Daniel Browning
August 24th, 2007, 05:16 PM
For the past year I've been using a Sunpak Ultra 757 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/299932-REG/Sunpak_620757B_Ultra_757_Tripod_with.html) Tripod ($80) with the Canon XH A1 in a 4.5 pound configuration at nearly full telephoto, which I think is around the 35mm equivalent of 600mm. Let me describe my current system, the research I've done on new tripods, and request your input.
The poor chinese-made sticks can't handle sixty-degree fahrenheit weather, so the first step is to warm it up really good and exercise the joints a bit and get the stiction glue moving. Then I set it up and screw on any pieces that fell off (again). Leveling, even on a flat surface, is often a problem, since the legs aren't stiff enough to handle their own weight, even with the mid-level spreader. The bubble level is built right into the tripod to remind me that it will never be perfectly level.
The next step is to lock down all the settings. Tilting is out of the question, of course, but not just because it couldn't counter balance even an ounce or two; but also because the tilt tension knob goes from completely stiff to utterly loose in the smallest fraction of a millimeter. Add to that the terribly loud creaking, cracking, and groaning noises that emminate from the throaty beast when it's asked to tilt, and I'm all but forced to settle for panning only. Which is good, because locking the tilt down helps the panning perform slightly better.
I've spent over sixty hours of hardcore training on the tripod spread out over a year and a half. Over time, the intense concentration during each minute that I pan has taught every fiber of muscle in my fingers, hands, and arms to compensate for shortcomings of the knock-off stiction glue. As such, I can proudly say that at the height of my performance, I can yeild quasi-smooth pans, with only a moderate amount of stiff-start, sticktion, and drift-back. Lesser mortals who've only used it for a dozen hours or so still produce shakey, stiff, jittery video.
Of course, I wouldn't dream of touching the tripod or camera to zoom, focus, or anything else. Only the pan handle is touched, and I must ask individuals walking by to please refrain from stirring up the air or stepping too heavily as they walk.
Alas, my skills with the Sunpak may soon become obsolete. We obviously have very little funding to work with (the camera was donated), but we do now have $800 in the video production budget. We can also wait for more.
That brings me to the next topic: tripod research. I've had a hard time of researching tripods. Unlike video cameras, there doesn't seem to be verifiable, repeatable tests from a variety of sources testing the performance of the tripod system, the claims of the manufacturer, etc. The best information I've found is just the many, many opinions posted in the Support Your Local Camera forum. I've dutifully read and re-read hundreds of posts there to get an idea about the options available.
The most prominent advice is, of course, to try out the tripods in real life and make a decision that way. But in the Portland, Oregon area, the stores I've called only have low-end video tripods, and Manfrotto's at that (no Libec). Their most professional model is the Manfrotto 503HDV head on 3046 sticks. It leaves me unable to compare that to more expensive systems, like Vinten, Miller, or Sachtler. (The two times I've been to B&H were like a dream.) Zotz Digital probably has a good selection, but they're a little far.
As far as requirements, I need at least 60" height, but 70 would be really nice (without a center column, of course). I'm a good pack mule, so carbon fiber is an unnecessary luxury: aluminum (or even steel!) for me. I'll be on a level surface 99% of the time, so I think a floor-level spreader would be prudent. Setup time is no big deal, so I can forsake a ball-level. I want to "sandbag" my tripod (how do you do that, anyway?) to dampen vibrations on the cheap. I'd like to get a LANC controller and long pan arm(s) some day. I'm only using 4.5 pounds now, but I'd like a system that can handle the bigger Canon battery, wide angle adapter, and microphone. My goal is smooth pan and tilt, but the real highest priority is price: $800 would be very nice. However, if I can't achieve my objectives with that little outlay, I'll wait for a bigger budget ($2000 would be in a year or so).
For heads, my impression is that the very cheapest one I should consider is the Manfrotto 503HDV (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/492158-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_503HDV_503HDV_Fluid_Head.html) for $338. Although no one has posted comparisons of the "HDV" and vanilla versions, I'm going to assume that the updated version is at least equivalent in performance.
Stepping up to the $950/head range, many recommend the Vinten Vision 3 head. But I have a hard time thinking I'll need the extra performance to reach my goals.
I read a few ardent recommendations for Libec systems like the LS-38 ($600) and LS-55M ($900), but I don't have any way to quantify their relative merit with Manfrotto's equivalently priced systems.
Sticks are much more difficult to decide on than a head. The cheapest I'm considering now are the Manfrotto 3046 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5524-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3246_3046_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html) for $244. They lack a ball level, and they aren't compatible with any floor-level spreaders (are they?), but they do have a nice height advantage: 70.5" without the center column.
From there, I'm considering the 3258 ($460), which seem to have the same limitations as the 3046, but taller at 85", and ostensibly more stable. The 525MVB ($436) is 60", bowl-base, and looks really stable.
