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.......New Tripod.......

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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
I am in need of a new tripod. I shoot with an ag-hmc40 with xlr adapter and a mic, and occasionally a wide angle; so not that much weight. I do not mainly film skiing but will use it for that too. I film a lot of shorts and do bar mitzvahs. I need a tripod that will pan and tilt well that is also sturdy. I have came across this tripod (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/150608-REG/Slik_615_504.html) and this tripod
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543319-REG/VariZoom_VZ_TK75A.html#specifications) as well as the obvious 501hdv or 701hdv. At absolute most I would spent $350 and I realize there aren't to many options out there for this price. New Schoolers, what are some good tripods?
Sep 7 2010 11:51PM
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action_shot
Posts: 1646 - Karma: 97
Look into Feisol tripods (feisol.com).   They are all carbon fibre and very reasonably priced. As tempting as it might be, avoid the 190 and 055 series from manfrotto.  They seem sturdy until you actually have a decent sized camera on there. They are not made very well and are extremely have.  Save up a bit longer and buy carbon fibre.  You won't regret it, I promise.

Sep 8 2010 12:02AM
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jwalt
Posts: 611 - Karma: 11
I'd say a 501 with a strong set of sticks, or maybe look around at some used libecs or some of their cheaper ones, if $350 is your budget.
Sep 8 2010 12:03AM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
I would steer away from the slik tripod, the varizoom one looks pretty nice, but if you are willing to spend around $350, do so, you wont regret buying a nice tripod, a lot of the times it will out last your camera(s)
Sep 8 2010 12:13PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Ya. The only reason I am mainly looking into these two is that I am trying to spend as little as possible. The more I think about it though a tripod might not be the thing to skimp out on. If the varizoom is say, close to the performance of the Manfrotto 701HDV head I might get that if not I will go for the best in my price range. If someone could tell me if the Varizoom would match up well with the 701 I would probably buy it. If not I will go with other suggestions.
Sep 8 2010 6:39PM
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ILoveOhio
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 253
Please don't skimp out on a tripod.

My Libec LS22 is hardly "amazing" but it's similar to the 501HDV based on mixed opinions from people on the internet. Either way it cost me 400 bucks and I'll have to upgrade someday I'm sure. ATLEAST get a 501HDV.
Sep 8 2010 9:37PM
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chipkalback
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 30
I picked up the Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod legs not too long ago and love them. Sturdy and well built but not overly heavy, all things considered. I've got a 327RC2 head on them but I'm shooting photo, obviously you'd be using a different head for video I'm assuming. As far as legs go I have no complaints whatsoever with the 055XPROB legs!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/504845-REG/Manfrotto_055XPROB_055XPROB_Aluminum_Tripod_Legs.html
Sep 9 2010 10:45AM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399
are you sure the 190xdb legs are heavy? I've heard they are light
Sep 9 2010 10:48AM
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dickwreck
Posts: 221 - Karma: 6
[IMG]para-projects.com/images/mini_tripod.jpg[/IMG]
Sep 9 2010 10:51AM
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action_shot
Posts: 1646 - Karma: 97
I am sure.  For a little bit more money you can get carbon legs that are way lighter and sturdier.Carbon is the sturdiest you can get outside of wood.
Sep 9 2010 1:53PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
I haven't used anything else to compare them to but for what its worth I like them. They've been great for me.
Sep 9 2010 8:18PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
how do these 3 compare to a manfrotto 701 hdv and 190 legs?
http://www.amazon.com/Bescor-Aluminum-Mid-Level-Spreader-Supports/dp/B002OKZP8Q/ref=sr_1_27?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1285899321&sr=1-27
http://www.amazon.com/Fancier-Professional-Heavy-Camcorder-Tripod/dp/B003UOHPQU/ref=sr_1_39?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1285899321&sr=1-39
http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-AVTP-Professional-Camera-Tripod/dp/B00139W0XM/ref=pd_cp_p_2
Sep 30 2010 10:22PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
those are all going to be very big and bulky compared to the 701-190 setup. You'd have a hard time strapping those to your back if you even could, and they all will be fairly heavy.
Sep 30 2010 10:45PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
besides that do you think the heads are compareable and the second one doesnt seem to be that heavy
Sep 30 2010 10:49PM
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ILoveOhio
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 253
No. Don't get anything below a 501.
Sep 30 2010 11:39PM
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396222687862
Posts: 0 - Karma: 350
right! get the 501, the 701 is too small for your cam. i used to shoot with a 501, and changed to a 701. but thats because i shoot with a hv20. get the bigger head
Oct 2 2010 2:28AM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/560852-REG/Manfrotto_BO190XDB501K_Video_Tripod_System.html

its $259 and you get a $50 mail-in rebate, 501 head and the 190 legs, pretty good deal
Oct 6 2010 9:49AM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
http://www.lumieretech.com/store/product.php?productid=16189 ?
Oct 10 2010 9:30PM
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dickwreck
Posts: 221 - Karma: 6
Click for larger image



Just a suggestion?
Oct 10 2010 9:50PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
i found one of those in a box of crap i had, i use it for my gopro now, haha

but really 501 head for sure
Oct 10 2010 9:53PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 403
i know this is just a review of the head. but cheesy is real stoked on this super cheap fluid.

http://cheesycam.com/hidden-treasure-awesome-video-fluid-head-717ah/

http://cheesycam.com/hidden-treasure-awesome-video-fluid-head-717ah/ ??
Oct 10 2010 9:57PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 403
sorry i didnt read that you were shooting with an hmc40... that fluid might be too small
Oct 10 2010 10:00PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Can you please explain why this is too small. The manufacturers website says it's rated to 13 pounds and my hmc is no where near that weight.
Oct 11 2010 12:06AM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
I recognize I probably sound like an idiot but I don't know anything about tripods.
Oct 11 2010 12:18AM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
anybody?
Oct 11 2010 2:11PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 403
i didnt know it was rated for weights that high. i just figured that most of the stuff on cheesycam is more specific towards DSLR's rather than full size videocameras. so in that case, its probably fine
Oct 11 2010 9:43PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Ok thank you very much. Unless anyone has used this tripod and knows anything bad about it I will probably end up getting it.
Oct 11 2010 10:00PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
So I used a friends 501 hdv and wasnt impressed at all. What would be a better tripod that is still not very expensive (under $400 if possible) that is still portable
Nov 17 2010 7:36PM
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ruv2ski
Posts: 14 - Karma: 30
manfrotto <3 <3 <3 <3
Nov 21 2010 3:33PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Unfortunately, that is about as nice as you're going to get unless you want to spend $840 on a Sachtler FSB 4. After that, all your options start at about $1300. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

Manfrotto makes models that fill the gap, but unfortunately they are pretty much the same thing as a 501 with a few minor differences (and a could hundred dollars added to the price tag). At that point, there is no reason to spend $700 on a 501-quality tripod when you could enter an entirely new level and get an
Nov 22 2010 3:00PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Okay. Thank you. You have been a lot of help in this thread. I will probably just end up getting the 501 then because I just don't have $800 dollars to spend on a tripod.
Nov 22 2010 3:23PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Dont know why NS is so fucky...

At that point, there is no reason to spend $700 on a 501-quality tripod when you could enter an entirely new level and get an
Nov 22 2010 3:29PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
and get an actual fluid head for $840 (Manfrotto 701/501/503 heads aren't fluid heads).
Nov 22 2010 3:30PM
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