What tripod for XF300? at DVinfo.net

Niklas Lagstrom · November 16th, 2012, 05:54 AM

Hi. I am about to buy a Canon XF300 and don't know what tripod with videohead to buy. Have been looking at Sachtler ACE M and Manfrotto MVH502A+546BK as a kit. What would you recommend based upon experience? Will they carry this camera with possibly a LED lamp in the hotshoe and reciever for LAV mic?

Pete Bauer · November 16th, 2012, 07:08 AM

IMO, sticks on the Ace are a bit light-duty. You won't go wrong with a Vinten Vision Blue.

Erick Perdomo · November 16th, 2012, 09:23 AM

Hi there. I use the Sachtler ACE M (rated for up to 8.8 pound loads) with the Canon XF300, with a F&V Z96 LED Video Light and sometimes a Sennheiser G2 receiver and so far it has worked fine...the camera alone is 6.5 pounds maybe...everyone is crazy about the VINTEN VISION BLUE but I here in Canada nobody carried it and even after contacting VINTEN directly it was impossible to arrange for a quick test...and I wasn't willing to pay over $1,200 without even seeing one up close...so after thinking about a bit I decided to buy the Sachtler ACE M for less than half that price. The head is very good for sure.The drag adjustments, counterbalance etc work fine...and it's not too heavy!
I can honestly say that it is better than my Manfrotto 501HDV which I still use with a Konova slider.

Sachtler is releasing a new model ACE L with higher specs and I will look at that one when it comes out..sometime!
Maybe next time I go to NYC I will look at the Vinten Blue just for fun..
Good luck
E

Les Wilson · November 16th, 2012, 12:11 PM

There are quite a few threads of discussion on this topic that will give you a broad perspective. Creating another repeat will only provide a perspective as big as those who respond and not of the many who;ve already responded all the other times the same question was asked. Search on "tripod xf300" and you'll have answers.

Al Bergstein · November 17th, 2012, 11:15 AM

I agree that you should do a search on this on the forum. As I've stated before, Vinton is great, but for my money, I ended up going with sticks by Manfrotto (the wonderful carbon fibre legs and a head by Libec. Libec legs are ok, just not well suited to high winds. I would buy a libec again if I needed to.

Trevor Dennis · November 17th, 2012, 03:58 PM

Does Manfrotto make CF legs with a levelling bowl? I used my to use my 516 head on my 055ProC3 legs swapping out the Hydrostatic ball head that normally lives on those legs. Appart from the lack of a levelling bowl, the set up was probably too light, and not ideal on anything other than a solid flat surface. (I really must get some spikes for those legs.

I really like the 525MVB legs that I now use with the 516 head, and the set up works really well. Smooth start and stop to both pans and tilts, and heavy enough to be stable, but easy to carry on your shoulder.

Incidentally, I have decided that some of my sharpest still shots were taken with the camera rested on brick or stone walls. One of the trade stands at a convention I attended last year, had a Canon 500mm f4 mounted on a 1DMK4 on 055CF legs and hydrostatic head. This was the first floor (as opposed to ground floor) which I assume was suspended concrete. Looking through the viewfinder, without touching the rig in any way, it was amazing how much shake there was simply from people walking past.

Scott Kase · November 19th, 2012, 12:18 PM

Our customers have been very plesed with the ACE M , the Sachtler engineering is present and the price is right.

Andy B. Turner · December 9th, 2012, 02:33 PM

I love Vintens but dont like the new ones as much as the old ones. I have a Vision 3 (not the new AS version) These are very versatile since you can put different springs into them to get the counterblance you need (something like 0-23lbs) The counterblance on the AS and the Blue dont work great on smaller cameras. You can usually pick a good used one up on ebay for around $700-800.

November 16th, 2012, 05:54 AM	#1
Niklas Lagstrom Tourist Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 3	What tripod for XF300? Hi. I am about to buy a Canon XF300 and don't know what tripod with videohead to buy. Have been looking at Sachtler ACE M and Manfrotto MVH502A+546BK as a kit. What would you recommend based upon experience? Will they carry this camera with possibly a LED lamp in the hotshoe and reciever for LAV mic?

