HVX200 Tripod

[Rennie Klymyk]

[Vincent Becquiot] “Also remember that you are buying something you will very likely keep for decades. “

Take a look at the B&H web site. Tripods cost over $15,000.00 nowadays! Unlike audio and video they haven’t gone digital and of coarse never will. For this reason it is a more important investment than a camera which will have a shorter life.

A human simply can not achieve the constant speed and smoothness of a motorized pan/tilt head but a good tripod will come close. Fluid heads absorb the over/under pressure we exert on the pan handle during pans and tilts and help us achieve useable camera motion. The moment we see a speed change or bump during a pan on the screen we are immediately drawn out of the movie and reminded of the camera guy who shot it. A good editor wouldn’t allow the shot or have to cut on the bump.

Invest in a good tripod and you will always love yourself for doing so every time you use it.

[Shawn Miller]

I think we may be overlooking the fact that the application doesn’t call for beautiful pans and tilts. The HVX is a very light weight camera, and covering news style live events doesn’t exactly require a lot of adjustment (once properly framed). In this case, I think a $500.00 tripod might be exactly the right thing. Just my poinion. 🙂

Shawn

[Kerry Brown]

Check B&H for a Libec its in your price range.
Libec LS38 Tripod System- Consists of: H38 Fluid Head, T72 Tripod, PH-3 Pan Handle, SP-1 Spreader, and TC-60 Case- Supports 17.6 lb (8 kg) $649.95

I have a TH series thats even cheaper I use with a PD150. Does a decent job for the price.

KB

[Vince Becquiot]

Sorry, I couldn’t disagree more. Shooting on any camera with a bad tripod will make any camera “lightweight”.

If you are simply framing, then why not just buy a $50.00 tripod at Walmart, save $450.00.

I actually still own a $600.00 manfroto tripod. I wouldn’t use it for my still camera (Joking aside, one wonders where the fluid is in that head)

Many use the HVX for much more than news shoots. In fact, the P2 workflow is probably the least suited for unscripted shoots or live events.

Reducing your shooting style to framing because of a bad tripod seems silly doesn’t it? Buying a new tripod every couple of years because you are getting a new camera sure seems silly to me too… I bought the cheap tripods like many others, I learned my lesson.

Cheers,

Vince

[D. scott Dobbie]

“halfway decent?” I LOVE my Cartoni Focus. Had it since a year ago August when I got the HVX200. Think it was priced (at the time) closer to $1800, but I believe I got it for $1600 since I was buying the camera and everything else at the time. Had no problems and, IMO, it’s incredibly smooth.

[Shawn Miller]

“Shooting on any camera with a bad tripod will make any camera “lightweight”.”

I was actually speaking in a literal manner… the HVX isn’t very heavy, so it’s fairly stable on a less than robust tripod.

“Many use the HVX for much more than news shoots. In fact, the P2 workflow is probably the least suited for unscripted shoots or live events.”

Good thing it can also record to tape eh’? I actually shoot a fair number of live corporate events with the HVX. Sometimes P2 is perfectly appropriate for the situation, sometime it isn’t.

“If you are simply framing, then why not just buy a $50.00 tripod at Walmart, save $450.00.”

I’ve actually had to do that before – there’s a HUGE difference between a $50.00 tripod and a $500.00 tripod. 🙂

“Reducing your shooting style to framing because of a bad tripod seems silly doesn’t it?”

In the context of the original post, no. All I’m saying is that the Bogen tripod is perfectly appropriate for the stated purpose… that’s all.

Thanks,

Shawn

[Vince Becquiot]

Understood, but he probably won’t be doing this for ever. He’ll probably want to move on, that’s when the better tripod will be needed. Again, he could spend that much or a little more on a much better used Vinten, etc… A cheaper tripod will not have any resell value, a high end tripod always will.

Vince

[Barry Green]

It’s pretty darn good for the price, isn’t it? I’m saying “halfway decent” in the context of $5,000 to $8,000 tripods. The Focus, to borrow a boxing term, “punches way above its weight.” But it’s not perfect, of course. Way infinitely better than a $500 tripod though.

[Clyde Villegas]

Try the Velbon DV7000. It’s very very cheap at only $110. If you don’t like it, just toss it… or send it to me for Christmas.

[Pasha Patriki]

uMM,
take the manfrotto off that list please. their gear does not stand up to the quality of brands like Cartoni and Sachtler.
You can get one for under $1500 – try what I have – Cartoni Focus DV head with a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod ( Mountaneer or something like that).