Ultraportable tripod recommendations?

obonin said:
I've had the carbon fiber Manfrotto 190CX3 with the 701HDV head. It's 4.7lbs altogether. The head is nice and fluid. Max weight for the legs is 11lbs and 8.8lbs for the head. I often put more than 8.8lbs and i've been happy with its operation.
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I've used almost the same setup, only with the Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 - 4 section carbon fiber. The 701HDV isn't great, but gives much better results than earlier heads in this series. That said, I wouldn't count on this system to perform silky smooth camera moves. I've had good success on locked-down telephoto on uneven terrain with this. Can go to height of 57" down to ground level shot. One nice feature, if also shooting with a GH2, etc. is this tripod has a center column design that allows it to be used in either vertical or horizontal position. By extending the column to its highest vertical position, the column can be swung over to horizontal without removing the head or disassembling the column itself.

Since there's no leveling ball, I use an Acratech Leveling Base with this setup for fast leveling. And, btw, that Acratech is a great accessory for something like a Gorillapod Focus.

The whole rig weighs about 6lbs. and is only 26" when folded (including head and Acratech).
 
I have been traveling with this set up for my HVX200 works great
Sachtler 0407 FSB-6 Fluid Head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538602-REG/Sachtler_0407_0407_FSB_6_Fluid_Head.html
Manfrotto 438 Compact Levelling Head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554093-REG/Manfrotto_438_438_Compact_Levelling_Head.html
Gitzo GT3541L Series 3 Mountaineer 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548363-REG/Gitzo_GT3541L_GT3541L_Series_3_Mountaneer.html

(The short shaft on the bottom of the FSB-6 can be removed so the head works with the 438 Compact Levelling Head)
 
yoclay said:
I have been communicating a little bit with Sachtler to help redevelop their CineDSLR head. They have been very responsive. There is a reason why they are the reference for so many folks.
Basically I received their first incarnation in order to review it and I recommended that that they drop the minimum payload to accomodate DSLR style shooting with a barebones GH1 and a small lens all the way up to what I refer to as the "Christmas tree effect" - tons of stuff ridiculously extending off the camera. In this manner the issues of DSLR users are fairly unique. Never has such a great need for a varied payload range been so necessary at the lighter end of the professional spectrum. As a result, not only did Sachtler stop production of version 1, but they redesigned the minimum weight capacity of one of the springs in the head to accomodate from 0.6 kg all the way up 7.3 kg. I know of no other true fluid head from any other manufacturer that can deal properly with this weight range without using drag. Simply the best. (OK, I wouldn't kick O'Connor out of the bed either, but that's a VERY expensive mistress.)

One of the things I said to them was this:

A good fluid head will stay put wherever you place it, be it for the shot of marching ants or the airplane overhead. It should not rebound or drop based on it's springs alone, without the need of ever using drag. Most heads traditionally are designed for very specific weight ranges. Outside of the sweetspot they cannot perform these movements without drag. The CineDSLR will, even for cameras which are very light, which is the hardest test of them all (they usually rebound). I honestly think this single head could replace their FSB4, FSB6 and FSB8, and I also think that they now have a huge corner on the market as a result.

If the Sachtler head with carbon fiber speedlock legs is not to your liking, because it is still too large for you, I would say go with a Libec, believe it or not! They are designed for a much narrow weight range, which the AGF100 happens to fall into and for a cheap, lightweight knockaround tripod, they are surprisingly good with smooth movements. Something like an LS-22. I know it's hard to believe but as long as you stay within the sweetspot, you might be as surprised as I was at how smooth the movements are. I believe there is also a leveling ball on this head.
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What are your thoughts on the Vinten Vision Blue compared to CineDSLR? I'm in the market for a new tripod and currently shooting with the 5D and gh2 but I want something that I can use with a not yet released Epic Light.
 
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