manglerBMX
Veteran
libec h55. not a fan of the legs tho, i hate floor spreaders. +1 for miller solo sticks.
What is everyone using here for their tripods?
- Thread starter digifruitella
- Start date
digifruitella
Active member
what would you guys recommend as a nice quality tripod for a T2i, without spending a fortune?
is there a good video tripod out there like that. I'm more concerned about the mount and having great control tilting or panning. Legs can be cheap. Anybody have any ideas what I could do? maybe there's a mount head that's quality that I can purchase and get some cheap legs to go with them
is there a good video tripod out there like that. I'm more concerned about the mount and having great control tilting or panning. Legs can be cheap. Anybody have any ideas what I could do? maybe there's a mount head that's quality that I can purchase and get some cheap legs to go with them
F/VESCO
Well-known member
Spend more and buy a quality head, you'll be very happy you did. The saying "you get what you pay for" is very valid for fluid heads.
Take a look at some of Sachtler's smaller heads.
Paul Hudson
Vacuum Tube Member
I agree with Scott at F/VESCO. DO not go cheap on a head and sticks. It is a valuable piece of gear that is often over looked until you can't get good (steady) pans and tilts.
As for me, it is Sachtler and Vinton only.
As for me, it is Sachtler and Vinton only.
digifruitella
Active member
I just looked on Adorama at the Sachtler heads, I may be looking at the wrong heads or something but those are waaaaay out of my price range. Heads in the thousands is not something I'm looking for, especially for amateur photography/videography. I understand if I had my own business or something then I would invest into something quality - but even then, 8k for a head is mad expensive anyways.
Don't get me wrong though, I'm not looking for extremely cheap heads/legs. But being a student has its limitations. Anything in the dozen, or hundred dollar bill range, while still maintaining reasonable quality? Maybe just a nice video tripod that doesn't "break the bank" I mean surely there's GOT to be one out there.
Don't get me wrong though, I'm not looking for extremely cheap heads/legs. But being a student has its limitations. Anything in the dozen, or hundred dollar bill range, while still maintaining reasonable quality? Maybe just a nice video tripod that doesn't "break the bank" I mean surely there's GOT to be one out there.
You want the Sachtler FSB4 head. With aluminum legs it's $800. With carbon speed legs it's $1200. This head is the only one I have found that can properly accommodate a lightweight camera/lens only configuration and with rods+ accessories it generally works beyond the stated 4kg. maximum.
Everything else out there in this price range uses cheap friction systems without the ability to lock in exact settings for repeated usage and also has bounce back with tilts in lightweight setups.
Everything else out there in this price range uses cheap friction systems without the ability to lock in exact settings for repeated usage and also has bounce back with tilts in lightweight setups.
docrock
Active member
"I got 300$ to spend and I need a good tripod for t2i (max pounds that'll ever be used prob around 4) Thinking of 701HDV 190XPROB legs it would equal 300$ lol..."
This is a FINE setup for your rig! Good Lord...Did anyone on this board go to college? The dude just dropped 8 bills on his t2i, and he's looking for stabilization...driving him to a 2500 dollar head/sticks is a bit over the top, IMO.
And, absolutely! I concur! When you get SERIOUS, it's time to look into a good rig. But you can get started with the above...although, for about twenty bucks more, the 055pro is a better set of sticks than the 190. The 701HDV is a decent little head, I've still got mine and use it backpacking and fishing ALL the time! I also have the 501 and 503...which are pretty normal "upgrades" from the 701 when you're looking for a little more "heft".
That said, I (we; wife and I with our business) use a Vinten V5AS-AP2F for 'commercial' or payed work that I can make use of it's abilities that far exceed the capabilities of the less expensive Manfrotto rigs.
It's true, tripods...like glass, will last you several generations of camera bodies, rails, lighting, sound, etc. Good head, good sticks should be around a decade or two. That said, there's been some MAJOR advances in sticks over the last decade, including the decrease in price of carbon fiber...and the inclusion of much better, and smaller fluid heads for the 1/3" (and now DSLR) cameras...so take it for what it's worth. In most cases, a killer head/stick set will last you a long while...and let you shoot your projects with much more precision and less headache.
If you can jump up to the 400 dollar mark, maybe a few bucks extra...the Libec 22 rig is pretty sweet, and much nicer than the Manfrotto 190/055 & 701hdv.
