Gizmosgadget
Active member
I hadn't considered the Flowtech. Doug do you find them adequate when using your 200-400 Canon?
Looking For A New Tripod Head
- Thread starter digitalinnovations
- Start date
Run&Gun
Veteran
I don't believe I've shot with my 100-400 on my Flowtech's since getting them, but I shot plenty of times with my 22x7.8 ENG lens on my P2 Vari with them during football season and the FOV equivalent at the top end is over 400mm on s35 and over 800mm/s35 with the 2x engaged. I think the limiting factor will be more what head you're using(and of course the operator). But of course, the heavier-weight/more robust the system, the easier it is
I played with the higher end heads (Sachtler etc.) at Samy's Pro compared to the (relatively) ultra cheap Benro S8, and they weren't any smoother (I was willing to spend much more), so I went with the Benro (C300 II with L lenses, sometimes on rails with a teleprompter and iPad- held it all fine). With around 4.5 stars, others think it's pretty smooth: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026242-REG/benro_c373fhs8_s8_video_tripod_kit.html though I didn't think it was that great (just good enough and the more expensive heads weren't noticeably better; for our shots smooth panning wasn't needed most of the time). In terms of full time pro use I'm sure the Millers and OConnors are massively better, and if my main income was from shooting video I'd certainly look very seriously at that gear. Extrapolating what's possible with gimbals and brushless motors and future cameras becoming very small and light, future video heads will also be much smaller and lighter and using electrodynamics (and perhaps magnetorheological fluids) vs. high mass with oil / grease. To provide battery-free operation, a hand crank / solar + super capacitor + LiIon could provide sufficient power for travel / mountain / wild country use.
For heavy gear/lenses I'd also look at balanced fluid gimbals, especially if needing to track fast motion e.g.: http://cinema.reallyrightstuff.com/FG-02-Fluid-Gimbal-Head?quantity=1&custcol19=4 (50lb load capacity, 15lb damped load capacity at 3.3/4.0lbs for the head- if it will work for the application, great weight to load capacity ratio (especially for travel)).
For heavy gear/lenses I'd also look at balanced fluid gimbals, especially if needing to track fast motion e.g.: http://cinema.reallyrightstuff.com/FG-02-Fluid-Gimbal-Head?quantity=1&custcol19=4 (50lb load capacity, 15lb damped load capacity at 3.3/4.0lbs for the head- if it will work for the application, great weight to load capacity ratio (especially for travel)).
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Can't really say because I've never used the Flowtech with my F55 and big lenses. I prefer my 1030D and 35L combo for the F55 and FS7.
I have an FSB10 on a Flowtech100 for my Z280. and I have an FSB6 on a Flowtech75 for my Z90. Those are pretty much the only cameras that get used with the Flowtechs.
However, I have no doubt that the Flowtech100 would work perfectly fine with the 1030D, F55, and big lenses but I just have no reason to use that combo. If you've ever seen the 35L legs in action you'd know that there are no other legs that can hold a candle to them. The Flowtech is the next best thing, but it still takes a backseat to the 35L.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
I have the OConnor 35L and Flowtech 75, and I much prefer the Flowtech design. They're less finicky, don't stick, have less moving parts to fail, no worry of a wire snapping and the whole tripod going down, can go much lower, are lower profile so fold down smaller, etc. I'm very much looking forward to replacing my A-legs for heavier loads with the Flowtech 100 and making the OConnor 35L secondary or third legs. That said, I do prefer the OConnor 35L over traditional legs.
Perhaps read what I wrote again- I didn't say they were smooth. I thought none were particularly smooth (though others do re: BHPhoto reviews), so why pay more (they don't get decently smooth until paying a lot more, so why bother with the intermediate level heads).
