Mystery Tripod... Help? (Newbie Question) at DVinfo.net

Anthony Zagarella · December 10th, 2009, 10:01 AM

Hey there, first post.

So I'm no tripod expert, I've never really had to deal with sticks and heads being two different elements.

That being said, I found this pretty sweet tripod out for the trash, but it has no head. It's really stable and goes really tall (about 7.5 feet). Also, there are NO markings anywhere on the tripod with any hint to what make/model it is. It seems kind of old, but it's really well built and sturdy.

My question is: are most mid-high grade video tripod heads a standard size? How do I know what head will fit my sticks? I just got a DVX100. Any recommendations as to what head I should get?

Unfortunately, I can't post pics right now, but I will in a couple hours if need be.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Brian Drysdale · December 10th, 2009, 11:07 AM

Video tripods have bowls that allow the attachment of the head. The bowl feature allows the quick levelling of the head and come in 75mm, 100mm and 150mm sizes. The most likely size you'll use for your camera is the 75mm diameter bowl, the larger sizes tend to be used for the heavier broadcast & film cameras.

That's not to say that you can't use a 100mm or 150mm bowl tripod with your camera. From memory you can get adapters that allow you to fit a 75mm bowl head onto a 100mm tripod if you don't want or can't afford a 100mm head.

Edward Carlson · December 10th, 2009, 11:11 AM

If the tripod doesn't have a bowl, then the connection from legs to head is usually a 3/8-16 bolt. If there's a bolt on the top of the legs you found, and it's too big to screw into the mounting hole on the bottom of your DVX100, then it's probably 3/8-16. If it does fit, then it's a 1/4-20. There are adapters for going from 1/4-20 to 3/8-16.

Anthony Zagarella · December 10th, 2009, 12:48 PM

Here are some pics of the tripod, with a quarter for size reference. Thanks a lot for the help guys. So the part on the very top is considered the bowl? And the head kind of screws into the bowl? Am I understanding this correctly?

Louis Maddalena · December 10th, 2009, 01:09 PM

No what you have does not have a bowl. I don't even know if you can buy a head for that tripod. If you find a head for that tripod I have doubts that it will be smooth and allow for nice shots. However, since you found it in the garbage for free, its always worth a shot.

Brian Drysdale · December 10th, 2009, 01:40 PM

You might be able to fit a flat base head onto it, but looking at the pictures it seems to be studio type tripod for a large format stills camera. I suspect it would prove to be frustrating to work with, although it could be handy if you need a locked off second camera.

Having a handy means of levelling your camera makes life a lot easier.

Godfrey Kirby · December 10th, 2009, 02:00 PM

Hi Anthony - there is something called a 'Bazooka' (in the U.K.) which is a series of tubes which stack on one another to give you a tripod with a very small 'footprint'. On top of this you put a 'Tulip Bowl' which, as you may guess, gives you the bowl (100mm) for your head. I would try to find a friendly Dolly Grip who might help you out. However, I have to say after all this, you may wish you had never found the thing in the fist place!
Good luck - Godfrey

Anthony Zagarella · December 10th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Well, I was ready to throw in the towel until I happened to see this craigslist ad.

Tripod Samson 7201 Super Heavy

I emailed the dude immediately to see how he had it configured, but in case he doesn't get back to me, what do you guys think?

Apparently it's a Samson Quick-Set #7201. Hmm...

Brian Drysdale · December 10th, 2009, 03:12 PM

Those usually fit on to a Euro boss on the Bazooka, I suspect by this stage it could be cheaper just to buy a 75mm bowl tripod.

Eugene J. Kulak · December 10th, 2009, 03:28 PM

Anthony it looks a little like a tripod I own which is made for mounting a trapazoid binocular mount or a dovetail mount for a small telescope, not for cameras.

Zach Love · January 4th, 2010, 11:43 PM

If the threads are good on it, you might be able to fit a Manfrotto 438 leveling base on top of it. Then your options of finding a good head will be easier.

No matter what a tripod is built for, as long as it can take the weight & doesn't move, you can put whatever you want on it.

It looks like a beast to move around, but could be a very great find.

