tripod question for the Komodo owners

[Fred Potts]

I have a heavy duty tripod for the Red Epic Dragon which of course is a bit of pain to carry across the desert, into mountains etc... and too big for the Komodo.

So the question for you guys/gals is how small of a tripod could I get away with for the Komodo which will be easy to travel with but still hold the Komodo safely with average size lenses? I have been looking at different ones but would rather take the advice from those that are using light weight tripod then for me to buy one and think WTF and then try to send it back. Thanks in advance. I should be getting my new Komodo end of this week.

 

[Jonathan Keane]

Hi Fred,

When I had my komodo I was using this manfrotto tripod, not too heavy and it did the job.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...to_mvk502am_1_mvh502a_head_with_mvt502am.html

 

[Fred Potts]

thanks

 

[Dustin Schmidt]

I have my Komodo on a Sachtler FSB 8 with flowtech 75 carbon fiber legs. It’s the right balance between being lightweight but still having a decent head that can support enough.

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

I am happy with our Sachtler Ace XL, although I do wish it could made one step stiffer. It perfectly balances our Komodo. I'd get the CF legs if I were doing it again. There is no way I'd buy my O'Connor 1030 again with cameras getting so small. We bought it when we got our first RED Ones, and it was perfect for that monster, but now it's really too much head for the Komodo.

Stephen

 

[Fred Potts]

thanks will heck into those

 

[M Harvey]

I mostly use a Sachtler DV12SB with my Komodo, and I’m sure the newer lighter models (someone mentioned FSB 8) would be great. I stick with the slightly larger 100mm head because I sometimes like to use heavier cinema lenses + matte box + teradek, etc, and going much lighter with a camera built up vertically can be challenging for really light heads. It’s still much lighter than a 1030. Another one to check out in this class would be a used OConnor 515.
I also have a much lighter Miller 75mm head, I think they make good stuff on the lightweight side. Again, depends how much you need to build up the camera, should be a lot of options if you just want to use DSLR lenses and a monitor.

For sticks, my lightweight pair is a Gitzo series 3 XL with interchangeable platforms (75mm, 100mm, flat). I like it because it’s multipurpose—if I’m not using it as a main tripod on a gig, it’s nice with the Komodo for very high angles/looking down.