Tripod for Sony EX3

Chris Leong · April 27th, 2009, 06:40 PM

Hi all

Well, NAB's over and Tom McKay replied very quickly that the unit I have is probably one of the earliest ones and to send it in for a current model head.

So thank you Tom and the folks of Varizoom for supporting their products so completely!

More as it happens.

Charles Newcomb · June 12th, 2009, 05:24 PM

I recently bought a Sony EX3 and quickly realized my Sachtler wasn't big enough to handle it. To save a few bucks I bought a Miller DS 20 with the SOLO sticks. It sucked, big time. All you had to do was blow on it and your shot would wabble. I sent it back to B&H (they were terrific about taking it back) and ordered the Sachtler FSB8 with quick release carbon fiber legs. It's awesome! And Sachtler gives you an extra screw for the mounting plate... which is great, since the EX3 has two 1/4" screw holes. Steady as a rock, and smooth as butter.

I was a Sachtler fan before. I should have trusted my gut and got the Sachtler again this time. But I tried to save a couple hundred bucks. Man, Am I glad I caught my mistake in time.

Chris Soucy · June 12th, 2009, 08:58 PM

Absolutely no suprises in that story for me, been telling bods not to do it (Solo's + HD video) since I was knee high to a grasshopper, er, ok, last year, er, or was it 07?

Glad to have it proved so convincingly by a "real world" test.

Even more glad you managed to undo the mistake without it costing big bickies.

Thanks for the feedback, Charles.

CS

Andy Wilkinson · June 13th, 2009, 02:46 AM

Thanks from me too - I was recently considering Miller DS20 and Solo sticks for my EX3 but put that purchase on hold due to other concerns over this tripod.

Steve Phillipps · June 13th, 2009, 02:52 AM

O'Connor 1030 would be my choice, not sure how the prices compare, but for quality I think it would be leauges ahead of the Sachtlers especially with long lenses.
Steve

Dave Tyrer · July 2nd, 2009, 09:33 AM

What bowl size would be suitable for the EX3 and support rails, using 35mm lenses - is 75mm adequate or should it be 100mm ?

Thanks

William Griffin · July 2nd, 2009, 09:57 AM

Hello all..

I own the EX3 and I am using my (left over from my Betacam days) Sachtler Video 20 head, which is really too big for the EX3.
So, I want to get a tripod that really fits the camera, as I would like to stay with a Sachtler product....so any suggestions out there?

thanks

Steve Phillipps · July 2nd, 2009, 09:58 AM

If you're using long lenses then the bigger the better.
If you stick with 100mm tripods you're in the realms of much more serious heads, only the amateur models use 75mm.
Steve

Steve Phillipps · July 2nd, 2009, 10:00 AM

Why is the Video 20 too big? If you have it already I'd carry on using it, unless you're trying to save lots of weight. The problem when you go down to smaller heads is you tend to get into the leagues of amateurish heads, and if you're used to a quality one like the Video 20 you may be disappointed!
Steve

Brian Barkley · July 2nd, 2009, 10:27 AM

I have owned a Sachtler Hipod tripod for years.... Yes, it is big & heavy, but my camera pans & moves are like silk, and it is worth it to tote this heavy tripod around.

Olof Ekbergh · July 2nd, 2009, 10:33 AM

I love the Miller Solo for EX3, it is light and very smooth. I have the Carbon legs, they are padded and very light easy to lug around.

I load the Cam down with Mattebox IDX batteries on cam lights 7" monitor and even Teleprompter sometimes and the Solo handles it really well.

I have used the heads in -10 ℉ below and heads are still really smooth.

Olof Ekbergh · July 2nd, 2009, 10:42 AM

I really like the Miller Solo sticks and head, 75mm bowl is fine.

The Miller Solo 75mm bowl is way better than a Bogen 507 100mm and lighter too. I have owned both. I sometimes really load the camera up mattebox, wide angle lens even teleprompter sometimes, and the Solo hold up fine.

Go to a showroom and try some different setups. It is not just a question of bowl size, it is the quality of the head.

William Griffin · July 2nd, 2009, 10:42 AM

OK...I do love my Video 20, but I come up short when I have to rent out another tripod when the Betacam is out on a rental...so I was wanting to:

1. get a back up for the EX3
2. when I travel and take the EX3, a small tripod for it that I could take apart and put it in one of my Pelican cases...as to save on bags when I travel my air..( a producer that I work with wants me to cut down on the bags to save some bucks, a sign of the times)

I know what you mean as I dont want a small "consumer" grade tripod....but one small enough to do the job.

thanks

Dave Tyrer · July 2nd, 2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olof Ekbergh

I love the Miller Solo for EX3, it is light and very smooth. I have the Carbon legs, they are padded and very light easy to lug around.

