FWIW: Nice combination... at DVinfo.net

Matt Davis · March 30th, 2006, 01:42 PM

I've been lucky enough to pick up a very nice Sachtler tripod on eBay. However, the legs were the very bottom end, the head was a DV8. Suffice to say that if you pan or tilt too quickly, the legs would creak and bend.

The main point is that I've now put the Sachtler head on Miller DS-10 carbon fibre legs and it seems to be a match made in heaven. The Miller legs have a far greater height range, are quicker to adjust and are far more comfortable to carry over the Sachtler legs.

For a Z1, perhaps the DV8 is overkill, but I didn't like the DS-10 head from Miller - the pan friction didn't match the tilt, and I got 'stiction' on higher drag settings on the pan.

I had a Vinten Pro-5, which was a great step up from the photographic legs I 'inherited' (long story) and the price was great too, but it rapidly demonstrated that if you want to fluidly follow a subject and do subtle moves over time, the Vinten is NOT going to deliver. It's good for the money, but it's not good enough for pro use. Maybe the legs are good, but the head is what you pay for.

OTH The 503 combo i've subsequently hired was good in use, but darned uncomfortable to transport on the shoulder, overly heavy for a Z1 too.

If eBay didn't have a Sachtler head avaiable, I'd probably take a 503 head and put it on Miller's DS-10 legs.

FWIW: I shoot events - lots of subtle 'follow the presenter' moves, lots of quick location changes, lots of lugging Z1 kit and legs, mostly on even ground, mostly talking heads and GVs, but occasionally anything that goes. :-)

HTH. - M.

March 30th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#1
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	FWIW: Nice combination... I've been lucky enough to pick up a very nice Sachtler tripod on eBay. However, the legs were the very bottom end, the head was a DV8. Suffice to say that if you pan or tilt too quickly, the legs would creak and bend. The main point is that I've now put the Sachtler head on Miller DS-10 carbon fibre legs and it seems to be a match made in heaven. The Miller legs have a far greater height range, are quicker to adjust and are far more comfortable to carry over the Sachtler legs. For a Z1, perhaps the DV8 is overkill, but I didn't like the DS-10 head from Miller - the pan friction didn't match the tilt, and I got 'stiction' on higher drag settings on the pan. I had a Vinten Pro-5, which was a great step up from the photographic legs I 'inherited' (long story) and the price was great too, but it rapidly demonstrated that if you want to fluidly follow a subject and do subtle moves over time, the Vinten is NOT going to deliver. It's good for the money, but it's not good enough for pro use. Maybe the legs are good, but the head is what you pay for. OTH The 503 combo i've subsequently hired was good in use, but darned uncomfortable to transport on the shoulder, overly heavy for a Z1 too. If eBay didn't have a Sachtler head avaiable, I'd probably take a 503 head and put it on Miller's DS-10 legs. FWIW: I shoot events - lots of subtle 'follow the presenter' moves, lots of quick location changes, lots of lugging Z1 kit and legs, mostly on even ground, mostly talking heads and GVs, but occasionally anything that goes. :-) HTH. - M.