Good, Cheap Tripod + Fluid Head for 7D

J

Jean Dantes

Well-known member
Hey guys, I know pretty much nothing about tripods and fluid heads, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good combination for me. I'm on a pretty tight budget - $250 - $300USD - can anything good be bought for that price?

Also, I would like a tall tripod - around 180cm (70inches).

Thanks in advance to any replies :)!!
 
I think this may be your best bet in that price range.

Matthews M25 $185 USD
http://www.dvcreators.net/matthews-m25-tripod/

There's a link to a review there as well. I've been going through this dilemma as well and decided on the Bogen 503hdv with a 1 meter Gilidetrack.

Didn't really want to spring $3,000 on a Miller Arrow at this stage of the game.
 
Wow, that looks well priced! Does it come with the head also?

Maximum height looks like it's 152cm. Do you know if this brand makes a taller one?

Also, where did you get the 1 metre Glidetrack?

Thanks for the reply! :)
 
f64manray said:
I think this may be your best bet in that price range.

Matthews M25 $185 USD
http://www.dvcreators.net/matthews-m25-tripod/

There's a link to a review there as well. I've been going through this dilemma as well and decided on the Bogen 503hdv with a 1 meter Gilidetrack.

Didn't really want to spring $3,000 on a Miller Arrow at this stage of the game.
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I have to say I love my Matthews M25, comes with the head, and its about 6ft all at its highest...

the only downside it no real DRAG control, but its heavy enough not to go anywhere unless you push it
 
See the zazaslider thread for a slider in the DIY section. No need to spend $400 for a Glidetrack, when you can make EXACTLY the same thing from his suppliers for $150.
 
yoclay said:
See the zazaslider thread for a slider in the DIY section. No need to spend $400 for a Glidetrack, when you can make EXACTLY the same thing from his suppliers for $150.
Click to expand...

hmmm....I read the DIY indie slider. It's well worth it to pay the extra $250 and just have it show up at my door ready to go. Drilling holes in metal and tapping screws isn't my game. Gotta keep the economy going. :-)
 
I've been banging around a Libec TH-650DV for ten years, perfect for small light cameras. Legs quite rigid with next to no twist in them. A HDSLR is typically not heavy enough to give smooth movement on bigger fluid heads. Fluids need the correct weight to work as intended. My GH1 alone is actually a bit to light for the 650 and works better when I have it with my follow focus rod rig. There's a 950 version with a 75 mm bowl which is what I'd get if I'd buy a new tripod now.
 
f64manray said:
hmmm....I read the DIY indie slider. It's well worth it to pay the extra $250 and just have it show up at my door ready to go. Drilling holes in metal and tapping screws isn't my game. Gotta keep the economy going. :-)
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I understand, but why not put that $250 towards a tripod and fluid head if you are on a tight budget? The work takes less than a half an hour. If you added that cost savings to your current budget, you could even move up a notch on the tripod side with a Bogen 503 head, etc....
 
yoclay said:
I understand, but why not put that $250 towards a tripod and fluid head if you are on a tight budget? The work takes less than a half an hour. If you added that cost savings to your current budget, you could even move up a notch on the tripod side with a Bogen 503 head, etc....
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I am getting the 503hdr fluid head with tripod as well as the Glidetrack. Cost was about $600 I believe for the 503hdr fluid head & tripod. I'm also getting the 1 meter Glidetrack HD for about $490. I thought $1,100 for for a good tripod and Glide track was a good deal compared to what it could have come to had I made some other choices. The Miller DS 10 was about $1,200. By cutting back to the 503hdr which I understand is very close to the DS 10, I basically got the Glidetrack for free and came in $100 less than the Miller DS10 system. Such is the logic employed when we shop. :-)

The OP was looking for a budget tripod. I agree, if you're strapped for cash, making it your self is a good idea allowing you to put the money other places.

Edit: Fed Ex just delivered my Glidetrack. No tripod yet, it's supposed to be here tomorrow. The carriage glides nicely on the track. I probably over bought by getting the heavy duty version, but I didn't want to get caught with it not being sturdy enough.
 
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Hey guys, thank you all SO SO MUCH for all the feedback and suggestions!

I've have been looking around at a lot of tripods, and I really wanted to go with the Matthews M25, but it didn't meet my required height. I am now trying to decide between these two tripods:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Propod_V_Aluminum_2_Stage.html#specifications


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Vista_Airlift_Tripod_with.html#specifications


Which do you guys think is the better of the two?

Thanks again everyone, much appreciated :)
 
What would you guys recommend for a tripod(no head) for a 503hdr?

Would like to keep the tripod with no head under $200.

Or suggestions on a complete tripod system under $600, that is better than a 503hdr and $200 tripod.
 
NextWaveG said:
I have this tripod:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ford_PROVISTA7518B_Pro_Vista_Tripod_with.html

...and it's WAY better then the Matthews. Plus it uses the standard Manfratto plates. I modified it to work with my custom built ZaZa Slider and it works great! Also made it so it's quick to disassble.

Here's pictures of it in action: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168908&id=66517091814&ref=mf
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Cool! I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with the Davis & Sanford too.

Did yours come with the free "Davis & Sanford W3 Dolly with 3" Ball Rubber Wheels"? If so, how did it perform?
 
Jean Dantes said:
Cool! I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with the Davis & Sanford too.

Did yours come with the free "Davis & Sanford W3 Dolly with 3" Ball Rubber Wheels"? If so, how did it perform?
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Yes, and it's pretty good. It's designed to move your camera between takes, not to use during a shot.
 
I'm in the market for a tripod for a student shoot in a few months, but unfortunately I'm also in the market for a lot of other things, so I have to buy what I can at the price I can.

Is the Matthews good for the price? I'm not expecting miracles, I need it for MOSTLY locked off shots and a handful of left to right pans at long shot/medium shot distance, so no smooth zoom/pan combos on this or anything.

I've read mostly negative reviews about Davis and Sanford so I'm avoiding them like the plague- the design is terrible, cracked bits, things snapping by the second day- is all I've heard, so it's nice some people get good use from it but it seems like the minority.

How's the Matthews? It's a bit cheaper, but if it holds together for my shoot that's all I care about. When I can get better, I will, but for now I just need something decent for the price range. Short of getting the 501/3046 combo on ebay for a couple of hundred, I can't afford better right now.

BTW I'm using a DVX100 with no rig- just an LCD on the hotshoe and that's it.

Thanks!
 
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