Comments on Libec TH-M20 Tripod?

J

J5 squared

Well-known member
Looking for a decent tripod system to support my new dvx100b. I do alot of different types of shooting right now as a student. From short films and documentaries to alternative sports dvds and videos. I'm looking for something on the cheaper end to allow me extra cash towards a shotgun mic and other accessories but i also don't want to end up with a useless tripod just cause i was trying to keep it fairly cheep. I've just been cruising bh.com and evsonline.com lookin at the basically $400 and under tripods. This libec model caught my eye, anyone have any experience with them? Do you think it will be sufficent for my needs?

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...ode=THM20&Category_Code=4A1H1&Product_Count=0
 
Personally I think Libec are fine I use a ls-35 and it does the job well. The one in your link doesnt have a fluid head, so theres an issue for under $400 you could get this:
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=LS22

Incidently I bought one of these also: I switch the wheels for track dolly. Just remove a bolt throw on the DIY track wheels and all set! The wheels that come with it are not very good for anything.... if you had a perfect smooth surface like a carpark then maybe. I also have an alloy plate which I sit on top bolts through, drilled holes where legs sit. Still needs a handle and a seat... though I will when I get time.

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DL3
 
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So does anyone know if this tripod is fluid head or not? I'm getting conflicting reports. Libecs homepage doesn't say it is, but it doesn't say its not either. I'm guessing if it was fluid it would say so on their homepage, selling point afterall.
 
Alright now i've narrowed it down a bit. I'm now looking at the

bescor TH-660 Fluid head, ball base, i'm told its actually made by libec

and the

davis and sanford pro vista fm18 again fluid head and ball base

both are still cheap tripods but from what i've read on dvx user they are decent. Can anyone recommend one over the other?
 
J5 squared said:
Alright now i've narrowed it down a bit. I'm now looking at the

bescor TH-660 Fluid head, ball base, i'm told its actually made by libec

and the

davis and sanford pro vista fm18 again fluid head and ball base

both are still cheap tripods but from what i've read on dvx user they are decent. Can anyone recommend one over the other?
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WOW

looking at that tripd right now, looks amazing!! for the price that is. I think im sold

Now the question is, which of the two would have less (swaying) when usinga dolly, cause one thing i notice wit hmy cheap tripod right now is that it rocks slightly back and forth because of its malubility and light weightness.
 
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camcorderinfo said:
I recently bought the Bescor TH-660 Tripod from B&H for $200 as a lighter weight back-up to my Sachtler 14 II. It is designed to support 13lbs and has a spreader. When it arrived, it was a nicely specified tripod, but there was a fault in the head, as the tilt movement was very sticky and noisy. I'm sure it was just a bad head, so I've sent it back to B&H for a replacement. I will post the results of the replacement when it arrives. Apart from that it's a nice piece of kit.

I thought this might be of interest to those looking to buy a tripod. Last December I ordered from B&H a Bescor TH-660 for $200. Although, I already had a superb Sachtler 14 II, it is heavy, and in December and January, I had to fly from CA to Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Atlantic City, Toronto and NC for video shoots. Along with my Sony Z1U kit, I had a small sound kit, 2 x wireless kits and a 4 lamp lighting kit. I therefore decided to invest in lightweight tripod to help ease my 100lb baggage limit. The first TH-660 had a ridiculously sticky tilt action, so that was returned to B&H. It was so sticky, I thought the tilt lock was still on.

I recieved a replacement, and this one too, had way to much friction on the tilt. Not quite as bad as the first, but it would certainly be impossible to to do a tilt and pan at the same time. The pan is very smooth, although when the pan lock is released the head does have a slight wobble. The bubble is also in a dumb place - next to the quick release plate, so if you had a camcorder attached the base of the camera obscured the bubble, making the bubbling of the head a joke.

The legs itself, work well and are a nice quality. The only flaw is the floor spreader has to be removed everytime you want to pack up the sticks, as it folds up and fouls up with the center spreader.

On paper, it's an attractive package for the money, but in execution, their are too many design flaws, to make it a useable tripod. In short, it doesn't do what it's supposed to. In fact, I plan to write to Bescor to express the problems I have had with my new tripod.
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found that post and follow up on camcorderinfo.com. Its the only real review i've found of that bescor tripod. Although its only one review and i don't know how reliable the author is its enough to make me shy away from it. I've seen a few posts on the pro vista being a very decent tripod. So thats the one i'd leaning towards now. Though orignally i had been headed towards the bescor. If anyone else has experience w these tripods or finds reviews please post or link them.
 
J5 did you get the Pro Vista? Newegg sell them for $199. I'm thinking about buying one or that Manfrotto with the 745 legs and 701 head for $293 at B&H.
 
Ya i got the provists, i had to make a few modifications as some of the knobs tended to hit the tripod or head and wouldn't allow it to be adjusted in certain positions. but after a little time on a grinder its all straightened out now. Seems to be a very solid tripod with a decent head. For the money i couldn't be happier.
 
That Bescor is nice - I was going to suggest another Libec, but I'd go with the Bescor. Nice find.
 
I am trying to put together details of tripods at about 200/- bucks that offer leveling with either a pushbutton or a clawball.
Does the bescor TH-660 or the Pro Vista FM18 Airlift offer level adjustment for tilted ground ?
 
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