Libec LS-55 2A The perfect low budget Scarlet Tripod?

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

Im looking for the perfect tripod for my scarlet setup. I was looking a the Libec LS-38 which has a wicked review but i was worried about the 17lb weight limit. Im thinking a fully loaded scarlet fixed, or interchangeable will end up at the top end of that weight limit. I dont want to have to buy a new tripod right when i advance to a heavier camera setup. The LS-55 has a 22lb weight limit which looks perfect to me. Its lacking adjustable drag and something else i cant remember. but according to reviews its a fantastic tripod for the money. I cant really drop 1500 on a tripod when the camera is guna cost 5 grand before accesories, its just not in my budget. Im also in canada so great.... What are your guys opinions on this. I tried on the other tripod thread but its dead so ya. I do have sort of a short time frame here as well, we have a new tax starting up here and if i dont purchase soon, il be paying another 7 percent. My only real issue with the camera is the stabalizer that sits on the bottom, im guna be in the mountains for alot of my recording and thats alot of uneven ground, if i remove that stabalizer is the tripod useless? srry i just dont know these things. Heres a link

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...5_2A__LS_55_2A_Two_stage_Aluminum_Tripod.html

 

[Jonathan Stevenson]

I have one of these. Actually a really nice tripod for the price. Fluid head works great, love the pan speed on it. Folds up nicely.

It's already broken once though. One of the shorter secondary legs broke off at the connection point to the primary leg. I fixed it with some guerilla glue, but overall the tripod has a lot of very "plastic-y" parts that break or snap easily. The locking mechanisms for the legs are solid but the part that you actually twist to lock the legs are easily breakable, especially if some moron twists them too hard.

So, like you've read: yes, good tripod for the money, but it might be wiser to invest a little more in a Sachtler that will last you 5-7 years as opposed to 2. But, buy one of these puppies for now. Just treat it gently and it'll be just fine! Personally, I'd buy the model with the center leg spreaders and not the bottom spreaders, those are a pain in the ass when you want to move the camera/tripod around or extend the legs higher. link- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2A__LS_38M_2A_Professional_Tripod_System.html

weight limit is 5lbs less, but with a basic film-studenty Scarlet setup, I doubt you'll come close to 20 lbs too often.

 

[Subhadip Sen]

Really, its more than enough. I will be surprised if Scarlet 2/3" Fixed weighs any more than 3-4 lbs; not more than 5. The brain and the modules will be real light - for sure. Let's not forget these things are TINY. It is the lens that might add some weight. A mini-primes setup with the required modules will surely be less than 5 lbs. I am assuming the 2/3"s targeted user base will not need 9" LCD monitors, super telephoto lenses, and other really heavy modules.

 

[Stephen Gentle]

We're just getting the 38 since we expect to shoot a stripped down setup most of the time (just LCD, CF module and whatever battery setup comes with the fixed setup) most of the time. We might get a RED Drive on it too.

I think it would be mainly be the modules that would really add on the weight - especially the battery one. Even the IO modules look pretty heavy.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

im not terribly worried about breaking any of the parts, im a very cautious person and dont break things often. i am worried though about the bottom leg spreaders, like i said im guna be in the mountains alot and that might get in my way with me constantly needing to adjust each leg. Can u guys give me some options in the shatler tripods? and im really trying hard to not go over 800 bucks

 

[Terry VerHaar]

im not terribly worried about breaking any of the parts, im a very cautious person and dont break things often. i am worried though about the bottom leg spreaders, like i said im guna be in the mountains alot and that might get in my way with me constantly needing to adjust each leg. Can u guys give me some options in the shatler tripods? and im really trying hard to not go over 800 bucks

Just FYI - I bought my Libec LS-58 a couple of years ago (with which, BTW, I am very satisfied) with a mid-level spreader option. Completely leaves the legs free to adjust to varied ground level. You might see if that option is available. I agree that the Libecs are a great tripod for the price.

 

[david_winters]

I have one of these for shooting with the 5D loaded up with on board, MB, and FF. Works great for the price. It's got a little too much counter balance for my current setup but it's cheap and works great.

 

[Stephen Gentle]

Just FYI - I bought my Libec LS-58 a couple of years ago (with which, BTW, I am very satisfied) with a mid-level spreader option. Completely leaves the legs free to adjust to varied ground level. You might see if that option is available. I agree that the Libecs are a great tripod for the price.

Yeah, we ordered our 38 with a mid-level spreader - I much prefer them to floor spreaders not only because they're great for uneven ground, but also for shooting on stairs and places where you need two legs on a small wall and one on the ground. It's just so much more versatile.

 

[James Edwin Myers Jr.]

I owned an LS-38 for a few days, but the mid level spreader was, in my opinion, a flawed design. Within 12 hours of owning it, the spring mechanism had broken the glued seam of the spreader and rendered it utterly useless. I sent it back and bought a Sachtler FSB-6 which I have been reasonably happy with.

The Speed Lock is a bit of an odd design though, and I can't say I prefer it to simple mechanisms on tripod legs. Mine came apart on me yesterday and I've spent all morning trying to re-assemble it correctly.

I'm incredibly cautious with my gear. It just seems like you have to spend over $2k to get something that won't arbitrarily break on you.

 

[David Rasberry]

Really, its more than enough. I will be surprised if Scarlet 2/3" Fixed weighs any more than 3-4 lbs; not more than 5. The brain and the modules will be real light - for sure. Let's not forget these things are TINY. It is the lens that might add some weight. A mini-primes setup with the required modules will surely be less than 5 lbs. I am assuming the 2/3"s targeted user base will not need 9" LCD monitors, super telephoto lenses, and other really heavy modules.

The bare Cinema brain alone will be around 4 lbs. Figure more like 6 for the fixed. I expect a fully configured setup to run closer to 10-12lbs depending on lens and accessories.

 

[Philip Allister Anderson]

As a hobby I shoot a lot of landscape and nature photography up in the Cascade mountain range. I have found that the best thing for me is a lightweight set of sticks with spikes that dig in to the ground. I also like sticks that allow me to open each individual leg all the way open for when I'm stuck in some ridiculous position. I have never used spreaders in the mtn's and for the most part unless you are shooting on concrete, floors, or an ice skating rink, spreaders are more of a hindrance then a help. The sticks do need to be strong enough that they won't torque when you are panning though.