Tripod for Sony EX3

Dean Harrington · August 21st, 2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Huntington

I want to spend less than $1600 on both a good head and tripod for the EX3. I will be travelling over seas in the winter and so I want something fairly portable, yet rugged.
I also like shooting nature footage so I need something I can sling over the shoulder.

Currenly I have a Manfrotto 503 with Manfrotto 475 legs.

Right now I am looking at the "Soom" by Sachtler but it may be too heavy for travel.
Anyone have any experience with the soom?

Thanks! Larry

You can't go wrong with the Miller! I have it and it is true, firm and rugged.

Larry Huntington · August 21st, 2008, 04:58 PM

Dean, which model of the Miller brand do you recommend?

Ned Soltz · August 21st, 2008, 05:33 PM

I like the Sachtler FSB-6 with carbon fiber sticks.

Got a good look at a Miller 10 last week used with EX-3. Very sturdy, excellent fluid head and very lightweight.

Dean Harrington · August 21st, 2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Huntington

Dean, which model of the Miller brand do you recommend?

DS 20 solo at B&H or Adorama
Just want to add that I've had the 503 for years and the difference between the miller and the 503 is night and day!

Larry Huntington · August 22nd, 2008, 02:13 AM

Thanks Ned and Dean....I'll check both out. Light wieght and sturdy are good things. Yeah, Dean, I am ready for the upgrade from the 503 to something like the Miller or Sachtler. I'll let you know what I end up with.

Larry

Jon Braeley · August 22nd, 2008, 06:24 AM

I am a doc maker, so spending 10 minutes messing with a tripod like the Soom is impossible, plus it's too heavy to just sling on your shoulder and forget about. I was disapointed in this tripod - just too much for me.

For travel and hiking in rough terrain you cannot beat the Miller Solo Carbon Fiber legs. Fast set up, very strong and lightweight. Also can go very low or high. I film is some tough places and these legs are a joy to use.
I would use the DS-20 head for the EX-3 which is exactly my set-up.

David C. Williams · August 22nd, 2008, 07:14 AM

I've had a DS-20 for ten years, still great.

Larry Huntington · August 22nd, 2008, 01:47 PM

I believe I'm sold on the Miller DV20 system. I really like the stick design for the work that I do and it seems the DS-20 is a smaller footprint than the Sachtler, which I need for travel.

Any Miller DS-20/Solo CF owners carried on their tripod in the soft case?

Alessandro Zumstein · August 24th, 2008, 06:05 AM

Hello, im considering to purchase a Sachtler Tripod System, can anyone know where this tripod systems are manufacted?

George Kroonder · August 24th, 2008, 11:23 AM

Sachtler is a brand produced by:
Camera Dynamics GmbH
Erfurter Straße 16 
85386 Eching 
Deutschland
Telefon: (+49) 89 321 58 200
Telefax: (+49) 89 321 58 227
contact@sachtler.de

It is a subsidiary of the Vitec Group plc, based out of the Kingston upon Thames, UK. They also own Bogen, Gitzo, Manfrotto, OConnor and Vinten brands of camera support systems as well as Kata, Petrol and Anton Bauer, plus a whole lot more...

George/

Ned Soltz · August 24th, 2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Kroonder

Sachtler is a brand produced by:
Camera Dynamics GmbH
Erfurter Straße 16 
85386 Eching 
Deutschland
Telefon: (+49) 89 321 58 200
Telefax: (+49) 89 321 58 227
contact@sachtler.de

It is a subsidiary of the Vitec Group plc, based out of the Kingston upon Thames, UK. They also own Bogen, Gitzo, Manfrotto, OConnor and Vinten brands of camera support systems as well as Kata, Petrol and Anton Bauer, plus a whole lot more...

George/

And it has just been announced that Vitek group has purchased Litepanels.

George Kroonder · August 25th, 2008, 04:32 AM

They do seem to have a hand in just about everything... Not necessarily bad, of course.

George/

Dave Morrison · August 25th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Allesandro, I just had a chance to try out a Sachtler system (#0475) for two weeks. I loved the head: sachtler: Fluid heads
Compared to my present Manfrotto 503HDV, it was a dream to use.

The carbon fiber legs:
sachtler: Fluid heads
were also very nice; very compact and lightweight. They were "okay", but they weren't as rigid at full extension as I would have liked. The other thing I found a little worrisome was the locking mechanism that Sachtler uses to lock the lower part of the legs. The big red flip lever that clamps the upper leg sections also turns a shaft that locks the lower leg sections. It worked okay for me for the two weeks I had it, but on the day I returned the Sachtler, one of those shafts fell apart. I may have gotten a poorly assembled unit, but it sure didn't inspire any confidence in the legs.

