FX6: The Sony ILME-FX6V Owners Club

Any suggestions for a compact, lightweight video tripod/fluid head kit for travel? I've currently got an E-Image EG06A2 Tripod Kit which is "fine" but I'll be away from a week traveling and a lot of that will be in Light Planes / Helicopters between locations and while this kit will do, I'm wondering what other options (if any) may be more suitable for the FX6/28-135/100-400 (it is not rigged out) for such travel?
 
For the kind of travel you describe, I use Sachtler Flowtech75 legs and Aktiv8 head. If you've seen the new Aktiv heads in action, you know they go on/off the sticks in less than 2 seconds, and they can fit into any normal sized suitcase with whatever other stuff you want pack around them. Be careful about down-sizing to the point you've got to work with a piece of **** that isn't good enough to get the job done.
 
You hit the nail on the head Doug. I've always been amused by people who have a heavy mattebox with no filters in it pimped to look good. I did once did have someone admit it was so he would look more professional. I told him a real professional would be very happy looking like an amateur if it made his rig more comfortable.

I guess I've never understood the 2 handle rig either. Like you said - my left hand has plenty to do when I'm shooting . Now if you've got an ace focus puller that might be fine but chances are you don't have that luxury when you're running an FS6.
 
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Doug Jensen said:
For the kind of travel you describe, I use Sachtler Flowtech75 legs and Aktiv8 head
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Doug, I have a Sachtler Ace that I got years ago - something like this:
https://www.sachtler.com/en/sachtler/system-ace-m-ms/c-26/p-1361
At the time, I was concerned that perhaps I was spending too much, it never occurred to me that one day I would consider it a cheap stopgap!

After years of experience I still don't really trust myself to do a decent smooth pan every time. Would this be drastically improved by a better tripod?
If I upgraded to something like a "Flowtech75 legs and Aktiv8 head" would I notice the difference or would I have to go further upmarket? Portability is very important to me.
 
Andy, after the camera and lens, the tripod is the #1 most important accessory. Cameras come and go but a good tripod should serve for 10-20 years. The Ace series is an entry-level prosumer tripod, so I'm not surprised you have outgrown it. Sounds like you outgrew it a few years ago and just have been slow to replace it with something better. Well, I can assure you that the Aktiv8/Flowtech75 is definitely a big step up. I've got several bigger, heavier, tripod systems (O'Connor 1040, 1030D, FSB-10, etc. to choose from) but my FX6 is always on the Aktiv8/Flowtech75. And keep in mind that I don't have a stripped down stock FX6. My rig includes a Zacuto Gratical, Zacuto shoulder-mount base with rods, Anton/Bauer v-mount battery, and I'm usually shooting with a long telephoto lens like the Sony 200-600mm + 2x converter, where smooth motion and perfect balance is mandatory. A lot of tripods/heads are okay for interviews or wide-angle focal lengths, but it takes a good one for smooth telephoto work, wildlife, sports, and action. You won't be disappointed with the Akitv8.

I shot these videos with my FX6 and Aktiv8/Flowtech75 while I was on the road last summer in Massachusetts.

Moto cross
https://youtu.be/ag3LQFcfC2c

Barnyard animals
https://youtu.be/KHARHB-3TJ0

Cape Ann, Mass.
https://youtu.be/DltoOdXCOsk

Splash Park
https://youtu.be/RMmQ-Ys1eR0
 
Thanks Doug that's really impressive footage and thanks also for the recommendation. Those smooth, consistent pans in "Moto cross" are exactly what I struggle with using the Sachtler Ace.

"Sounds like you outgrew it a few years ago and just have been slow to replace it with something better"

I think this is absolutely right. I've earned consistently decent money over the last few years but it's still taken some conscious effort to get myself out of a scarcity mindset. It's not like I grew up in the depression or anything but I dunno.. call it 1970s austerity.

In the last year I've bought some things that seemed like frivolous luxuries until I used them on a job for the first time. Then I felt utterly foolish for having done without for so long. One example is having a decent EVF setup on any camera that I'm using for work. Somehow, I've only just realised that being able to comfortably see what I'm filming is a whatever-it-costs kind of thing rather than a nice-to-have.

