Legs for quick setup

[Martin Weiss]

I'm looking for new legs and would like to have some input.

Small crew, often one-man show. So they should be relatively light and speedy to set up. Carbon Fibre, 100mm ball bearing, and have a mid-level spreader. I love the Sachtler spreader, but have read about the Roadrunner and Miller Sprinter II, and they seem to be quite nifty. Are they?

[T. Glen Phelps]

I really like my O'Connor 25L. I thought at first it looked to fragile by it holds a RED on a 1030 head and takes a lot of abuse.

[Mike Van Laanen]

I got the Miller Sprinter II CF with mid level spreaders and a 1030 HDS head. They are light and with the leg releases all up top, it sets up very quick and easy. Love it and would recommend this package.

I only mount about 30 lbs max on mine and it seems to handle the weight just fine.

[Sam Roberts]

The Sachtler legs with the built in adjustable spreader are nice. Carbon Fibre...very light, and strong.

[Mark Andersen]

I'm looking for new legs and would like to have some input.

Small crew, often one-man show. So they should be relatively light and speedy to set up. Carbon Fibre, 100mm ball bearing, and have a mid-level spreader. I love the Sachtler spreader, but have read about the Roadrunner and Miller Sprinter II, and they seem to be quite nifty. Are they?

I like my Gitzo CF legs they are really sturdy and light. They are spreader less similar to a traditional photo tripod, I have at 75mm all adaptor (I think you can get the 100mm as well) But I am using a Sachtler Video 14 head for travel with a fairly stripped down red camera.I can get everything including the sticks on my back. The leg model I am using is the Gitzo GT5530S

[zak forrest]

I love the Miller SOLO ENG, no spreader though.. Also love the OConnor 25L

both the miller eng and the 25L are practically the same weight and size

[Mitch Gross]

Check out the Panther sticks. The X15 is a good setup in 100mm if you're not going with a heavy setup. Otherwise bumping up to the 150mm T28 is still pretty portable and quick to use.

[Lara Richie]

The Panther sticks are very pretty - but they are probably the worst sticks in the business - and same goes with the Panther heads ( I made that $6000 mistake a few years ago )

The Oconnor 25L are great - almost perfect - if it wasn't for the darn spreaders that keep locking up.

I have heard phenominal things about the Miller, but have not had the chance to use them yet - The Sprinter looks very promising.

[Jeff Coatney]

I'd love to see someone manufacture a good set of sticks in the $2500 - $3000 range for Red. With O'Connor, Sachtler, Bogen, Manfrotto and Vinten all owned by the same company, I feel there is not enough competition in the market and it's keeping prices artificially high. I believe some enterprising start-up with off-shore manufacturing could sweep in with a low-cost, but VERY HIGH QUALITY tripod and "fluid head" for $2K - $3K retail and make some of the 4,500+ Red camera owners very happy. Let's see... 4500 cameras times $2500... Hmmmm.

[Martin Weiss]

Hmmm... isn't that was Libec is trying? Still, most go for know names in Tripods.

Also that 4500 figure is a bit optimistic, since a large portion of those either already has a tripod, or many will go into rental/big productions.

I didn't know that Sachtler and Manfrotto and Vinten were owned by the same company, after all one is made in Germany, one in Italy and one in the UK (or was is Australia?). Am I totally wrong?

[Hans von Sonntag]

If I recall correctly Vitec is the company's name.

And yes, Sachtler, Vinten and O'connor are owned by them.

Hans

[Sanjin Jukic]

If I recall correctly Vitec is the company's name.

And yes, Sachtler, Vinten and O'connor are owned by them.

Hans

Vitec Group (http://www.vitecgroup.com/)

[C.H.Haskell]

The Oconnor legs I had recent experience with (Carbon fiber 25L) seemed pretty clumsy to work with, the legs dont drop on there own when you unlock them...it requires manually extending them which means more time etc. They also made a lot of squeaking noises so perhaps the particular sticks just needed service but the DP was not overall satisfied with them at all.

I am also looking for some quick drop, lock and go sticks myself so I appreciate feedback on this thread...I will be using a 1030HDS head.

[Lara Richie]

Has anyone used the Cartoni Gamma/Delta here?

[Jarred Land]

We actually have a Gamma at RED... its once badass setup, specially with the carbon legs.

[martinnoweck]

Check out the Panther sticks. The X15 is a good setup in 100mm if you're not going with a heavy setup. Otherwise bumping up to the 150mm T28 is still pretty portable and quick to use.


Do really consider the T28 as pretty portable? I used it yesterday and wouldn't label it "pretty portable", but maybe i am getting old ;-)

kind regards from munich,
martin

[Mitch Gross]

It's portable compared to an O'Connor 2060. We had a client in our shop today setting up his new RED with his new 2060 and he is looking at it as a transportable setup. If he can do it (and he can, it's not so bad at all) then the T28 is smaller & lighter so I'd cal that "pretty portable."

But I would suggest investing in a tripod tube with wheels!

[Luca Immesi]

I've found a used Cartoni fl7, it's a great tripod for a light setup. Cartoni tripods are very well designed and they are very practical to use.

[Alan Skinner]

We actually have a Gamma at RED... its once badass setup, specially with the carbon legs.

Jarred,

What model of the Cartoni Gamma/Delta are you using?

I am working with Justin getting my shipping details finished for number 2973 right now and will need a good set of sticks!

