Most stable & fluid tripod? at DVinfo.net

Jeffrey A. Dear · October 30th, 2003, 06:45 PM

I'm looking for a very stable tripod for an XL1s, particularly when fully extended. Fluidity secondary, but important. Can anyone recommend a brand and type of construction to look for. I'm currently using the Velbon Videomate 601 and not very happy when its fully extended.

Thanks,

Jeffrey

Frank Granovski · October 30th, 2003, 08:00 PM

Most stable and fluid head? O'Connor. Perhaps look at a Miller DS10?

http://www.millercanada.com

Ken Tanaka · October 30th, 2003, 10:29 PM

Jeffrey,
Velbon's tripods and heads are basically designed and priced for the occasional hobbyist on a budget.

Bogen/Manfrotto would be the price/quality bump up from Velbon. Pretty good gear at affordable prices. (a few hundred dollars)

Miller (DS-5 and DS-10) would be the next bump up, particularly with regard to the quality of the heads. (approx. US$1,000)

Vinten and Sachtler are next. Top-notch professional gear designed to perform accurately and consistently under nearly any conditions. (approx. US$1,500-$2,000)

O'Connor is probably at the top of the chain, certainly in terms of cost and warranty. (several thousand $).

Boyd Ostroff · October 30th, 2003, 11:10 PM

I have a Miller DS-5 and have grown very fond of it. Huge improvement over my Manfrotto 501. But I use it for a PDX-10 and VX-2000. I wonder if the XL-1s needs something a little heavier? DS-10?

I got the DS-5 with aluminum legs from B&H for around $800. You will pay more for the carbon fiber legs, and a carrying case is extra too.

James Hall · October 30th, 2003, 11:45 PM

Don't overlook Cartoni and Libec either.

Cartoni fits right in there with Vinten and Sachtler. I have a Cartoni I use outdoors...it takes a beating and keeps working. If I could afford the big bucks, I'd like to get a bigger Cartoni head and carbon-fiber sticks.

Libec is a little lower on the scale, but seems to offer very good value for money...a nice step up from Bogen/Manfrotto. I have used Libec's largest head and it compares favorably with just about anything I have seen.

I used to use a Bogen 501 with the Wilderness tripod (can't remember #) and I couldn't figure out why pro tripods were so expensive. Then I had the opportunity to try a Cartoni and it was truly superior.

Good luck,

JH

Marc Young · November 5th, 2003, 05:57 PM

Where does Gitzo fit into the grand scheme? B&H has an under $2K model (G1380 system) with a leveling fluid head. It has two features which seem very impressive- variable fluid drag, and balancing springs, in 6 weight categories.

Boyd Ostroff · November 5th, 2003, 06:11 PM

Marc, do a bit of searching in this forum. The topic has been discussed quite a bit, especially the gitzo. I found this very helpful when I was tripod shopping. There was a Gitzo that sounded really nice, but was a little more than I wanted to spend. Then there was a post of how you could order the head from Canada (I think) and save a lot, but you had to get legs and springs separately elsewhere. Sounded too complicated for me and I also read lots of good things about the Miller. I needed it in a hurry so I just went with the Miller at B&H....

Scott Shaffer · November 6th, 2003, 12:05 AM

For the budget-minded prosumer, what would you recommend between the Velbon PX 781 and the Bogen 3116? Any other suggestions in the $200 range?

October 30th, 2003, 06:45 PM	#1
Jeffrey A. Dear New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: shreveport Posts: 6	Most stable & fluid tripod? I'm looking for a very stable tripod for an XL1s, particularly when fully extended. Fluidity secondary, but important. Can anyone recommend a brand and type of construction to look for. I'm currently using the Velbon Videomate 601 and not very happy when its fully extended. Thanks, Jeffrey

October 30th, 2003, 10:29 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Jeffrey, Velbon's tripods and heads are basically designed and priced for the occasional hobbyist on a budget. Bogen/Manfrotto would be the price/quality bump up from Velbon. Pretty good gear at affordable prices. (a few hundred dollars) Miller (DS-5 and DS-10) would be the next bump up, particularly with regard to the quality of the heads. (approx. US$1,000) Vinten and Sachtler are next. Top-notch professional gear designed to perform accurately and consistently under nearly any conditions. (approx. US$1,500-$2,000) O'Connor is probably at the top of the chain, certainly in terms of cost and warranty. (several thousand $). __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 30th, 2003, 08:00 PM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Most stable and fluid head? O'Connor. Perhaps look at a Miller DS10? http://www.millercanada.com

October 30th, 2003, 11:10 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	I have a Miller DS-5 and have grown very fond of it. Huge improvement over my Manfrotto 501. But I use it for a PDX-10 and VX-2000. I wonder if the XL-1s needs something a little heavier? DS-10? I got the DS-5 with aluminum legs from B&H for around $800. You will pay more for the carbon fiber legs, and a carrying case is extra too.

October 30th, 2003, 11:45 PM	#5
James Hall New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 11	Don't overlook Cartoni and Libec either. Cartoni fits right in there with Vinten and Sachtler. I have a Cartoni I use outdoors...it takes a beating and keeps working. If I could afford the big bucks, I'd like to get a bigger Cartoni head and carbon-fiber sticks. Libec is a little lower on the scale, but seems to offer very good value for money...a nice step up from Bogen/Manfrotto. I have used Libec's largest head and it compares favorably with just about anything I have seen. I used to use a Bogen 501 with the Wilderness tripod (can't remember #) and I couldn't figure out why pro tripods were so expensive. Then I had the opportunity to try a Cartoni and it was truly superior. Good luck, JH

November 5th, 2003, 05:57 PM	#6
Marc Young Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 112	Where does Gitzo fit into the grand scheme? B&H has an under $2K model (G1380 system) with a leveling fluid head. It has two features which seem very impressive- variable fluid drag, and balancing springs, in 6 weight categories.

November 5th, 2003, 06:11 PM	#7
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	Marc, do a bit of searching in this forum. The topic has been discussed quite a bit, especially the gitzo. I found this very helpful when I was tripod shopping. There was a Gitzo that sounded really nice, but was a little more than I wanted to spend. Then there was a post of how you could order the head from Canada (I think) and save a lot, but you had to get legs and springs separately elsewhere. Sounded too complicated for me and I also read lots of good things about the Miller. I needed it in a hurry so I just went with the Miller at B&H....

November 6th, 2003, 12:05 AM	#8
Scott Shaffer New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 8	For the budget-minded prosumer, what would you recommend between the Velbon PX 781 and the Bogen 3116? Any other suggestions in the $200 range?