I've got a one-week doc shoot this month and before then I'll be buying a new tripod and also the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 ii. If anyone out there has any other suggestions for an excellent, lightweight tripod apart from the Aktiv8/Flowtech75 then please let me know, but that is currently top of the list. It's for an unrigged FX6 (and sometimes a7Siii) - I'm wondering if the Aktiv6 will be enough (or preferable for such a light setup) so please let me know if you've got experience with it.
 
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I used an Aktiv10 for the first time last night. You have to love the quick and easy release for balancing. Genius. Having a level bubble available from side view was great when going all the way up, although I imagine other heads may share that feature. The flowtech legs' release mechanism were a little unnerving, but I'm sure I could get used to it - and it's wonderful to be able to slide right through the midpoint on the legs without releasing a second mechanism.
 
Thanks for your replies. I tried an Aktiv8 / Flowtech 75 yesterday at a local rental place. I agree, it's really slick - both the legs and the super fast and easy levelling of the head. I wanted it. Coming from a cheaper Sachtler, it was striking how much stiffer the fluid head was. On the heaviest drag it initially felt like it might be too stiff for smooth panning - nope, it was excellent.

The staff at the rental place were a bit less enthusiastic as it "feels plasticky". I don't think they've had any kind of bad experience, they just didn't have the long-term confidence in it that they have in the FSB heads. They were even more definite about the Flowtech legs being too fragile, at least for rental - "Should be fine for single owner as you can take care of them" and they don't plan to get any more. As I say, I'm pretty sure these were superficial impressions rather than the fruits of bitter experience but it did give me pause.

It's still top of the list though. There is a lot of overlap between "Lasts forever" and "Built like a tank" but they're not synonymous. I'd be more inclined to trust that Sachtler have done their homework and are using lighter materials without compromising on longevity.
 
I can say as a Flowtech 100 owner that these legs are pretty dang tough. I tend to be pretty careful with my gear, but tripods are often one of the tools that definitely take more of a beating. It's just kind of the nature of working with them. Yet in the past two years I've owned the Flowtech 100 sticks, they are holding up perfectly. They've given me no reason to think they are built to a weaker standard, so I wouldn't worry about what the staff said at the store you were at.

My only gripe with the Flowtech sticks are that they are noisy. When you close them, when you adjust their height, they are just loud. My Sachtler TT 75/2 CF sticks by contrast don't make any noise. When this becomes a problem is when filming wildlife or when filming during a live event. Wildlife is when I notice it the most though. It's workable, but you have to be extra careful when setting up to make sure nothing hears it.
 
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Joshua, I agree completely with both of your points. I have four Flowtech tripods and they are all extremely well-made and tough. And I also agree they can be a lot noisier than other tripods until someone gets used to them. It takes a little more care and a different technique to do it quietly, but it's not a deal breaker by any means. The speed advantage of quick setups for capturing wildlife is well worth the small trade-off in sound. Another thing I like about the Flowtechs is their short length. They really fit into the back of a vehicle or into luggage so much easier.
 
Doug Jensen said:
Joshua, I agree completely with both of your points. I have four Flowtech tripods and they are all extremely well-made and tough. And I also agree they can be a lot noisier than other tripods until someone gets used to them. It takes a little more care and a different technique to do it quietly, but it's not a deal breaker by any means. The speed advantage of quick setups for capturing wildlife is well worth the small trade-off in sound. Another thing I like about the Flowtechs is their short length. They really fit into the back of a vehicle or into luggage so much easier.
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Yeah I agree, it's not a deal breaker, just something you have to be aware of and more careful with. I also think being able to get extremely low with them is another selling point for capturing wildlife in addition to the speed. That's actually one of the reasons I want to trade my FSB 10 and FSB 8 in for an aktiv10 and aktiv8. The Flowtech/aktiv combo literally gets your tripod down to the ground. It's pretty slick.

I also agree that the shorter length is great. I fly mine quite a bit and it packs up quite small inside of my ThinkTank Video Tripod Manager 44, leaving a ton of room for carrying other gear inside of the roller case.
 
