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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I own a Arri tripod –it´s
a Cartoni OEM named Arri FL7<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>Von:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> cinema-bounces@konvas.org
[mailto:cinema-bounces@konvas.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Im Auftrag
von </span></b>H. W. Stone<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Gesendet:</span></b> Samstag, 20. September
2008 19:31<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>An:</span></b> cinema@konvas.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betreff:</span></b> Re: [Konvas] Decent
Tripod/Support System for a Konvas?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Mixing</span></font></i></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> <b><i><span style='font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'>my replies into your message--</span></i></b></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-----Original
Message-----<br>
From: Adam Frey <thefirstrule@chainsawlinux.com><br>
To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Konvas Discussion List</st1:PersonName>
<cinema@konvas.org><br>
Sent: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 9:54 am<br>
Subject: [Konvas] Decent Tripod/Support System for a Konvas?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_0_04d643ae-7ab8-43bf-bab9-f6e5436c7300">
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><font size=1 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>I've
been wanting to get a new (or used in decent condition) tripod/head combo for
quite a while now, but haven't gotten around to doing so for several reasons,
the biggest of which is, of course, related to a slightly malnourished
wallet. <br>
<br>
The second reason is that there are so many to choose from, I want to make sure
that I get the right one. </span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>There is no such thing
as "the right one." There are working limits and uses for
tripods, and mix, match, and whole new items are common.</span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
The third reason is that, if I'm going to spend [insert: more than just a
little bit of] good cash on one, then I'd want to invest in a decent system
that can work with me as business expands and for the next umpteen plus years.
BUT, if there are decent tripods out there to be had for under $500 that can
also do a good job, then it might be worth getting that instead and upgrading
in the future. <br>
<br>
I'd like to invest in something that can handle my needs, which include
EVERYTHING: from time-lapse (and stop-motion animation), to a fully loaded
Konvas 1M, to a basic HDV rig (currently my Sony Z1U). I'd like it to be able
to handle a jib arm as well (preferably, a jib arm that can hold my fully
loaded Konvas - is that *too* much to ask for?). </span></font><font size=1
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>For the stop motion work
it depends on which camera you are using-- general rule is that if you
can move the tripod by yourself it is too light for stop motion work.<br>
<br>
Each head and type of head has a different working weight. The
small, light cameras you mention would be lost on top of a major tripod since
there are MINIMUM weights for the heads. A CamHead III on a Quickset
Hercules is blah and not particularly good until the camera on it reaches about
twenty five pounds-- at which point the loading makes it one of the smoothest,
quickest, easiest working heads out there, and one that works from -40 degrees
up to the point water is boiling.<br>
<br>
Yes, I have a couple of them, and I love them, but they are NOT for a little
old Konvas unless it has a four hundred foot mag AND a huge zoom, matte box,
support rails, and you are putting the battery on the head with the camera--
and it is an oversize battery. The right tripod/head weight for Quickset
with a Konvas is the Samson series. <br>
</span></i></b></span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
I also want a smooth head - I'm tired of using heads that do just
"okay". You know the heads I'm talking about - the ones that allow
you to ever-so-slightly jerk it at some point during the pan (it's always
frustrating when I see that in my post-process). <br>
<br>
So, basically, my ideal tripod would, preferably, be affordable and could do
everything under the Sun (btw: I'm also hoping that the temperature in Hell
hits 0 degrees Celcius and that Pigs will grow wings). <br>
<br>
With all that said, I know Todd really loves his Oconnor, and I have to say,
looking at the load limits, Oconnor can handle some heavy rigs: <br>
<a href="http://www.ocon.com/products/tripods.html" target="_blank">http://www.ocon.com/products/tripods.html</a>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>I have a couple of older
Oconnor tripods, and I like them much better than the newer models-- they work
well for the Frezzi HW-16e or the Konvas, but the "pan" heads do not
lock down, period, ever. The locking heads don't pan worth a nickel,
plugged or not.</span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
QuickSet tripods are also pretty heavy duty: <br>
<a href="http://www.quickset.com/pages/ultra_stable_tripods/63.php"
target="_blank">http://www.quickset.com/pages/ultra_stable_tripods/63.php</a> </span></font><font
size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A camhead III on a Herc
will easily handle forty eight pounds plus of Auricon Super 1200 with a full
mag, Angenieux Zoom, blimp, AND the battery with it on the head. If you
want to lock it down go to the geared heads Quickset makes. I like the
old brass or bronze gear heads from several Hollywood suppliers, but for stop
motion the Quickset is great. I cannot find a K series bronze head, the
only one with pins that drop in to lock it in place-- and the Quickset works as
well. I still want another large brass or bronze gear head "just
because" but it would only be used on a Gibraltar tripod with a fully
decked out Kinor 35C and anamorphics-- it is overkill and un-smooth for lighter
cameras. </span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
And, of course, there are quite a few other ENG/MoPic tripods to look at as
well, including: <br>
Miller (<a href="http://millertripods.com" target="_blank">http://millertripods.com</a>) <br>
Cartoni (<a href="http://cartoni.com" target="_blank">http://cartoni.com</a>) <br>
Slik Daiwa (<a href="http://slikbroadcast.com" target="_blank">http://slikbroadcast.com</a>) <br>
Vinten (<a href="http://www.vinten.com" target="_blank">http://www.vinten.com</a>)
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Millers are good, the
heads need more service than Oconnor or Quickset. Cartoni is overpriced
for the size and use-- not bad, but overpriced. Daiwa is great until the
first time you need anything done to it-- at which point you wave bye-bye as
heads off for a long, long, long time. Vinten is way too high,
heavier than Quickset, but they also "badge" other brands, so you may
find a Manfrotto leg set with a Russell head, both bearing Vinten nameplates--
and you want to avoid Russell heads. </span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
I'd have included Bogen/Manfrotto (<a href="http://manfrotto.com"
target="_blank">http://manfrotto.com</a>), but I'm not so sure that they make
one that can handle a fully loaded Konvas, especially if I'm going to add a
sound-proof Barney to it (and speaking of Barneys, I've got some great pics
from Pierre Sam that I'm going to upload to the site sometime in the near
future). </span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>The big Manfrotto leg
sets work well for up to about twenty pounds-- Konvas without the blimp.
