tripods and EVS/Rush

C

Cheesesailor77

Veteran
I know I know! I JUST made a topic about tripods but i need to pick tomorrow! So If anyone can hekp me nail down the best tripod for $500, i'd appreciate it.

Also, Rush, I'd like to take advantage the DVXuser discount, but living in california, tax is an issue, is there an awesome tripod (with leveling ball and 503 head) that you could help me work out for $500?

I was looking at this one...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=387808&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

looks sweet, only things im concered about are:

1. that mid level spreader, how does that work? it looks like it would get it the way of quickly raising/lowering. Anyone know?

2. Many tripods have a tube out the middle that u can unscrew and raise the head another foot or so. This doesnt appear to have this. Is that important? it doesnt say how tall you can make it.

so basically my questions are, is this a good tripod, rush can u get this to me cheaper than B&H, does anyone know of a better tripod for the cash?

THANK YOU AGAIN! :)
 
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=503351MVB2K

Is that the same kit from EVS? It would proably be a few dollars less with the DVXuser discount. It looks like a nice kit and I can personally vouch for the 503 head. I also have Bogen sticks and a mid-level spreader. The spreader doesn't interfere with anything, so you can extend or retract the legs or even fold the whle thing up with the spreader still attached. Tripods with a center column are for still photography and aren't even good for that because it turns your tripod into a monopod. Film/video sticks will have a bowl for a ball leveler--infinitely more useful than a center column.
 
The tripod at Barry's Link says that Max load is 17.6 lbs. Every other time I've looked at this head (the 503) the max weight is said to be 13.2 lbs. So how can this combo be rated higher? This is a HUGE deal as I had all but ruled out the 503, because I'm expecting my total rig to weigh about 12-15 pounds (35mm adaptor, dvx, matte box, moniter, rails). Rush, do you have an answer as to why this combo has a higher max weight than the head alone? Is this tipod allright for 12-15 pounds?
 
I noticed that both ours and B&H are wrong, it seems we got some bad info from Bogen, I am having ours changed in the AM. As far as I know the 503 capacity is 13.2lbs., and here it is on the Bogen site:

Bogen:
http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=9&itemid=755

Ours:
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=503351MVB2K $484.95

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=387808&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Cheesesailor, as Barry said, the raising and lowering is a neat widget, but it is a facet of photo tripods. 90% of pro video tripods I know don't have that. If you have a special purpose for it, like certain videographers that love the 3046 tripod because it goes really tall with the center column, then stick with a simple leveler.

That is a super tripod for the money. We are still backordered, and expecting 40 units soon, but still don't know when...
 
hmmm, outa my price range. $150 more is too much for 3 more inches up or down.

how does the floor spreader work differently that the mid level?
 
I'd be interested to know as well. For the longest time I was planning on getting the 503/3046 setup. But just a few weeks ago I saw the 503/351MVB2K, and it looks like a much better deal despite the fact that it doesn't go as high.
 
I don't know how different the spreaders are, never tried a mid level. However every top line tripod has floor and not mid level spreaders, probably is better for heavier cameras. Bryan, the 3046 legs aren't good for video usage, go for the 351 and don't hesitate.
 
I prefer mid-level spreaders because they can be used on uneven terrain and many high-end tripods give you a choice between mid-level and ground spreaders. The truth of the matter is, you don't really *need* spreaders at all for many tripods, because the legs have their own stops and they're perfectly stable without spreaders.

The 3046 doesn't have a ball leveller, so levelling your camera will be a royal pain. Howvere you can get an accessory levller, but why not just get sticks with a leveller in the first place?
 
Yea, for alot of the stuff I shoot, having a big beast of a tripod would be a pain. I think the 755 MDeVe would be the way to go, as it's compact and light, yet still robust enough to support a camera very well. I need to figure out a good way to attatch it to a backpack. I have been looking at a backpack that is actually made for military/tactical use that has an optional rifle carrier on the side that I think would work well for a tripod. The company is

www.kifaru.net

The pack of course isn't padded, nor meant for carrying photo gear, but I believe it has a better suspension system than alot of the photo bags out there.
 
Barry_S said:
The 3046 doesn't have a ball leveller, so levelling your camera will be a royal pain. Howvere you can get an accessory levller, but why not just get sticks with a leveller in the first place?
Click to expand...
Can you suggest some legs that go as high as the 3046 (or close to it) and have a ball leveller as well?
 
Barry_S said:
The truth of the matter is, you don't really *need* spreaders at all for many tripods, because the legs have their own stops and they're perfectly stable without spreaders.
Click to expand...

Barry, I have one of those that I sometimes use with my PD170. It is a Gitzo tripod with no spreaders, however very robust it is not perfectly stable at the highest position. I use it because it's light and versatile... but when I need more precision on camera movements I use a tripod with spreader.
 
PDX_DVX said:
Yea, for alot of the stuff I shoot, having a big beast of a tripod would be a pain. I think the 755 MDeVe would be the way to go, as it's compact and light, yet still robust enough to support a camera very well. I need to figure out a good way to attatch it to a backpack. I have been looking at a backpack that is actually made for military/tactical use that has an optional rifle carrier on the side that I think would work well for a tripod. The company is

www.kifaru.net

The pack of course isn't padded, nor meant for carrying photo gear, but I believe it has a better suspension system than alot of the photo bags out there.
Click to expand...

Like the 3046, the 755 MDeVe doesn't have a ball leveler. It's a photography tripod, like Barry said levelling your video camera will be a royal pain...

About attaching it to your backpack, Manfrotto have several carrying straps for tripods, I once saw one on Ebay. I'm also searching for a way to carry it around without the bag.
 
I have the 503 head with the 351 MVB (aka 3182) sticks. It's a good solid combination available for a reasonable price.


galt said:
Can you suggest some legs that go as high as the 3046 (or close to it) and have a ball leveller as well?
Click to expand...
 
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