New_Zealand
Veteran
Shooting on the Canon C300 Mkii. I got a good light weight tripod but the head isn't that great. I need something that can handle good lens weight but won't kill the pocket book. The full setup is about 20lbs.
C300: Good Tripod Head
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what is the budget?
I think Cartoni has the best bang for buck when you can find them on sale.
I think Cartoni has the best bang for buck when you can find them on sale.
Clermond
Veteran
there's a thread in the Sony group that might be helpful:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...Looking-For-Recommended-Fluid-Heads-Thank-you!
a quote what I wrote there recently:
just a note to the Sachtler FSB10: it requires minimum payload of 4kgs / 8.8lbs . If you have a lighter setup like a stripped down FS7, C300 or even a DSR you cannot balance it. I had the FSB10 and I returned it as I could not balance my minimalistic setup of a EVA1. I went for the Video 15 instead which has minimum payload of 1kg at a weight of 3.2kg / 7lb. Video 18 S2 has 2kgs minimum and it weighs 4.1kg / 9lb
The combination of Video 15 and Flowtec 100 is for me a sweet spot of solidity and handiness.
I also have the FSB8 with 75 carbon legs as the fit in a standard suitcase.
The head is very suitable but the weak point at 75mm bowls are mostly the light legs.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...Looking-For-Recommended-Fluid-Heads-Thank-you!
a quote what I wrote there recently:
just a note to the Sachtler FSB10: it requires minimum payload of 4kgs / 8.8lbs . If you have a lighter setup like a stripped down FS7, C300 or even a DSR you cannot balance it. I had the FSB10 and I returned it as I could not balance my minimalistic setup of a EVA1. I went for the Video 15 instead which has minimum payload of 1kg at a weight of 3.2kg / 7lb. Video 18 S2 has 2kgs minimum and it weighs 4.1kg / 9lb
The combination of Video 15 and Flowtec 100 is for me a sweet spot of solidity and handiness.
I also have the FSB8 with 75 carbon legs as the fit in a standard suitcase.
The head is very suitable but the weak point at 75mm bowls are mostly the light legs.
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
If you can afford it, go 100mm with the C300. Stripped it will do fine on a 75mm setup, but you start building it out with big lenses, V mounts or Gold Mounts, follow focus, Teradek, etc. and you'll wish you had a 100mm setup.
Sachtler, Miller, (I have had very bad experiences with Cartoni, I like the design, but rental units have had leaky heads, repeatedly, while Sachtler and Miller rentals never have). Some Vintens are good too but some are just
rebranded Manfrottos.
Sachtler, Miller, (I have had very bad experiences with Cartoni, I like the design, but rental units have had leaky heads, repeatedly, while Sachtler and Miller rentals never have). Some Vintens are good too but some are just
rebranded Manfrottos.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
The size and design of the legs on the 75mm and 100mm Flowtech are almost identical, so the 100mm is not necessarily more stable as far as the actual legs go. Of course the top of the legs are a bit wider at 100mm which could give slightly more stability, but moreso, there aren't many heavy duty 75mm heads available so one is forced to go 100mm and pay almost 2.5x the price for the Flowtech 100mm. Really a ripoff in the sense of it couldn't have possibly cost them that much more to make the 100mm and they're charging what they do because they can. But still, they're great legs, so worth it.
fboonzaier
Well-known member
Definately 100 mm....I have a Miller head rated at 22lbs that I really like, but before you get anywhere near that weight the flex occurs at the 75 mm bowl, which can't handle the weight.
General rule for me is a head rated for twice the actual weight of your rig. You didn't mention what head you have and what sticks you are using- 100mm, 75mm, 65mm flat.
