A question about Ronford legs

[Stephen Lovett]

With my Red soon to be arriving, and a Gearnex on order, I need to add a set of heavier duty sticks.

The Ronford's seem to be the status quo, and such things usually are based on solid reasons.

But I gotta say, I hate, hate, hate, ground spreaders. If you have a somewhat uneven or slippery surface that you cant poke holes in, life can be hard. It's a PITA to have to stoop down to adjust them, and when they have to come off, they are another thing to get lost, stepped on, or left behind on a busy shoot.

I love my current CF Sprinter II's. They are super fast to deploy, light, rigid, and the mid level spreader works well and doesn't get in the way.

It surprises me that a beefier version of such a design with a Mitchell mount isn't preferable.

Clearly I'm missing something. There has got to be a reason why these things are "go to" for so many people.

Your input on this would be much appreciated.

Steve

 

[Michael Lindsay]

I also don't like ground spreaders...

I use both Satchler CF 150mm legs with raised spreader and Ronford legs with ground spreaders... These both get used with a 2060HD and it works well. When I bought the Ronford legs I didn't realise that they also sell off the ground spreaders for their legs. I haven't seen them but I talked to Jeff about them.

Michael L

 

[jonnycom]

Ground spreaders suck and need a flat surface which is fine if your in a studio. I bought my Ronford sticks 5 years ago with the mid level spreader and am surprised with how many AC's are not aware that they exist, bad marketing on Ronford's part.

 

[Stephen Lovett]

Count me among those that didn't know until this thread.

I'm going to ping Able and see how much they are.

Steve

 

[Mitch Gross]

Count me among the old farts who prefer ground spreaders. They keep the legs from, well, spreading too far apart, unlike a mid-level spreader which by design gives ou legs that take up a very wide space. I've seen the mid-level spreaders from Ronford and they're fine, I just prefer the ground ones. If I'm on uneven ground then I'll pull the spreaders altogether. The points can dig into the ground and if I'm not on ground than a panel of carpet becomes the perfect matting for the points to lock into. I know plenty of guys who keep a 3'x3' piece of carpet in their tripod tubes for this.

 

[ericyoung]

Both Sachtler and Vinten do mid-level spreaders which can lock at different angles to limit how wide the legs spread, so you aren't stuck with huge footprints. Other manufacturers probably do them too.

 

[Tim Naylor]

Mid levels are pain for shooting in tight quarters. They spread to wide. I've got Miller Heavy Duty CF's with midlevels. Should have got the ground spreaders. Ground spreaders are easier to raise and lower because the feet don't slide to different widths for different heights. I often find myself using my VJ solo legs alot in place of my midlevel legs. Had Sprinters for a second and returned them for heavy duty CF's. The Sprinters have too much twist for a build up RED.

The 3x3 rug is tried and true.