Sachtler Flowtech Long Term Review

[@jeffbrass2351]

Love my flowtech legs - after a bad accident these enabled me to get back working when I had restricted movement and couldn't bend down and support the camera weight to adjust my previous tripod. I'd have to take the camera off, adjust , put camera back on...you get the picture. Now its time for a new tripod head - our ace xl is just too undersized for our camera rig now :) Excellent video BTW.

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks Jeff! hope your feeling better, I might be upgrading the head soon too, getting a bit on the lower weight size, rig keeps growing!

[@richarddzisiewski7197]

long time sachtler user but the flowtechs are a game changer for me. I have the same set up and just love these flowtechs and head...

[@TonyKuzmin]

Brian, you should use tags for ALL your videos! I'm your sub for a loooong time and you have really quality content and a lot of videos, but almost no views. Tags are important.

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks Tony! working on that now! appreciate the recommendation

[@joeyzhao465]

that's an honest review. I am tired of hearing youtubers saying something will change the word so you should get it.

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks Joey!

[@Newt211]

I appreciate the video. I can't afford those legs, but you are doing what I want to be doing, and the footage of you walking and using the product was great. Thank you.

[@tklee9556]

Thanks for the awesome review! I just checked it out at the BH store today, really love it!

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks for the comment!

[@IAMBRIDGEFORTH]

Very honest, I definitely needed to hear this

[@tkyeo7642]

Thanks for the honest review. Surprised you could push down on the legs the way you did. And having those legs come out... gives me pause.

[@proteus1]

Page 23 of the owners manual: calibrating the leg so it doesn’t slide. I don’t think it’s design is for pushing down with uncalibrated body weight. Tensioning the legs too much may damage the legs. Calibrate to the recommendations in manual. Or if you can’t do this yourself. They offer service. Maybe they can help.

[@omni434]

Would you choose it over a hot pod?

[@HK-NYC]

Does Sachtler make a Flowtech & Ace Head model for mirrorless? I really like to use Arca plates on my DSLR and mirrorless without extra adaptors. Thanks.

[@ojvisions4691]

Very good review...i was deciding between these and i footage gazelle tc7..... went for i footage.... also made a review :)....i believe you would love tc9 from i footage more than flowtech.

[@BrianHunt]

I will check it out

[@christophemalinur9959]

Thank you for the brake tip !

[@claudiobonino6830]

Thanks for your honest review. I found it really useful and informative!

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks Claudio

[@TheFPSChannel]

Nice review. We love ours. Fast setup for us is a MUST. Brilliant. Perfect for run&gun. Ended up getting the optional handle which, if you prefer popping your camera off to carry separately, makes it far easier to carry around. Handle should be included. Feet do come off a little too easy. Wish the mount assembly was sold separately so I could pop the camera quickly to a different mount setup.

[@obmedias]

great review, probably what i need, is this a good fit for the FX6 ? have you try ? thank you for all your reviews, i like them !

[@RayValdezPhotography]

Tripod love you long time.

[@jochenwuest]

I'm using the Flowtech 75 with FSB-8 for my stills. I'm a bird photographer with a strong focus on owls and the Nikon 600 f/4 E is my go-to lens. Especially when it comes to owls, I tend to use very slow shutter speeds and that's where this setup outperforms the other usual tripods in terms of stability. The ability to quickly adjust the legs with only one top lever comes in really handy when I'm photographing on a slope. One small thing that bugs me: Sometimes when I carry my Flowtech across the shoulder and I'm just about to put it down on the ground, one of the levers flips open accidentally and the legs come out. This makes quite some noise as the leg segments bump into their end-position or on the ground. Apart from that and the bulkiness and weight, I love it!

[@caryrules]

Use some zip ties on the feet. You need three...one big loop that you attach to the foot and leg with the big loop loose enough to flop the feet off to access the spike. Hope that makes sense.

[@BrianHunt]

Awesome thanks Cary! I will try that out

[@soundhobo]

That’s an honest review. I’ve added the handle to mine as it offers another good option for carrying them, it should really come with one. Also a shoulder strap would be great. The included bag is good with enough room to carry other kit, monopod, additional head, slider etc. Overall my experience with them is positive, there a good set of legs. Thanks for the link for leg break adjustment...that’s really useful to know 👍

[@Gadgetsjon]

Great video, I'm currently looking at options for the FSB 6 plate. Need a good quick release solution that I can attach to a rig.

[@northislandnow8858]

Im really thinking about some Millar equipment Brian. I see you already have Millar. Should I or don't I?

[@BrianHunt]

I have been very happy with my Millar tripods had a set for almost ten years They have been a work horse Flowtech and quicker when working solo but can’t go wrong on the Millar’s

[@northislandnow8858]

@@BrianHunt Thank you Brian, Im sold on them. Ill order two today after this. I rented them a few times. I always love them. The quality of that they offer over other brands seems to stand out hands down. No fake carbon fibre looks on legs, real carbon fibre. Less worn look issues like other brands. Less paint and blemishing or denting.

[@supercooled]

Is Sachtler a established company compared to say Neewer and more like a Manfrotto but less expensive?

