Tripod recommendation down to these three.

ramkuma

ramkuma

Well-known member
My work is down to three options for purchasing a good tripod:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/734609-REG/Vinten_VB_AP2M_VB_AP2M_Camera_Support_System.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/688719-REG/Libec_RS_250M_RS_250M_75mm_2_Stage_Aluminum.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/822102-REG/Sachtler_1001_Ace_Fluid_Head_with.html

I need to justify how the most expensive, Vinten, is really worth the extra money. What does it offer, that is significant, that the other two can't? Can you offer any comparison and contrast between these three? Durability and fluidity are paramount considerations. We shoot a lot outdoors in variable conditions.

Thanks!
 
Tough one. The Vinten head can handle a larger load. That's a consideration. Of those, if you can keep it below 8 lbs, that new Sachtler looks pretty good. I'm in a similar boat but I've got to go heavier than 8 lbs and that drives the price up.
 
I'm looking at some of those, too. I'll be using HMC150, HPX250, and DVX100b. Any of those three tripods work fine for those, don't they? Not trying to hijack the thead, but rather just jump onboard too.
 
I started with manfratto 503/504hdv systems, but moved to the Vinten. In terms of "Durability and fluidity", Vinten is the best I've ever used. (HMC150 to HPX250)
 
Got this from a director at Public Broadcasting:
All three are pretty good choices. The Sachtler has the lowest weight capacity by a fair amount. I would eliminate that one based on that single factor.
The other two looked pretty evenly matched. I've used Vinten & Libec tripods and Vinten seems to have a durability advantage but both should do fine with some basic care.
I suspect that the Vinten head will be a lot smoother and more adjustable than the Libec. No way to verify that without using them both but I've never used a "bad" Vinten tripod.
Reviews all look good.
For comparison most of our tripods were $6k or more. That should make the & folks feel better :)
Bottom line? Get the Vinten if you can.
 
I use the Vinten with the HPX250 and I love it. Nothing balances like a Vinten. That being said, if you have a lot of things to attach to your camera you can hit the upper weight level pretty quicky. I have a heavy LED light with battery and mounted at the front of the camera, with the wireless mics attached, I am right at the upper weight level. Another 2 pounds wouold be nice. I have never used the Libecs, but a lot of people like them. If I were looking at another tripod I would definitely consider them. Best thing to do is call a dealer and put them right next to each other and try them out with your camera.
 
hey can someone explain (ok this sound kinda strange) "why" a load capacity of 4.6 to 11.0 lb (2.1 to 5.0 kg) is "enough"?
Most rigs with mattbox come around 5kilo then you got monitor, battery, and maybe later a recorder, so I figure something around 18-20lb is "future proof" more would be "well what if you wanna use a crane?" (well if i wanna use a crane i will rent a damn tripod that can hadle it -.-)

so yeah, especially now that cams are getting lighter (they'll probably never go the rout of "smatphones" ^^ but they wont go into the "technicolor monster-bulky cams", so you dont need more than max. 20-25 lb but i figured this:

if i someday really need 25 instead of 18, then i've probably moved up to "higher level" cams so I could used this tripod (18lb) for the B cam. This kinda makes it "ultimate-futer-proof" which is kinda important with those damn expensive heads :(

Please tell me if somethinis wrong with this logic? (well if you got a carbonfiber rig and dont use lotsa stuff like packs recorders etc then i guess 10-15lb is enough?)
 
Maybe not what you want to hear, but you want - at least - 50% more load capacity than your heaviest rig weights if not 100% more.
When they gauge the load capacity, the mount a heavy flat plate on the head. Your rig is not flat, so every inch more in height, you need stronger counter balance.
Odd, I know, bout that's the way they do it. Also you always want some reserves.

Stay away from consumer/semipro Sachtler stuff like the ACE and practically everything from Sachtler under 2000 Bucks. It's made by Manfrotto and we all know what that means.

That leaves the Vinten and the Libec. I'm a big Vinten fanboy, so I'm totally biased. But there is a reason why I'm a Vinten fanboy.
My Vinten 20 head and sticks hav now over 20 years of abuse on the clock and never let me down. They still work like on day one.