November 16th, 2012, 07:08 AM	#2
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Re: What tripod for XF300? IMO, sticks on the Ace are a bit light-duty. You won't go wrong with a Vinten Vision Blue. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

November 16th, 2012, 09:23 AM	#3
Erick Perdomo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 139	Re: What tripod for XF300? Hi there. I use the Sachtler ACE M (rated for up to 8.8 pound loads) with the Canon XF300, with a F&V Z96 LED Video Light and sometimes a Sennheiser G2 receiver and so far it has worked fine...the camera alone is 6.5 pounds maybe...everyone is crazy about the VINTEN VISION BLUE but I here in Canada nobody carried it and even after contacting VINTEN directly it was impossible to arrange for a quick test...and I wasn't willing to pay over $1,200 without even seeing one up close...so after thinking about a bit I decided to buy the Sachtler ACE M for less than half that price. The head is very good for sure.The drag adjustments, counterbalance etc work fine...and it's not too heavy! I can honestly say that it is better than my Manfrotto 501HDV which I still use with a Konova slider. Sachtler is releasing a new model ACE L with higher specs and I will look at that one when it comes out..sometime! Maybe next time I go to NYC I will look at the Vinten Blue just for fun.. Good luck E __________________ http://www.fandangovideo.com Canon C100 mark 2, Canon XF300 & XF100, Canon 90D, Sony a6400,Ronin S etc etc

November 16th, 2012, 12:11 PM	#4
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: What tripod for XF300? There are quite a few threads of discussion on this topic that will give you a broad perspective. Creating another repeat will only provide a perspective as big as those who respond and not of the many who;ve already responded all the other times the same question was asked. Search on "tripod xf300" and you'll have answers.

November 17th, 2012, 11:15 AM	#5
Al Bergstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Port Townsend, WA Posts: 456	Re: What tripod for XF300? I agree that you should do a search on this on the forum. As I've stated before, Vinton is great, but for my money, I ended up going with sticks by Manfrotto (the wonderful carbon fibre legs and a head by Libec. Libec legs are ok, just not well suited to high winds. I would buy a libec again if I needed to.

November 17th, 2012, 03:58 PM	#6
Trevor Dennis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Zealand, Rapaura (near Blenheim) Posts: 434	Re: What tripod for XF300? Does Manfrotto make CF legs with a levelling bowl? I used my to use my 516 head on my 055ProC3 legs swapping out the Hydrostatic ball head that normally lives on those legs. Appart from the lack of a levelling bowl, the set up was probably too light, and not ideal on anything other than a solid flat surface. (I really must get some spikes for those legs. I really like the 525MVB legs that I now use with the 516 head, and the set up works really well. Smooth start and stop to both pans and tilts, and heavy enough to be stable, but easy to carry on your shoulder. Incidentally, I have decided that some of my sharpest still shots were taken with the camera rested on brick or stone walls. One of the trade stands at a convention I attended last year, had a Canon 500mm f4 mounted on a 1DMK4 on 055CF legs and hydrostatic head. This was the first floor (as opposed to ground floor) which I assume was suspended concrete. Looking through the viewfinder, without touching the rig in any way, it was amazing how much shake there was simply from people walking past. __________________ Stills at: www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/

November 19th, 2012, 12:18 PM	#7
Scott Kase Site Sponsor: UsedAV.com Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 15	Re: What tripod for XF300? Our customers have been very plesed with the ACE M , the Sachtler engineering is present and the price is right.

December 9th, 2012, 02:33 PM	#8
Andy B. Turner Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 47	Re: What tripod for XF300? I love Vintens but dont like the new ones as much as the old ones. I have a Vision 3 (not the new AS version) These are very versatile since you can put different springs into them to get the counterblance you need (something like 0-23lbs) The counterblance on the AS and the Blue dont work great on smaller cameras. You can usually pick a good used one up on ebay for around $700-800.