Tripod for event shoots

TubEfingers

TubEfingers

Well-known member
I need a tripod for the static camera we use at events/conferences - either a Panasonic AF101 or AC161 with no add ons, just an XLR cable feed.
We currently use the lightweight Manfrotto 055 range for shoots with fast setups (vox pops etc) and like the fact the head mount is telescopic and can get above peoples heads from the back of the room.
We need something more sturdy now and I have a budget of approx £400 for the legs and head, any advice?
 
Wait, so what are your primary criteria? Heavier duty? What head are you using. This is only for locked off high angle shots? What do you want in a fluid head?

Watch out for the Benro S8 that was suggested, it has very weak pan drag that doesn't match the tilt drag well so it can be a bit hard to operate smoothly especially with longer lenses. When I was looking for a backup/travel head to go along with my FSB6 I tried all the Benros at B&H and found all of them to have some issue or another that would make them a headache for me compared to a properly designed head, but I was looking for lightweight so I don't remember how their BV4 or BV6 heads were since I ruled them out due to them being larger than my FSB6. But for lock offs a smaller Benro may be fine but then a junkier head could be fine for a lock off too... It seems to be a common issue with Benro heads that one or both of their pan/tilt drag steps are very mismatched and just don't have enough drag for most normal operating. Personally I wouldn't trust them as they seem to be primarily designed to look like manfrottos/sachtlers and have similar specs on paper but with downsides that are hard to see on paper. I'd say if you want to be able to use it for operating smoothly get at least a Sachtler ACE/FSB4 or a Manfrotto 504HD. If you just need to lock off you could go with something much cheaper though... If you need a lot of height Manfrotto makes some legs with a crank post that go up super high and aren't too pricey, but they are not that portable.

What's more important to you, high height and heavy duty build or portability? Those will obviously be at odds with eachother. There are plenty of nice fluid heads out there, but you might want to try out your rig on the head before buying it to make sure it has the correct counterbalance setting for your camera. A lot of heavier fluid heads won't properly counterbalance light cameras and a lot of light heads are limited as well or don't even have counterbalance or has steps that don't fit a particular rig. Personally I'm a fan of Sachtler's heads but those might be overkill for you. Unfortunately a lot of budget fluid head manufacturers don't really understand how operators work, but fortunately for them there is a big segment of operators who don't quite understand it well enough to notice either.
 
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Just from what I have used I love my Manfrotto 535 for shooting everything. I shoot stills and video so having a tripod that can go down to about a foot, foot and a half above the ground (45cm if I am correct, I need to work on the metric stystem because it logically makes more sense) to like 6-7 feet high (360-390 cm? not sure on the exact measurements). It's not perfect but it covers a wide range and supports a lot of shooting styles. As for the tripod head again that depends on your camera, I currently use the 502HD for video though am wanting to upgrade to the 504 soon since My F3 (and the FS7 at my job) push the 502 a bit.
 
Have hated every Manfrotto I've ever used, I'd look at sliglhtly used Vinten Vision Blue series, or Sachtler Ace or smaller Miller if you want any kind of smooth pans, movemnet on telephoto lens
 
Ah ok, something like this? Could push the budget if its a better piece of kit

Vinten VB-AP2M Vision Blue
Vinten VB-AP2M (VBAP2M) Vision Blue System includes Vision Blue Head (V4092-0001), Two-Stage Aluminium Pozi-Loc Tripod (3819-3), Lightweight Mid-Level Spreader (V4032-0001) & Soft Case (3358-3)

http://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/vinten_vb-ap2m

or this

Sachtler 1011 ACE L MS CF System
https://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/sachtler_ace-l-tripod-carbon-system&gclid=CjwKEAjwka67BRCk6a7_h_7Pui8SJABcMkWRHJoehmktQZ_9S5DSGnOl84LS5Oe-XMHI4PbfCApWvxoCWAbw_wcB
 
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Good choices. Having used both of those heads (but neither legs), the Vinten feels to me as though it can handle a little heavier weight than the Sachtler (specifications aside), and therefore I would recommend it.

- Greg
 
I would avoid any tripods that have any kind of "spreader" for live event work because you often have to place a tripod in the seats of an auditorium or sometimes even on an un-even staircase, so I would be looking at something like a Miller Solo DV or a used Gitzo professional tripod. ( a new Gitzo tripod will probably be too expensive for your budget )
 
You have a quality camera, and no doubt expensive glass on the front, and they weigh quite a bit. The Vinten calculator matches the weight and size of the camera and says a Vision Blue is capable. which is £750+VAT, or maybe a bit cheaper. You need a head that when you frame a speaker, and take your hand away, it stays there. Cheap supports are unstable, lurch and lack adjustment. 10-15% of the cost price of the camera seems about right.
 
We always have a decent bit of floor space next to the AV guys at the back of the room to set up so placement isn't a problem,
I use either the AC160 with no accessories or the AF101 with the Olympus 40-150 lens for these shoots so weight isn't too much,
I'll take a look at the Miller Solo you mentioned as well @the dingo
and yeah good point @paulears, as much as I like the fast setup on the Manfrotto's we currently have they aren't stable enough on the long end of the lens for these events
 
Stabilty is the number one priority @nyvz - I'm shooting at the long end of the lens from the back of the room.
Height would be a bonus, again, because I'm shooting from the back of the room,
@MikeKozlenko - the Benro looks similar to the tripods i currently have, was thinking of something more heavy duty

still on these two options at the mo:
Vinten VB-AP2M Vision Blue
Sachtler 1011 ACE L MS CF System
 
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