Upgrading Tripod - can't figure out the best combo, advise sought

T

Tim Kay

Well-known member
My current set up is the Manfrotto 503hdv with the 351 legs. I'm luke-warm about this system. I just played with the 504hdv and really like it, although it looks like to get good friction the dials need to be pushed to 8-9-MAX. If I buy the 504 system, i'm bascially in Sachtler range, and is that a better buy? Will a 504 head or a sachtler head fit the 351 legs?

I just purchased a slider system so this has given me the opportunity to move some equipment around. I was looking around for a used 501hdv for the slider but then I though about using the 503hdv for the slider, and buying a better 'main' triopd. Heres some options available, what do you thinks the best?

A) just buy 501hdv, keep it simple
B) buy 504 (possibly just head)
C) buy sachtler
d) sell all 503/351 and start from scratch
e) ?
It's mainly for a 7d, sometime with a full rig set up, other times solely camera.
Thanks
 
Tim,

I have a 503 and use it for an hpx170. My feelings are it is marginal, but the biggest problem with it is static balance. It won't. I have a set of legs similar to the 351 legs, and once again, they aren't fantastic, but serviceable and not extremely heavy to carry

After looking at the available hardware, I came to the conclusion that to get significantly better, I would be up for around $1800 for a Sachtler head and stix. It is a lifetime investment, but not something I could do now. Note that all the Sachtler accessories like quick plates are very expensive.

I found a bargain on a heavy Varizoom tripod. It is a real monster, not so good on my back, but very very solid. I am going to hang a 504 on it and hope for the best. I'll let you know how it works out...hopefully great for a total of $629. And, all my existing plates will interchange. By the way, I use a little 701 head on my monopod and the plates interchange with that also.

My point is: looking at what is somewhat better than the Manfrotto stuff didn't really seam THAT much better and for a lot more money. And to get enough better to make a real difference, was going to be pretty expensive indeed.

Grant
 
Hey Grant,

Thanks for the feedback, sounds like I find myself in a similar situation with you. I thought a sachtler would be a little more then $800,but almost double, wow. And on top of that I have QR plates that I use for my glidecam so i'd have to replace those parts ( at a significanly higher cost it sounds like).

Let me know your review of the 504. My main concern with this head is that 7D, barebones, would be to light.

Also interested in hearing other people's experiences.
 
My new 504 just arrived and it is physically much more impressive than the 503. I'll have more to report tomorrow. Bt the way, the stock 504 plate is the long version, but the short plates will also fit.

Grant
 
When I saw the 504 it was like a couple running at sunset towards each other in the beach. Then the doubts started coming in. So looking forward to hearing a field report once you get it up and running, and the newness runs off
 
I mounted up the 504 today, and it is a nice improvement over the 503. It is larger, heavier and more rigid. The tension controls are better. And the counter balance actually works. To me the biggest upside is the improved rigidity. The other features are better but not radically so. The counter balance is pretty basic, three positions plus off, so it lacks any fine tuning, but when combined with the tension control and the longer quick plate and tracks, balance on a handheld works well.

It may lack the quality of a high end head, but in my situation, a good upgrade for the $$.

Grant
 
Just one other thing if you hadn't noticed in the specs: this head has a 75mm bowl mount. So if you have a 3/8" stud, or a 100mm bowl, you will need an adapter.

Grant
 
According to the word over at DVinfo, there's a new Vinten due soon that is designed for lower payload cameras, and not too expensive apparently.

It may be worth waiting until September to see what the announcement is.
 
Oh No! Manfrotto dumb asses!

One of the reasons I purchased a 504 was to interchange all my accessories. Quick plates being one, and pan bars another. So today I go to hang my pretty nice Manfrotto 522 zoom control on the 504 and WTF, the thread size for the wing nut is different. Oh ya, the splines are different too.

The clamp on the pan bar can be exchanged and even the splined receiver on the 504 comes off, but why didn't they just make them the freeking same. On Monday, I'll call Manfrotto and if (?) they have the new style clamps for the pan bars, maybe they can get around to shipping me some. If I am really lucky, maybe I can get them all the same which was a motivator to stay with them in the first place. I guess they wanted to sell some clamps. Gotcha.

FWIW, I am liking the 504 head.

Grant
 
try the new Sachtler models! I just got my FSB8 with carbon speedlock legs ....nothing comes close!
Forget Manfrotto. Sachtler has been bought by a british company and is coming out with low cost models for the new small cameras....check it out.
 
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