Tripod for HPX 170

Steve Smull

Steve Smull

Active member
About to pull the trigger on a new tripod and head. After much research, the Miller Solo DV carbon legs are a clear winner for my needs.

Camera & gear used: HPX 170 (usually 6-8 lbs, locked & loaded)

For the head, the current front runner is the Sachtler FSB-6 with the side loading plate system. It's rated @ 13 lbs max which should be fine- ususally I will be using just a fairly bare sub-5 pound HPX170 camera with shotgun mic and a wireless mic remote and typically a matte box mounted. I used a Sachtler DV-6SB and found it to be a bit overkill for a bare HVX200; that head seemed to work best with more weight on it. A fine selection if using an adapter and running a bunch of extra gear. It would seem the FSB-6 would be the sweet spot for this setup. Tried one @ NAB and it felt great.

My front runner alternative selection is a Vinten Vision 3 with a few springs for various configurations. A little less expensive than the Sachtler FSB-6 and a bit more latitude in weight limit with their spring system.

Opinions?

Anyone used this setup: Miller Solo DV/ Sachtler FSB-6 or Miller Solo DV/Vinten Vison 3?
I know they are both good choices; wondering which would be best optimized for what I will usually be using, which is a relatively naked HPX 170 in run and gun situations.
 
I have the HVX-200 (HPX-170 arrives next week) with the same legs and the DV-6SB head. Personally, I would encourage you to get the DV-6SB head over the FSB-6, that extra 7lbs of capacity will come in handy when you add a Letus/Brevis and rails. If you are positive that you will NEVER want a heavier camera and POSITIVE that you will not ever want to add a 35mm adapter, you will be fine with the FSB-6 but experience shows that we small camera users like to eventually add a lot of heavy crap to our little cameras. All of that weight adds up quickly.

Sachtler over Vinten, no doubt. The low end Vintens are re-badged Bogens. The higher end ones are decent. Not sure what you mean about DV-6SB not working well with just a bare HVX/HPX on it? Mine works very well with even just the DVX-100A on it. You do have to re-adjust the tilt and pan tensions but with the SB plate, I get perfect balance and action with it with any camera in it's weight capacity range.

Dan
 
Thanks for the response! The DV-6 SB was fine with the HVX 200, but it seemed at the lightweight end of what the head was designed for. I suspected it might be overkill unless, as you suggest, the user loads the camera with a full complement of accessories. Tough call because I really like the side loading plate system on the FSB-6, it's quite slick and it is not offered on the DV-6 SB. Plus the FSB-6 is almost a pound lighter, which is always nice when you have to carry the equipment all day.
 
I've settled on the Miller DV Solo carbon sticks as the perfect choice for what I do.

As for the head it's down to the Sachtler FSB-6 vs Sachtler DV6-SB. The main selling point for me for the FSB-6 is that the head is almost a pound lighter and I will be carrying it on hikes sometimes.

The weight limits are Sachtler FSB-6 @ 13 lbs, Sachtler DV6-SB @ 20 lbs. Clearly this could become an issue with a lot of ornamentation on your rig, but if that were the only difference I would opt for the lighter and less expensive head at this point.

Additionally the major difference seems to be 5 levels of drag vs 3. I am wondering if any one has experience with 3 vs 5 levels of drag on Sachtler heads to suggest whether that might be a critical decision point?

Also the side load plate system (which I tried at NAB) seems really slick. It offers a lot more latitude in load balancing- it's quite long fore & aft. Seems like a plus and it's only available on the FSB heads.

Sachtler's new battery system is ONLY compatible with the newer side load plate system, so I am speculating that the side load mechanism is the design direction their future heads might be going. Anyone have experience with those?

The consensus is always that it's better to err on the side of extra weight capability and I respect that viewpoint because... it's correct. But my back votes for the lightest high quality head available at a somewhat reasonable price.... opinions? Thanks!
 
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For me, it ws simple matter of I knew I was going to buy a 35mm adapter package so I went for the DV-6SB for it's extra weight capacity. If you KNOW that you will NEVER buy a 35mm adapter, I would get the FSB-6, it's a great head as well.

As far as batteries, I don't get it. I can shoot all day with two CGD-54 batteries, one on camera and one in pocket so why would I care about the Sachtler battery system? But that's me. I don't shoot events, only docs and interviews and the occasional tabletop so I don't need monster power capacity. I have the AB Elipsz battery system and I never use it. It is large and heavy and will power the HVX for 7 hours straight, but I don't need it so I am giving it to a friend who does events.

Dan
 
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