Vinten Vision 3 AS Head Review

Christian Magnussen · May 17th, 2009, 05:50 PM

I suspect at least the -32 condition I did not expose the head(Sachtler dv6) long enough as there are limits for how long you cope with almost frostbitten fingers....when you have a warm car standing next to you. And ofcourse I forgot to leave the tripod outside overnight as i planed to.

It's not that i doubt vinten's quality, the pedestals at the college i studied where from 1967 and still going strong(looked lot like the ones in the b/w pictures in the catalouge...), but the performance in changing temperatures are quite important to me.

Reading at vinten's webpage there are some information about LF drag on the Vision AS heads and TF drag on the higher end models. Anyone got experience on how this will differ in real life, say shooting outside for five hours in -20 celcius? I've used the Vision 100 head before, but only indoors.

And are the Fibertec legs discontinued, can't find them on the vinten web?

Chris Soucy · May 17th, 2009, 06:40 PM

Can't answer most of your other questions but can answer about the FiberTec's.

Yes, Vinten discontinued them early last year.

However, they are still available at B & H New York to special order, so if you want a set, get in quick, once they're gone, they're gone.

Vinten | 3498-3 ENG/EFP 2-Stage Fibertec Tripod Legs | 34983

CS

Peter Harman · May 18th, 2009, 01:50 AM

Hi Christian

We have two types of drag system. The "LF" or Lubricated Drag system or the "TF" or Thin Film Drag system. The LF system is the one i described earlier, its been around an awful long time and is used from Vision 3AS to Vision 10AS and the TF system, which has a temperature range from -40C to +60C, is used from Vision 100 up.

Yes, unfortunately Fibertec was discontinued a while back now, but as Chris says, there are a few dealers out there with stock.

Dale Guthormsen · May 18th, 2009, 04:39 PM

Hello,

I can verify that the vintens are just fine in extremely cold weather. I use mine all winter long down to 35 below celsius with no issues. I use a 6 however.

Christian Magnussen · May 18th, 2009, 08:02 PM

I now can verify that I also might have been a bit optimistic regarding my the operational temp of my sachtler head. Did put it in the freezer at least -15 celciues for 6 hours and it played hawok to the counterbalance, as well the drag adjusters froze. Not a very scientific test, but neither are lugging around in snow and ice...

Sorry for being VERY picky about this issue, but I feel it's important when parts of Norway where I shoot have -5 Celsius and below(down to about -30 the coldest weeks) for about 6 months of the year.

For now at least i favour the AS8 head as it's system steup will be a tad cheaper than sachtler as i need mid spreader. It should be a good setup for a Hpx500 with a light Vocas mb and standard eng setup or will it be a safer bet with the AS10?

Chris Soucy · May 18th, 2009, 08:13 PM

Not familiar with the camera you mentioned so can't shed any light with the available info.

The best bet would be to weigh the entire rig sitting on a tripod plate, then try as best you can to work out a rough COG from the top of said plate, then use the published mass/ COG graphs from my first post to figure which head is more suitable.

Can't think of another way to do it with any pimped camera system.

CS

Chris Soucy · July 26th, 2009, 07:20 PM

Amazing what you find on the net.

My mate Peter Harman doing his thing at NAB with the AS range:

YouTube - Vinten Vision AS Demonstration

It does prompt the question: Is there a central repository for "VintenTV" articles that appear at the end of this video?

Can't find 'em on the Vinten web site.

CS

Christian Magnussen · July 26th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

It does prompt the question: Is there a central repository for "VintenTV" articles that appear at the end of this video?

Is it the "vintentv" you're looking for?
Vinten | Vinten TV | www.vinten.com

Chris Soucy · July 26th, 2009, 09:57 PM

Just the thing.

Can't imagine why I couldn't see it, must have been a senior moment.

Thanks again.

CS

May 17th, 2009, 06:40 PM	#17
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi Christian............ Can't answer most of your other questions but can answer about the FiberTec's. Yes, Vinten discontinued them early last year. However, they are still available at B & H New York to special order, so if you want a set, get in quick, once they're gone, they're gone. Vinten \| 3498-3 ENG/EFP 2-Stage Fibertec Tripod Legs \| 34983 CS

May 18th, 2009, 01:50 AM	#18
Peter Harman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Posts: 73	Vinten drag fluid Hi Christian We have two types of drag system. The "LF" or Lubricated Drag system or the "TF" or Thin Film Drag system. The LF system is the one i described earlier, its been around an awful long time and is used from Vision 3AS to Vision 10AS and the TF system, which has a temperature range from -40C to +60C, is used from Vision 100 up. Yes, unfortunately Fibertec was discontinued a while back now, but as Chris says, there are a few dealers out there with stock.

May 18th, 2009, 04:39 PM	#19
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Hello, I can verify that the vintens are just fine in extremely cold weather. I use mine all winter long down to 35 below celsius with no issues. I use a 6 however. __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

May 18th, 2009, 08:13 PM	#21
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi again........ Not familiar with the camera you mentioned so can't shed any light with the available info. The best bet would be to weigh the entire rig sitting on a tripod plate, then try as best you can to work out a rough COG from the top of said plate, then use the published mass/ COG graphs from my first post to figure which head is more suitable. Can't think of another way to do it with any pimped camera system. CS

July 26th, 2009, 07:20 PM	#22
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Just found this............ Amazing what you find on the net. My mate Peter Harman doing his thing at NAB with the AS range: YouTube - Vinten Vision AS Demonstration It does prompt the question: Is there a central repository for "VintenTV" articles that appear at the end of this video? Can't find 'em on the Vinten web site. CS

May 17th, 2009, 05:50 PM	#16
Christian Magnussen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 191	I suspect at least the -32 condition I did not expose the head(Sachtler dv6) long enough as there are limits for how long you cope with almost frostbitten fingers....when you have a warm car standing next to you. And ofcourse I forgot to leave the tripod outside overnight as i planed to. It's not that i doubt vinten's quality, the pedestals at the college i studied where from 1967 and still going strong(looked lot like the ones in the b/w pictures in the catalouge...), but the performance in changing temperatures are quite important to me. Reading at vinten's webpage there are some information about LF drag on the Vision AS heads and TF drag on the higher end models. Anyone got experience on how this will differ in real life, say shooting outside for five hours in -20 celcius? I've used the Vision 100 head before, but only indoors. And are the Fibertec legs discontinued, can't find them on the vinten web?

May 18th, 2009, 08:02 PM	#20
Christian Magnussen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 191	I now can verify that I also might have been a bit optimistic regarding my the operational temp of my sachtler head. Did put it in the freezer at least -15 celciues for 6 hours and it played hawok to the counterbalance, as well the drag adjusters froze. Not a very scientific test, but neither are lugging around in snow and ice... Sorry for being VERY picky about this issue, but I feel it's important when parts of Norway where I shoot have -5 Celsius and below(down to about -30 the coldest weeks) for about 6 months of the year. For now at least i favour the AS8 head as it's system steup will be a tad cheaper than sachtler as i need mid spreader. It should be a good setup for a Hpx500 with a light Vocas mb and standard eng setup or will it be a safer bet with the AS10?

July 26th, 2009, 09:57 PM	#24
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Thanks, Christian........ Just the thing. Can't imagine why I couldn't see it, must have been a senior moment. Thanks again. CS