sachtler DV-1 kit or Manfrotto 525/503

studiomuscle

studiomuscle

Member
Hello

I have been reading the search archives and am finally going to bite the bullet and buy a DVX100b package with good tripod.

My tripod budget is around 600 Euros and the dealer proposes the Sachtler DV-1 kit (750 Euros). Anyone who has experience with this kit? According to the sachtler website it's optimum weight is around 2 kg or 4,4 lb. The DVX100 weighing 1,8 kg unaccesoirized (?). Add a microadapter, a heavy microphone and a heavy battery and the weight is way over the DV-1's recomended 4,4 lb. Makes me worry :shocked:. I found back no reviews on the DV-1 kit on this site.

Otherwise there is the tested and used by many combo of the Manfrotto 525 legs and 503 head, which in a kit costs around 530 euros.

Besides the price difference which one of the two should I get: the proven manfrotto or the more expensive but only 4,4 lb carrying sachtler.

Thanks :thumbup:

hendrik :cheesy:
 
The DV-2 is out of my budget. What about the DV-1? :) Would the head be sufficient in terms of camera support?

Cheers

hendrik
 
For your current camera, yes. If you ever add anything to it like an external LCD monitor, Cinema Lens adapter, ect, then it will be too heavy. I recently purchased the DV 4 II and I could't be happier. Best money I ever spent.
 
For what this information will be worth to you, I have the Sachtler DV-1 for my DVX100BE and I am very happy with it. Or so I thought. I am starting to get a bit worried now, however, that it may not have been the best choice. Please allow me to explain.

When I opted for the DV-1 kit, I did not think the camcorder would gain too much weight from the odd shotgun and wide angle converter and exceed the nominal limit of 2kg for the Sachtler DV1 fluid head. The DVX100BE camcorder weighs 1.7kg by itself and 1.9 kg "with battery and cassette" (http://panasonic-broadcast.com/index.cfm?uuid=A130E452C09F11269B89B84D8643F16D&pid=11749&catid=4287&ClassID=66). So you are right: this leaves little margin for the said items. While I do not expect my Sachtler head to be damaged in some way or other - surely a slight increase beyond the nominal values will be tolerated - I now realize I may have miscalculated things a bit. So perhaps it is useful to try and make an estimate of the excess weight of your real or likely accessories. I'll take my setup as a guide.

A Sennheiser ME66, just to take an example (I actually have a ME80), weighs a mere 65 grams and the associated K6 another 45g. Whereas a softie won't kill the Sachtler, two XLR connectors will easily add about 40g each, so this will, in fact, push us beyond the nominal limit by about 100g (since the cable itself also weighs) to a subtotal of, say, 200g.

Let us now add a Paglight C6 camera light. This weighs only about 25g (http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/article.cfm?id=9476&GU=le929) without accessories and 50g with accessories (flag and filters); Anton Bauer Camera lights may be somewhat heavier but they are still of comparable weight (http://www.adorama.com/ABUL26.html).

So far, then, we seem to already be 250g overweight. But there is more. Panasonic's wide angle converter AG-LW7208G weighs approximately 500g, apparently (http://www.expandore.com/e_shop/Panasonic/Accessories/AG_LW7208.htm), and you may want to take that item into account. We would now be 750g overweight.

To make matters worse, I think we should also make a special allowance for any intended matte box. I have just ordered a Matteblox kit which will weigh 300g at the most (Shade Weight 84g, oversized flag 128g, two filter holders 21g each and two filters of a weight I wouldn't know)(http://www.cinetactics.com/k-mb.php).

I am not sure my assumptions and estimates are correct or not. We may have to also add the weight of the cameraplate. I do not have access to my set at the moment but I could physically weigh it. But we can, at any rate, conclude that we're well over budget! All this seems to raise the excess weight to well over 1 kg (fully rigged and loaded that is).

It would seem, then, that Karl151 is correct. My estimates, for all they are worth, do seem to indicate that the DV1 head can easily be over-burdened, as mine certainly is, the moment you start rigging your DVX100. Perhaps a colleague member of the forum, such as Mr "Karl151k", can tell us what disastrous effects such excess weight might have? I am sure Mr. "studiomuscle" will also want to know what the risks of miscalculation actually are.

Best regards, Huib Lirb
 
Hi there ! Just my opinion to me sachtler is the best tripod head producers in the world ! they are the best produced or maybe u could try miller tripod which almost have the same system as sachtler tripod head! but the 505 manfrotto head is good wif panning but tilting wise i have headaches about that tripod!
 
Huib

dankuwel ;-) (I'm belgian so without you knowing it you just helped a belgian)

Indeed I am looking for an MKH416 microphone and perhaps a g35 adapter(when I'll get the money). So the question remains a DV-1 kit or Manfrotto kit ;-)

hendrik
 
Dear Hendrik, I am quite fond of Belgians - they may be the better part of the Dutch, if that is proper English :)

I will await an answer to your question alsongside you and repeat my own to anyone listening in: what are the risks of overburdening the fluid head, I mean, what happens when you overload it? Does it sort of collapse, i.e. break down, or does it merely pan sluggishly for as long as it is overtaxed?

Mind you, I think if you plan on adding the G35 to your set, you will add quite a bit of weight, most likely. That intention will probably push you towrds the "heavier" Sachtler's head.

Nice meeting you Sir!
 
Nice meeting you too ;-)

I am aware of the g35. I am just a bit reluctant to go for the 1300 euros for the DV2 kit, that's why I am more leaning to the Manfrotoo range. The g35 will only come in much later when I get some cash. It's also all a hobby, I have done some video clips for TV and quite a lot of webstuff but I am not planning to make a living out of it so ;-)

This forum is addictive.

hendrik
 
The Sachtler head is spring loaded, when there is too much weight the head will not ballance properly. Most Sachtler heads have a ballancing plate, but any amount of weight above what is listed as maximum will throw off the whole thing. A good tripod will last a lifetime, it's shortsighted to think that the DVX is the heaviest camera you will ever own. ;)
 
I think as long as you don't add too much extra weight to it, you should be just fine. Another great thing about tripods is that they don't come out with more high-tech versions each year (as they often do with electronics) so if you ever need to upgrade your pod', you can get pretty good prices on Ebay.
 
i have a bogen 503 with 351 legs....i'm told this is probably the best set up frr the money, at just under $500 u.s..

i was going to go with sachler as well, but felt that the dv4 would be best suited, but way more than i could spend at the time. the dv1 and 2 just aren't a sturdy enough platform.

the 503 head is probably the best head for the money and the 351 legs work very well...lightweight and sturdy.

just my 2 cents.

carl
 
I had the same doubt as I was buying my tripod last week at B&H. I took quite long deciding, then someone bought the last DV-1 kit in store (at least the one that sells for U$574). I bought the 351mvb2/503 kit from manfrotto. It comes with a middle spreader, rubber feet, that you can remove to use the spikes, and a really nice head protective bag... for U$500. here is the link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...808&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

The load capacity is 13lb or 6kg. I'm really happy with my tripod. I like the legs a lot and the head has a really nice fluid movement with variable fluid drag (the sachtler only has two, right?).

As a film camera assistant myself, I know sachtler makes the best fluid heads and that they don't fail. Maybe they rate their heads lower load capacity, so that they can sell the next one up in the scale. In their website they say the dv-1 is for small dv cameras. But who would consider spending U$600 in a small dv camera? haha

tchau
 
You cannot compare the Sachtler tripod with the Manfrotto. The sachtler is a superior tripod. The Manfrotto tripods are well priced and very good for the money, but Sachtler is in a class by itself.
 
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