Tripods « Videomaker Community Forums

compusolver
Member

(There's no "Tripod" section, so I figured "Camcorders" is at least a "Gear" section)

We've had some previous posts regarding tripods, but nothing really in depth. After blowing a hundred on one tripod and a hundred and a half on another - both "good names" supposively, I still had problems with smooth pans and tilts and decided to resolve the issue once and for all. After months of research, this is what I bought:

3460 (503) Pro Video Head & 3251 Tripod Legs (both Manfrotto/Bogen)

This rig costs nearly six hundred dollars with shipping and all.

The head is a true fluid-head, which the 501 actually is not (only partially fluid) and according to people who've owned both, it makes a big difference. It also allows you to balance the cam so you can leave the tilt drag light without having the cam droop forward.

The legs weigh about thirteen pounds and all legs release/lock with just one single lever for speedy setups.

I'd like to hear what other people are using and the cons and pros of different setups.

Posted 6 years ago #
KBVP
Member

For my JVC-5000U I use a Bogen 516. I have used it for a year under every condition imaginable. So far, I am very happy with it. Yes, there are better and more expensive heads, but the price versus performance is very good.

http://www.fullcompass.com/ImageFromDB.aspx?imgid=9390

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

According to markertek.com -
Bogen 516 Pro Video Head w/2 Handle The 516 is the Heavy-Duty cousin to the smaller 503 head..

..figures - your camera costs several times what the average prosumer cam costs.

What set of legs do you use with that?

Posted 6 years ago #
KBVP
Member

I used my old Miller 20 sticks. Although they are 20 years old, the quality and features make it a good competitor. Kinda like a classic car.

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

So you use a six thousand dollar camera to do extreme videos? I won't even take my VX2100s on canoe trips, preferring to risk my $180 Samsung Hi-8 instead, having previously learned that Sony 8mm Pro-cams don't float for very long.

Old classics are good. Just the other day, my lady referred to me as one, though her exact words were something like "...old broken-down junker." X-D

Posted 6 years ago #
KBVP
Member

I use different cameras depending on the situation. When doing really close high speed mountain biking shots, I use a GL-1 with a Canon super wide adapter. For the aircraft on board cameras and mountain bikers helmet cams, I record onto Canon ZRs.(no tears if they get busted!)
Shooting aerobatic planes really requires a camera with excellent focus, viewfinder, zoom control, audio features, and iris managemnent. The JVC-5000U has tons of really great features for this, plus shooting stage and seminars is really easy. I like the ability to instantly change a set up feature with switches versus going through an electronic menu. When the JVC is on the tripod,(99% of the time) I use the studio remote handle with zoom and record controls. I'm starting to get a lot of seminar work, so I'm looking at getting a really good 5-7 inch LCD monitor to mount on the camera. I do all seminars with two cameras for an A/B roll finished product. To save editing time, I may have to go to live A/B switching- a nightmare in itself!

Posted 6 years ago #
faqvideo
Member

I have been working mostly with Sahtler and Winten various model tripods for news and wedding coverage. They are all good. Check for portabillity and a size of a bubble. You may need to buy a light for a small size bubble if you are planning to shoot in twilight or overnight.

Some portable (two section) models are good for travel but may be not tall enough for your application and vice versa.

Shoot-It-Yourself Wedding Video
Shoot-It-Yourself Wedding Video Guide, http://www.faqvideo.com/siy_book

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Check for portabillity

Yup, that's what everyone says. I just read a new wedding videography book that minimized the necessity of even using tripods - they say to use them during the ceremony, but during preps and rehearsal you may not have time to mess with a tripod.

I say BULL&$@* (translation: "poppycock") !

My competitors make it so easy to compete against them because they do way too much handheld stuff. Unless you're going for a special effect that calls for a specific type of camera movement that can't be done on a tripod - unless your subject is in motion or your camera is in motion (for a reason) or both, you need to be on a tripod.

Not just any old tripod either. Unless you're backpacking miles from civilization and just cannot bring the weight, I say "forget portability". What you need is a stable platform from which you can get smooth pans and tilts. That's the most important criteria.

The reason most wedding videographers only use highlights in their demo videos is that there is too much camera shaking, too much reliance on automatic exposure and focus and use of just one single mic. You can't sit through a whole wedding video done like this and not get nauseous!

Nuts to portability. Get a good solid set of sticks with a really decent fluid head. Then hit the gym so that lugging it all around won't have you dragging before the reception is over.

Just off the top of my head, I think the total weight of my sticks, head, camera and mounted gear goes just about twenty-five pounds, yet I'm all over the place with it. My wife lugs about fifteen pounds with her sticks, etc. and she never takes the camera off the tripod. She moves around so fast that we have to use comm gear to stay in touch!

Posted 6 years ago #
Digital Video
Member

compusolver,
Check out this web site http://www.gavinholt.com/
He sells his product against everthing most believe is right. He found his nich in the weddings videography. I think most would want a quality video to look back upon but you never know. His angles are good but he states as a selling point why there's bad quality of video.

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

You can't watch a whole wedding video that's shot like this without taking drammamine! It's nausiating. Not only does he never use a tripod, but he's using his on-camera mic. When the groom and bride answer whether they take each other... you can hardly even hear them. Also, he has to run circles around the couple to get these shots. He claims that he tries to not be distracting, but it HAS to be distracting!

He's a disgrace to professional wedding videographers everywhere!

Posted 6 years ago #
KBVP
Member

I would equate it to home video. To disect the individual points is a waste of my time.

Posted 6 years ago #