The Libec LS-35 works great w/ my XL1/s and the $520 price tag isn't bad for a decent set of sticks...good luck!

Greetings

A Steady-Stick or monopod work great for shoots with a lot of moving around. It can be a little tricky getting the hang of pans and tilts with a monopod. On most shoots as mentioned b4 I use both a tripod and a monopod. I am a Bogen fan myself. They make great solid tripods and monopods in a decent price range. I like the fact that I can get the quick release plates that will fit both my monopod (w/head) and my tripod. It makes it easy to switch between the two.

I would say get both. A monopod (Steady-Stick) will not cost you much and a tripod is a must for good solid shots with pans, tilts and when you need a quick break you can without haveing to set the camera down.

The tripod I use is Bogen 3181. I am used to having a bowl and had to have it on my smaller cameras also. I have a Bogen 3063 head. It does a great job. I think most of the people here have the 501 pro head witch is great and more like my studio head for my bigger camers (3066) . I choose the smaller 3063 because it cost less and the XL1 is so light that I feel I can get away with it. I love being portable and light and thats what I get out of my 3063, head.

I use the Cartoni Action Pro fluid head/legs with my XL1 and like it very much. The controls allow the tripod to be set up quickly and easily with no annoying fiddly controls. You can also get a soft case to go with it which I highly recommend, unless you want to consider something like a third party soft case like the ones Kata make.

I am using a Manfrotto setup consisting of the 028B tripod with 501 head and 127VS dolly if needed - it works for me and did not break the budget.

I'm using a Miller DS-10 with my XL1. As you can tell, there are a lot of options in the tripod department for the XL1. There's been a real move over the last few years on the part of all the tripod makers to cater to the DV market, and the XL1 is usually the poster child for the DV cameras. As a result, there are lots and lots of choices in this area.

Manfrotto/Bogen 501 head, and 351 sticks. I think it's 351. Maybe 3051?

I use a Bogen 3246 Black Professional Tripod with 3066 Fluid Head. Very solid. I also had to buy an additional 3158 Mounting Plate for the 3066 head to allow for quick changes with my cobra crane. Just the plate will set you down $30... what a ripoff!

Tripod
 

I use a Manfrotto 500MV with 501 head. Cost about $750 here in Ireland. Nice and weighty although the head could be better. Good value.

I use a Vinten Vision 10 with carbon fiber sticks. The pan and tilt drags are very adjustable (0 to 10) The counter weights are also very adjustable. This allows for me to configure my camera in many different ways. The lens, adapters and batteries I use for wildlife weigh in at almost 20 pounds.

Jeff

If I had my way I would use an O'Connor fluid head all the time. I always try to use the O'Connor "Ultimate DV" 2575C whenever I can. It isn't cheap, yet it isn't the most expensive one either. It IS however, extremely fluid and extremely controllable as far as drag and tilt feel is concerned - it works with you, not against you like so many of the cheaply-priced heads. This is not overkill for a smaller DV camera, it just has a superb feel for ultra precise moves as you want them to happen, easy to "get it right the first time" with this one.

I have used this on the XL1S, as well as the new Panasonic DVX100 when I was in LA recently. It was such a pleasant experience. It easily handles larger DVCam and BetaCams too.

This head will last you a career, not just a few years like many of the cheaply-priced units.

For my XL1s I use Monfrotto 028 legs, a Monfrotto 501 head, and Monfrotto 127 dolly. Costs around $395 US and works great.

I bought a set from B&H Photo. It was a bit pricy (999$) but works excellent. The set consists of: Bogen Manfrotto 3182 tripod, 505 multispring fluid head, tripod spreader, carry strap and a padded tripod bag.

Tripod for the XL1 / XL1S
 

I am attaching my XL1 to a Miller Tripod. The adapter will fit the tripod fine.. However I don't have it in hand and won't till the shoot. Can anyone tell me if the Miller 493 adapter will fit my XL1s? I want to make sure of this to avoid any surprises

Thanks!
Jay

I moved your post here since I think you are more likely to get the correct answer.

Tripod for the XL1
 

What is the best tripod for the xl1?

Waco

That depends on a lot of things ofcourse. As with everything
there is never a best thing. It always depends on things like:

- your budget
- what kind of shooting you do
- etc.

I would like to keep the price under $1000 and get something that would provide some smooth pans and tilts.

There are plenty of "right" answers to this question.

I went with a Bogen 3246 Black Professional Tripod with 3066 Fluid Head, and I think this fits your criteria. It's not too heavy, not too light, not too cheap, and not too pricey. The head will handle the weight of your camera or the weight of a jib arm (a "crane") if you choose to buy one later.