My "lightweight" setup for years has been an OConnor 1030HDS and Ronford 2 stage alum sticks- which is the opposite of "wallet" friendly (bought both new). Just sold my C300M2 and it was a good match- so I am familiar with the weight-stripped and fully rigged. FWIT I have owned Sachtler Video 18, 25 heads, Miller 25, O'COnnor 100, Ronford F3, Ronford F15 Boost, Daiwa, E-Image and many Manfrottos. (I'm on the older side for production). As a caveat, when we rent C300M2's with Canon 17-120 zooms and rigged, I usually order OConnor 2065 and Mitchell sticks, so my preference is always a heavier setup than lighter setup.
If on a very low budget and buying new:
1- E-Image heads. personally I like the feel on these budget heads. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046960-REG/e_image_eg10c2l_e_image_gc102_2_stage_carbon.html Have no idea how they will hold up, and I would get a "heavier" E-Image head compared to weight ratings. I went to B&H and tried all the cheap heads on display (there are many) a few years ago and came a way thinking the E-Image heads felt the best to me- for real budget fluid heads. I believe the company is based out of South Korea. Also don't know how stiff the tripods are. I have the GH03 that I've used with DSLRs and it feels smooth. Doesn't hold a lot of weight, so they are rated on the light side- also the tilt lock is weak. But it's smooth for the money.
2. Benro heads- I despise them with a passion. If anyone owns one, sorry, I don't have a good thing to say about the heads or tripods. I've been forced to use several and they are sloppy beyond acceptable. They were new too.
3. Manfrotto- I still haven't used a smooth Manfrotto head, including the newer Nitro heads. I've owned various Manfrotto sticks (100mm) and they were acceptable.
If you are primarily shooting talking heads, most heads are ok- if you don't have to operate the camera.
For more industry standard heads: I always thought Miller was a great lower cost alternative over Sachtler Video series of heads. Not sure about the new Sachtler heads- haven't heard great things about them since Vitec took over and released new lines. Same goes for Vinten. Seems older heads are smoother.
Cartoni- I've operated with the Master heads and they were great. Seems Cartoni makes good heads- at least when they are brand new. Never owned one so can't speak about seals and leaks when they get older.
Ronford- old Ronford heads are really weird but very smooth. O'Connor smooth. There's a recent photo of Roger Deakins with Alexa Rig on top of what looks like a Ronford F15 Boost. The F3 I have is too light for the C300M2- but it was like $300 bucks on Ebay and good with smaller cameras and came with a 100mm bowl.
Daiwa is a Japanese head and was very smooth- on Ebay it was much cheaper than Sachtler Video 18/20 heads and similar in capacity. I sold it to get a Sachtler 25, and realized years later I should have just kept it and skipped the Sachtlers I've owned over the years.
Old Oconnors are good and can be rebuilt. Something younger than an O'COnnor 50 however.
My "lightweight" setup for years has been an OConnor 1030HDS and Ronford 2 stage alum sticks- which is the opposite of "wallet" friendly (bought both new). Just sold my C300M2 and it was a good match- so I am familiar with the weight-stripped and fully rigged. FWIT I have owned Sachtler Video 18, 25 heads, Miller 25, O'COnnor 100, Ronford F3, Ronford F15 Boost, Daiwa, E-Image and many Manfrottos. (I'm on the older side for production). As a caveat, when we rent C300M2's with Canon 17-120 zooms and rigged, I usually order OConnor 2065 and Mitchell sticks, so my preference is always a heavier setup than lighter setup.
If on a very low budget and buying new:
1- E-Image heads. personally I like the feel on these budget heads. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046960-REG/e_image_eg10c2l_e_image_gc102_2_stage_carbon.html Have no idea how they will hold up, and I would get a "heavier" E-Image head compared to weight ratings. I went to B&H and tried all the cheap heads on display (there are many) a few years ago and came a way thinking the E-Image heads felt the best to me- for real budget fluid heads. I believe the company is based out of South Korea. Also don't know how stiff the tripods are. I have the GH03 that I've used with DSLRs and it feels smooth. Doesn't hold a lot of weight, so they are rated on the light side- also the tilt lock is weak. But it's smooth for the money.
