So many people are so immersed into the latest cameras and glass that tripods are too often overlooked.
Depending on the show or company, I've encountered Sachtler, Miller, Manfrotto, Vinten, and Cartoni tripods. Some are great, others are garbage.
I love Sachtler tripods but... can't afford to buy one, yet. For my experience, they are true workhorses and I have only seen one fail because it was in disrepair.
For your personal camera rigs (Sony Fs7, Canon C300, Black Magic, etc. ) that are 20-40lbs, what are your favorite tripods that are under $10k? Why?
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Yep, all I ever rent are Sachtler tripods. Can’t afford them either.
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Any Sachtler from the 18 series and larger works really well. However so does the Vinten and Cartoni. For all scripted style working with medium weight cameras (not documentary) the 25/75 O'Connor heads are probably my favourite.
Interestingly, for smaller lighter heads there are a number of Sachtler clones on the market that work very well. Some of these are better than the lightweight Sachtler heads that just do not feel right to me.
Andrew Sobkovich O'Connor heads are nice, indeed. Have not seen the Sachtler clones but I'm not surprised they exist.
Hannes Famira Ronford Bakers are beastly! I have not seen a mini jib plus configuration. I'll google it to check it out.
Dan MaxXx Nice rig. Someone just introduced me to the Sachtler Hot Pod. Some ENG guys swear by them. They buy you some height but I'm not a fan of the weight.
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Never liked Sachtler outside of ENG/doc type work where weight is the advantage.. cannot explain why, I just hate them. I have favored O'Connor 1030 for small cameras / 2575 for cinema style work. Ronford leg sets. All of the above as rental. Personal kit today; standard and baby 100mm Lisand* legs and an older Miller head... adequate for tiny cameras (rigged DSLR range).*If you own a set, you are old.
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Royce Allen Dudley had to google the Lisand legs... (LOL) I think we had a set in film school back '98-ish, when were still using 16mm on the Arri S & Arri Sr2. I have a client who just bought two new Miller tripods. Haven't tried them out yet.
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Old is when you have a cherished shirt with a circular grease stain on the right front of the chest a few inches below the shoulder and a faint oily smudge on one or both shoulders. From documentary days shooting with an Eclair NPR and an O'Connor 50 head. The fluid that O'Connor used to use turned out to be a carcinogen. Was replaced with a fluid that wasn't toxic and seemed to work a little better.
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Just Googled the Eclair NPR... looks awesome and painful w/o a shoulder pad. Lol. I guess we're spoiled these days.
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Sachtler was top of the line before Vitec bought the company. If you look you'll find used ones on Craigslist and ebay and often a used old Sachtler is better than a brand new bogen.
That's speaking to the larger point in general about buying expensive gear. Longevity and brand recognition or (resale value) When you spend a lot, you're not really buying anything because you are likely able to resell it for close to the purchase price. Whereas when you buy cheap gear, you're wasting your money cause it won't be worth anything when you're done with it. And you'll be done with it a lot faster. The head will freeze up and the start of every move will be jerky.
Also, always go with a drop-plate. Sliding plates are awful.
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They are sturdy as can be cheap as dirt.
Relatively.
Buy a surveyors tripod from amazon for about $50..
Here’s a one. $44
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW0737-Heavy-Duty-Tripod/dp/B000RFRM0O/ref...
Buy a head adaptor for $8
https://www.amazon.com/Baosity-Female-Thread-Adaptor-Microphone/dp/B07DD...
Throw a gear head or ball mound or fluid head on it and you are cooking. You might have to brace the head a little but I have a super light camera.
Ps... shooting with a DeWalt tripod, and having a guy hang around nearby with a big orange stick is a good decoy of you’re shooting commando. Just saying.
Also, there are sturdier models. But it’s up to you. This is not for an 11K Arri or some such.
But sturdy and cheap. You might be able to come up with a sturdier head confit. I shoot with a DSLR so it’s not so much an issue with me.