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Gear Recommendations

J

John Swift

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So I'm basically asking for you guys to give me ideas of what equipment to get, buy equipment I mean Tripod, Head, plate to use so that I can have 15mm bars on etc. I dont want to pay too much but obviously I want it to be stable with everything on, by the way I dont currently have a RED camera but I'm saving up for one but i would like to get the tripod and all that gear before i actually get the camera as i will be able to go out and film straight away and I will be able to use the gear with my 500D I have at the moment so I can get used to carrying the weight around and everything.



I know this may be posted in the wrong place but it does relate to the Scarlet as I am looking for gear that is stable with the Scarlet on, hope you guys can help!
 
What ive been looking at is Sachlter FSB 6 (75mm Fluid Head), with Miller Togglw DV 2 Stage legs, then get a Genus Hot Plate Professional Adapter Bar system so that I can use a Genus Bravo Deluxe follow focus system.

Would this be sensible or what would you recommend?
 
Several Tripod/Head threads in the Accessories forum area worth a search for.
At the very least, if you are looking specifically at tripod/head combo, I would repost in Accessories with the subject "Tripod and Head Suggestions" (for eg). There you will get feed back from both Epic and Sacrlet users. Why not get info from the most folks??

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska
 
Depends on lots of things - what you shoot, what lenses you have and what budget.
Ideal world I'd go for Wooden Camera 15mm baseplate onto an O'Connor 1030D. In my experience, for critical work, at least with long lenses, I find the Sachtler stuff pretty terrible. Go O'Connor, Ronford Baker (the 2003 head is the same size bracket) or possibly Cartoni. Cartoni have just released their Master Mk2, much bigger head and probably not what you want but for heavier rigs it looks like an alternative to a 2060 - haven't tested it yet though.
Steve
 
"I dont want to pay too much but obviously I want it to be stable with everything on" is the crux of the issue. A tripod for a still camera can be pretty cheap because you're using it for – stills. Once you introduce movement, now a tripod and head become a whole 'nother object. Not paying too much and getting a good stable head just doesn't compute. It's probably the one thing that most folks stumble over when building a kit of gear. A good tripod is worth it's weight in gold and also bears a significant price tag. There really is no getting around needing a good head on a good set of sticks. The reason why you'll find a consensus here is that those who have gone before you have tried lesser options and realized pretty quickly they don't work, or put another way, they don't work well enough. The cheaper heads become sloppy, or they stick, or they can't hold the weight, etc.

With a tripod, you truly do get what you pay for. Budget for a good one from the brands that people trust. Not going to list them here as there are numerous threads about the various good setups. But don't scrimp in this one area. Everything you shoot will be a reflection of your ultimate choice and it will show on screen.
 
By "I dont want to pay too much but obviously I want it to be stable with everything on" I mean I dont want to buy ones that cost like 5grand (UK Pounds), and I know still tripods are cheap I have 3 good ones already, that is why I was asking about Fluid Heads and Tripods with Ball head mounts rather than Tripods for stills that are usually one set.
 
John Swift said:
By "I dont want to pay too much but obviously I want it to be stable with everything on" I mean I dont want to buy ones that cost like 5grand (UK Pounds), and I know still tripods are cheap I have 3 good ones already, that is why I was asking about Fluid Heads and Tripods with Ball head mounts rather than Tripods for stills that are usually one set.
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And that is why I said what I said. You'll find a fairly narrow band of opinions on tripods and heads. Cartoni, Miller, O'Connor, Ronford and Satchler are the names you'll hear most. From there you'll have to determine your point of pain as to what you think is too much for a good setup. If you're coming from a 5d and Manfrotto mindset, your idea of what is good and acceptable might change once you get an Epic or Scarlet. A good tripod/head lasts forever, purchase wisely.
 
I'm still waiting to save up for a proper tripod, but for the time being, I've used cheap tripods for quick studio & on location work. I've used the Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 w/ FM18 head (B&H $189) and the Manfrotto 504HD head with 546B legs (B&H $775) in a studio. The beauty of the Scarlet's form is the compact design. My total system w/ Zeiss ZF, tactical cage & batteries is just around 11-12 lbs. So if you need something to hold you over, these worked for me.
 
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Cartoni focus HD, for a budget set up its very nice and cheap. I went for libec legs and am very pleased so far.
 
My rigs come into the 15-25 lbs range and I mostly use the Manfrotto 509HD/536 legs combo. It works for me and balances well.
 
Hey Phil

Most probably should post this on "Skully thread", but how is the manfrotto holding up ?

I ask because I'm thinking I want something "lighter" for "in the field" shoots & I'm thinking of the Manfrotto or the Gitzo. Having said that I've noticed the weight of the cam. creeping up especially with cine glass and wondering how "your head" performs under load.

P.S. i don't want to hijack this thread but I think the question may be of benefit to the OP.

P.S.S. Words of wisdom from Mark Phelan
 
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Mike, I have the carbon fibre Manfrrotto 536 legs. I really like them as they're versatile and strong. They go high, they go low, they're great on uneven ground - on stairs or out in the wild and they're great for travel, since they break down really small. They provide a good solid platform to work from and they don't twist when panning as other legs do. That said, they are not the best choice for everything. I still use my Saachtler Speed Lock legs for everyday situations as they are faster and more stable to deploy. The Manfrotto legs will get you shots that more traditional legs won't but the pay off is they need a little more care when setting up.
 
Mike Garrick said:
Hey Phil

Most probably should post this on "Skully thread", but how is the manfrotto holding up ?
Click to expand...

I'm actually pretty shocked how into the 509/536 I've been. The head is big enough to handle the weight and it balances well. However, the head/legs combo is light enough to lug around to strange far off lands. It's not the lightest, but I imagine it's the lightest quality combo out there from what I've seen. Sometimes I'll even bag the sticks to weigh them down more if I'm feeling a bit top heavy. I've been abusing them and really no issues at all.
 
Thanx Liam & Phil.

My trouble with this set of sticks...... is my old prejudices against the name after all its not a Miller, Statchler, or O'Connor. Maybe everyone should change that..... including me.
 
John Swift said:
... I want it to be stable with everything on
Click to expand...

Do you think you'll want to use a slider, like the 3 or 5' CineSlider?

http://www.kesslercrane.com/product-p/100154.htm

Or, connect a Jib to your tripod - or use the tripod as a dolly?

Not sure that's anything you're interested in, but ... if so, that's a real game changer as far as the tripod.

So, how are you going to shoot? Are you run-n-gun with a rig, are you tripod mounted, are you after smoother camera motion ... how are you going to use the Scarlet 90% of the time?

If you are 90% shoulder mounted, then you're really going to want to spend money on the right rig.

If not, if you're climbing mountains with your tripod, and shooting eagles, you'd want a real light carbon fiber tripod ...

So, maybe some feedback on what you're going to be doing with the Scarlet?

You want to work backwards from the intended use, to determine what you need.
 
I don't normally shoot handheld, so I'm currently debating on a minimalist shoulder rig vs. a video monopod. Im sure i can get some smooth shots between using my top handle, side and pod. Anybody here use a monopod for their Scarlet for quick run n gun work?
 
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