Sachtler's new "Revolutionary" tripod

Steve Turner said:
I'm sure they will be exploring the idea of a 100mm version!
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Yes, I was told at NAB that it is already in the works.

BTW, I just got home from a few days shooting on Cape Cod in a lot of sand and soggy wetlands. The Flowtech performed marvelously and the ability to get down to ankle height anytime I wanted to was really handy and allowed me to get some low-angle shots that I probably wouldn't have gotten if I had had to go back to the van and swap my regular sticks for my baby legs. I'm getting almost as fast at deploying the Flowtech as I am with the 35L, which is growing on me fast. I am a fanboy.
 
Doug - I think you mentioned earlier in this thread you have used these new legs with your "stripped down" FS7 as well? Assuming this means without raw ext unit and any extra stuff? From those pics you posted - it looks like perfect set up with the FS5 -- just wondering about flex or any issues with the slightly bigger camera? TIA.
 
markfpv said:
Doug - I think you mentioned earlier in this thread you have used these new legs with your "stripped down" FS7 as well? Assuming this means without raw ext unit and any extra stuff? From those pics you posted - it looks like perfect set up with the FS5 -- just wondering about flex or any issues with the slightly bigger camera? TIA.
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If the head can handle it, then the sticks can. Don't quote me on this in case I am wrong, but it was my understanding from the guys at Sachtler that the 100mm version of the Flowtech will have exactly the same legs as the 75mm verison -- the only difference is that the bowl will be bigger. So there's no issue whatsoever with putting a heavy load on the Flowtech75 if the head can handle it. I would say that the FSB6 head is pusing the limits of a fully-loaded FS7 but okay for a stripped down FS7 using SLR lenses as I was using on Cape Cod. But the legs themselves are plenty good enough.
 
Does anyone use this type of sticks without mid-spreader? Is is necessary to use a mid-spreader or ground spreader? Or can it be 'locked' somehow as it seems in the video.
 
It has a mid-spreader but you don't need to use it if you don't want to because the legs will only spread so-far out and then they stop -- unless you also depress a switch on each leg which then allows them to spread way out so you can go right down to just a few inches off the ground.
 
I've found tripod without spreader to always have the legs going inwards when moving it and every time I put them down I have to spread each leg until it stops. In other words there's only a lock in one direction. How's the Flow Doug? To you need to spread the legs or do they stay at set angle?
 
Hmm, I'm not sure exactly what you are describing but here's some info that might answer it anyway. When the legs are folded for transport they are held together by hidden magnets near the feet. To release them and deploy the tripod you just grab a couple of legs and pull them apart -- releasing them by brute strength. Once you pull the legs apart there is no locking needed. Each leg can open independently to whatever angle you want -- or until they reach the limit -- at the point that we would consider the "normal" operating position of the tripod. Personally, I find it a little clumsy to have each leg moving independently (even if there is a limit to stopping them from going too far) so I prefer to use the spreader which keeps the three legs moving more in sync. The spreader has a cool quick-release system so you can take it off, when necessary to get lower, in about 10 seconds or less. Putting the spreader back on takes about 15-30 seconds.

Once the tripod is in the "normal" deployed position without the spreader, you can then go beyond that limit by depressing a lock switch for each leg (independently) near the bowl and then the leg will then swing out as far as you want. In fact, you can have a leg swing out to go completely parallel with the ground if you want to. And if you release all three legs you can lowere the head down to just a few inches off the ground, or at knee height, etc. There are two or three few different height positions where the legs lock into place with no spreader needed.

I'll bet you can see how all of this works in one of the videos that have been posted better than I have described it here.
 
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Thanks Doug. I forgot it does have a spreader so I guess it will work just like any other tripod with spreader. I'm okay with how my Speedlock legs work but it would be interesting to try the Flow also. Anything that makes shooting easier is good.
 
Well Doug, you are a lucky man, you must be an early adaptor or Sachtler likes you I guess. I tried to buy one here in the Netherlands but they are not available yet. So I started with buying the ACE XL head.
As soon as the legs are available I buy a set.
I have a Sachtler 15 with carbon speedlock legs but that is overkill sometimes. I sold my sachtler ACE L set and regretted it afterward but I think the Flowtech will be better.
 
I stopped by the Vitec booth at NAB NY today. I was surprised how wide and thick the Flowtech 75 legs were. However, the tripod felt light. The Vitec rep said the 100mm version will be introduced at NAB 2018 in April. The rep said the demand for the Flowtech has been very high. The rep thought the demand for the 100mm version would even be higher.
 
Well NAB 18 is April 2018, so I guess it well be available in december 2018.

I don't like these marketing tricks, lots of announcements and hyping for the 75 mm, but no delivery yet.
 
Well, you can always ignore the Flowtech and just pretend you never heard of it and buy today whatever you would have bought anyway. Personally, I would rather know what is the horizon, when it comes to any gear, and then I can make my purchase decisions accordingly. If I like what is coming and I can delay my purchase, then I'm glad to know there is something new that might suit my needs better in the long run. But if I can't wait, then I'll buy whatever is on the market now. I don't see any harm in a manufacturer giving customers a heads-up that something new coming. I hate it when I buy one thing and then something newer or better is shipping the very next day. I'd rather know what is coming even if it won't come around until later.
 
I got hold of a Flowtech tripod today and tried it briefly. I found the leg locks to be a thing to get used to but as long as the spreader is used there's really no need to use the locks. Compared it to a SL75 tripod and the Flowtech is steadier probably to the increased weight.

It takes a bit of work to remove the spreader and lock each legs when going low. I found the feet to be the weakest part. They just felt cheaper than what's on the SL75 tripod.
 
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