Vinten Vision Blue vs Libec RS-250 vs Sachtler Ace

Vinten Vision Blue vs Libec RS-250 vs Sachtler Ace

  • Vinten Vision Blue

    Votes: 3 50.0%

  • Libec RS-250

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sachtler Ace

    Votes: 3 50.0%

  • Others

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    6
G

gianx80

Active member
Hi to all! I need your precious advices and I'd love to discuss with you about the best solution to my problem. I've already gathered a lot of priceless information thanks to our community, now I'm looking for some ultimate hints about my next purchase.

I'm a Sony FS-100 owner. I'm not a professional and I don't earn any money from my works. So every Euro I spend is a lost one ... but this is my hobby, so I don't care.

My budget is about 400/500€ and I selected 3 tripods that are eligible ones for my purchase: the Vinten Vision Blue, the Libec RS-250 and the Sachtler Ace.

In your opinion, which one I should buy and why?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Maybe ... now I want to choose one NEW tripod in this price range because I'm sure I can buy one. But if I find a good used tripod I could go for it. So, which I should choose?

Besides FSB4 in the higher price range, for which tripods I should look in the used field?
 
My personal favorite is the Vinten Vision 20, I bought mine used and it's been awesome. The only drawback to it is that it's HEAVY. I just shot a run and gun b-roll/interview job yesterday and my back wished I brought the Vision 12 instead.

The higher end Vinten's are solid, but more expensive for sure. If you don't have that budget you can go for a Vinten Vision 3, or in the past I bought a Manfrotto 519 head used, and it was great (for awhile) but after having an HVX/Brevis fully loaded combo on it, the head started to lose the ability to lock. I think that was more from our total abuse, so if you're putting a smaller DSLR rig on it that's not a bad head...and you can find them for a fairly cheap price on ebay the last time I looked.

Generally I'd say dont' cheap out and buy a quality head. In the past I've gone through so many lower end heads (like the 501). If I just spent the money up front I'd have saved myself so many headaches....I'm sure others here can chime in with their favorite heads/legs as well.
 
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Thanks :). So, you are confirming that Vinten is a great brand.

Now I'd love to hear also other opinions regarding 500€ price range ad higher :)
 
The Ace is a fluid head with good solid movements. It is basically the same as the FSB4 in cheaper materials.
The Vinten is a friction head. The higher end ones are great, the lower end ones aren't much better than a Manfrotto. Forget about it.
The libec is good tripod with smooth movements like the Ace, but it's weight range doesn't work so well with DSLR cameras (4-11 lbs) in lightweight barebones configurations.

So for the FS100, either the Ace or the Libec. The Libec probably has better sticks, but the Ace is also considerably less expensive.
I have always found the Sachtlers are much better in terms of well damped movements than the other two, but you are going to have to look at how much you accessorize and the weight requirements of your setup in order to really determine which is the best for your needs. Beyond 4Kg (8.8lbs) looks like the Libec is your only choice.

Personally, I would move up to at least the CineDSLR head from Sachtler for long term ownership if I were you, it has twice the weight range of all these setups while retaining good movements, even if the manufacturer doesn't say so. This is according to the tests I've done. It is also very well made and will last a lifetime, something I don't really think is true of the other setups mentioned here. Plus you have a larger scale of incremental movements which from a counterbalancing point of view is helpful for quickly dialing in known setups.
 
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yoclay said:
The Ace is a fluid head with good solid movements. It is basically the same as the FSB4 in cheaper materials.
The Vinten is a friction head. The higher end ones are great, the lower end ones aren't much better than a Manfrotto. Forget about it.
The libec is good tripod with smooth movements like the Ace, but it's weight range doesn't work so well with DSLR cameras (4-11 lbs) in lightweight barebones configurations.

So for the FS100, either the Ace or the Libec. The Libec probably has better sticks, but the Ace is also considerably less expensive.
I have always found the Sachtlers are much better in terms of well damped movements than the other two, but you are going to have to look at how much you accessorize and the weight requirements of your setup in order to really determine which is the best for your needs. Beyond 4Kg (8.8lbs) looks like the Libec is your only choice.

Personally, I would move up to at least the CineDSLR head from Sachtler for long term ownership if I were you, it has twice the weight range of all these setups while retaining good movements, even if the manufacturer doesn't say so. This is according to the tests I've done. It is also very well made and will last a lifetime, something I don't really think is true of the other setups mentioned here. Plus you have a larger scale of incremental movements which from a counterbalancing point of view is helpful for quickly dialing in known setups.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your precious advices :). So, you are suggesting to buy CineDSLR head but ... with which legs? :)

EDIT
At the moment the weight of the stuff I should put on the tripod is 2,6Kg ... but maybe, for a better investment, I should buy the Libec one.

Any other opinion about Vinten Vision Blue? I know it's out a new revision

P.S.
I discovered that FSB 4 kit comes in many flavours, some cheaper than others so I could consider it
 
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So, you are suggesting to buy CineDSLR head but ... with which legs?
smiley.gif
Click to expand...

I use the Sachtler speed lock carbon fiber legs and love them, but that may be out of your price range. The entry level Sachtler 75 legs aren't much to write home about however, but they do the job.

Strangely enough, my second pair of tripod legs is an old manfrotto 351mvb2. I like them because I don't have to be precious about them, they can take a beating and they still work great. They can get very low to the ground and are sturdy enough to hold a sizeable slider. Cheap as dirt as well. Could be a good temporary/backup possibility as you save for a serious pair of sticks.
 
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gianx80 said:
Hi to all! I need your precious advices and I'd love to discuss with you about the best solution to my problem. I've already gathered a lot of priceless information thanks to our community, now I'm looking for some ultimate hints about my next purchase.

I'm a Sony FS-100 owner. I'm not a professional and I don't earn any money from my works. So every Euro I spend is a lost one ... but this is my hobby, so I don't care.

My budget is about 400/500€ and I selected 3 tripods that are eligible ones for my purchase: the Vinten Vision Blue, the Libec RS-250 and the Sachtler Ace.

In your opinion, which one I should buy and why?

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

Which one did you get at the end?
 
I have an FS100, and both the Ace and the Vinten Blue - the VB beats the Ace hands down in general use, but as has been stated, beware the payload - a barebones camera will work on either, but if you add extras (rails, EVF, heavier lenses) you can run into balance problems, even on the VB.
I normally use the Ace with lighter cameras, but it is very light and portable, so I will use it if trekking any distance with the FS100, or for locked down shots.
Neither were sub €500!
 
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