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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 :)

Ultimate lightweight tripod system for Epic...

I'm with Tom Lowe on the Manfrotto 536 CF sticks, very light weight (7lbs.). As far as fluid heads, the Sachtler DV12 SB (5.5lbs) is perfect for anything under 30lbs
and has the feel of the big boy Sachtler
 

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I've shot out of backpacks in very remote places for years, and found this very light set up:

Miller Solo tripod and Sachtler DV 8. 75 mm rig comes in under 10 lbs. I'm in Argentina with another set up, so I can't send specs or pix, but it's fine for Red with Nikon lenses.

I use a beefier Sachtler head and ENG-2 carbon legs for big lenses and teleprompters. Always found them smoother than the Millers. (had a 30 for a while)
 
I glanced at that head, but didn't really put my hands on it... Personally, I'm really liking the Miller Compass heads with their Solo CF legs. ...They're more $pendy though. I already own the solo legs, just looking for a lighter head than the Arrow 55 for my lightweight configs. The Solos are perfect for strapping to a backpack.

I wish O'Connor still made a 'small' head. Eric from O'Connor introduced himself to me and all that in the middle of me talking with Finner, Stephen Lovett and a few other redusers and I totally spaced out the questions I was going to ask him before I realized we (Stephen and I) had to go to swing by the FXPHD thing and then the SuperMeet. Next year I will spend more time at NAB. Hopefully.
 
I don't think Manfrotto is a serious player in fluid heads, at least not yet. Vitec group already has Sachtler, Vinten, etc.

I'm hoping to pick up a Sachtler video 15 or 18 soon.
 
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I've personally always preferred the Vintens to the Sachtler but if I couldn't roll Ocon it would be Miller most likely.
Ronford Baker also makes some damn nice heads as does Cartoni but they're all in the O'Connor price spectrum.
 
I have an extra pair of the Miller Solo 1505, three stage, spreader-less, CF legs I just listed via a new thread in the Equipment for Sale forum. They support up to 66 pounds, weigh just 6 pounds, and have a 100mm bowl. They're in as-new condition and come with an as-new Kata bag. Love these legs for mobile work with R1 and Epic! This is just an extra pair I had in my kits.

For those who may be interested, here's a link to my sale thread:

Link: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?62860-FS-Miller-1505-CF-legs-case
 
Hey everybody,

I do some paying ENG work and I'm starting to do some narrative pieces. Time to buy some real gear.

I really like Evin's setup in the first post, but I'm concerned about the O'Connor 515 on two fronts. It is heavy and the load maxes out at 18 lbs. I like the idea of the Cartoni Focus HD, it's light (4.4 lbs) and has a 26 lbs max load. The Cartoni and the Gitzo GT3541 XLS comes in at just under 9 lbs. Seems like I would not outgrow the Cartoni's capacity. On the flip side I take it that the O'Connor is superior in it's fuction, right?

Having never used anything in this league, could you all offer up your thoughts? My list of contenders follows:

Sticks

Gitzo GT3541 XLS
Pros - Height & Weight
Cons - Slow setup

Manfrotto 536
Pros - Cost, Height
Cons - Heavier than the Gitzo, slow setup

Sachtler Speed Lock 75
Pros - Fast setup
Cons - Limited height

Heads

O'Connor 515
Pros - Evin's recommendation, smooth
Cons - Heavy

Cartoni Focus HD
Pros - Light 4.4 lbs, 26 lbs load
Cons - ?

Sachtler FSB-8
Pro - Light 4.6 lbs, 20 lbs load
Cons - Pricier
 
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The weight rating on the 515 is conservative, I think you could go to 20+ pounds and still achieve a counter balanced load provided you conneed directly to the bottom Of the camera IE not using an Arri dovetail/base plate.

The little Cartoni and Sachtlers are servicable but not n the same leauge as the O'Connors in smoothness.
 
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Thanks for sharing Evin, been looking for a solution in this range...1200ish, I am using an oconnor 50D for studio but keen to have something more mobile.
 
Evin, I'm curious to know how you tied down your Oconnor head on the Gitzo. Did you just remove the center pin (on the Gitzo) and passed through the tiedown from the head?
 
This thread is very helpful. I feckin LOVE reduser. thanks guys
 
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Jean Déraps said:
Evin, I'm curious to know how you tied down your Oconnor head on the Gitzo. Did you just remove the center pin (on the Gitzo) and passed through the tiedown from the head?
Click to expand...

Gitzo makes a 100mm ball adapter for this tripod.
 
Tom Lowe said:
nilotripod.jpg


Yeah, but can your assistant swing from the Gitzos like a jungle gym? :beer:
Click to expand...

I just found my tripod legs and for the crane...Thank you for this PIC!
 
I need to do some one-man-crew shooting so I'm looking at getting a light weight tripod. Currently I have the Sachtler Video 20 S1 which is around 12kg heavy in total. It's awesome but its pretty hard to transport.

Has anyone tried something like a Gitzo stick and a Sachtler Video 20 S1 head?

I thought I would keep using my Sachtler Head which is 3kg heavy and have sticks that are around 2k.

When I pan can the sticks actually handle the rotation force? It feels like it must make a huge difference to not have a spreader, but I have not experience with these lighter setups.

Any thoughts would be great!
/Andreas
 
WTB: Looking For OConnor Heads

WTB: Looking For OConnor Heads

Late to this thread, but the combination of an OConnor 515 or DV with the Gitzo sticks is very compelling.

The only problem is the rarity of the smaller OConnor heads, so ...

Does anyone in the big rental markets (NY, LA etc) know who might have a 515 or DV head for sale out of their new-old-stock or rentals?

Here is where I've checked so far:

1) ebay (of course) (prices are all over the place: few weeks ago $1200 for a near new 515 and sticks, to $3500 for DV and sticks)
2) NovaCam (Larry Gebhardt seems like a really cool guy. His heads are refurbed and ready for customization)
3) Advanced Google Searches for rental houses etc.

Any leads much appreciated.

BTW: The closest high-value fluid heads for mirror-less SLRs (GH4) and Reds seem to be the Miller Compass 20/25 and (on the lighter end) the Really Right Stuff FH-350. While the FH-350 has infinitely variable sinusoidal counterbalance, it won't balance more than 10 lbs effectively. The Compass20 and 25 get good reviews but they aren't sinusoidal. Neither of them have continuously variable pan speeds.

thx again
 
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