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Advice wanted: lightweight compact tripod

Mike 'Fireman' Ross

Mike 'Fireman' Ross

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Guys, looking for some ideas for a tripod.

For regular work I have a Miller Arrow 50. Can't say enough good things about it; rugged, simple, handles everything I've thrown at it.

But it ain't small and it ain't light, except maybe compared to a 2065 or a geared head!

What would you guys suggest for an ultra-lightweight, ultra-compact field tripod for DSMC, primarily with stills glass? No Optimos!

Not too worried about the action, not likely to be doing any fancy moves with it. But lightweight, as in up mountains on a backpack, and compact, as in it doesn't have to extend higher than, say, 55", and should fold compact enough you could at least in theory put it with other gear in a carry-on bag for flying - 24" or so closed maybe. For sticks, maybe something like the Miller Solo DV 3-stage maybe, but a bit shorter and even more compact?? For head...?

Anything come to mind?

Thanks

Mike
 
I used a large gitso the other day, with a small Gitso Video head... I was pleasantly surprised.

Carried the weight of a EPIC easily, stood up to 7 feet high... the little dinky head was smooth... And the multilevel design of the legs would let you stand it up against a wall or down the side of a cliff....

Packed into a suit case...

I'm going to buy one for my personal work.. All of our big huge heads and legs look silly now, the heads are bigger than our cameras...
 
Manfrotto 504 and 509 are light and really good value. Ran a 504 from Ski hills to surfing with no issue on nikon glass EPIC-M. They will not stand up to any abuse though, had a 504 get destroyed by Air Canada. My personal fav is the Panther X15. Been around the world with no issue.
 
I was going to say the Miller Solo sticks and Cartoni Focus HD head, which is the great combo I use.

But if you're looking for something even smaller...

...buy a Really Right Stuff Versa. It's the best tripod I've ever used and as a bonus it's 100% US-made. It's primarily a stills tripod so it comes with a flat base w/ 3/8"-16 stud, but they sell a 75mm bowl replacement pretty cheap and it's very easy to switch out (three screws).

The only downside is that there's no 100mm bowl option, but if you're going ultra-ultra compact that's probably not a big deal.

As for the head, I don't know. I gave up on 75mm after trying only one head - the very poor Manfrotto 504HD. I've heard raves about the Miller DS20 and Compass15, but who knows? I also read good things about the 504HD...
 
Lee Saxon said:
I was going to say the Miller Solo sticks and Cartoni Focus HD head, which is the great combo I use.

But if you're looking for something even smaller...

...buy a Really Right Stuff Versa. It's the best tripod I've ever used and as a bonus it's 100% US-made. It's primarily a stills tripod so it comes with a flat base w/ 3/8"-16 stud, but they sell a 75mm bowl replacement pretty cheap and it's very easy to switch out (three screws).

The only downside is that there's no 100mm bowl option, but if you're going ultra-ultra compact that's probably not a big deal.

As for the head, I don't know. I gave up on 75mm after trying only one head - the very poor Manfrotto 504HD. I've heard raves about the Miller DS20 and Compass15, but who knows? I also read good things about the 504HD...
Click to expand...


Lee, I'm considering the miller compass 25 but after so many good reviews on the Cartoni Focus HD like yours, I might go the $1000 cheaper route, and if I need bigger heads, I can always rent.
 
Versa looks like exactly the right sticks for me; thanks to Lee for suggesting. Now the head...

Mike
 
I own an Arrow 55 for my Red One and I've purchased a Compass 25 for the Epic with a stage 3 Solo ENG carbon tripod, it works really well and it's really easy to use in any situation even for really low framing.
 
When Ketch was doing his Farewell America tour this summer, he was using Gitzo carbon sticks with an EPIC. I was impressed with them and the light weight.
 
Michael Panfeld said:
When Ketch was doing his Farewell America tour this summer, he was using Gitzo carbon sticks with an EPIC. I was impressed with them and the light weight.
Click to expand...

I've used a lot of Gitzos, and they're my second choice no doubt, but the Really Right Stuff tripods are better.

On the Gitzos and the Miller Solo, it's tricky to keep the legs fully spread. They want to creep in a little bit, putting you a little off-balance / a little unstable. They make you almost wish you had a spreader. The RRS hinges stay where you put them (one of three available positions) and you never miss hassling with a spreader.

I will say this though: the RRS (and the Gitzo, btw) don't have a shoulder strap like the Miller Solo, or even mounting points to add one. That sounds like a luxury but once you've had that luxury you never want to go back.
 
Mark Toia said:
I used a large gitso the other day, with a small Gitso Video head... I was pleasantly surprised.

Carried the weight of a EPIC easily, stood up to 7 feet high... the little dinky head was smooth... And the multilevel design of the legs would let you stand it up against a wall or down the side of a cliff....

Packed into a suit case... .
Click to expand...



So what was it Mark?
jas
 
Just moved to Cartoni Focus HD with my Epic, 3 stages, super light and one lever to lock the whole leg, awesome! I still have my Sigma for studio work, but the Focus HD comes with me everywhere!

focus-hdlegsbis.jpg
 
No one may believe me, but I bought a $700 tripod and head off of ebay as an experiment and It's awesome. I own a Cartoni c-20, a miniworral gear head, an underslung fluid head like an f7, two dollies, another cartoni, I have done a lot of movies and episodic TV on the 2575, and spent probably a thousand hours behind various sachtlers. This little E-Image 75mm ball head and tripod weighs 12 pounds, and it performs great with the epic up to my 180mm lens. It doesn't replace all the others, but for a lot of stuff with primes or LWZs, it's perfect.

Nick
 
The 7063 it would seem. 3 position counterbalance, 3 pan and tilt drags. China is the new Italy ;-) they are making some really nice stuff.

Nick
 
I love my Gitzo CF legs, they are still style spreaderless legs which come in really hand in weird and awkward situations. Super light and very strong, you could put 100 lbs on them if you had too. It comes with a 100mm bowl and I have a Sachtler Video 14 head on them. Perfect for the lighter Epic set up.
 
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