J
This is a FINE setup for your rig! Good Lord...Did anyone on this board go to college? The dude just dropped 8 bills on his t2i, and he's looking for stabilization...driving him to a 2500 dollar head/sticks is a bit over the top, IMO.
And, absolutely! I concur! When you get SERIOUS, it's time to look into a good rig. But you can get started with the above...although, for about twenty bucks more, the 055pro is a better set of sticks than the 190. The 701HDV is a decent little head, I've still got mine and use it backpacking and fishing ALL the time! I also have the 501 and 503...which are pretty normal "upgrades" from the 701 when you're looking for a little more "heft".
That said, I (we; wife and I with our business) use a Vinten V5AS-AP2F for 'commercial' or payed work that I can make use of it's abilities that far exceed the capabilities of the less expensive Manfrotto rigs.
It's true, tripods...like glass, will last you several generations of camera bodies, rails, lighting, sound, etc. Good head, good sticks should be around a decade or two. That said, there's been some MAJOR advances in sticks over the last decade, including the decrease in price of carbon fiber...and the inclusion of much better, and smaller fluid heads for the 1/3" (and now DSLR) cameras...so take it for what it's worth. In most cases, a killer head/stick set will last you a long while...and let you shoot your projects with much more precision and less headache.
If you can jump up to the 400 dollar mark, maybe a few bucks extra...the Libec 22 rig is pretty sweet, and much nicer than the Manfrotto 190/055 & 701hdv.
J
The 701 is awful. I have had one for a couple of years for my slider. It has no stepped damping for panning. Only a drag function and it is very stiff and slow at that. There is no stepped counterbalance either. This is a fluid head only in the sense that it is not a photo head. A good Sachtler setup is not $2500. Honestly, for $800 you can have a solid virtually pro head that is metal + sticks, well designed enough to hold it's value used long after the camera is obsolete:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/601879-REG/Sachtler_0372_0372_FSB_4_Aluminum_Tripod.html
It really makes me wonder if people understand the important criteria for choosing a head. Good counterbalance is essential. The majority of the heads out there rebound with only a DSLR on them in full tilt mode. You should be able to tilt the camera and have it stay exactly where you want without ever using the drag control. A controlled movement is priority for most basic shots on sticks and most of these heads (Libec included) don't deliver unless you are within a very specific weight range far above that of a DSLR.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/601879-REG/Sachtler_0372_0372_FSB_4_Aluminum_Tripod.html
It really makes me wonder if people understand the important criteria for choosing a head. Good counterbalance is essential. The majority of the heads out there rebound with only a DSLR on them in full tilt mode. You should be able to tilt the camera and have it stay exactly where you want without ever using the drag control. A controlled movement is priority for most basic shots on sticks and most of these heads (Libec included) don't deliver unless you are within a very specific weight range far above that of a DSLR.
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Completely agree. However, from the perspective of a person who's never seen/touched a better quality head, the 701 may seem like a great tool. There's always back and forth in threads like this about quality. It's in the eye of the beholder, don't you think? It's tough to convince someone who may use their camera twice a month that spending more on a tripod is worthwhile.
I bought a Manfrotto in April (501 as I recall). Thought it would be a good investment for my 7d. I used it three times and promptly returned it. Compared with my Sachtler under my EX-1, it was rubbish. Had I not had the Sachtler, I may have thought it was great! It's all about perspective. In the end the only way to know is to drag oneself down to the store and test them out.
Dirt cheap, but fairly well made. Will serve as a good second when you can afford better.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...&sku=150608&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...&sku=150608&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews
Paul Hudson
Vacuum Tube Member
Sachtler DV-12
sumaraba
Member
Miller DS-10 with Solo DV Carbon Fiber Tripod. So far so good.
http://www.adorama.com/MIDS101501.h...ansactionalEmail&utm_campaign=2point0Product1
http://www.adorama.com/MIDS101501.h...ansactionalEmail&utm_campaign=2point0Product1
Michael Olsen
Veteran
Sachtler FSB-4 on their ENG sticks.
Some people hate it, but it works well, it's small and light, and if you are just loading up a DSLR, it's pretty much great.
Some people hate it, but it works well, it's small and light, and if you are just loading up a DSLR, it's pretty much great.