Do a search, this topic has been covered pretty extensively. I would recommend, with your budget, a Sachtler, Vinten or Miller tripod. In a slightly lower range Gitzo and Bogen (Manfrotto) offer good alternatives. I personally use a Vinten, but have used all of the rest except Miller. A tripod is the most important accessory to the camera. Buy the very best you can afford.

This is what I use. Works very well. You won't be let down.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/product/179077/MIDS10/REG/3951

Looks nice, but that's a lot of money for a head (especially one that only supports 10 pounds)--what will he have left for sticks?

Well then go here and get both. Sticks and head. Under a $1000 (accept tax)

http://shopping.netledger.com/s.nl/c...t.A/id.2386/.f

B&H sells the Miller DS-10 with a soft case (not included in the other package) for $960. It's an excellent tripod, head and case kit (I own one). I highly recommend it for a basic XL1 rig.

Tripod for XL1s
 

For many years I used a Vinten Vision 12 tripod under my Betacam SP. Now that I've switched full-time to the XL1s I'm searching for a tripod with many of the Vinten's features but without the weight...extends to 5'6" tall, fluid head with neutral balancing, camera quick-release. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Any Bogen-Manfrotto or Gitzo tripod is good, along with Bogen fluid heads of the 500 series. I personally use a Bogen 3126 tripod for light-weight work, or a Gitzo Studex Pro, which is as stable as any Vinten tripod, and a hell of a lot cheaper. Bogen's 503 (and I think 505) head has that neutral position feature, the 501 does not. Quick release plates are pretty much standard.
Once again they're much cheaper than Vinten products.

Having owned all the major brands except Miller, I would have to say that if you're used to Vinten quality, neither Bogen or Gitzo will deliver. The pan and tilt movements aren't even in the same league for smoothness and consistency under all conditions. If you can afford the Vinten tripods, you should stick with them. The Vision 3 has received high praise by many users. You might want to search the better brands, such as Vinten, Miller and Sachtler.

Mike,

Look into specifics on the Bogen/Manfrotto line before you buy. In case you haven't seen it, on another thread here Mike Rehmus had this to say about the 516 head I recently bought for use w/XL1s:

"What you've just found out is that it really isn't a fluid head in the traditional sense, it's a friction head with some thick silicon grease caught between two disks to smooth it out a bit."

Here's the reference:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19934

That said, for basic work I've used a Bogen 3126 head (like Steve) on 3011 legs and been pretty happy, but then I'm working my way up--I don't have the comparison factor that you do. :)

Although...we did rent an old Bogen 3066 head and tripod last month. Hated it, but I think maybe it had seen better days.

Edit: Jeff's post just beat mine. He's so right (as usual :). What I use would drive you crazy!

I'd go for the Vinten Vision 3 and carbon fibre two
stage legs.

I second Jacques' recommendation. I have a Bogen/Manfrotto 3066, Miller DS10, a Sachtler DV-6 and a Vinten Vision 3. My Vinten dusts all of the others. As Jeff noted, Vinten is in a league of it's own. But, of course, it's expensive. At approx. $2,200, it might be a stretch. The Sachtler DV-6 would be my 2nd choice. It's quite good and built to last. Ditto the Miller DS-10, although it's a notch or two down from the DV-6.

I read several positive reports here about the Vinten Vision 3. I am seriously considering ordering this fluid head from B&H for my XL-1S. There are several carbon fibre legs available. Can someone please suggest the best 2 stage carbon fibre legs by model # for the XL-1S? Also, do you suggest a bag by PortaBrace, or Vinten for the tripod? (I use a PortaBrace CT3 for the XL-1S already). Thank you!

John,
I use the Vinten single-stage carbon fiber legs. It really has some exellent design details I've not found on other brands of legs. For example, the ground spreader features calibrated markings to enable you to quickly set the spreader accurately. Its locks are also better designed than those from Sachtler. The leg locks are also very well designed and snap into locking position with tactile feedback. The legs also fit perfectly into a Bogen portable folding dolly I already had (sometimes handy for indoor work), far less expensive than a Vinten dolly. Yes, these are little details but they really add up to big details in practical use.

I chose to get the Vinten bag for the rig. It's really excellently constructed, with a good carrying handle, large dividable interior pocket, well-padded exterior, a well-padded shoulder strap and a grab handle at the end. I believe that it was a bit more than a comparable Porta Brace case (I'm a big Porta Brace fan/customer) but I was not disappointed at all with it.

[EDIT]
I believe that the Vinten 2-stage cf legs share the same design details I described above.

You use the ground spreader, I see. I meant to ask if you preferred the ground spreader to the mid level?

The difference between single and 2 stage appears to be only several inches in maximum height. Either would work for me.