If Benro heads suck, why did you by one? Why did you buy two? :nads:
The future is small cameras and electromagnetic heads- lightweight and far superior to clunky big heavy cameras and ginormous super heavy heads based on oil and grease (haha I can hear the blood boiling
rogar-Angry(DBG)
. All that ancient gear is going to massively depreciate- giving a heads up to those interested in the long-term business play.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
Guess I misread what you wrote. Reviews are often written by people who don't have a wide range of experience with varying products, so it's often hard to take them at face value when they had nothing to compare them to. Often when I read reviews, I'll Ctrl + F to see if anyone mentions a competing product in their review to get a better idea of how it compares. Like, reading a Litepanel Gemini review and searching for people commenting on how it compares to a Skypanel, as opposed to peope just saying generic things like it's bright and a good light.
I liked the Benro Classic A0580F carbon fiber sticks which were the only sticks with the type of leveling ball level head with a telescoping pole; Manfrotto has a similar design but not as ergonomic, and Gitzos was a lot more expensive and at the time I was on more of a budget, plus I don't know if I was aware of those Gitzo's at the time, or maybe they weren't out yet. Those particular sticks came packaged with a Benro S6 head which I didn't care for, but the sticks weren't available separately. The tilt capability of the S6 was okay, but the pan function is so lacking in drag friction (and has no option for adjustment) that it's pretty terrible. The S2 head I got I think because I wanted a super small and light head (.8 lbs) for flying with and for holding a DSLR or C100 for an interview without the necessity of on-the-fly adjustments; it got the job done, but certainly not smooth for panning and tilting.
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It's all good man, good points. The S8 head is OK for studio use, and it worked 100% perfectly with the C300 II loaded up with a teleprompter and iPad (strong enough to hold everything without drama). The legs are fine too, and the few times I traveled with them, everything fit nicely into the supplied bag. So an OK value for $600. I know you make your living full time with the Amira and C300 IIs and the big-boy heads+legs, and that you get excellent results with that gear. I started heading in that direction (higher end, bigger, heavier gear), however that's not my primary business (software- camera/video/AI etc.), so after the gimbal fiasco, I re-evaluated and turned the other way, stopping at the iPhone X being too far haha. The EOS R size is really compelling as a combo stills + video camera. Not too big, not too small. Guess I need to make more money in tech so I can put my money where my mouth is and build better tools for filmmaking
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
So I took Run&Gun's recommendation and just bought a Vinten Vision 100 with sticks for $1400 on Ebay. Also bought a second OConnor 1030 with sticks on Ebay for $2000. Buying used tripods can be a risk, so hopefully they're in good condition; I didn't want to spend $15-20k for two new tripod setups. Will be nice to have the 44 lb capacity of the Vinten when needed, but typically the 30 lb capacity of the OConnor has been sufficient. I do like that it looks like the Vinten has a digital number displaying the weight setting of the counterbalance. I got a scale precisely for measuring video equipment.
Also, the Vinten is cheaper than the OConnor particularly since most used OConnors go for closer to $4k so it appears I got a good deal on the OConnor, though it hasn't arrived yet.
Also, the Vinten is cheaper than the OConnor particularly since most used OConnors go for closer to $4k so it appears I got a good deal on the OConnor, though it hasn't arrived yet.
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Run&Gun
Veteran
Presuming it’s in good shape, I think you’ll like the 100. But the display doesn’t correspond to actual weight. It’s just a reference numbers help you quickly dial in the counterbalance setting. For example you have set it up for your C300 with a still lens on it before and know that you had it dialed into 27, but your swapping out your Amira with 30-105 and know it needs to be set to 42, it lets you see that and not just guess at how much to turn the tension knob.
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Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
My 35L legs never stick or have any trouble deploying or collapsing. Perhaps your sticks need some lube or TLC?
The thing I like least about my two Flowtech legs is now easy it is to accidentally flip the leg release lever when your picking them up, packing up, getting in and out of tight spaces, etc. It is a regular occurance. Yeah, probably my own fault, but in my opinion, it shouldn't be something I even need to think about.