I don't think I'll ever consider the high-end sticks from Sachtler, Vinten, or Miller. The price on their accessories is outrageous. But I would consider buying just a head if I could avoid most of the accessories.
What do you think?
The poor chinese-made sticks can't handle sixty-degree fahrenheit weather, so the first step is to warm it up really good and exercise the joints a bit and get the stiction glue moving. Then I set it up and screw on any pieces that fell off (again). Leveling, even on a flat surface, is often a problem, since the legs aren't stiff enough to handle their own weight, even with the mid-level spreader. The bubble level is built right into the tripod to remind me that it will never be perfectly level.
The next step is to lock down all the settings. Tilting is out of the question, of course, but not just because it couldn't counter balance even an ounce or two; but also because the tilt tension knob goes from completely stiff to utterly loose in the smallest fraction of a millimeter. Add to that the terribly loud creaking, cracking, and groaning noises that emminate from the throaty beast when it's asked to tilt, and I'm all but forced to settle for panning only. Which is good, because locking the tilt down helps the panning perform slightly better.
I've spent over sixty hours of hardcore training on the tripod spread out over a year and a half. Over time, the intense concentration during each minute that I pan has taught every fiber of muscle in my fingers, hands, and arms to compensate for shortcomings of the knock-off stiction glue. As such, I can proudly say that at the height of my performance, I can yeild quasi-smooth pans, with only a moderate amount of stiff-start, sticktion, and drift-back. Lesser mortals who've only used it for a dozen hours or so still produce shakey, stiff, jittery video.
Of course, I wouldn't dream of touching the tripod or camera to zoom, focus, or anything else. Only the pan handle is touched, and I must ask individuals walking by to please refrain from stirring up the air or stepping too heavily as they walk.
Alas, my skills with the Sunpak may soon become obsolete. We obviously have very little funding to work with (the camera was donated), but we do now have $800 in the video production budget. We can also wait for more.
That brings me to the next topic: tripod research. I've had a hard time of researching tripods. Unlike video cameras, there doesn't seem to be verifiable, repeatable tests from a variety of sources testing the performance of the tripod system, the claims of the manufacturer, etc. The best information I've found is just the many, many opinions posted in the Support Your Local Camera forum. I've dutifully read and re-read hundreds of posts there to get an idea about the options available.
The most prominent advice is, of course, to try out the tripods in real life and make a decision that way. But in the Portland, Oregon area, the stores I've called only have low-end video tripods, and Manfrotto's at that (no Libec). Their most professional model is the Manfrotto 503HDV head on 3046 sticks. It leaves me unable to compare that to more expensive systems, like Vinten, Miller, or Sachtler. (The two times I've been to B&H were like a dream.) Zotz Digital probably has a good selection, but they're a little far.
As far as requirements, I need at least 60" height, but 70 would be really nice (without a center column, of course). I'm a good pack mule, so carbon fiber is an unnecessary luxury: aluminum (or even steel!) for me. I'll be on a level surface 99% of the time, so I think a floor-level spreader would be prudent. Setup time is no big deal, so I can forsake a ball-level. I want to "sandbag" my tripod (how do you do that, anyway?) to dampen vibrations on the cheap. I'd like to get a LANC controller and long pan arm(s) some day. I'm only using 4.5 pounds now, but I'd like a system that can handle the bigger Canon battery, wide angle adapter, and microphone. My goal is smooth pan and tilt, but the real highest priority is price: $800 would be very nice. However, if I can't achieve my objectives with that little outlay, I'll wait for a bigger budget ($2000 would be in a year or so).
For heads, my impression is that the very cheapest one I should consider is the Manfrotto 503HDV (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/492158-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_503HDV_503HDV_Fluid_Head.html) for $338. Although no one has posted comparisons of the "HDV" and vanilla versions, I'm going to assume that the updated version is at least equivalent in performance.
Stepping up to the $950/head range, many recommend the Vinten Vision 3 head. But I have a hard time thinking I'll need the extra performance to reach my goals.
I read a few ardent recommendations for Libec systems like the LS-38 ($600) and LS-55M ($900), but I don't have any way to quantify their relative merit with Manfrotto's equivalently priced systems.
Sticks are much more difficult to decide on than a head. The cheapest I'm considering now are the Manfrotto 3046 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5524-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3246_3046_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html) for $244. They lack a ball level, and they aren't compatible with any floor-level spreaders (are they?), but they do have a nice height advantage: 70.5" without the center column.
From there, I'm considering the 3258 ($460), which seem to have the same limitations as the 3046, but taller at 85", and ostensibly more stable. The 525MVB ($436) is 60", bowl-base, and looks really stable.
I don't think I'll ever consider the high-end sticks from Sachtler, Vinten, or Miller. The price on their accessories is outrageous. But I would consider buying just a head if I could avoid most of the accessories.
What do you think?