justify it that I will buy one tripod and head for life. It will outlast many cameras. Well if I am going to get one... this is the one.
Finally, that it can handle heavy cameras is just incidental. It works perfectly with a bare HMC150... but I can put any rig on it and it will be just fine. In fact I am sure that it will perform even better, asuming that is possible.
Cheers
Allan Black
Veteran
Yeah and don't forget camera bodies come and go .. but a great tripod will last a lifetime.
Cheers.
Cheers.
I'm trying to figure out a light tripod setup and i wonder if you guys have any thoughts:
My plan is to get either a Manfrotto 503HDV head or a Libec H38
I want to combine it with one of the following 3 legs I found used on B&H. Any advice would be welcome. I feel like I'm sure one of the links below is going to be laughably wrong for me:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...31_GT1531_Mountaineer_6X_Carbon.html/mode/edu
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...otto_3443D_3443D_CF_Tripod_Legs.html/mode/edu
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...450_427_C_427n6_8x_Carbon_Fiber.html/mode/edu
My plan is to get either a Manfrotto 503HDV head or a Libec H38
I want to combine it with one of the following 3 legs I found used on B&H. Any advice would be welcome. I feel like I'm sure one of the links below is going to be laughably wrong for me:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...31_GT1531_Mountaineer_6X_Carbon.html/mode/edu
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...otto_3443D_3443D_CF_Tripod_Legs.html/mode/edu
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...450_427_C_427n6_8x_Carbon_Fiber.html/mode/edu
I chose the Manfrotto 755CX3 for the built-in 50mm half-ball leveling system and the rapid center column, which adds 10" to the maximum height of the cameras platform. I hope this helps!
dust'n the callipygous
Well-known member
that's the one i've got with my 503hdv. i love mine. light, sturdy, and easy to level.