I load the Cam down with Mattebox IDX batteries on cam lights 7" monitor and even Teleprompter sometimes and the Solo handles it really well.

I have used the heads in -10 ℉ below and heads are still really smooth.

What's it like for panning...is there any kick back?

Craig Seeman · July 2nd, 2009, 11:53 AM

Sachtler FSB4 or FSB6 head with Quick Lock legs. I have the 4 using with EX1. You might want the 6 for the EX3.

April 27th, 2009, 06:40 PM	#61
Chris Leong Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles CA USA Posts: 507	Update - exchanging heads Hi all Well, NAB's over and Tom McKay replied very quickly that the unit I have is probably one of the earliest ones and to send it in for a current model head. So thank you Tom and the folks of Varizoom for supporting their products so completely! More as it happens. __________________ "The content, not the container."

June 12th, 2009, 05:24 PM	#62
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	EX3 solution I recently bought a Sony EX3 and quickly realized my Sachtler wasn't big enough to handle it. To save a few bucks I bought a Miller DS 20 with the SOLO sticks. It sucked, big time. All you had to do was blow on it and your shot would wabble. I sent it back to B&H (they were terrific about taking it back) and ordered the Sachtler FSB8 with quick release carbon fiber legs. It's awesome! And Sachtler gives you an extra screw for the mounting plate... which is great, since the EX3 has two 1/4" screw holes. Steady as a rock, and smooth as butter. I was a Sachtler fan before. I should have trusted my gut and got the Sachtler again this time. But I tried to save a couple hundred bucks. Man, Am I glad I caught my mistake in time.

June 12th, 2009, 08:58 PM	#63
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi Charles......... Absolutely no suprises in that story for me, been telling bods not to do it (Solo's + HD video) since I was knee high to a grasshopper, er, ok, last year, er, or was it 07? Glad to have it proved so convincingly by a "real world" test. Even more glad you managed to undo the mistake without it costing big bickies. Thanks for the feedback, Charles. CS

June 13th, 2009, 02:46 AM	#64
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Thanks from me too - I was recently considering Miller DS20 and Solo sticks for my EX3 but put that purchase on hold due to other concerns over this tripod. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

July 2nd, 2009, 09:33 AM	#66
Dave Tyrer Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 174	Bowl size ? What bowl size would be suitable for the EX3 and support rails, using 35mm lenses - is 75mm adequate or should it be 100mm ? Thanks

June 13th, 2009, 02:52 AM	#65
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	O'Connor 1030 would be my choice, not sure how the prices compare, but for quality I think it would be leauges ahead of the Sachtlers especially with long lenses. Steve

July 2nd, 2009, 09:57 AM	#67
William Griffin Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 204	Need help EX3 Tripod Question? Hello all.. I own the EX3 and I am using my (left over from my Betacam days) Sachtler Video 20 head, which is really too big for the EX3. So, I want to get a tripod that really fits the camera, as I would like to stay with a Sachtler product....so any suggestions out there? thanks __________________ Bill Griffin SONY PXW-X320,PMW-300K2, LiveU LU-500,Sound Devices 552 Mixer,www.Dallascamguy.com

July 2nd, 2009, 09:58 AM	#68
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	If you're using long lenses then the bigger the better. If you stick with 100mm tripods you're in the realms of much more serious heads, only the amateur models use 75mm. Steve

July 2nd, 2009, 10:00 AM	#69
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Why is the Video 20 too big? If you have it already I'd carry on using it, unless you're trying to save lots of weight. The problem when you go down to smaller heads is you tend to get into the leagues of amateurish heads, and if you're used to a quality one like the Video 20 you may be disappointed! Steve

July 2nd, 2009, 10:27 AM	#70
Brian Barkley Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 233	I have owned a Sachtler Hipod tripod for years.... Yes, it is big & heavy, but my camera pans & moves are like silk, and it is worth it to tote this heavy tripod around.

July 2nd, 2009, 10:33 AM	#71
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	I love the Miller Solo for EX3, it is light and very smooth. I have the Carbon legs, they are padded and very light easy to lug around. I load the Cam down with Mattebox IDX batteries on cam lights 7" monitor and even Teleprompter sometimes and the Solo handles it really well. I have used the heads in -10 ℉ below and heads are still really smooth.

July 2nd, 2009, 10:42 AM	#72
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	I really like the Miller Solo sticks and head, 75mm bowl is fine. The Miller Solo 75mm bowl is way better than a Bogen 507 100mm and lighter too. I have owned both. I sometimes really load the camera up mattebox, wide angle lens even teleprompter sometimes, and the Solo hold up fine. Go to a showroom and try some different setups. It is not just a question of bowl size, it is the quality of the head.

July 2nd, 2009, 11:53 AM	#75
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Sachtler FSB4 or FSB6 head with Quick Lock legs. I have the 4 using with EX1. You might want the 6 for the EX3.