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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Arrow 55 Group Buy?

I'm interested. My preference would be for the lighter package but I'm ok with the concensus whatever that turns out to be.
 
We're interested in the

- Arrow 55 head with Solo ENG legs and a soft bag.
 
MikeHedge said:
well do we have a ball park? I have wanted to get this tripod set up since April.
Click to expand...

Well, according to B&H, the Miller Arrow 55 + SOLO VJ Legs + Miller Soft bag is about $5300. So I guess it'll be below that, probably something like $4500 or so... just a guess...
 
Dominique Grenier said:
Well, according to B&H, the Miller Arrow 55 + SOLO VJ Legs + Miller Soft bag is about $5300. So I guess it'll be below that, probably something like $4500 or so... just a guess...
Click to expand...

A different site lists the head along with SprinterII tripod (cheaper single stage alloy) for only $3930. So I'd be a bit melancholy if the group-buy deal came out above $4000 for the Solo VJ package.
 
Lowkus said:
A different site lists the head along with SprinterII tripod (cheaper single stage alloy) for only $3930. So I'd be a bit melancholy if the group-buy deal came out above $4000 for the Solo VJ package.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not the one who will complain if that goes as low as that...
 
We should have something on this tomorrow.
 
I would be interested as well. Any word on what the total for the package would be???
 
Just waiting on an email with some details. We'll let you know soon.
 
I promised earlier on this thread that I would post some photos of my RED cameras in use on my Miller tripods. Here are three pics, with three more to follow in my next post. I wrote info on the head/leg combinations and weights of the setups on each of the photos.

As you'll see in the pics, I own and use three different Miller leg sets with my Miller Arrow 55 heads: single stage alloy with mid-level spreader, 2-stage carbon fiber with mid-level spreader, and SOLO VJ 1505 3-stage carbon fiber (spreaderless).

I usually use the single stage alloy legs for the very heaviest loads, and for more stationary production needs. I use the 2-stage carbon fiber legs with heavier and mid-loads and some mobile productions. I use the SOLO VJ CF legs for all highly-mobile production, although that combo can be used for very heavy loads also - the head is rated for 55 pounds and the SOLO CF legs for 66 pounds. In reality, I rarely use the alloy legs because even for heavy loads and stationary productions, the 2-stage CF legs work great. The single stage alloy legs are mainly used for our jib work now.

The Miller 55/ alloy legs package easily handled the pictured max load of 55 pounds (Optimo 12x), with excellent head action, including tons of pans and tilts as I tracked action sports with the setup. The mid-loads pictured are my RED 300 and my Canon FD 150-600. Again, head action was spot on for wildlife and sports tracking + scenics. The light loads pictured are my Nikon 17-35 and Nikon 80-200, again with excellent head action.

All of the photos of these rigs on this post and my next one were shot as the rigs pictured were being used in production of international and national network television programs. Shooting style could best be described as "mobile hybrid non-hardlined EFP/cine".

For weight considerations and increased mobility me and my crews rarely use a matte box or follow focus. We use screw-on filters. All focusing is via sight focus using RED's available aids, and almost all exposure is done using zebras, with the remaining being via RED's advanced exposure tools.

Non-union mobile production for national and international productions with RED One does not necessarily need to entail using cine lenses - 35mm still lenses can get you almost identical quality images if you know how to use them well and aren't hung up on having to use cine lenses, matte boxes, FF, etc. I own tons of cine lenses and equipment , and on certain productions I bust them out when it makes the best sense to use them. The rest of the time me and my crews get great results with 35mm stills lenses on RED. For certain television productions that will be shot in 2k we also use the RED B4 adaptor and high-quality B4 HD EFP/ENG zooms. As the saying goes: "Horses for courses".

In our frequent adventure travel, alternative sports, and wildlife work we regularly have to do continuous tight-frame, close action follow of people, animals, and objects - all while constantly panning, tilting, and racking focus. The Miller Arrow 55 head, in combination with the Miller legs shown in use on my two posts here, have performed extremely well in our style of work. When we use them for other mainstream genres we do (commercials, documentaries, music, business media, etc.) they have performed equally well at that.

Bottom line: IMO the Miller Arrow 55 head seriously rocks for all but the most gigantic RED One head loads - those loads above 55 pounds. IMO also, keeping in mind the wide variety of productions RED is used for, only a very small percentage of RED users and owners will ever need more head capacity or performance than the Miller 55 provides. When I do, I use my O'Connor 2575 - and my 2575 just gathers dust in between maximum load jobs.
 
Three more Miller 55 setup pics...

Notice in the Zion National Park pic I am also using a View Factor Origo start/stop switch, cabled out to the tripod arm. That's the one pic taken since I received my Origo units. I now use them in all configurations, tripod and hand held. I have three cable lengths for the Origo: 21/2' for hand held and tripod use, 10' for jib usage, and 30' for jib usage.

Besides their light weight (thus increased mobility), and being spreaderless, the SOLO CF legs adjust in height all the way down to 8" (inches) off the ground, using a single stage and spreading them to the wide open position. That is way cool for low-to-the-ground shots without having to set the camera right on the ground. They also go super high so you can shoot over crowds, obstacles, etc - up to 76" plate level.
 
Thanks very much for the pics Gibby.

Hard to believe the spreaderless Solos are stable enough for those loads! Is there not a tendency for some twist in the legs when panning fast?

Screw locks on the legs bit slower and more awkward to use?
 
ericyoung said:
Thanks very much for the pics Gibby.

Hard to believe the spreaderless Solos are stable enough for those loads! Is there not a tendency for some twist in the legs when panning fast?

Screw locks on the legs bit slower and more awkward to use?
Click to expand...

The SOLO legs lock into place in three different positions. When they lock in, they are very solid. The SOLO legs are rated for up to 66 pounds, so the pictured Nikon loads are really light for them. No twist in the legs on fast pans.

The screw locks are pretty fast to use. As with any screw lock, you need to make sure all three screw locks on each leg are locked down tight before using the tripod.
 
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