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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 :)

Tripod + Fluid Head Recommendations?

Jason beaumont

Jason beaumont

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If you are considering the 504 for an Scarlet, I would strongly advice to go up to the 509. It's a bit bigger and heavier, but is more geared towards cameras of this weight class.
 
Agree with Phil
Have the 509 on Sachtler CF sticks. Not the quality of a Sachtler head (I had to retire my Sachtler 18II) but considering the price diff (I have seen 509s at $799 now) its a damn nice head.
Notably lighter than my old 18II.
Handles my 22Lb-ish Scarlet just fine....

Stu Aull
Sx 199
Alaska
 
thanks for the input just saved me from wasting on that model. ok any other good options aside from the 509
 
Hi phil. How is the panning with the 509. Going for it if you think panning is smooth enough. Thanks.
 
It's smooth enough for me. I enjoy using it and I can operate the pan/tilt smoothly. It has a very nice break system. Perhaps the nicest that Manfrotto has produced really. Opened up and it moves free and fairly friction-less. Braked down you'll find yourself with some really nice force to push against. So much so, that if you adjust the brake all the way to max you may even move lighter legs like the Carbon Fiber 536.

I pretty much use the 509HD with the 536 legs and a set of two stage aluminum sticks with a mid spreader. I prefer this type of gear for production work and the 536 are there for more field and special use. The bloody thing does indeed go up 7 feet. Which has come in handy about a dozen and a half times over the last year and change.

It's smooth. It's not an OConnor 1030 though. Different price points. Different beasts. I think the Manfrotto is one of the better deals out there when it comes to value though.

Some additional thoughts I guess while I'm at it. I also own several other lower end Manfrotto heads. Pretty early on I realized that none of those were going to cut it. I did test out the 504. I dropped a 20lb sand bag on top of it to see how it handled the weight over at Filmtools. Didn't feel super secure for that payload. Depending on my camera setup my camera typcially comes in around 15-30lbs, which makes the 509HD ideal for my use.

Here's some shots to give you an idea of scale:

snowSkully.jpg


_MG_1217.jpg


Also, if you're curious about the 536 legs, here they are at max height. I'm 5'6".

_MG_1099.jpg
 
Hey Phil,
I love the graphics on your V-mount battery, great idea! Did you have stickers printed?
 
Michel Rabe said:
Hey Phil,
I love the graphics on your V-mount battery, great idea! Did you have stickers printed?
Click to expand...

Yep. I've seen batteries lifted off set over the years. Hard to miss these guys and if you do accidentally grab them it's pretty clear who's they are.

If you're working with crews, especially multi-camera shoots, labeling in general is a pretty damn smart idea.

The skull logo has been with me for a bit over a decade now. It's based on a painting I did years ago that some folks responded well to. The branding kinda stuck with me. I made shirts at some point for people who picked up the first 100 copies of my first music album back in 2008 even. I should come up with something more universal or perhaps more discreet.
 
Michel Rabe said:
I don't know, that's exactely what I like about it, it gives the whole piece of gear some soul or spirit, opposite to usual labeling.
Click to expand...

Well it certainly made naming my camera a heck of a lot easier :) Dragon is going to get a new name whenever it lands in my hands. I've had a year to think about that.


Eric Santiago said:
F that, if you're coming to NAB, bring a shirt for me to buy :)
Click to expand...

Heh. I'll see if I got one laying around.

Based on Jim's and Jarred's comments I don't see how I could miss NAB this year. I'll be there bouncing around for sure.

Dragon fulfills Jim's mission in making a true digital film replacement/alternative. Some think that the Red One, Epic, and Scarlet already did that. I'm of that school of thought. However, Dragon pushes forward into some fairly uncharted territory. And I love to explore uncharted territory.
 
Hehe, i remember seeing those pics and reading your comments about the 509/536 when i was looking for a tripod. To make it short i have the 509/536-combo too and i really like it. Really good stuff, especially for it's price.
 
I have the cartoni focus on miller solo carbon fiber sticks. It works great and is super light. The miller sticks are just awesome. They get to under a foot off the ground and up to like 7 feet with a capacity of 66lbs. I've never been a huge fan of MAnfrotto heads and really dislike their sticks. I hate messing with spreaders.
 
I just bought a Sachtler FSB-4 for my DSLR rigs, this is a real fluid head and worth every penny. Pans and tilts are very smooth. Sachtlers 75mm heads will support up to 20lbs with their FSB-8 head. If you need more weight than that you can step up to 100mm. Another alternative is miller tripods. The compass 25 will support up to 22lbs, but has less levels of counterbalance. Pick your poison. Spend the extra $$$ and get a real head.
 
Phil Holland said:
It's smooth enough for me. I enjoy using it and I can operate the pan/tilt smoothly. It has a very nice break system. Perhaps the nicest that Manfrotto has produced really. Opened up and it moves free and fairly friction-less. Braked down you'll find yourself with some really nice force to push against. So much so, that if you adjust the brake all the way to max you may even move lighter legs like the Carbon Fiber 536.

I pretty much use the 509HD with the 536 legs and a set of two stage aluminum sticks with a mid spreader. I prefer this type of gear for production work and the 536 are there for more field and special use. The bloody thing does indeed go up 7 feet. Which has come in handy about a dozen and a half times over the last year and change.

It's smooth. It's not an OConnor 1030 though. Different price points. Different beasts. I think the Manfrotto is one of the better deals out there when it comes to value though.

Some additional thoughts I guess while I'm at it. I also own several other lower end Manfrotto heads. Pretty early on I realized that none of those were going to cut it. I did test out the 504. I dropped a 20lb sand bag on top of it to see how it handled the weight over at Filmtools. Didn't feel super secure for that payload. Depending on my camera setup my camera typcially comes in around 15-30lbs, which makes the 509HD ideal for my use.

Here's some shots to give you an idea of scale:

snowSkully.jpg


_MG_1217.jpg


Also, if you're curious about the 536 legs, here they are at max height. I'm 5'6".

_MG_1099.jpg
Click to expand...

I have the same one... I love it.
 
Today I did something dirty. Very dirty. Used a the 509HD with a 100mm ball on a 75mm set of sticks. I have an older Varizoom two stage tripod mid level spreader that's a pretty compact, which made it suitable to rig up on for the low shots I needed today. Shooting children. Loosened up the drag a bit and worked great. Certainly not the most stable concept, but I don't know if I've ever mixed bowls before. Hell, don't think I even thought to do that before today. Felt like I was living dangerously.
 
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