Hi-Hat recommendations?

Tom Shortridge

Tom Shortridge

Well-known member
Looking for an adjustable hi-hat for an FS700/Odyssey 7Q package, to be used extensively on beaches.

Does anyone have any experience with the Manfrotto 529 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/366660-REG/Manfrotto_529B_529_Hi_Hat_with.html) or the Induro hi-hat (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/860081-REG/Induro_472_101_DR_Hi_Hat_Tripod_Set.html) ?

Specifically, I'm wondering about how flexible the Manfrotto is, and how finicky the joints and extenders on the Induro might be, especially when interacting with sand.

Thanks in advance!
 
if you're going to use it much on beaches, i'd consider getting a fixed hihat and screwing it to a wooden board for more stability in the soft sand...
 
The Induro is a 2 stage with twist locks, and the Manfrotto is a single stage that changes height by spreading the legs.

I have a couple of different hi hats including the Manfrotto, and almost always use them mounted to a hi hat board. Especially in stuff like sand!

If I need the shot to be a little higher, I place an apple box under the hi hat board.
 
Interestingly, my Miller Arrow 25 head, placed on top of the 3-stage 'Solo' legs from Miller, gets down as low as any board mounted hi-hat I've ever used.

The solo style legs don't give you the rigidity of conventional legs, but being able to go from hi-hat low, to 7' high with the same pair of sticks is pretty fantastic (and saves a lot of leg swapping on set).
 
I have both of those. I think right after the Induro's came out, everyone and their brother bought a pair around here. They are a great bargain and very versatile. I keep them in the back of the truck at all times. I have the Manfrotto mounted on a board and that is probably the route you need to go if you're shooting a lot in/on the sand(you could also mount the Induro on a board, but the sand may be a mother on the leg sections). That being said, personally I haven't used the Manfrotto in a few years because they're not nearly as convenient for me(they take up a lot more storage space since they're mounted in an open position to a board instead of collapsed down like the Induro).
 
I have a fixed hi-hat on a board, and while I sometimes (it's rare) wish I could get a few inches higher I usually can remedy that with an apple box. Never used the Induro (it does look sexier than mine) but I use the Manfrotto one occasionally at my day job and I find myself wishing it was a fixed hi-hat each time I use it - the flexibility of the legs/height just isn't something I need regularly.
 
That's funny, David. My old 10LF is what I used to keep mounted on my Manfrotto set, too.

But I made my own board(cut it down to just the footprint of the hi-hat) and opened the hi-hat up so that is was about as low as it would go and still allow adjustment of the head.
 
I use it a lot of times when building out a camera on location, where I put it on the top shelf of my film tools cart. I have a bracket next to it where I can mount my front box. Then once built I transfer the camera and front box to my Oconnor 1030.
 
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