Video-Camera tripod

Lee Wilson · January 26th, 2007, 08:27 PM

Simple questions for those who know.

What is the difference between a video tripod and a stills camera tripod ?

Cheers for some of your brain time.

Lee

Steve Leverich · January 26th, 2007, 10:09 PM

Lee, a simple answer - movement.

Seriously - a still camera only needs to be movement free during the exposure, as long as you can adjust things to frame your shot and keep camera shake under control - there is little need (although it'd be nice) for ultra-smooth transitions from one shot to the next.

Video, on the other hand - if you think of your eye as a video camera, it actually has a pretty sophisticated optical image stabilizer - imagine riding a bicycle down a bumpy road while you're looking at a picturesque old farmhouse - as you ride by, you're actually getting jostled around by the bumpy road, but your brain doesn't see it that way - in your memory, you only see the smoothly changing scene as you "dolly" past it.

Video cameras, though, even high priced ones, can't control ALL the shakes and bumps that occur - it's the same when using a tripod. And when we look at a TV, we're usually sitting still (as is the TV) and our brain does not EXPECT to see movement - when it DOES, it knows things aren't right.

For video, the smoother a tripod can move from one position to another, the better the finished video looks when viewed on a TV - in order to keep things smooth when you're zoomed in on a subject and panning or tilting, the tripod should ideally be floating in a bowl of half-congealed Jello so that the mechanical parts of the tripod don't grind/grate on each other during the camera movement.

This is why the higher priced video tripods have what is called a "fluid" head - they've tried to achieve that "bowl of jello" condition, but without all the mess :=)

Accomplishing that condition isn't easy, nor is it cheap - but a smooth tripod will let you pan your camcorder slowly at maximum telephoto and the picture will still be smooth and stable. This is a lot of what people pay anywhere from $4-500 up to a few thou$and for in a video tripod... STeve

Lee Wilson · January 27th, 2007, 06:43 AM

Cheers for the detailed answer Steve

I am off to buy a tripod now ! (athough a whole lot cheaper than the pro models you talk of!!!!)

Lee Wilson · January 27th, 2007, 08:56 AM

Just got back.

Instead of a video tripod I bought a video ipod, at least they sound similar.

:)

January 26th, 2007, 08:27 PM	#1
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Video-Camera tripod - what's the difference ? Simple questions for those who know. What is the difference between a video tripod and a stills camera tripod ? Cheers for some of your brain time. Lee

January 26th, 2007, 10:09 PM	#2
Steve Leverich Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Albany Oregon Posts: 173	Lee, a simple answer - movement. Seriously - a still camera only needs to be movement free during the exposure, as long as you can adjust things to frame your shot and keep camera shake under control - there is little need (although it'd be nice) for ultra-smooth transitions from one shot to the next. Video, on the other hand - if you think of your eye as a video camera, it actually has a pretty sophisticated optical image stabilizer - imagine riding a bicycle down a bumpy road while you're looking at a picturesque old farmhouse - as you ride by, you're actually getting jostled around by the bumpy road, but your brain doesn't see it that way - in your memory, you only see the smoothly changing scene as you "dolly" past it. Video cameras, though, even high priced ones, can't control ALL the shakes and bumps that occur - it's the same when using a tripod. And when we look at a TV, we're usually sitting still (as is the TV) and our brain does not EXPECT to see movement - when it DOES, it knows things aren't right. For video, the smoother a tripod can move from one position to another, the better the finished video looks when viewed on a TV - in order to keep things smooth when you're zoomed in on a subject and panning or tilting, the tripod should ideally be floating in a bowl of half-congealed Jello so that the mechanical parts of the tripod don't grind/grate on each other during the camera movement. This is why the higher priced video tripods have what is called a "fluid" head - they've tried to achieve that "bowl of jello" condition, but without all the mess :=) Accomplishing that condition isn't easy, nor is it cheap - but a smooth tripod will let you pan your camcorder slowly at maximum telephoto and the picture will still be smooth and stable. This is a lot of what people pay anywhere from $4-500 up to a few thou$and for in a video tripod... STeve

January 27th, 2007, 06:43 AM	#3
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Cheers for the detailed answer Steve I am off to buy a tripod now ! (athough a whole lot cheaper than the pro models you talk of!!!!)

January 27th, 2007, 08:56 AM	#4
Lee Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 376	Just got back. Instead of a video tripod I bought a video ipod, at least they sound similar. :)