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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 :)

Cartoni Focus HD Head

The Cartoni Focus HD Head is very nice.

I have one and it works very well, and has no steps in the drag etc.
which is why I like it it so much.
 
Thanks for that link Jhoe!

I would be getting the head for some DSLR work and primarily for my EPIC S when it is released so I think the 26lb limit would be perfect.

I would assume that the Focus HD is a step up from the older Focus, but I could be wrong. In any sense, I think ill be buying that.

Jhoe or Martin, any legs they you would highly recommend in the 300-500$ Price range?
 
I use the Miller SOLO VJ Carbon Fiber 3-Stage Tripod Legs (100mm Bowl) - which support 66 lbs
with my Cartoni Focus HD head, but it costs roughly $940.00
 
Lee Saxon said:
I love the Focus HD. The only other one I've used is the worthless 504HD though, so I could be clueless.
Click to expand...


Lee, could you elaborate on the 504HD being worthless? Ive heard some ok stories about it and BHPhoto people are head over heels for it.
Can you tell me your experiences with it?
 
The 504HD

The movement isn't terrible (no jerkiness or anything that awful) but it just doesn't have the smoothness of the Focus HD. It takes a fair amount of strength to crank it to maximum drag (separately for pan and tilt), and once you get there you still have to make a conscious effort to move in slow motion.Way too little drag. There are only 3 counterbalance settings (4 counting 'counterbalance off'). Finally, when tilting, the head makes a sound like crinkling a plastic bag.

'Worthless' was too harsh, but it sucks. You can work with it if you absolutely can't afford anything else, but since the Focus HD is 10x the quality and only about 2x the price, I think anyone considering the 504HD should just save up for a little longer.
 
Great head for the Epic. I just got it a week ago and love it. I have the Cartoni Sigma which I use with the Red One, but the Focus HD is much better suited for the Epic.

I got the Cartoni SmartStop 3 stage carbon fiber to go with it: http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProVideoTripods/253662/cartoni-smart-stop-eng-tripod-carbon-fibre.aspx

THis system is great because you only deal with one clamp for the whole 3 stages of each leg. Fast and secure.

The kit is light and compact. It's a great lightweight configuration alternative to my studio equipment.
 
I own a Cartoni Focus HD bundled with Manfrotto 536 sticks...
The sticks are great, a little bit shaky at max height.. but hey.. 2 meters!
Regarding the head, it works pretty good. Fluid movements, nice drag control.
There is only one downside.

CHEAP-WEAK-PLASTIC LEVERS...
Im not a heavy user, and I consider myself quite caring with my gear...
One day I was pulling out the tripod from its bag, and the lever got caught on one of the edges of the bag...
Without any resistance... IT BROKE.

I read the reviews on B&H and didnt pay much attention to it, as I said, I consider myself quite cautious..
But for a head costing 1K and being 95% metal, I think that leaving those levers plastic is kinda.. cheap.

Anyway, for an eoropean owner, this shouldnt be much of an issue, replacements are 7 EUR, I dont know about US pricing..
But I live in South America, and the replacement was almost US 50... Excluding duties and taxes..

So if you are buying this head, be careful, and buy a replacement to have around just in case.
 
Consider spending a bit more and perhaps find something on the used market. For professional work, the Focus will give you a world of grief, especially with long lens work (too much backlash). Its tension isn't very progressive and tilt tension and counter balance isn't quite strong enough, especially with PL lenses. Eventually, the plastic holding the rosettes will begin to flex and if like me, the internal threading on the rosettes will fail. I sent my Focus to the shop for this three times within a year and half before selling it. Had enough of the nonsense.

If you're lucky you may find a used Miller Arrow 25 or 50 on the market for 1300-1800.00 or a used Sachtler 20 for 2200.00. If there's one accessory worth shelling out a bit extra it would be support. Not only is it the gift that keeps on giving but has an immediate impact on the quality and efficiency of your work. A complex move that I can nail in one or two takes on a quality head may take me several on a cheap head or at worse, I may not even be able to perform the move at all.
 
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