[@BrianHunt]

Yes, Sachtler is a German company that was founded in 1958, they have made high-end tripods for a long time. They are now run under the Vitec group that also owns Manfrotto and OConnor

[@turbotaquitogoogle8095]

They're far more expensive and high end than the other two with a much better reputation

[@04222797]

Good! Not only pros! Even cons to!

[@worksofbawbee]

Funny I just saw a video of someone calling it the greatest tripod ever 😂. Thanks for the practical review.

[@nyambe]

Great review

[@shotbyarian]

great neutral review, thanks!

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Excellent, real world no bull review.

[@vupham.wildlife]

thank you

[@davidp158]

Thanks for the honest review! I have a set of the previous Sachtler CF legs, and they also slip. However, I just today found a way to tighten them so they don't slip. I had contacted Sachtler who said there was no user adjustment, but someone at Vitec (who owns Sachtler) sent a PDF breakdown of the legs and how to get them tight again.

[@BrianHunt]

Dave Patterson very interesting Would love to see the PDF of video to see how to do it too

[@andreigold161]

Would also love to see that PDF

[@rockazar5436]

Page 22 of the user guide offers “Adjusting Brake Force:” www.sachtler.com/media/8267/flowtech-75-100-user-guide.pdf

[@rockazar5436]

@@BrianHunt I added brake adjustment PDF for your Flowtech legs. Page 22 : www.sachtler.com/media/8267/flowtech-75-100-user-guide.pdf

[@FlorentCurk]

would love to get that pdf !

[@BrettKosmider]

Awesome review. Thanks for sharing.

[@BrettKosmider]

Wondering, is this the kit you reviewed here? www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1412479-REG/sachtler_1017ms_system_ace_xl_tripod.html

[@BrianHunt]

Yes!

[@BrettKosmider]

@@BrianHunt thanks! I’m gonna buy based on your review.

[@lowIQstuff]

if being light is your goal, the older model "speedlock 75's" weight 50% less while also having the speed lock mechanism. (but they can't get as low as the flowtechs)

[@koras4216]

Thanks!

[@frafilmsofficial]

Great review. Thank you so much for all your informations. One more thing I'm sure about is...that I would never buy something second hand from you... ahaha LOL Anyway great review. :)

[@canartsavetheworld]

That’s a great review.

[@yichin02]

thankx fo sharing.

[@whiterock1865]

Yeah the slippage is obviously because you put too much weight on it and that’s just normal for any tripod. Like obviously I use the miller carbon heavy duty legs when I’m running my Kessler second shooter and I use my Miller solo legs for camera low and high use and would never put a slider on the solo legs. But you could’ve also mentioned that if they need a higher weight capacity to get the 100mm version which is obviously more robust and can handle I think up to 66 pounds. If you buy the full tripod kid it comes with the handle bag etc. But agreed it has features That I think are pretty innovative for speed and caring ability but is it perfect of course not doesn’t meet our needs for all people and like you said no tripod does he need different tools for a different aspects

[@creativegreats6924]

I would worry that this slides while locked and it would cause the camera to tip

[@davewerner7609]

Good sticks but a bit cumbersome for me and overpriced. I use mine with the dolly, it’s very helpful.

[@xiaoyangjin2655]

one thing I don't like is it seems harder for me to find the opening angle of each legs. There is some learning curve of how to use it. I always hate this and I would rather stick with something heavier but easy of use.

[@patricemonroe6428]

Sachtler's flowtechs are a real game changer

[@EugeneMaynard]

🙏🏾

[@creativegreats6924]

Legs slipping does not happen that easy with all tripod legs. Even ones that carry less weight

[@bryanbarajasBB]

🤔

[@BrianHunt]

😘

[@barrymurphy5548]

Nicely done Brian, I've had mine for about a year, and yes they're great for quick setup and height adjustments BUT the way the locks on the leg angle work drives me insane, ie you're all setup with your camera and you decide to go to the next lower leg angle setting, you have to push each leg down to engage the spring latch before you can move the leg up the the next angle ... BONKERS .... and totally overthought.! Gitzo have had the simplest and easiest leg angle locks for decades, no faffing about with trying to engage a latch before you move the legs, plus you can actually see what angle you're at and also what you've got left. ... sorry for the rant, but this cracks me up everytime.

[@BrianHunt]

Thanks Barry! totally agree!

[@creativegreats6924]

So which legs do you recommend for a red komodo ?gitzo?

[@barrymurphy5548]

@@creativegreats6924 All depends on what weight your max rig build is going to be. The Flowtech 75 is fine for light builds, but you'll wish you had a 100mm bowl if your rig builds get bigger, and IMHO the 100mm Flowtech is really overpriced, the Sachtler Speed Lock CF is a better buy and rock solid for less money. Gitzo or Miller are great if you want portability, as the 3 section legs collapse down to a much smaller length than the Flowtechs, there are no spreaders for these either, which can make things faster, and adjusting the leg angle is way easier than that ridiculous latching system on the Flowtechs.

[@creativegreats6924]

@@barrymurphy5548 what's a good gitzo model for red komodo and angenieux ez lens with gold mount,monitor , and vaxis weight on it ?

[@ryanstamm2363]

Dream sticks

[@LoKimLinProject]

no such thing as best camera of all time. me shouting "Arri Alexa 65"

[@markthomas8018]

Legs slipping? Thanks, I won't be buying this one then.

[@maxhernie8053]

yeah, but at an absurd about of weight