C100: What Fluid Head are you using?

Sachtler CineDSLR head on the Sachtler version of the Manfrotto 535 carbon fiber sticks. Bought a standard plate for it (the stock plate for the CineDSLR head is really long). Works great.
 
I have three Vinten 100's, two on Sachtler CF Speedlocks and one on Sachtler HD CF Speedlocks. I really want to add an Oconnor 1030, but the 'D' version that tilts +/- 90 won't handle the payload of any of my cameras decked out and the 'DS' studio version that has a higher payload capacity only tilts +/- 60.

You want to buy a head with plenty of "head room" with regards to it's weight handling capacity.
 
Compass 25 100mm bowl head on 3-stage carbon fibre solo legs.

I really love the Compass head and it's super stable with a 400mm lens.

The legs are light and much easier to carry for one man operation than regular sliding clamped legs, but the trade-off is that upward/downward adjustment is a faff.

As a system, it's definitely a long term keeper for us - and I'd echo caution against buying cheap.

Ben.
 
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I just upgraded to the Manfrotto 501HDV head with carbon fiber sticks. I say upgrade because my previous fluid head was the 701HDV and what a difference there is in supporting the camera. I do like that I can switch from tripod to monopod to slider without having to change the plate (701HDV head is on the monopod and slider).
 
DannayZay said:
I just upgraded to the Manfrotto 501HDV head with carbon fiber sticks. I say upgrade because my previous fluid head was the 701HDV and what a difference there is in supporting the camera. I do like that I can switch from tripod to monopod to slider without having to change the plate (701HDV head is on the monopod and slider).
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Sachtler Ace uses the same plates too. I have an old manfrotto on my slider so I take full advantage of not having to swap plates.
 
Run&Gun said:
I have three Vinten 100's, two on Sachtler CF Speedlocks and one on Sachtler HD CF Speedlocks. I really want to add an Oconnor 1030, but the 'D' version that tilts +/- 90 won't handle the payload of any of my cameras decked out and the 'DS' studio version that has a higher payload capacity only tilts +/- 60.

You want to buy a head with plenty of "head room" with regards to it's weight handling capacity.
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Just curious how you get your Vinten heads to fit on the Sachtler CF Speedlock. My Vision 3 head has a clamp that is too large in diameter for my Speedlock 75 to move hardly at all, and is too big for the tripod to even close up the legs. I'd absolutely love to get this combo to work since I love the Vinten. I've tried swapping out the clamping disc with other heads and have tried using the bottom portion of the clamps from my other fluid heads but the Vinten has a different thread than a lot of my other heads.
 
you guys who like the oconnors, do they have anything comparable in weight/capacity to the sachtler dv6/fsb8? i really like that tripod for the stuff i use but those sachtlers are about $1800+ on ebay.
 
akivisuals said:
Just curious how you get your Vinten heads to fit on the Sachtler CF Speedlock. My Vision 3 head has a clamp that is too large in diameter for my Speedlock 75 to move hardly at all, and is too big for the tripod to even close up the legs. I'd absolutely love to get this combo to work since I love the Vinten. I've tried swapping out the clamping disc with other heads and have tried using the bottom portion of the clamps from my other fluid heads but the Vinten has a different thread than a lot of my other heads.
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The bowl size of your head and legs have to match. My Vintens are 100mm bowls and the Sachtlers are 100mm bowls. Most of your support intended for heavier payloads of broadcast and production is going to start at 100mm and go to 150mm and then Mitchell/flat base.

It's funny that you mention the Vinten thread. It IS different than every other tripod out there. I don't remember the exact term used for it(something like double start thread) and the angle of threads is steeper than normal, too. It is supposed to make it easier to start and thread the tie-down handle. It was a thorn in my side last year when I tried to have some custom knobs made to use my heads on a new hi-hat that could go very low(the normal Vinten tie-down handle would hit the ground). It took the machine shop several weeks to figure it out, exactly. Even calls and emails to Vinten didn't help(sad that the engineers/repair techs couldn't tell me the exact specs on the threading). They ended up having to order the special tool to make the knobs with the proper matching threading. And I'm sure they haven't used it since.
 
O'Connor's are great but they are all 100mm and very heavy. I have an old one that is rock solid. I never use it. I prefer 75mm systems for the C100 and C300. If you keep it light you can also keep your support light. I just dont want to lug the gear. YMMV.
 
Yeah, except for my own and helping out a friend very occasionally, I don't do narrative stuff, mainly ENG, so sometimes moving around getting b-roll or for some other reason moving tripod often throughout the day. Don't wanna be lifting 30 lbs for no reason. Sachtler DV6 weight is about right for me for those lighter cams. That tripod is plenty smooth in my estimation. Sad to hear that (according to whoever posted above) the FSB8 which SHOULD be for all intents and purposes identical, is somewhat inferior.
 
Run&Gun said:
The bowl size of your head and legs have to match. My Vintens are 100mm bowls and the Sachtlers are 100mm bowls. Most of your support intended for heavier payloads of broadcast and production is going to start at 100mm and go to 150mm and then Mitchell/flat base.

It's funny that you mention the Vinten thread. It IS different than every other tripod out there. I don't remember the exact term used for it(something like double start thread) and the angle of threads is steeper than normal, too. It is supposed to make it easier to start and thread the tie-down handle. It was a thorn in my side last year when I tried to have some custom knobs made to use my heads on a new hi-hat that could go very low(the normal Vinten tie-down handle would hit the ground). It took the machine shop several weeks to figure it out, exactly. Even calls and emails to Vinten didn't help(sad that the engineers/repair techs couldn't tell me the exact specs on the threading). They ended up having to order the special tool to make the knobs with the proper matching threading. And I'm sure they haven't used it since.
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Yes, I'm using a 75mm bowl and a 75mm head but the space needed for the clamp to move around is different with different tripods. My Sachtler doesn't have much room for the clamp to move around as the diameter of the clamping disc is much larger than the Manfrotto ones I have that actually work with the Sachtler sticks. The Vinten works fine on my Cartoni sticks but I don't like it nearly as much as my Speedlock 75.... That Vinten threading is driving me nuts as well. You wouldn't happen to have the contact info of that machine shop would you? Talking to the Vinten reps didn't help me one bit either....
 
Look on eBay for one of the smaller O'Connor heads like the 515 which pop up often for a reasonable price, or the newer and more expensive DV series head.
 
The Benro H8 came in yesterday. Benro made a nice head with the H8. Very smooth in both pan and tilt. The only issue is the counter balance. I cant dial it in with the 5 settings. It's either to light or to strong for the C100 with a Zacuto C300 Studio Baseplate.

I tried different lenses and it just never stays in a tilted position. When I pan or tilt and let go at the end of the move it either tilts up or down depending on the counter balance setting. The only way to make a clean move is to keep holding on to the arm. This causes micro gitter and defeats the purpose of a fluid head.

I'm afraid it's going back. Having a dial type is probably the best for true counter bablancing.
 
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