Vinton Vision Blue tripod good with AF101, better options for similar price?

A

ade4all

Veteran
Hi, am looking to upgrade from Manfrotto 503, the Vinton seems to be pretty well regarded for the price £750....would this work well with the AF101 - I will mainly just have camera & lens mounted, although may be looking at rails & follow focus in the future?

http://www.3dbroadcastsales.com/description.php?model=1037

Are there any other tripods in the same price category worth looking at, £750 is kind of pushing the limits of my budget but if theres something else out there better then I'm all ears...

In an ideal world i would love to have the lightest tripod without compromising quality, I sometimes have to travel long distances with my kit - are there any decent light weight legs that would work well with the Vinton head or any other similar quality but light head & legs combo?

i see the Miller DS10 with carbon legs recommended for its lightness but it is a little out of my price range at £980 - is there an alternative lightweight tripod more in my budget range?

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/index.php?t=product/miller_1511

Hopefully someone can help shed some light, many thanks.....
 
I also have the Manfrotto 503HDV head and don't like it very much. A lot of spring back on pans. So, I am also looking for a new head to replace this one.

But, that being said, I am EXTREMELY happy with my Manfrotto 535 legs! They are light, stiff, and a lot cheaper than the Miller legs. So, don't know the answer for a better head, but the 535 legs are really good for the money:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/556157-REG/Manfrotto_535_535_3_Section_Carbon_Fiber.html
 
Get the miller, you will never be sorry.
And you will be amazed at what you have put up with for so long.
 
Last time I researched tripods, several years ago, these were the high-end brands: Libec, Miller, OConnor, Sachtler, Vinten.
 
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thanks for the replies, would love the Miller but as i say just that bit too much, am stretching myself as is......although still tempting if i can sell some other bits off
haver used libec ls38 & prefered it to my manfrotto but was hoping to step up to another class of tripod, will check out all the makes you've listed & see what there is in my budget
was just wondering if anyone had used the Vinten Blue in combination with a camera of about the same weight as the Af101?
anyway many thanks
 
May surprise you how heavy an AF100 becomes once fully tricked up with all the fruit. The body is so light but the add-ons become significant. ( which I find very satisfying)

Thing about fluid heads...dont just work off the load carrying spec. The mechanics of the device are what you are using to pan and tilt and lock off etc. I suggest that you can not have a head that is too heavy. The weight is in the mechanics.

FWIW : I find my Cartoni C20 (100mm bowl) works very well and far better than my Miller DS20 with my AF102. I do like my 2 stage Miller Sprint Legs though.

If you had a chance to go into a shop witrh your camera and do some tests...it could be worthwhile.
 
Beginning to think that the Manfrotto 535 legs with the 504HD head may be a good low cost setup. I already have the legs and like them very much. Just saw a review on the 504HD head that said it is much better than the 503HDV head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg0ZCBpTMho

The head and legs together come to $778 at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/735035-REG/Manfrotto_Manfrotto_504HD_Video_Fluid.html

or $899 if you want the padded case:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/683561-REG/Manfrotto_504HD_535K_504HD_Head_w_535_3_Stage.html

Much cheaper than the Miller setup (DV10 $1,250) or not much more than the Vinten Vision Blue head by itself ($697). And, no, I do not work for Manfrotto or B&H. LOL! Just looking for the best setup myself while staying within the Manfrotto system because I already have a lot of their equipment.

PS: Just realized you are in the UK. Here is a link to the tripod kit above with the case:

http://www.videogear.co.uk/Tripods/Tripod-Kits/Manfrotto-504HD-535K-Tripod-Kit/prod_1363.html
 
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I use Miller DS20 with Manfrotto aluminium legs for A101 and EX1 use. Works well although carbon fibre legs would be nice.
 
did you get on eyet?

im waiting on a cartoni focus after reading some nice reviews.

the two most important things for me are continuously adjustable fluid and counter balance...and this seems to have this...most dont ion this price range. nb the focus is about 900 (with single stage carbon fibre legs) plus vat which may be more than you want to spend......but i dont think any other heads in this price range give you all this (pro) functionality. pag uk are the uk distributors. there is also an upgraded focus hd version.
 
I picked up the 504 kit and it's night and day with the 503, which I returned in an instant. Like it better than the libec H55 as well, which was a nice head, but the sticks were not well made
 
Read Nigel Cooper's review of the 504 and was turned off. He likes the Libec RS series. Trying to decide between an RS-250 and RS-350. Actually have an RS-250 on order; it is back ordered. Any thoughts? Would like the tripod to be of use with lighter camera setups as well if that is possible. Tried the 503, didn't like it. Have used an old Sachtler video 20 hotpod for years. It is great, but way too heavy for this old guy!
 
jc01108 said:
Read Nigel Cooper's review of the 504 and was turned off. He likes the Libec RS series. Trying to decide between an RS-250 and RS-350. Actually have an RS-250 on order; it is back ordered. Any thoughts? Would like the tripod to be of use with lighter camera setups as well if that is possible. Tried the 503, didn't like it. Have used an old Sachtler video 20 hotpod for years. It is great, but way too heavy for this old guy!
Click to expand...

Ouch, not that I was seriously considering the 504, but that is a scathing review: http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=262
 
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