Legs for quick setup

[Steve Gibby]

I'm looking for new legs and would like to have some input.

Small crew, often one-man show. So they should be relatively light and speedy to set up. Carbon Fibre, 100mm ball bearing, and have a mid-level spreader. I love the Sachtler spreader, but have read about the Roadrunner and Miller Sprinter II, and they seem to be quite nifty. Are they?

Miller Sprinter II CF are excellent, or if you also want to go even lighter for mobile work, the Miller SOLO VJ 1505 CF legs are lightweight and strong. Both these leg types are CF, 100mm ball, and either mid-spreader (Sprinter II) or spreader-less (SOLO VJ). I have multiples of these legs for the multiple Miller 55 heads we use, and also with a Miller 25 head we just bought.

For mobile single-person crews the SOLO VJ CF legs are the best I've used.

 

[Judy Lehmberg]

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm. I am currently using Gitzo 1325 legs and a Gitzo 1380 head. I want to upgrade. I can correct the vibration with Smoothcam in FCP but would like to avoid that if possible. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have.

 

[Denis Buhot]

vibrations ??

vibrations ??

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm. I am currently using Gitzo 1325 legs and a Gitzo 1380 head. I want to upgrade. I can correct the vibration with Smoothcam in FCP but would like to avoid that if possible. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have.

May I ask you some questions : what kind of vibration ? what maximum focal length ? what length of the legs ?

I'm often using very big, heavy lenses, up to 800 mm, for wildlife shooting. I tend to work alone, and a medium sachtler setup is the best I have, as to the weight/sturdiness ratio. Now, when it comes to windy days... no tripod in the world will avoid that kind of vibrations, I fear, as soon as your focal length gets over 300mm... Nor will it avoid vibrations when simply touching the lens for focussing or zooming.

Mind the height of the legs.. the higher, the more vibrations you get.. Most of the situations you meet will require rather small legs, with you sitting or kneeling by the side of the setup often providing the best stability...

Hope this can help, in case you're a newcomer...

 

[Lauri Kettunen]

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm.

Judy, I'm a one man wildlife team and mainly use Cartoni H602 aluminium 2-stage tripod legs with a 100mm bowl. This work fine outdoors with long and heavy lenses. I'm bit concern of CF tripods in cold conditions, which is why prefer aluminium. Perhaps for no good reason? When really need to minimize weight have an old Manfrotto 500MWB tripod and even that is ok up to 200mm lenses. I think it is the fluid head which is more critical?

 

[Andrew J.]

For lightweight setups I use a Sachtler V20+ 100mm & ENG-CF 2 Stix with mid level spreader (most people can lift the entire system with one hand).

For a mid weight setup I use a Sachtler V25+ 150mm with Vinten 2 stage mitchell mount heavy duty stix (steel legs), star plate, mid level spreader and a sandbag.

On the market is a portable shooting tent, many hunters use similar tents while hunting, this should reduce wind and help optical stability.

 

[Judy Lehmberg]

Thanks to everyone for answering my question about wind vibration. For the questions from Buhot: "May I ask you some questions : what kind of vibration ? what maximum focal length ? what length of the legs ?"

1.It is vibration that I can see when I look at the rushes. Something like a rock which should be holding still is moving slightly because the camera is moving in the wind.

For A-J. I actually have one of those tents (bought it originally to take showers in) but a lot of the shooting I do is in national parks and wildlife refuges where I am moving from one spot to the next quite frequently. I have used it at one wildlife refuge (Anahuac) near where I live with great success. This is off topic but that refuge was completely inundated by saltwater - and the remains of a bunch of beach houses - during Hurricane Ike which killed most of the vegetation so it is not a good place to shoot wildlife right now.
2. So far my maximum focal length is 500 mm.
3. I usually have the legs extended about 4 feet. I like your suggestion about shortening the legs. I should have thought of that.

thank you!!
Judy

 

[Anson Fogel]

Cold, Windy, Remote 1-2 Man Crew Using Sprinter CF2

Cold, Windy, Remote 1-2 Man Crew Using Sprinter CF2

My 2 cents - thanks to Gibby, we're using Sprinter CF2 with mid levle spread as well, with Miller 55 head - can't say enough about this setup. We are usually on foot or backountry skis shooting kayaking, timelapse, skiing in very remote areas with 2 man crews, backpacks. Of late, we're in the deep snow a lot above 10K feet in windy, cold winter conditions.

Cold and carbon fiber - no problem at all. Never had any with the Gitzo Mountaineers for Stills and DSLR timelape either.

Wind - the smaller SOLO system Gibby talks about ahs given us problems in wind - the CF2 with mid level spreader is rock solid for TL and other shots that need to be rock solid in wind. We have been setting it up on 40 degree slopes in deep snow with one person in plastic boots, so I can tell you, its the best balance between weight/ease of setup and stability.

We tried other options via borrowing, tried to lighten up to SOLO, Gitzo's, etc - none were good enough, even with a very stripped down RED rig. I even use the Sprinter now for timelpase with a 5d Mk2 as it just does not move when setup right.

We usually carry the head in the backpack and the legs strapped outside a backpack and then screw the head on and move around in a given location. Light enough to run and gun, heavy enough for the most loaded red rig.

End of Sprinter II CF/55 head advertisement.