Which Sachtler Tripod

cordvision

cordvision

Well-known member
I would like to buy a sachtler tripod for my Arriflex 16SB with Zoom lens and matte box. I probably would also use it with a HVX200 with matte box and redrok adapter. I was thinking about the DV-6SB or the DV-8SB. Which one would you prefer and why. I heard the DV-8SB isn't that good. Any opinions.
Would you buy Aluminum legs or Fiber legs. Any other suggestions.
 
cordvision said:
I heard the DV-8SB isn't that good.
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What did you hear wasn't good about it? I just bought a DV-6SB after doing a ton of research on tripods but I haven't gotten it yet.

How much does your film camera package weigh and how high is the CG from where it mounts to the tripod? That will determine which fluid head you will want to work with it.
 
I am getting a DV 4 II for my DVX100b which will have a redrock micro adapter...anyone know if this is a good setup?
 
The DV-4 with carbon legs works great for me...

hvx200.jpg
 
I've got a DV8 and really like it. It handles more weight than the DV6 which is good for adding stuff later. Also, the DV8 has more drag settings. The one drawback is the price, it's a pricey head but then again, if you go Sachtler, you will be paying a premium. It's not the head to get if you are trying to get a good deal for your money but I personally find the engineering and feel of the sachtler heads superior to most others.
 
Sachtler ain't cheap but well worth it's money. Try to get one that can handle the most weight and has the most drag settings. For the budget you have available offcourse. Might be overkill otherwise :)
But you're better of with a bit of headroom for the weight it can handle in my opinion.
 
Don't go for the DV-4 because it only has one drag setting, on. It also doesn't have many counterbalance points. DV-6 or 8 are really good since they have 5 drag settings. The DV-8 I think has 2 more counterbalance settings which allow you to put on more weight. The DV-8 also comes in a 100mm bowl which is much more universal of a size than the 75mm which comes in handy when renting other support equipment. I personally like Miller legs more than the Sachtlers, but go with the Sachtler head.
 
Noah said:
Don't go for the DV-4 because it only has one drag setting, on. It also doesn't have many counterbalance points. DV-6 or 8 are really good since they have 5 drag settings. The DV-8 I think has 2 more counterbalance settings which allow you to put on more weight. The DV-8 also comes in a 100mm bowl which is much more universal of a size than the 75mm which comes in handy when renting other support equipment. I personally like Miller legs more than the Sachtlers, but go with the Sachtler head.
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I can't afford the higher models, and I am getting the DV-4 at a steal at 650.00 IMO

don't you agree this is still better than going with a bogen 503 setup?
 
We have the DV6sb head and miller solo carbon fiber legs and it it like a dream come true! It is really nice to have so many drag and spring settings. It is almost like I have never used a tripod before this, I couldn't go back..
 
A small update on my previous post. I had ordered a Sachtler DV6SB at the end of May and it was backordered. The Sachtler sales rep sold me Sachtler was having supply problems with their factory in Costa Rica (yep, the low-end Sachtlers are not made in Germany). I waited a month and still haven't gotten it so then I went to CineGear Expo and tried out some heads. Many of the heads had live cameras on them so you could check out how well the head balanced the camera and how well it worked on telephoto. Of course, all of the larger, high-end heads from Sachtler, Cartoni and OConnor were amazing, but I was somewhat disappointed with the lower end DV heads from Sachtler. They were smooth but not as consistent as their larger heads on telephoto. Also, the 75mm tripods flexed like crazy. I was also put off by the slightly lower build quality of the lower-end Sachtlers. The Cartoni Focus felt pretty good, but the tilt platform seems to flex and the pan bar also flexed. Cartoni is actually coming out with a baby version of the Cartoni Focus in a few months. Here's a picture of it.

cartoni_hidv.jpg


Anyhow, I ended up cancelling my Sachtler order and I decided to find a used OConnor.
 
Hi TNLE2:

What did you ever end up getting? I am between the DV-6SB and the Gitzo 1338/1325 combo. I have never used the DV-6 only the Video 18 II I used to own with my Betacam. Is the DV-6 just a smaller version or are they truly not as good as the larger Sachtlers?

The Gitzo intrigues me as it does not need a spreader and it is smaller and lighter than the Sachtler, has greater height and lower height capability a $100.00 less than the DV-6SB with aluminum 2-stage legs. I am just paranoid that the Gitzo Fluide head will not be as smooth as a Sachtler for pans and tilts.

I rented a Cartoni Focus and I hated it, it was not a very good head IMHO.

Best,

Dan
 
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