FAQ Sturdy tripod, 6 ft or taller (183 cm, 72 in)?

[Copperplate]

I have the 509D Which is fine for what it is, and I shot plenty with it (and still do on heavy jobs), but I would love to get something better. None of those Manfrottos are proper fluid heads and panning is never silky smooth on them.

Thanks very much Ben! I really would like a head that allows smooth panning/tilting when shooting at 200mm. I'm sure there's got to be one!

 

[DPStewart]

@DPStewart, I was actually just looking at that D&S airlift tripod. I take it the head is more wobbly when the center post is fully extended, ie. it's harder to do smooth pans, tilts?

No. The Airlift model does not get more wobbly when it's fully extended. I've never really thought about it much before you asked.
I mean, the laws of physics still apply, and I suppose with a significantly heavy rig there would be more flex at some point...
But a fully caged out BMCC with a 7-inch monitor, battery pack, and a Tascam DR-70 for audio is typical of what I put on it, and fully extended - the word "wobbly" has never come to mind.

The D&S fluid head is plenty smooth. That's not the issue. It's just that the more expensive ones have more facility for fine tuning the balance and degree of resistance.

EDIT: At 200mm there is the chance that the firmness of the D&S would be too much - possibly giving you tough starts and stops to your pans.
But honestly - for the crazy low price it's worth grabbing one to check and see if its feel suits your work.

 

[Copperplate]

I appreciate your response and advice, DPStewart. So this D&S is a bit shorter than yours without the column extended and a bit taller when extended. It's geared instead of airlift. For me, I think that might be preferable as you don't have to fight against the spring to lower it. Some have said the airlift also becomes sticky after awhile and requires manual assistance to pull up. What has your experience been?

Thanks again!

 

[Copperplate]

Has anyone heard of a low-priced fluid head of good quality that also offers variable Pan/Tilt drag adjustment ? Or is this feature more reserved for the $1000 heads?

Thanks!

 

[Paul F]

I'd also like to hear opinions. I'd like to find a lightweight head with pan/tilt drag adjustment. I bought a Manfrotto. I don't remember the model number. But its the one with the tilt-lock on the wrong side. It had 'clicks' or bumps in the pan. I sent it back to B&H and got another one that did the same thing. Someone contacted me here and said they had the same experience. So I'm still looking for something for a slider.

I ended up with a really cheap, cheesy head on ebay. It's a no name brand that doesn't even show up on a web search. But it is doing the job until I find something else.