[Ronald Reddick]

I use Libec sticks here in Kabul with the 95 head and works like a charm, price point was at $2500 in Dubai, light, fast setup and handles the R1 with rails, Mattbox, 7"LCD, etc with no problem, well balanced

The name is not well known, but the product is top rate
Ron

[Steve Gibby]

I'm looking for new legs and would like to have some input.

Small crew, often one-man show. So they should be relatively light and speedy to set up. Carbon Fibre, 100mm ball bearing, and have a mid-level spreader. I love the Sachtler spreader, but have read about the Roadrunner and Miller Sprinter II, and they seem to be quite nifty. Are they?

Miller Sprinter II CF are excellent, or if you also want to go even lighter for mobile work, the Miller SOLO VJ 1505 CF legs are lightweight and strong. Both these leg types are CF, 100mm ball, and either mid-spreader (Sprinter II) or spreader-less (SOLO VJ). I have multiples of these legs for the multiple Miller 55 heads we use, and also with a Miller 25 head we just bought.

For mobile single-person crews the SOLO VJ CF legs are the best I've used.

[Judy Lehmberg]

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm. I am currently using Gitzo 1325 legs and a Gitzo 1380 head. I want to upgrade. I can correct the vibration with Smoothcam in FCP but would like to avoid that if possible. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have.

[Denis Buhot]

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm. I am currently using Gitzo 1325 legs and a Gitzo 1380 head. I want to upgrade. I can correct the vibration with Smoothcam in FCP but would like to avoid that if possible. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have.

May I ask you some questions : what kind of vibration ? what maximum focal length ? what length of the legs ?

I'm often using very big, heavy lenses, up to 800 mm, for wildlife shooting. I tend to work alone, and a medium sachtler setup is the best I have, as to the weight/sturdiness ratio. Now, when it comes to windy days... no tripod in the world will avoid that kind of vibrations, I fear, as soon as your focal length gets over 300mm... Nor will it avoid vibrations when simply touching the lens for focussing or zooming.

Mind the height of the legs.. the higher, the more vibrations you get.. Most of the situations you meet will require rather small legs, with you sitting or kneeling by the side of the setup often providing the best stability...

Hope this can help, in case you're a newcomer...

[Lauri Kettunen]

I have a question about a good tripod for a one to two person crew shooting wildlife. All of my shooting is outside and wind vibration is a real problem, especially with lenses over 100 mm.

Judy, I'm a one man wildlife team and mainly use Cartoni H602 aluminium 2-stage tripod legs with a 100mm bowl. This work fine outdoors with long and heavy lenses. I'm bit concern of CF tripods in cold conditions, which is why prefer aluminium. Perhaps for no good reason? When really need to minimize weight have an old Manfrotto 500MWB tripod and even that is ok up to 200mm lenses. I think it is the fluid head which is more critical?

[Andrew J.]

For lightweight setups I use a Sachtler V20+ 100mm & ENG-CF 2 Stix with mid level spreader (most people can lift the entire system with one hand).

For a mid weight setup I use a Sachtler V25+ 150mm with Vinten 2 stage mitchell mount heavy duty stix (steel legs), star plate, mid level spreader and a sandbag.

On the market is a portable shooting tent, many hunters use similar tents while hunting, this should reduce wind and help optical stability.

[Judy Lehmberg]

Thanks to everyone for answering my question about wind vibration. For the questions from Buhot: "May I ask you some questions : what kind of vibration ? what maximum focal length ? what length of the legs ?"

1.It is vibration that I can see when I look at the rushes. Something like a rock which should be holding still is moving slightly because the camera is moving in the wind.

For A-J. I actually have one of those tents (bought it originally to take showers in) but a lot of the shooting I do is in national parks and wildlife refuges where I am moving from one spot to the next quite frequently. I have used it at one wildlife refuge (Anahuac) near where I live with great success. This is off topic but that refuge was completely inundated by saltwater - and the remains of a bunch of beach houses - during Hurricane Ike which killed most of the vegetation so it is not a good place to shoot wildlife right now.
2. So far my maximum focal length is 500 mm.
3. I usually have the legs extended about 4 feet. I like your suggestion about shortening the legs. I should have thought of that.

thank you!!
Judy

[Anson Fogel]

My 2 cents - thanks to Gibby, we're using Sprinter CF2 with mid levle spread as well, with Miller 55 head - can't say enough about this setup. We are usually on foot or backountry skis shooting kayaking, timelapse, skiing in very remote areas with 2 man crews, backpacks. Of late, we're in the deep snow a lot above 10K feet in windy, cold winter conditions.

Cold and carbon fiber - no problem at all. Never had any with the Gitzo Mountaineers for Stills and DSLR timelape either.

Wind - the smaller SOLO system Gibby talks about ahs given us problems in wind - the CF2 with mid level spreader is rock solid for TL and other shots that need to be rock solid in wind. We have been setting it up on 40 degree slopes in deep snow with one person in plastic boots, so I can tell you, its the best balance between weight/ease of setup and stability.

We tried other options via borrowing, tried to lighten up to SOLO, Gitzo's, etc - none were good enough, even with a very stripped down RED rig. I even use the Sprinter now for timelpase with a 5d Mk2 as it just does not move when setup right.

We usually carry the head in the backpack and the legs strapped outside a backpack and then screw the head on and move around in a given location. Light enough to run and gun, heavy enough for the most loaded red rig.

End of Sprinter II CF/55 head advertisement.