I have two or three Manfrotto/Bogen leg and head sets, good for 16/super16 and
unblimped Konvas. I seldom use one, mostly shoving them aside for the
Gitzo 400C Studex with an R3 cine head on it-- less weight, taller, smoother
over the four to twenty pound range, just the price of a small car.
A Studex with two heads would come really, really close to what you are talking
about. Here is one point the weight of the camera system is a vital part
of the choice process-- the medium Manfrotto or Gitzo is what you need for
that HDV toy, not the real tripods. Unless there is enough load weight
they are rough, un-smooth, or just jerky. For the toy camera get a good
lightweight tripod, don't use a big one.</span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
So, the question seems to be four-fold: <br>
1) What tripods/tripod systems do you think can handle my needs? </span></font><font
size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Go with your gut AFTER
you play with it. <br>
<br>
</span></i></b></span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>2) What tripod/tripod
system is the best bang for the buck? </span></font><font size=1 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>If you take your time
and shop, Quickset on eBay-- people just don't know them, and they are
"too big" for most people.<br>
<br>
</span></i></b></span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>3) What heads are
recommended? (Geared or Fluid Head?) </span></font><font size=1
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Depends on what you plan
to do with it, but one of each sounds better than one or the other. The
"smooth non fluid friction heads" by Oconnor, Vinten, and Quickset
cost more than the fluid heads, but work over more extreme conditions. </span></i></b><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>4) Can I use a head from one manufacturer and a
tripod from another, or should I stick with one brand? </span></font><font
size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>I highly recommend mix
and match to get what you want-- but somehow wound up with single brand sets in
most cases.</span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
I have a few older wooden tripods that I've collected and used/abused over the
years, but they are (mostly) older and, by now, extremely well used. At this
point, I've started working on the wooden legs with some really good glue and
the heads are in need of some major TLC - should I send them out for repairs or
forget about them? </span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A good wooden tripod is
a blessing-- I have wooden Miller, National, and unknown, and love them.
Head repairs or replacement have no relationship to what the legs are made of,
but I just rebuilt an Oconnor 50 wooden leg set and showed someone how it
worked. Now I need to figure out how to get it back from her. One
day shooting with it and she wants older wooden legs over new metal. They
do feel better and work as well if not better. </span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
I've also had a few "cheaper" video tripods that have done okay for
the lighter cameras, but are also showing wear and tear. I believe it's getting
to be time to start looking to move on to something better. </span></font><font
size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Unless it is a magic
brand I have never heard of, none of the cheaper video tripods are that good,
but then, several people I know put Manfrotto and Miller into the cheap group,
too.</span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><br>
BTW: Can anyone think of other tripods that are geared toward the MoPic
industry? I plan on creating a page on Konvas.org for tripods, heads, and
supports, as they are a very big part of our work. </span></font><font size=1
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>From time to time Arri
has had a tripod line, the Auricon tripods are amazing, the Houston Fearless
could be used as a first line tripod today, and the Fearless II is the basis
for the Quickset Gibraltar-- National, Wayne, and Mitchell all sold great
tripods-- but are hard to find because about the only way they are sold is as
part of an estate sale. They are liked that well, and are that good. </span></i></b><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <br>
Thanks, <br>
<br>
Adam Frey <br>
Director/Cinematographer <br>
Crimson Chain Productions <br>
<a href="http://crimsonchain.com" target="_blank">http://crimsonchain.com</a> <br>
<br>
Crimson Chain Productions <br>
PO Box 35 <br>
Libertytown, MD 21762 <br>
<br>
_______________________________________________ <br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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