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Trying to decide on the best tripod for my needs! Experienced needed!
Hey guys,
I’m just about to purchase a GH2, and i’m looking to invest well in good tripod.
Thing is I’d like to use it when I go hiking, and so light weight and very compact is what i’m after.
I am 6’4 tall, and from everything I’ve read everyone suggests to get a tripod that brings the camera up to my eye level before extending a center post?This seems crazy to me as that puts me in the 3.4kg bracket of tripod 🙁
The ones I did like, and was keen to go for as its quite light weight is:
Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs
Maximum Height 66.9″ (170cm)
Maximum Height w/o Column Extended 53.3″ (135.5cm)
Minimum Height 4.5″ (11.5cm) [w/center column in horizontal position]
Folded Length 21.5″ (54.5cm)
Load Capacity 17.6 lbs (8kg)
Weight 3.7 lbs (1.7kg)As you can see the max height with center post down is only 135.5cm, but with it up its 170cm.
Add another 10cm for my manfrotto 701HDV head and were at 145cm with no center post up.Do people think this will be high enough for me?
The GH2 does have a flip out screen so I can adjust that for visibility?
Any help in regards to whether there is a better option out there to solve the height, weight, collaspisble size issue?
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4 Replies
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[Craig Ricker] “I am 6’4 tall, and from everything I’ve read everyone suggests to get a tripod that brings the camera up to my eye level before extending a center post?
This seems crazy to me as that puts me in the 3.4kg bracket of tripod 🙁
The ones I did like, and was keen to go for as its quite light weight is:
Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs”
I’m more concerned with the POV of the camera when I shoot. This looks like a good hiking tripod. Don’t forget the head 😉
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!Check out my Mormon.org profile.
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The Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 is a good tripod, it doesn’t have a head levelling mount though so you’ll have to level the camera by adjusting the leg lengths, or purchase a levelling unit to go between the pan head and legs.
The difficulty with using any light weight tripod with a light camera is stability. Consider carrying a short loop of rope that you can attach to the tripod and anchor the tripod tightly to your backpack on the ground directly underneath the tripod while shooting. This will pull the tripod down firmly to the ground and prevent it moving whilst shooting and reduce some of flexibility of the tripod. A climbers ascender or jumar on the rope would make this a quick procedure.
And as Jason points out the lens height should really be set for the subject in preference to your comfortable eye height.
Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/ -
Thanks for the replies guys. I went ahead and bought these sticks and a manfrotto 701hdv head. Any suggestions on where I can find a leveling in between unit?
Oh and what’s a jumar? Do u mean a carobeeaner? -
Manfrotto make a head leveller. https://www.manfrotto.com/ball-camera-leveller
No not a carabiner (although carabiners would make clipping the rope to your pack and tripod easy). A jumar or ascender is a device that clips on a rope and slides in one direction only and locks. This would enable you to quickly tension the rope without needing to tie knots. They have a release that allows you to quickly release the tension. Hardware stores may have something alternative thats cheaper.
Example of jumar or ascender https://www.rei.com/search?query=Ascender
Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/
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