Has anybody else with this #0475 system combo had a similar experience? If not, please let me know as I really like the system but that leg lock mechanism didn't inspire any long-term confidence in me. I may still buy the system, but I'd sure like to know if anybody else has had this happen to them.

Jon Braeley · August 26th, 2008, 05:57 AM

Miller.

Easy fast set-up's. Superb fluid movement. No gimmicks.

Bob Grant · August 26th, 2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Braeley

Miller.

Easy fast set-up's. Superb fluid movement. No gimmicks.

Sorry to say but all of our Miller DS10 heads are failing. The Solo legs are great.
Both the pan and tilt drag controls just don't work or become sticky with a metal grinding sound. Also the rosette for the pan handle grinds off. They should be machined stainless not diecast.

Miller tell me they have a new design DS range coming.

August 24th, 2008, 06:05 AM	#24
Alessandro Zumstein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Switzerland Posts: 68	Sachtler tripod for PMW-3 Hello, im considering to purchase a Sachtler Tripod System, can anyone know where this tripod systems are manufacted?

August 25th, 2008, 08:34 PM	#28
Dave Morrison Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 762	Allesandro, I just had a chance to try out a Sachtler system (#0475) for two weeks. I loved the head: sachtler: Fluid heads Compared to my present Manfrotto 503HDV, it was a dream to use. The carbon fiber legs: sachtler: Fluid heads were also very nice; very compact and lightweight. They were "okay", but they weren't as rigid at full extension as I would have liked. The other thing I found a little worrisome was the locking mechanism that Sachtler uses to lock the lower part of the legs. The big red flip lever that clamps the upper leg sections also turns a shaft that locks the lower leg sections. It worked okay for me for the two weeks I had it, but on the day I returned the Sachtler, one of those shafts fell apart. I may have gotten a poorly assembled unit, but it sure didn't inspire any confidence in the legs. Has anybody else with this #0475 system combo had a similar experience? If not, please let me know as I really like the system but that leg lock mechanism didn't inspire any long-term confidence in me. I may still buy the system, but I'd sure like to know if anybody else has had this happen to them. __________________ EX1, Nikon D750 http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.com

August 21st, 2008, 04:58 PM	#17
Larry Huntington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grass Valley, California Posts: 350	Dean, which model of the Miller brand do you recommend?

August 21st, 2008, 05:33 PM	#18
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	I like the Sachtler FSB-6 with carbon fiber sticks. Got a good look at a Miller 10 last week used with EX-3. Very sturdy, excellent fluid head and very lightweight.

August 22nd, 2008, 02:13 AM	#20
Larry Huntington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grass Valley, California Posts: 350	Thanks Ned and Dean....I'll check both out. Light wieght and sturdy are good things. Yeah, Dean, I am ready for the upgrade from the 503 to something like the Miller or Sachtler. I'll let you know what I end up with. Larry

August 22nd, 2008, 06:24 AM	#21
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	I am a doc maker, so spending 10 minutes messing with a tripod like the Soom is impossible, plus it's too heavy to just sling on your shoulder and forget about. I was disapointed in this tripod - just too much for me. For travel and hiking in rough terrain you cannot beat the Miller Solo Carbon Fiber legs. Fast set up, very strong and lightweight. Also can go very low or high. I film is some tough places and these legs are a joy to use. I would use the DS-20 head for the EX-3 which is exactly my set-up.

August 22nd, 2008, 07:14 AM	#22
David C. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: melb.vic.au Posts: 447	I've had a DS-20 for ten years, still great.

August 22nd, 2008, 01:47 PM	#23
Larry Huntington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grass Valley, California Posts: 350	I believe I'm sold on the Miller DV20 system. I really like the stick design for the work that I do and it seems the DS-20 is a smaller footprint than the Sachtler, which I need for travel. Any Miller DS-20/Solo CF owners carried on their tripod in the soft case?

August 24th, 2008, 11:23 AM	#25
George Kroonder Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Utrecht, NL \| Europe 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 612	Sachtler is a brand produced by: Camera Dynamics GmbH Erfurter Straße 16  85386 Eching  Deutschland Telefon: (+49) 89 321 58 200 Telefax: (+49) 89 321 58 227 contact@sachtler.de It is a subsidiary of the Vitec Group plc, based out of the Kingston upon Thames, UK. They also own Bogen, Gitzo, Manfrotto, OConnor and Vinten brands of camera support systems as well as Kata, Petrol and Anton Bauer, plus a whole lot more... George/

August 25th, 2008, 04:32 AM	#27
George Kroonder Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Utrecht, NL \| Europe 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 612	They do seem to have a hand in just about everything... Not necessarily bad, of course. George/

August 26th, 2008, 05:57 AM	#29
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	Miller. Easy fast set-up's. Superb fluid movement. No gimmicks.