What is the Best tripod for a DVX?

M

Michael Pick

Active member
I'm looking for a good sturdy tripod that I can easily set up and take down. I'll be doing a lot of outdoor filming so this feature is a must!


Please list all the pro's and con's of your choices to please!:dankk2:
 
We'll need some more info from you first please :)

By "outdoor" do you mean wildlife/nature/rough terrain or do you mean out on the street-type run and gun stuff?

What type of things will you be shooting? - do you need to shoot over top of crowds of people, get low to the ground a lot, shoot on stairs, stationary interviews??

Will you be doing a lot of panning and tilting or be predoninantly locked-off and stationary

Will you be heavily zoomed in a lot on subjects or predominantly shooting wide

Most importantly... Realistically speaking, how much are you prepared to invest in a camera support. For something that will yield professional results, you'll be spending up to around half the value of your camera - and it'll last for years ands years if you look after it
 
MasterP said:
We'll need some more info from you first please :)

By "outdoor" do you mean wildlife/nature/rough terrain or do you mean out on the street-type run and gun stuff?

What type of things will you be shooting? - do you need to shoot over top of crowds of people, get low to the ground a lot, shoot on stairs, stationary interviews??

Will you be doing a lot of panning and tilting or be predoninantly locked-off and stationary

Will you be heavily zoomed in a lot on subjects or predominantly shooting wide

Most importantly... Realistically speaking, how much are you prepared to invest in a camera support. For something that will yield professional results, you'll be spending up to around half the value of your camera - and it'll last for years ands years if you look after it
Click to expand...

When I said nature I mean woods/wildlife/fields ect. I'll be filming whitetail deer so I'll be doing a lot of panning. I will also be heavily zoomed in. (My DVX only has 10x optical zoom.)

Price: I can spend as much money as I can talk my mom out of. :) (I'm 15 years old and my mom bought me a DVX-100B, I never thought I'd get one!) Please list the names of the tripods that I can get the most bang for the buck. :kali:
 
Hey Michael,
go to the Hardware Forum and check out the Tripod FAQ stickie.
Lots of great info in there on this topic. Spend some time. It
will be worth your while.
Oh and by the way, is your mom interested in adopting a much older brother?
 
If there is room, I'm in need of adoption as well!

Micheal, I think what you'll basically come to find in the thread gco is pointing out is that 1/3 of the people will say they are using a Manfrotto setup, the second third will tell you Manfrotto sucks and to go with the Libec LS38 in the same price range. The last group are the guys spending $2000 or more on Sachtler, Cartoni, Vinten, ect. What most all will agree on is that cheaping out will cost you in the long run.

If you have money go with a fluid head with drag resistance/couterbalance settings and a sturdy pair of 2-stage carbon fiber legs. If you don't have as much money, the Libec seems like the best bang for your buck.

In short, try to get your mom to buy you the most expensive one first! :thumbsup:
 
KSC said:
If there is room, I'm in need of adoption as well!

Micheal, I think what you'll basically come to find in the thread gco is pointing out is that 1/3 of the people will say they are using a Manfrotto setup, the second third will tell you Manfrotto sucks and to go with the Libec LS38 in the same price range. The last group are the guys spending $2000 or more on Sachtler, Cartoni, Vinten, ect. What most all will agree on is that cheaping out will cost you in the long run.

If you have money go with a fluid head with drag resistance/couterbalance settings and a sturdy pair of 2-stage carbon fiber legs. If you don't have as much money, the Libec seems like the best bang for your buck.