December 10th, 2009, 10:01 AM	#1
Anthony Zagarella Tourist Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4	Mystery Tripod... Help? (Newbie Question) Hey there, first post. So I'm no tripod expert, I've never really had to deal with sticks and heads being two different elements. That being said, I found this pretty sweet tripod out for the trash, but it has no head. It's really stable and goes really tall (about 7.5 feet). Also, there are NO markings anywhere on the tripod with any hint to what make/model it is. It seems kind of old, but it's really well built and sturdy. My question is: are most mid-high grade video tripod heads a standard size? How do I know what head will fit my sticks? I just got a DVX100. Any recommendations as to what head I should get? Unfortunately, I can't post pics right now, but I will in a couple hours if need be. Thanks in advance for any help!

December 10th, 2009, 12:48 PM	#4
Anthony Zagarella Tourist Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4	Here are some pics of the tripod, with a quarter for size reference. Thanks a lot for the help guys. So the part on the very top is considered the bowl? And the head kind of screws into the bowl? Am I understanding this correctly? Attached Thumbnails

December 10th, 2009, 01:09 PM	#5
Louis Maddalena Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NYC Area. Posts: 550	No what you have does not have a bowl. I don't even know if you can buy a head for that tripod. If you find a head for that tripod I have doubts that it will be smooth and allow for nice shots. However, since you found it in the garbage for free, its always worth a shot. __________________ Red Epic available for rent, starting at $500 per day, Scarlets, and Lenses available too. rentals.maddalenamedia.com

December 10th, 2009, 03:28 PM	#10
Eugene J. Kulak Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Britain, CT Posts: 95	Anthony it looks a little like a tripod I own which is made for mounting a trapazoid binocular mount or a dovetail mount for a small telescope, not for cameras. __________________ Gene, Black Hole Video

January 4th, 2010, 11:43 PM	#11
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	If the threads are good on it, you might be able to fit a Manfrotto 438 leveling base on top of it. Then your options of finding a good head will be easier. No matter what a tripod is built for, as long as it can take the weight & doesn't move, you can put whatever you want on it. It looks like a beast to move around, but could be a very great find. __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

December 10th, 2009, 11:07 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Video tripods have bowls that allow the attachment of the head. The bowl feature allows the quick levelling of the head and come in 75mm, 100mm and 150mm sizes. The most likely size you'll use for your camera is the 75mm diameter bowl, the larger sizes tend to be used for the heavier broadcast & film cameras. That's not to say that you can't use a 100mm or 150mm bowl tripod with your camera. From memory you can get adapters that allow you to fit a 75mm bowl head onto a 100mm tripod if you don't want or can't afford a 100mm head.

December 10th, 2009, 11:11 AM	#3
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	If the tripod doesn't have a bowl, then the connection from legs to head is usually a 3/8-16 bolt. If there's a bolt on the top of the legs you found, and it's too big to screw into the mounting hole on the bottom of your DVX100, then it's probably 3/8-16. If it does fit, then it's a 1/4-20. There are adapters for going from 1/4-20 to 3/8-16.

December 10th, 2009, 01:40 PM	#6
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	You might be able to fit a flat base head onto it, but looking at the pictures it seems to be studio type tripod for a large format stills camera. I suspect it would prove to be frustrating to work with, although it could be handy if you need a locked off second camera. Having a handy means of levelling your camera makes life a lot easier.

December 10th, 2009, 02:00 PM	#7
Godfrey Kirby Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 71	Bazooka & Tulip bowl Hi Anthony - there is something called a 'Bazooka' (in the U.K.) which is a series of tubes which stack on one another to give you a tripod with a very small 'footprint'. On top of this you put a 'Tulip Bowl' which, as you may guess, gives you the bowl (100mm) for your head. I would try to find a friendly Dolly Grip who might help you out. However, I have to say after all this, you may wish you had never found the thing in the fist place! Good luck - Godfrey

December 10th, 2009, 03:11 PM	#8
Anthony Zagarella Tourist Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4	Well, I was ready to throw in the towel until I happened to see this craigslist ad. Tripod Samson 7201 Super Heavy I emailed the dude immediately to see how he had it configured, but in case he doesn't get back to me, what do you guys think? Apparently it's a Samson Quick-Set #7201. Hmm...

December 10th, 2009, 03:12 PM	#9
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Those usually fit on to a Euro boss on the Bazooka, I suspect by this stage it could be cheaper just to buy a 75mm bowl tripod.