Did you use spring # 3? I have seen 3 recommended for the XL-1S; however, I wonder if #4 is better if you add MA-200, dual batteries, 5" or 7" monitor, a different shotgun XLR mic, etc?

I won't be able to respond to you until tomorrow. It's pretty late!

Thanks!

I use the #3 spring with my XL1s. Even fully-loaded (FU-1000 b&w evf, 16x manual lens, matte box, MA-200, CH-910 w/dual BP-945 batteries) it balances nicely. Of course you will have to adjust the plate's position on the head a bit.

I use the #2 spring with my GL2 and DVX100A. Again, no real counter-force trouble here either. Very smooth.

Yes, I use the ground spreader. Nearly all of my shooting tends to be on reasonably level surfaces so it's not a big issue to me. I had a longstanding affinity for mid-level spreaders. But I have found that the adjustability of leg stance provided by a ground spreader can be of great benefit in terms of height as well as overall rigidity of the leg support. I really like having those legs splayed when shooting low. The whole assembly feels rock-solid.

I also prefer the single-stage leg configuration, basically because I prefer to only futz with one adjustment per leg.

One recommendation: buy an extra plate. The Vinten plates are absurdly expensive (something like $150, if I recall correctly). But it's a good idea to have an extra in case one is lost or you lose a screw. Goofy stuff happens, and without that plate you're out of business.

I think you're in for a real treat if you get a Vinten. Have fun!

That's a great approx price Ken. The best price I have been quoted over here in the UK for a Vinten Vision 3 head with 2 stage cf legs, mid level spreader and soft case is £1563 which is approx $2848

Anybody from UK know where I could get it cheaper. Would have to be around £1208 to compare to $2200

My local supplier should have it on SOR sometime this week for me to have a look at. Apart from price can't wait!

Likewise, will be using it with my XL1. Vinten recommended to me for standard XL1 setup use number 2 spring and if using a heavy EF lens like the Canon 100-400 a number 4 spring!

Thanks
 

I was glad to hear good things about the Vision 3 head as I can simply place it on the Vinten carbon sticks I already have and save some $$$s. This discussion of SPRING #s is new to me though. If the spring is simple to switch out, maybe I'll get the 2, 3, and 4 so I'm covered.

It's been a while since I last visited here and I'm glad to see so may folks willing to share info.

Remember, if you aren't having fun doing what you are doing, you are doing the wrong thing.

The Vision 3's springs are very easy to swap. It requires just a minute or two and a coin (to unscrew the spring's securing bolt).

B&H has an online chart guide you in spring selection. Go to one of the springs and look for the "Click Here for a complete listing" link on each spring's page. (Not directly linkable from here, sorry.)

If you were buying a new tripod, as I am, and have no existing parts to use, would you buy the 1 stage or 2 stage carbon sticks? I see 3 factors to consider: slight maximum height difference, a weight difference, and a setup leg adjustment (more to fiddle with) difference. I have heard a voice for simplicity, and that makes good sense, combined with lesser weight. Would anyone like to defend their reason for using 2 stage legs? I would appreciate your ideas!

John, I'd definitely buy 2-stage legs. I can't remember the last time I used a single stage set of legs. In the 70s and 80s it was almost exclusively wooden Miller legs with Mitchell heads. When carbon fiber legs came out in the 90s they were much lighter but still had the stiffness to resist torquing. I'm so accustomed to the range of heights afforded by two stage legs that I can't give them up (yes, size does matter). And, especially with the much lighter XL1s camera, the heavier weight of the legs is a real advantage when you are doing lots of panning and tilting.

The old Vinten legs with new Vision 3 heads will continue to travel in the Portabrace Tripod Shellpack we've had for years. It's well padded, holds LOTS of other stuff as well as the tripod and has lots of carrying options.

The first tripods I purchased for our Canon cameras are Bogen/Manfrotto 503 heads on 442 legs. The only positive things I can say about them is that they are lightweight, pack easily, and work sufficiently well for low-angle shots. They seem well made and the head pans & tilts relatively smoothly but it's just too big a step down from the Vinten system.

I have a 2-stage aluminum Vinten Vision 3 rig, I use Spring #4 for the XL1S, stock lenses, ME66 and a PreAmp on a home-made camera mount. The spring is more than is needed, I think most people can get away with Spring #3

I don't know if current shipments include the VHS-sized screw to mount the camera to the plate. Mine did not, I had to buy one from B&H.

I do want to invest in a mid spreader, but at $700 USD it's a bit of a stretch. I wonder if there's a Bogen model that fits....

tripod for XL1s
 

Hi, I live in Burnaby and recently purchased an XL1s. I'm looking for a decent tripod and head (used if the price is right). Any suggestions or is someone looking to sell?