Small questions about my Miller DS20 on Sachtler Legs.

[heyrobert]

Anyway, two questions that I had about the set were:

1. The legs don't seem to close all the way with the head attached. Looks like they are hitting the handle of the screw that locks the tripod to the bowl. Is there any way to swap it for something smaller?

2. On that note, any good cases you guys know of that I can use? Especially if I have to store it with the head detached. My car is somewhat of a 24-7 permanent gear truck and I want a case for it. I don't care what brand it is. Also wondering storage options for the tripod with the head detached.

3. Any recommendations in general for the set? First legitimate tripod system I've personally owned (aside from a Gitzo g1380 which I didn't really have complete, as I didn't have the springs I needed). Maintenance and that sort of thing.

 

[Greg Smith]

I can't help you with the Miller head, because I haven't used one.

But I did have a problem possibly related to your question #1 when trying to mount a Vinten Vision Blue head on the same model Sachtler legs. The clearance between the legs at the top bowl is apparently rather tight on the Sachtlers. The friction disk under the Vinten head was large enough in diameter that it almost touched the leg mount castings when installed. The head would go on in its normally centered position, but it could barely be moved at all to level it -- maybe 1/4 inch in each direction before the mounting disk would contact the legs. This pretty much defeated the purpose of the ball mount for leveling the head, so I decided this was not a viable combination of head and legs. The Sachtler head (DV-6SB) I have has a much smaller diameter disk underneath and achieves a normal range of adjustment with the same-make Sachtler legs. I wound up putting the Vinten head on a set of Miller Solo DV sticks, which have enough clearance between the legs that it adjusts normally over its full design range as well.

I think this is a design flaw in the Sachtler legs that might cause issues with a number of other makes of heads.

- Greg