In short, try to get your mom to buy you the most expensive one first! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

^^ What he said ^^
I'd strongly look at getting something like the Miller SOLO DV or Gitzo legs - they let you get real low to the ground and are exceptionally stable (and don't use a spreader) - they ain't cheap though, but are the most versatile in my limited experiences

As for the head, a Libec H38 head would be your best budget option if you spend your time zoomed in a lot - cheaper heads have a nasty habit of "drifting back" at the end of a pan - you won't want that.
You can buy the LS38-M (head and tripod) quite cheaply as opposed to something like a Miller SOLO DV system (which is what I use)

Have a look at these:

Review featuring Gitzo and miller sticks amongst others:
http://www.studiodaily.com/studiomonthly/tools/casestudies/5997.html

LS38 review
http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=150

Make sure that you let your mother know that if she buys a good one you'll probably still have (and be using it) in another 10-15 years from now - it's an investment that won't devalue much if you look after it :)
 
MasterP said:
^^ What he said ^^
I'd strongly look at getting something like the Miller SOLO DV or Gitzo legs - they let you get real low to the ground and are exceptionally stable (and don't use a spreader) - they ain't cheap though, but are the most versatile in my limited experiences

As for the head, a Libec H38 head would be your best budget option if you spend your time zoomed in a lot - cheaper heads have a nasty habit of "drifting back" at the end of a pan - you won't want that.
You can buy the LS38-M (head and tripod) quite cheaply as opposed to something like a Miller SOLO DV system (which is what I use)

Have a look at these:

Review featuring Gitzo and miller sticks amongst others:
http://www.studiodaily.com/studiomonthly/tools/casestudies/5997.html

LS38 review
http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=150

Make sure that you let your mother know that if she buys a good one you'll probably still have (and be using it) in another 10-15 years from now - it's an investment that won't devalue much if you look after it :)
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for all the responses! It looks like I have a good idea of what tripod I want. All I have to do now is convince my mom that this is a good investment...:thumbsup:

Could you guys recommend a quality shot gun mike and wireless mike for a DVX camera?

:dankk2:
 
OK, we're going to have a talk with your mother if this keeps up.
Take some time to find out how this website is organized and go to the forum that relates to whatever is on your mind. Once there, look at the "stickies" those permanent threads in yellow at the top of each forum. They are full of answers to the most commonly sought questions. There is a lot of very good information in them. Next, if you still don't see what you are looking for, use the SEARCH function. It not only works well, it may surprise you. Make an effort before asking to have something handed to you. If and when you do post a question, keep it relevant to the forum you post it in. Do not start a hardware, audio or any other unrelated thread in a forum designated for a specific camera, i.e. "DVX100". Do your part to maintain forum integrity and you will help to keep this the quality site that it is.
 
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gco said:
OK, we're going to have a talk with your mother if this keeps up.
Take some time to find out how this website is organized and go to the forum that relates to whatever is on your mind. Once there, look at the "stickies" those permanent threads in yellow at the top of each forum. They are full of answers to the most commonly sought questions. There is a lot of very good information in them. Next, if you still don't see what you are looking for, use the SEARCH function. It not only works well, it may surprise you. Make an effort before asking to have something handed to you. If and when you do post a question, keep it relevant to the forum you post it in. Do not start a hardware, audio or any other unrelated thread in a forum designated for a specific camera, i.e. "DVX100". Do your part to maintain forum integrity and you will help to keep this the quality site that it is.
Click to expand...

I didn't know that asking your guys opinion on equipment in the "DVX100" thread was taboo. I know where the "stickies" and hardware section of this forum are, but I didn't go there because they didn't relate directly to my needs. I needed a tripod that would work well outdoors, be easy to set up and take down, and be sturdy. You guys helped me out with these questions so I figured it wouldn't hurt anyone if I asked if you could recommend a good mike for the DVX100B. I came here with these questions because I would be using a DVX100B camera.
 
Hmm. We don't mean to be rude. Many apologies.

I can't answer your questions, but why would you buy a DVX in the year 2008?
 
Certainly not-- No need to be defensive. Please try to understand what I said Mike.
Just trying to help you out.
 
I bought mine this year. I wanted 24p, it was in my price range, I don't care about HD, and I've never used a video camera in my life. What better way to start out? Someday I'll upgrade to something better, but for now it's perfect for me. :thumbsup:
 
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