HMC-150 Tripods

F

FromTheGarage

New member
So I'm sure this thread has been posted before, but I'm new to the forums, as well as a relatively new HMC-150 owner (bought it in April).

I'm looking for a tri-pod, obviously, for the camera. The majority of my work is through interviewing and concert/live performance recordings. I've been looking at the Monfrotto equipment lately and just can't figure out what I want. Too many models of everything.

I live in Vancouver, BC and have been looking at a couple local shops (Leo's Cameras and Lens & Shutter). Leo's has a lot of stuff not on their website.

I'm just looking for some suggestions on a tri-pod/head. Combo or separate. Trying to keep it closer to 7/8 hundred rather than crossing the 1 thousand mark.
 
I have gone through several Manfrotto tripods and have never been very happy with any of them, despite spending close to a $1,000 for sticks and head. My beef is mainly with the quality of the Manfrotto fluid heads ( they are not smooth and do not lock-down properly ), so my next tripod is going to be one of the new Libec RS tripods. Here's a couple reviews to check out:

Nigel Cooper's Review of the Manfrotto 504HD Head

Nigel Cooper's Review of New Libec RS Series Tripods

Libec RS-250M : $749 on Sale
 
If I were starting from scratch, I'd likely pick up the bogen 546B / 504HD combo. Add the 522P controller and you're golden. Curently I use the 475B / 503HDV / 522P set-up, and generally like it. The 546/504 combo is slightly less expensive and has a better fluid head, so it makes more sense. But that 475B will go to 74" height if that sort of thing is important to you (it was to me).
 
I own the Manfrotto 504HD head, and multiple copies of the 501HDV head as well. Good legs for the 501HDV would range from lightweight/low capacity 190XDB legs, to the more sturdy, bigger, beefier 055Xpro series legs, to the much heavier, tougher, taller, quicker to level on location 546B multi column video legs with 75mm leveling half-bowl attachment. I use those 3 legs with my 501HDV heads, and I use a second 546B legs set with my 504HD head.
Links:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...egs_Black.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ipod_Legs.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...eo_Tripod.html

I also have used my office's Sachtler sticks/head combo with my HMC150 (and extensively with my HVX200 bodies), and that was very nice, but the price tag for Sachtler gear can potentially out-cost your HMC150... which is why I went with Manfrotto!
 
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