2. Benro heads- I despise them with a passion. If anyone owns one, sorry, I don't have a good thing to say about the heads or tripods. I've been forced to use several and they are sloppy beyond acceptable. They were new too.
3. Manfrotto- I still haven't used a smooth Manfrotto head, including the newer Nitro heads. I've owned various Manfrotto sticks (100mm) and they were acceptable.
If you are primarily shooting talking heads, most heads are ok- if you don't have to operate the camera.
For more industry standard heads: I always thought Miller was a great lower cost alternative over Sachtler Video series of heads. Not sure about the new Sachtler heads- haven't heard great things about them since Vitec took over and released new lines. Same goes for Vinten. Seems older heads are smoother.
Cartoni- I've operated with the Master heads and they were great. Seems Cartoni makes good heads- at least when they are brand new. Never owned one so can't speak about seals and leaks when they get older.
Ronford- old Ronford heads are really weird but very smooth. O'Connor smooth. There's a recent photo of Roger Deakins with Alexa Rig on top of what looks like a Ronford F15 Boost. The F3 I have is too light for the C300M2- but it was like $300 bucks on Ebay and good with smaller cameras and came with a 100mm bowl.
Daiwa is a Japanese head and was very smooth- on Ebay it was much cheaper than Sachtler Video 18/20 heads and similar in capacity. I sold it to get a Sachtler 25, and realized years later I should have just kept it and skipped the Sachtlers I've owned over the years.
Old Oconnors are good and can be rebuilt. Something younger than an O'COnnor 50 however.
Not sure how much this translates to direct stability but apparently the Flowtech 100’s do have some other differences when compared to the 75’s. But I imagine you probably wouldn’t see much difference with a C300 since most of the improvements are to hold more payload.
“The leg-clamping mechanism has been improved significantly so that each leg holds in excess of 30kg. The quick-release levers at the top of each leg are completely new and larger with new internal cast parts to make them stronger. All of the castings at the top of the legs upwards are completely new and larger so they are stronger to cater for the higher payloads and bigger heads, several moldings are also completely new and it has the same height. In total, approximately 30% of the main components have been redesigned and are new on the Flowtech 100.“
Run&Gun
Veteran
I still say that if on a budget, it's better to buy a good used head than a lesser new one.
There almost never seems to be any love for Vinten from the narrative world, but there is a reason you see almost every single camera on a live broadcast sports remote or studio camera sitting on top of a Vinten head. I can't speak for the cheaper stuff below the 100, but the 100 and above are legit. The 'Guild of Television Cameramen' Seal of Approval is on the 100, 250, 700 and 950 heads along with several pedestals.
Obviously this stuff is over-engineered, but I have wondered why the entire tripod is only rated for 66lbs/30KG, when supposedly each leg is capable of supporting that weight. Maybe it has to do with rating the leg/clamp with a direct vertical force, but at a working angle, the legs couldn't take much more.
There almost never seems to be any love for Vinten from the narrative world, but there is a reason you see almost every single camera on a live broadcast sports remote or studio camera sitting on top of a Vinten head. I can't speak for the cheaper stuff below the 100, but the 100 and above are legit. The 'Guild of Television Cameramen' Seal of Approval is on the 100, 250, 700 and 950 heads along with several pedestals.
Obviously this stuff is over-engineered, but I have wondered why the entire tripod is only rated for 66lbs/30KG, when supposedly each leg is capable of supporting that weight. Maybe it has to do with rating the leg/clamp with a direct vertical force, but at a working angle, the legs couldn't take much more.
nutmegger
Well-known member
klk;1986826424 If on a very low budget and buying new: 1- E-Image heads. personally I like the feel on these budget heads. [url said:
A colleague of mine has the GH10 E-Image kit linked above. He has not mentioned having any issues with his GH-10 kit. If you notice B&H is selling the kit at a discounted price $999 USD. I recently had my Sachtler FSB6/ Speedlock 75 kit repaired for $650 USD. I would have been better off buying the E-Image GH10 kit.