Andy9 said:
Thanks for your replies. I tried an Aktiv8 / Flowtech 75 yesterday at a local rental place. I agree, it's really slick - both the legs and the super fast and easy levelling of the head. I wanted it. Coming from a cheaper Sachtler, it was striking how much stiffer the fluid head was. On the heaviest drag it initially felt like it might be too stiff for smooth panning - nope, it was excellent.

The staff at the rental place were a bit less enthusiastic as it "feels plasticky". I don't think they've had any kind of bad experience, they just didn't have the long-term confidence in it that they have in the FSB heads. They were even more definite about the Flowtech legs being too fragile, at least for rental - "Should be fine for single owner as you can take care of them" and they don't plan to get any more. As I say, I'm pretty sure these were superficial impressions rather than the fruits of bitter experience but it did give me pause.

It's still top of the list though. There is a lot of overlap between "Lasts forever" and "Built like a tank" but they're not synonymous. I'd be more inclined to trust that Sachtler have done their homework and are using lighter materials without compromising on longevity.
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I have known a bunch of Flowtech 75 owners complaining about plastic made parts snapping. I believe those in question were fixed for the 100mm version and presumably the Aktiv version.
 
ahalpert said:
It would be cool if there were a single release mechanism that unlocked all 3 legs. Just a thought
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That's exactly how my classic OConnor 35L legs work. It is like magic when people see me use it because all three legs are released with just a very imperceptible sideways movement of my thumbs. It doesn't even look like I'm doing anything, yet all three legs independently retract or expand as much or as little as I want. Unfortunately, the 35L hasn't been made for about 20 years, even though mine is still going strong. In fact, it was my lobbying of OConnor for several years to bring back the 35L that got me hooked up with them as a beta tester on the Flowtech tripods. The 35L is still the better tripod, but the Flowtechs are the next best thing. And I do like the shorter length of the Flowtechs, so there is that.
 
ahalpert said:
It would be cool if there were a single release mechanism that unlocked all 3 legs. Just a thought
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Remember the Sachtler Hot Pod, which had, IIRC, a single release?
https://www.sachtler.com/en/sachtler...14/c-26/p-1442

The story I heard is one guy/station here got a Hot Pod and liked it enough, and got oohs and ahhs in this Vinten town. But then one day the pneumatic center column catastrophically failed with a camera on it. And that was the end of Hot Pod envy around here. I don't know what really happened, but seems like they didn't catch on. And perhaps the Hot Pod made Sachtler kind of shy about trying single release again. Or maybe it's just too expensive to implement correctly. But yes, it sure would be cool.

5385-14_image_1_hot-pod-cf.jpg - Click image for larger version Name: 5385-14_image_1_hot-pod-cf.jpg Views: 0 Size: 33.9 KB ID: 5690215
 
How well does non stabilised lens like the new SELP1635G work on the FX6 when handheld? I've always tried to get OSS lens but I'm wondering if as you get wider, it gets less important? Currently I've the (old) Zeiss OSS 16-35 but like PZ.
 
jmone said:
How well does non stabilised lens like the new SELP1635G work on the FX6 when handheld? I've always tried to get OSS lens but I'm wondering if as you get wider, it gets less important? Currently I've the (old) Zeiss OSS 16-35 but like PZ.
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It's definitely less important as you get wider. Plus, the FX6 has the fantastic gyro sensor data feature so you can stabilize in Catalyst Browse after your shoot if for some reason you aren't happy with the amount of movement in your shots. But, to be honest, if you balance the camera well, add a little weight to it and practice a proper handheld shooting technique, you won't need OSS or the gyro sensor data, especially with a wide lens.
 
Joshua Milligan said:
It's definitely less important as you get wider. Plus, the FX6 has the fantastic gyro sensor data feature so you can stabilize in Catalyst Browse after your shoot if for some reason you aren't happy with the amount of movement in your shots. But, to be honest, if you balance the camera well, add a little weight to it and practice a proper handheld shooting technique, you won't need OSS or the gyro sensor data, especially with a wide lens.
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I've had limited success with Catalyst Browse, probably owing to the fact that I like to keep my shutter speed at 1/48 and I almost always shoot at 24fps which creates a weird motion effect when stabilized in Catalyst. TBH I've only tried it with my a7siii. If you shoot at 180 on the FX6 can you avoid this?
 
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