Need Light Sticks: Bogen 351MVCF, 542ART at DVinfo.net

Trenton Scott · August 24th, 2006, 05:04 PM

Can somebody suggest light sticks that can safely support my 7.5kg XL2 outdoor setup? The sticks are intended for somewhat remote/wilderness footage, so weight is important and I'm willing to pay extra for carbon construction if required. (I'm addicted to my Vinten Vision 3 head, and refuse to use anything else.) However, I would like to keep costs below $1K.

There are too many products! Bogen has good price/performance characteristics, but I'm interested in any competitive hardware out there. Even when looking within Bogen's own product line, I'm a bit confused. For example, the 351MVCF weighs in at 3kg and supports 12kg, well within my 7.5kg configuration, and the price is $682 at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

The Bogen 542ART is heavier to haul around, but setup is quicker and it supports a heavier load-- and it costs over twice as much!

Does anybody have an opinion on either of these two sticks? How do they perform, especially in outdoor, possibly cold conditions? Should I be looking at another vendor/product within my budgetary constraints?

Tim Le · August 26th, 2006, 09:05 PM

You might want to look into the spreader-less, single-tube designs like the Miller Solo or Gitzos. With these tripods you don't have the weight of a spreader (usually adds another pound or so) and the legs can be independently set to different angles so they might be more useful for remote/wilderness shooting. I know the Kraft Brothers who shoot and star in those animal shows for PBS/NatGeo use a Cartoni on a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. But then again, you also see guys that shoot 16mm for wildlife use dual-tube spreader tripods.

James Ewen · September 4th, 2006, 08:40 AM

I agree with Tim. Check out the Miller Solo tripods. They are very nice, very light. Very easy to set up. They will support big loads. Not very cheap but worth the bucks.

James

August 24th, 2006, 05:04 PM	#1
Trenton Scott Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 37	Need Light Sticks: Bogen 351MVCF, 542ART Can somebody suggest light sticks that can safely support my 7.5kg XL2 outdoor setup? The sticks are intended for somewhat remote/wilderness footage, so weight is important and I'm willing to pay extra for carbon construction if required. (I'm addicted to my Vinten Vision 3 head, and refuse to use anything else.) However, I would like to keep costs below $1K. There are too many products! Bogen has good price/performance characteristics, but I'm interested in any competitive hardware out there. Even when looking within Bogen's own product line, I'm a bit confused. For example, the 351MVCF weighs in at 3kg and supports 12kg, well within my 7.5kg configuration, and the price is $682 at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search The Bogen 542ART is heavier to haul around, but setup is quicker and it supports a heavier load-- and it costs over twice as much! Does anybody have an opinion on either of these two sticks? How do they perform, especially in outdoor, possibly cold conditions? Should I be looking at another vendor/product within my budgetary constraints? __________________ www.sonatasys.com video production, multimedia post and web integration Last edited by Trenton Scott; August 24th, 2006 at 05:57 PM.

September 4th, 2006, 08:40 AM	#3
James Ewen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 91	I agree with Tim. Check out the Miller Solo tripods. They are very nice, very light. Very easy to set up. They will support big loads. Not very cheap but worth the bucks. James __________________ Natural History Cameraman Earthmedia Film, Oslo, Norway

August 26th, 2006, 09:05 PM	#2
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	You might want to look into the spreader-less, single-tube designs like the Miller Solo or Gitzos. With these tripods you don't have the weight of a spreader (usually adds another pound or so) and the legs can be independently set to different angles so they might be more useful for remote/wilderness shooting. I know the Kraft Brothers who shoot and star in those animal shows for PBS/NatGeo use a Cartoni on a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. But then again, you also see guys that shoot 16mm for wildlife use dual-tube spreader tripods.