So I would suggest a Vinten. But a used better and bigger professional one, instead of that small semipro Blue tripod. 100mm bowl or more (I prefer 150mm).
It will outlast your next 5 cameras, can be serviced (in case you throw it under a train), and give you much smoother results.

my ct2, Frank
 
damn. . . i knew it. . . as if things didnt look bad already. . . so this means i should go to a 40pounder head (20kilo) to be on the "green" side of all things tripod related. . . which basically means. . .3k moniez lol. . . *brb robbing a bank*

the difference between 100 and 150 bowel is that 100 bowel is for heads that max out at around 15-20kilo and 150bowels can mount serious heavy duty heads, correct? Or is there more to this? Thats all i found scanning the catalog.


so this would be a good choice i guess:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Vinten-Visio...20?pt=UK_Tripods_Monopods&hash=item3cc948dc84

right? Though "reserve not met". . . hopefully this kinda tripod goes for 1500€ total or else i will be saving up for a LONG time. . .


you know. . . i was thinking maybe get good sticks for 500-700 (carbonfiber can be found by vinten used for such a price) then a vinten head that goes to "only" 7kilo like this:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Vinten-Visio..._Tripods_Heads_Stablisers&hash=item3a7804c92d
and next year, if i got the cash and really need the 10-20 kilo range, move up and sell this one probably only loosing a small amount since they keep their value much better than other equipment, right?
or are these vinten heads not good either. . . :/
 
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Those Vinten heads are just great (but it all depends on the weight of your rig).
If you ever used one of those, it's hard to go back to anything else (except maybe a OConnor).
Sticks are not as crucial as the head. And you can always upgrade your sticks later, without braking the bank

And right, 150mm bowls hold more heavy duty stuff, but a 100mm will probably also do the trick for you in the moment.

I always try to get some overbuild gear, to make it future proof.
But my budget doesn't allow that all the time, so I also ended up selling gear again while upgrading. Getting used pro stuff is always a good idea.

Frank
 
my 1.5 cents
1) I always buy a larger capacity head than I need.
2) larger the bowl/head the better the pan. It seemed once cameras got smaller, so did the heads.. and once that happened the panning went to crap. I swear I am going to design a 400mm mongoose head for that perfect pan.
3) the OP hasn't said much about applications/ planned use (other than outdoors) but the more panning and tilting you do for final product the more important the head. So Vinten would be a wise choice. If most of your shots are stationary then your head is less important and Manfrotto would be a good budget tripod but don't ignore my #1.
4) carbon fiber/graphite sticks if you plan to carry it distances.
5) test out how the sticks/legs work to make sure you enjoy the way it sets up. Some sticks I hate with a passion. (Manfrotto are you listening?)
 
somehow vitens website doesnt let me check the tripods only heads :/ so I checked sachtler for reference:

The tripod (sticks only) in aluminum (sachtler da 100) is 2.9kilo and holds 35kilo
the same in carbon (sachtler cf 100) is 2.4kilo and holds 45kilo

so basically the cf version is 500grams lighter but can hold 10kilo more, which is an awesome feat. . .but do i need 10kilo more?
A head is around 3kilos so this leaves me with 32kilos on the alu sticks:
BUT the head goes to max 25kilos anyway sooo. . . in this situation, i better get aluminum for half the price and learn how to carry 500grams more of gear, right?
I wont be using this tripod for more than installing a rig on it going for heavy lifting like a crane, i would simply rent a better tripod.
Or did i miss something?
Alu you could get for 200-400 where as a used carbon tripod costs you 600-800 . . . and wont net me (personally) anything as I see it. So i better get the vision5 head and some aluminum sticks maybe even sachtler sticks, its all standard 100mm bowel (right?)
thank GOD i didnt buy the manfrotto combo of fluidhead and sticks for 600. . . because a used vinten vision5 and the sachtler da 100 i could get RIGHT NOW for 900 total but might get lower if i talk to them. Guess the 300 extra are well worth it ^^
thanks big time for the awesome tips guys!
 
The only important thing with sticks is, that they don't flex when you pan with some drag dialed in on the head.
I would buy the head first and than try it on different legs to see how it feels (don:t forget to put the full rig on it).

For the record: the best solution a for heavy schlepping tripod, is a camera assistant :beer:

Frank
 
hmm. . . just found this in the description of a "vinten vision5 LF" head:
Different manufacturers utilise different and varied ways of using grease to lubricate pan and tilt heads. They may just simply use it as a lubricant or they may have complex packs of clutches and plates.​
Vinten have been making broadcast tripods for decades, and the LF system is a very well proven system.

The Lubricate Friction (LF) system uses a special kind of grease that is thick and sticky, kind of like a thick glue that never sets. The grease is between clutch plates and you can adjust the pressure between the plates to adjust the drag, giving a very smooth action with a "fluid" feel.
​
It is a simpler system than a fluid head system, so it is simpler to maintain.​
TRUE fluid heads are very rare these days, and most manufacturers use either the sticky grease system, often calling it a fluid head system, or they use cams and gears.

The bigger "vision 100" heads and above dont say LF but "TF". . . :/ "true fluid"? ^^ anything less than vision100 is a LF, so could someone explain?

[Also, a friend had this idea of "Why not ask DVXusers if someone wants to sell his vinten head or a 100mm bowle tripod before going to ebay" So I think thats a fine idea ^^, if anyone got a tripod 100mm bowel vinten, sachtler, oconner or libec, please PM me :) and a head that can carry between 4-8kilo/8-16lb not interested in manfrotto :/ ^^ thnx]
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