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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 :)

Looking for lightweight tripod/fluid Head for run and gun shooting

G

Gary Nice

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Hi I am new to the Red world. Still anxiously waiting for the Scarlet X to arrive. I significantly went over my budget on the lenses but I know in long run it is worth it. Now I need to find a tripod/fluid head.

I would love to have a shoulder gunner style set up AND a tripod set up but budget will only allow for one right now. Unless there is something out there that gives me the best of both worlds.

Any suggestion on a lightweight tripod and fluid head for my Scarlet X that is under $1,000. New or Used.

Thanks in advance.

Gary
 
I did a lot of research in the last days as I just got my Epic today. Opened a topic about it, went through old topics,... as im looking for something light to put on the planes,... hiking up mountains.
Everyone suggest to get a 100mm bowl system. For a stripped down Scarlet/Epic 75mm systems are not as good as its on the limits for the counter balance...
The Manfrotto 509 head and 536 sticks is the cheapest version at around 1700usd. But 509 is not fluid head, some people say its bad, some say its awesome for the money...
Everything else is around 3000 or more. Im looking at Miller system now as Compass25 is a really good fluid head and not much havier
 
Thanks everyone. Nick the link you sent fits perfect with my budget. I will check it out
 
Oh geeze. I hate those E-Image tripods.
Ive assisted many a DP who have one for their 5D kit and they always go to shit within a year or two. And that's just being used with dSLRs. I don't think I'd want to put my $20k+ camera on that piece of plastic
I had a Manfrotto 509 and it wasnt a Sachtler but it was pretty good up until it got stolen, so I didn't see how it held up over time. Though with the carbon photo-style legs it was super versatile and lightweight. (position the camera anywhere from 1 foot off the ground to just about 8-9 feet high= awesome)

I feel like sticks/heads are an example of how when you shell out for the right hing it can last your entire life.
As opposed to buying a new piece of crap every year or two.
 
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The tripod is ok, the head is great. If grips touch the tripod they will break it. I actually like the locking mechanism. You do have to go around and make sure all the screws are tight when you first get it, but that should be SOP for chinese stuff. My tripod has been used a ton. Grips broke it twice trying to be helpfull, but I was able to fix it both times. But I mean, for the price, the tripod is practically free anyway.

Nick
 
If you can find one the O'Connor Ultimate DV or DVs heads are the best small heads ever made. They have the same basic design as the 1030/2060/2575 line of heads but have a maximum weight rating of 25 (35 for the "S") I use mine interchangeably with my 2575 when I need a lighter faster setup and I can't tell a difference in smoothness, just inertia and back pain!
 
Nick Gardner said:
I own something like 6 heads, Including a mini worral, an weaver steadman and a cartoni c-20. I bought one of these as an experiment in a little light tripod and head. It's killer. I use it all the time. I routinely use it with an epic and long lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EI7063A2-Vi...20658358687?pt=US_Tripods&hash=item1c17cc719f

Nick
Click to expand...

Hi Gary

I had one of these in the post above and it was good for about 18-24 months and then started falling apart. If you baby it and tighten all the screws then maybe it will be ok, I gave mine away in the end. Glad it's working well for Nick.

Have a look at getting a second hand set of series 3,4 or 5 Gitzo legs and try to pick up a new or second hand G1380 gitzo head.

I got one of these heads really cheap from a dealer in London. It's not a fancy head but it's got a great motion, just be warned you need to replace internal springs to counter balance, it comes with a mix of different springs. We rarely change them though, as it's usually the same rig on these sticks. It's also built like a brick shithouse (Australian term for something very solidly constructed)

We we also have several larger miller tripods which we love but they are way more expensive particularly for the heads.

There's a great German expression 'We are not rich enough to buy cheap'

Good luck.......
 
I think the stated max payload is ... optimistic.
Even if it serves as a lightweight support for a VERY barebones run-n-gun shoot (I wouldn't, just rent a Sachtler weight is a good thing in a tripod/head anyway), you can't say it's a workhorse by any means and it shouldn't be your only/main support.
IMHO If your grips broke it, either they don't know what they're doing or it's not a decent tripod. Experienced grips know how to handle gear.

The one time a production asked me to rig a Red to an E-Image tripod I explained the folly of using a $600 plastic product to support a 25lb rig worth $50,000 and they spent the money to rent an Oconnor 2575 without any debate.

Mind you, being cautious with expensive camera gear is basically my job, but I'm young and maybe I take it too seriously sometimes.
 
Experienced grips know how to handle gear.
Click to expand...
Hahahahhahahahhahahha.... oh jezus, that's the funniest thing i've ever heard. Grips could break a bowling ball. I came upon 3 grips on the beach and they couldn't start a bonfire with a lighter and a 5 gallon jerrycan of diesel fuel.

In all seriousness though, the locking mechanism on the legs is counter intuitive and if you grab it and yank on it, the wrong way, you can break it. I really don't have much good to say about the tripod, it's the head that's a deal. Not much plastic there, the machining is really quite nice. Is it the best head in the world? Of course not. Is it the best head for under a grand? I have never used anything better that cost even close.

Nick
 
Have to agree with the above - I used mine with my epic and a 70-200 for the first time yesterday - the head performs fantastically for the price point.
I am looking at replacing the legs with something else as I find the locking mechanism comes loose when carrying which can be a pain.
because of the weight and size of the head its really handy to be able to detach the head place that in your bag and then strap the legs to the bag making for an extremely transportable but still fluid head solution
 
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