C300: Sachtler FSB8 or Miller Compass 15?

anatusa

anatusa

Veteran
Hello

i ve been looking to get a new pro video head for a long time , but finally its seems like i have a budget for it! Right now i use Libec LS38 system, but its for sure a time to change it, having that expansive cam on that non pro tripod feels like a crime! plus i am slowly getting better on my way to become an operator and now i see that my tripod just not able to do what i need.

so i came up with these 2 fellows Sachtler FSB8 or Miller Compass 15 ...... cant decide what to get. it seems like the price is around the same , if u think there is a better option plz let me know!

i decided to buy just a head for now as i have the libec tripod(2 stage t72 legs) , hope it will work out good.
 
I have the Compass 15 and it's a great head for the Canon Cinema Cameras. I use it with Gitzo CF legs. The issue I have is my Miller tripod is a 100mm bowl and the 75mm adapter for it doesn't allow the head to level correctly. It hangs up on the very small 75mm ball making the system unusable. I'm not happy about this. Both are Miller parts. So if your adapting a 100mm bowl be forewarned that the Miller adapter wont work.
 
thanks for the comment , but my libec t72 legs are for 75mmm ball , so in my case i hope, i really hope, there will be no problems...
 
I use the FSB8 all the time with a range of cameras, C300, F5 and 5D3. I'd highly recommend it. I swap between carbon fiber Manfrotto 536 and Saachtler EFP legs depending on set-up. I've carted it all over the world and it's never let me down.
 
I have the FSB6 on the TT75 carbon sticks and that has been a dream to use. So much better than the Manfrotto POS cheap sticks that we bought when getting started.
 
i bought FSB8 for my c300, i have it since july 2013, and if say true it kind of sucks, it does not make me happy, the pans and tilts are easier of course then my old libec H38 head, but 1st i was not able to make it 100% stable especially if use my tilta rig together with my c300, if i let go - it does move down or up , no meter what i do.... if will not stay just where i left it! But also when i focus with my old manual lenses, especially if i go from completely out of focus image to focus on the object i want... - i get some jittering ... image is not smooth, it moves... its like my system, cam and fsb 8, feels me touching the focus....
if say true i also got an impression that the problems i am faced, caused because how tall the fsb8 head is , it feels like if it would be lower it would be better.....

so in general if some one would ask me if FSB8 is better then libec H38 - i would say YES, but if some one would ask me if it worth the price difference? - i would say no... this is the way i feel...

i ve got an offer to sell mt fsb head, but before i do that , i d like to hear your comments, and / or may be suggestions about some different product.....

Regards
 
Sorry for the basic question: Do you first dial in the counter balance according to the weight of the rig. When you tilt it, does it stay in the same place or does it bounce back?
 
indiawilds said:
Sorry for the basic question: Do you first dial in the counter balance according to the weight of the rig. When you tilt it, does it stay in the same place or does it bounce back?
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1st according to sachtler i have to movie the plate back and forward so that i could find the balance.... after i found it , i se the dial. but the thing is when i tilt up or down and want to let go, it will always bounce!
 
I've got the Compass 15 with the carbon fiber solo legs. It pans and tilts beautifully, the balance works really nicely and it supports a lot of weight. I think the FSB 8 has the same capacity though. I think the plate system might be a little better on the Sachtler too but I have not owned one so maybe someone can speak to that.
 
Doug_EX said:
If it bounce when yo let go it means that you have too much counter balance.
Click to expand...

i could not find the magic middle.... it ether falls down, or bounce back

anyway today i sold it. i came to the conclusion that the head should be pro and with 100mm, - will use my old one for now, thanks god i have not sold it, but will hunt now for used system and get a true pro head....

bouncing was not my only problem! as i told i was not able for some reasons focus on my canon FD 135mm f/2.0 lens with out image shakes, and i did not like it.

btw i head also 1 more issue, its may sound funny, but was really annoing, to find a Buble (level the head) was kind of hard on that head, it always runs away from me.... on my old libec head it usually takes me 2 sec to do it, but with that Sachtler fsb8 i sometimes spent up to a minute, doing i dont know what, tiny little moves to adjust it..... brrrr ,- and if i had to change the position often, it drove me mad!!! by now, because of it, i started hating it..... i could not take it any longer, -
 
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