[HELP!] Cartoni FOCUS HD or Sachtler FSB 8 - Leg advice needed too!

[David Arango]

Hello guys! how are you?

Ok, I finally convinced myself that a tripod is as good invesment as glass is... I have a fair amount of glass, so I decided to push my budget and search for a kind of future proof tripod.


I shoot with DSLR (for the moment!), and new tripods dedicated for that matter, have a load range between 2-5 kg aproximately...
If I ever upgrade to a heavier camera, or setup, lets say use a slider, that would render the tripod unusable.

So, after much reading I came up with 3 contestants:

- Sachtler FSB-8 - $1582 HEAD - $1899 SYSTEM - 1-9 Kg (2-20Lbs) LOAD CAPACITY
- Cartoni Focus HD - $999 HEAD - $1744 SYSTEM - 0-13Kg (0-26Lbs) LOAD CAPACITY
- Miller Compass15 - $1299 HEAD - $2049 SYSTEM - 1-9 Kg (2-20Lbs) LOAD CAPACITY

After some analysis I dismissed the Compas15 for a simple reason, it is in the middle of the Sachtler and the Cartoni, and doesnt offer anything that the other ones cannot outbest.

So here is where the dilemma starts:

SACHTLER:
Pros:

- Snap & Go sideload mechanism.
- Slighly lighter than Cartoni.
- Better brand?
- Longer sliding plate for fine tuning balancing.

Cons:

- Price.
- Lower load capacity than cartoni.
- Lower angle range.


CARTONI:
Pros:
- Price
- Better load range than Sachtler.
- Continous Counter Balance and drag control.
- +/- 90° range.

Cons:
- Doesnt have side loading quick release system.
- Slightly Heavier.
- Inferior Brand?


Here is the thing. I DONT HAVE A CHANCE TO TEST ANY OF THIS SYSTEMS. I live in south america, and the best tripods you get here are sunpak's.
Most of the cons of the cartoni doesnt bother me, BUT since I have never tried nor a cartoni nor a sachtler I cannot tell if the ginormous price differenc
implies that the cartoni is inferior although its specs tell otherwise.

And on the other hand, are the sticks.
Im most concearned about torx! And not all tripod systems have reviews, so I woulnd know if cartoni legs are any good, or if the included Sachtler legs are any good.

So I need your help guys, help me choose!!

If you can give me any first hand experience it would be great!
Leg suggestions are also most welcomed!

Thanks a lot in advanced!

Cartoni: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/740402-REG/Cartoni_F128_F128_FocusHD_Carbon_Fiber.html
Sachtler: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/610349-REG/Sachtler_0773_0773_FSB_8_Tripod_System.html

Cheers!

David

 

[Lee Saxon]

Apparently Sachtler is now made in Costa Rica, no longer Germany. Cartoni is still made in Italy. I haven't used the Sachtler head so I don't know how much that really means, except to say "don't place to much stock in 'better/worse brand' hype," and also "Sachtler prices were absurd even when they were made in Germany, now it's practically fraud."

Cartoni 100%. I love that head.

 

[Loic Parent]

We have two Cartoni FOCUS HD, and are very pleased with them, perfect head for light epic rigs and thoses who need mobility.
and Imho Cartoni is in no way an "inferior" brand, you should try their maxima head : from 0 to 50 kg in one head !

 

[stu aull]

Have a now-21 yr old Sachtler 18II w/ carbon fibre legs. Dragged all over the Arctic, never let me down. Just bought a couple of bits for it from Sachtler last week! So great support. Carbon legs = super light/strong.
18II head was for my fully geared BetaCam, so unless you are accessorizing your Scarlet to the Nuts I would now get a lighter head. Tripod is 27lbs and I'm sure 18+ is the damn head. Bulletproof tho. Not sure I'd go for the suggestion of the "0-50Kg" head spec - would weigh a Ton! Guess it depends if you have to cart it around a lot. One thing to just pull out of your car when you need it - whole 'nother thing if you have to hike around!!

Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Nils Ruinet]

One thing I can say, Cartoni is definately NOT an inferior brand. At a given price point, you'll have a better Cartoni or Miller tripod than with Sachtler (which I love too, but way more expensive).
I've been using a Cartoni C20S tripod for the last 3 years and it's a great head that could compete with a Sachtler S25 on many aspects, but costs way less. And I'm about to buy a Cartoni Gamma head for my Epic X.
Don't know the Miller, but I think Gibby and others said loads of good stuff about it.

 

[Demetri Zuev]

Has anyone used a Cartoni Laser head? I'm trying to decide if it's worth $1000 extra over the Focus HD.

 

[David Arango]

Thanks for the input guys! my mind is now locked on the FocusHD!
Now comes the dilemma, cartoni legs? or non cartoni legs?.
Usually when you buy a bundled system you are saving considerably. But Cartoni sticks doesnt seem to come cheap.
There are 3 bundles within my price range:
- Bundle 1 - That I ASSUME, comes with this legs: LEGS
- Bundle 2 - That I ASSUME, comes with this legs: LEGS
- Bundle 3 - That I ASSUME, comes with this legs: LEGS

Now, In another hand there are this Manfrotto legs, that also have a tremendous range and seem to be pretty light. Manfrotto 536
But im concearned that it is 4 stage and no spreader, so It will be very unstable...

So I need your help one more time, if you have experience with the manfrotto, or cartoni, or would suggest me something else!

Thanks a lot guys!

cheers!

 

[Loic Parent]

Hi David,
the Cartoni legs you suggest are great, but if you can go for a two stage carbon fiber, smaller lighter and steadyer :
http://www.cartoni.com/web/en/dvaen...page=flypage.tpl&product_id=95&category_id=10

once again you won't regret going for the Focus HD, the only thing is be carefull when transporting the head to keep the quick release handle in closed position, else it break easily, happened to us twice but got free spares from cartoni.

 

[Martin Widerberg]

Check out the Manfrotto 536 carbon fibre legs. Recommended and used by many redusers. Run those with the Cartoni and you have a light and versatile set-up.
I have the Cartoni Focus with Cartoni legs and going for the Manfrotto legs to save my back. Will also go higher. 2 meters I think.

 

[Andreas Mendritzki]

The little contact I've had with Cartoni heads has been good. We did, however, buy a set of aluminum 100mm sticks that have been nothing but trouble. Too much plastic in too many high-stress places. Our Sachtlers? 20+years old and still doing fine.

 

[David Arango]

Well guys, I think the desicion is made. Im pulling the trigger on the FocusHD and the Manfrotto 536. Thanks a lot for your input, I wouldnt have been able to make up my mind without your help!
I have a final question for Martin and Loic, How long is the head after assembling it to the tripod?? I need that measurment in order to know how long must be the carrying bag!
The manfrotto lengs are 27.9" (71cm) when folded, so I need to know how long would the system be when assebled so I can fit it in a bag!

Again, thanks a lot and I'll let you know when I get it! (probably late december - early january if customs allow it!)

 

[Michael Millichamp]

Cartoni Focus HD Head, which I absolutely love, and the Manfrotto 536's which I love too.

Great set up, and would recommend it to anyone.

 

[Art Chong]

For what it's worth, I have an older Sachtler DV6 SB, which is nearly identical to the FSB 8, and it works very nicely. 75mm head is kind of a downer, but it's small, light, and is incredibly smooth.

I also am a fan of the 536. It's a little spindly without a spreader, but it's also light, VERY versatile, and packs really small.

 

[David Arango]

Does anyone know if the FocusHD is a real fluid head, of is it friction based?