I have ordered one of these because of it's low price and cheapness. I was wondering if this is tripod for the GL2 and for beginner style of shooting? I will probably get a better one as time follows and I increase my noviceness. :-)

The new Velbons I've seen are made of cheap plastic and are not sturdy. Also the heads are from from being smooth. Nevertheless, if you use it carefully, it should work just fine---as long as you're careful with panning and tilting.

When you say not sturdy, do you mean that they aren't good supporters like they could easily fall down causing damage to the camcorder?

The legs wobble, and it may easily get knocked over, in my opinion.

Hmm... I was new to the tripod business, but now as I learn more, I may have made a mistake on the purchase. I can still probably return the order. I bought the tripod for about $80 and since it was cheap and "felt" smooth, I just made the purchase along with the camcorder. But now as I learn that the tripod is a "2-way fluid head system"... I might want to get a 3-way tripod.... I am assuming that 2-way means left and right, 3-way means left, right, and up which could be useful for some shots.

No, two way means pan (left and right) and tilt (up and down) which is usually what we need for video. 3 way add something like a roll movement (don't know what is the right wording for it) in which the camera end on the side. I think that the 3 way system are mostly made for still camera.

Hmm... I have no idea if the Videomate 607 has the tilt or not, but definately has the two-way pan. Now, I've seen other Velbon tripods too. It seems there is a "Videomate" series which is more low-consumer, and then there are some other Velbon tripods which do not have the Videomate series ..anyone know the difference or have other comments/suggestions?

I would just keep it and make due with it until you feel you need something better. I found an old metal Velbon beside the garbage out back a few years ago, and it served me well. Once I upgraded, I put it back (beside the garbage bin) and someone snatched it right away---and probably happier than a hog in the mud (like I was when I found it). :-))

OK. It appears that this tripod DOES infact have a tilt, which provides up and down leverage along with the 2-way pan, I should be fine, I guess unless I feel that this tripod is inadequate...

Does anyone know any good stores where I can find/test out different tripods? I live in Oregon and there aren't very many good camera/video consumer stores that provide a good selection. I've tried Camera World, Fry's, and Magnolia Hi-Fi... and it seems that Camera World only carries Bogen tripods, no other brands like Libec, etc... I want to test out the Libec M20s and other which are supposedly best for the "GL2." I am probably going to return the Velbon due to the fact of the bad reviews I've read and its poor quality -- and could possibly leak/break or something...

Nothing wrong with a good Manfrotto (Bog---).

Anyone else ever try this tripod? I really want to hear some good/bad experiences or reviews before I do anything crazy like sell it for another. :-)

I've used it and I don't know how it compares to others as this is the first tripod I ever have used. :)

The 607 was my first tripod. There really isn't anything wrong with it. The worst part about the Velbon is that people see you using a "Velbon" and will count you as an amature. I still use mine however for extra stationary cams. Eventually, you will want to upgrade to lets say a Bogen 503 head and sticks. I have the libec you spoke of and while it is more sturdy, the velbon actualy has smoother pans and tilts than the libec. The libec has the advantage of looking cooler and it has a ball leveler which is really a big advantage, and it is counter weighted so that if you leave you cam unattended and the screws aren't tight on the tilt the cam doesnt fall forward. Right now I am considering purchasing this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=272984&is=REG

or this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=179036&is=REG

Can't decide if the extra $200 is worth it for the Miller. The Miller one stage pod looks kinda scrawny compared to that particular 2 stage bogen.

I'm getting my $250 rebate from Canon for the GL2 pretty soon (next weeks or so) and I might want to sell some Canon accessories and the tripod and get another one... :/

And about the sturdiness, that's one of my big issues -- I just don't want the camera to fall over or get knocked over easily or anything like that.

David,

I am interested in your Canon accessories, depending on what you have. I purchased an XL-1S in December, and am about to buy the GL2. I am struggling with whether to buy the GL2 next week, or wait until after April to see what Canon introduces at the show. The problem with waiting, Canon's $250 rebate expires in March. Note that Canon extended the XL-1S rebate, however.

I keep reading poor low light performance reports compared with Sony. Any advice is appreciated.

Regarding accessories, I am ready to buy additional 945 batteries, the dual battery holder, a tripod, a monopod, etc.

The only accessory I have is actually, not a BP-945 battery, but a BP-930 battery unwrapped, still packaged from original Canon. I bought the wrong one too late and seems I cannot return it, so I guess it's just best to sell it.

Should be easy to sell - especially for the smaller and lighter GL2 or GL1. I have the new one that came with my XL-1S on 12/26/03 and have not used it, either. I went straight for the BP945s.

Do you know which stores would sell it or perhaps offer store credit? I really don't like selling it online at ebay or something cause of the unsureness of offline selling. I mean, buying online I guess is okay, but the whole process of selling/shipping/mailing confuses and scares me. :)

I agree! This is probably the best forum; B&H Photo will very likely take the BP-930 as used photo equipment, although you would not get as high $ as you could get if you sold it yourself, most likely.

Hmm...any other places? Do you know if local stores like Best Buy, Fry's, Camera World, Circuit City, etc, etc. take 'em? Cause I live on the west coast and B&H is on the east-coast. :(

Best Buy, Circuit City do not. I live in the "middle"... Kentucky. We are in a small market. I just sold B&H a couple Sony batteries, wide angle lens, TRV900 in new cond., and about a dozen other accessories.

I called B&H used equipment department. They quoted me a "blind - sight unseen" price for each specific item. I could accept or reject each individual item, but prices were non-negotiable. Then B-H emailed me a confirmation - 5 minutes later. I boxed up everything, with a copy of their confirmation. 2 weeks later, their check arrived by UPS in a package letter envelope. I was pleasantly surprised how competitive the $ they shot me. I accepted every single item. $900 total. Very professional.

If the XL-1S is superceded soon with a substantial improvement, I will probably sell mine back and upgrade, even though I bought it 12/26/03. That is how I would handle your accessories you no longer need. By the way, if any items aren't in very good condition, they have the right to contact you with a lower price, or to return the item to you. All of my items were accepted for the $ quoted.