Don't Waste Your Money, Choose The Right Video Tripod

[@garfieldirwin]

So true! Getting smooth video when using long telephoto's absolutely demands a stable tripod & strong fluid head. As an amateur mirrorless shooter, my favourite "compromise" solution is the Satchtler Flowtech 75 with Aktiv8 head. There are many options, but none of the good ones are inexpensive.

[@adventureproductionz]

yea a proper fluid head is essential especially at telephoto lengths i find the sachtler fsb mark 2 line adequate

[@garfieldirwin]

@@adventureproductionz I'd be interested to know how you capture good audio in the field? My interest is bird videography and am looking for a better solution than my Rode Videomic NTG -- am considering upgrading to a Seinheiser 416 for superior high-frequency pickup?

[@samulipenttila1461]

It's a great "compromise" solution, but how do you solve small vibrations with that setup? I got exactly the same combination and out of the box it's not stable enough with long lens (>800mm) and I have to use rubber band trick to eliminate small vibrations coming from my fingers while touching the pan bar.

[@garfieldirwin]

@@samulipenttila1461 I understand -- I also use an 800mm and sometimes shoot up to 3200mm equivalent (800mm + 2xTC + 2x Zoom). Smooth panning at those extreme focal lengths is difficult and ideally requires a heavier tripod and fluid head to do well. To get the most out of the flowtech try setting up as low as possible and not use the bottom leg extension. Make sure you take the rubber feet off and are only using the spiked feet well anchored into the ground. Also crank up the drag on the fluid head, and use a long pan handle (though I prefer not to use one and pan with my right hand on the camera and left on the lens for maximum stability.) As I shoot mirrorless (Nikon Z9) I make sure VR is set to "Sport" and am prepared to apply stabilization in post to smooth out the jerkies, but that doesn't always work well when panning. Like I said, the Flowtech/Aktiv8 is a compromise solution, not a perfect one.

[@douggardner1]

@@garfieldirwin to be honest with you when we are working on documentaries, rarely do, we actually record audio at the same time as we are recording video. Most of that is stock audio that is used in post. However, there are situations where we do record audio, but it is separate from the video camera usually on an external recorder. In situations like that, I will use something like a Zoom H5 or better with a Rode Pro NGT shotgun mic and a dead cat on that. If the subject is way off, I will use a parabolic microphone.

[@RuN_Alex]

You are totally right. The heavy fluid head on a rigid tripod is essential. I also did by a cheap mini Chinese fluid head. It works much better than a photo head but sadly it too lightweight to make smooth tilt movements. Now I have to experiment with counterweights below the fluid head to get out the best of my cheap amateur solution which looses balance on tilting.

[@markjob6354]

*@**4:47** I love the Sachtler tripods, they are one of the few camera support manufacturers which produce heavy use, stand and deliver products. However, Sachtler products are very, very expensive. The tripod model you show here with the RED Raptor 8K sitting on it is the one I've been after for a couple of years now, but it's so pricey I can't get near it here in Canada. Furthermore, Sachtler products are way more expensive up here in Canada. 🇨🇦 Just that one tripod is actually more than the cost of my entire kit.*

[@LangDzu]

You’re absolutely right Doug! This is a Great recommendation video. Do your homework, invest in a quality tripod and head and done. I’ve seen too many using a couple hundreds $$ tripod to support $10k-20k camera system even worst using those knock off or lightweight travel tripod.

[@douggardner1]

Very true!

[@MexicanMovie]

Nice equipment! I don't get paid for my wildlife work (made a few bucks on Shutterstock and Dreamstime but not a lot) so i make due with a Vinten Vision Blue tripod, but also have an extremely heavy Oconnor Model 50 tripod which is rock solid (supports 50 pounds) and fairly smooth too. And for pics only i have a Vanguard Alta AB100 which is actually decent for a lower priced tripod. For video recording i use a Canon C100 & C300 plus i have the XC15 4k camcorder. Camera for photos is the Canon 5D 3 and so far just the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS, but i am looking at the old 400mm F5.6L autofocus lenses for sale at the moment on various websites, that is about the limit of what i can afford. I'm getting somewhat close to early retirement age and this is hopefully going to morph into a full time hobby at some point. When i was a kid i lived in Orangeburg South Carolina and used to run through swamps all day long hunting blue tailed skink lizards and all kinds of stuff and never realized there were alligators down that way. Now i live in Illinois and only gotta worry about an occasional mountain lion, but so far seen tracks but no lion.. saw a bobcat, saw plenty of coyotes but they run at first sight of a human. Had a red fox squirrel get tangled up in my ghillie suit once while sitting still close to some brush, and me and the squirrel both about pooped our pants. Keep up the awesome videos, they motivate me!

[@douggardner1]

Small world I lived in Orangeburg too for 5 years, mid 80s

[@MexicanMovie]

@@douggardner1 wow I was a fifth grader at Edisto Middle School in 1976 while living in Orangeburg, mid 80's i had just joined the U.S. Air Force and lived in Germany for 2 years where i met my wife. She wants to do your wildlife workshop with her iphone, believe it or not....

[@samulipenttila1461]

Right on point, Doug! You cannot skimp on quality tripod on long lens video work, even though it's gonna hurt your wallet and back. There are always compromises no matter what the budget is. If you're a pro, then you can sweat a bit for the job or hire an assistant to carry around that gear. If you're an amateur and you want it to be fun, then you have to do the research and be creative.

[@douggardner1]

Well said my friend!

[@kevinswilson66]

Another highly informative video - thank you Doug! My current rig looks similar to the first one you showed, although I wish I had the money for the bigger one.

[@douggardner1]

Best of luck!

[@Wildlifevideopicture]

Thank you Dog. For my Sony Fs7 i have two Tripods. Satchtler Flowtech 75, and i have also a Vinten 10 Tripod and head. Thanks again very informative video. Greetings Karl-David

[@douggardner1]

Glad I could help!

[@MnFilmCO]

im looking to start shooting nature with my alexa mini and a 600mm canon, i tried an oconnor 1030D with flowtech 100mm, but i cant seem to get it as smooth as id like. What would be recommended? would a sachtler 18 iii work ?

[@gearoidosullivan356]

I'm interested in the fact that you are having issues with the oconnor 1030d, with your camera and lens combo, as I was looking at getting the 1040 (and id be using my 500mm f4 on it). It might be easier to find a good used sachtler video 25 or bigger and just jump to the 150mm fluid head. A guy I do a lot of work with recently got an oconnor 2560 and it is amazing (but so so expensive). I have to admit I'm tempted.

[@douggardner1]

My personal general rule is to get a tripod and head that has a supported weight twice the weight of my actual camera rig. The other recommendation is try increasing your pan resistance to its max setting. The more resistance you have against your hand, the smoother, the move is going to be.

[@happy1wandering]

Another great video! I shoot with Sony mirrorless & 200-600mm with the Sachtler 75 mm Flowtech & Aktiv 8 head. I find that I still get micro gitters at the 600 mm end, with Apsc mode, even with the pan & tilt resistance set to the max. Do you think upgrading to a 100 mm system will help with these jitters ?

[@douggardner1]

Upgrading will definitely help.

[@happy1wandering]

@@douggardner1 Thank you! Have you had a chance to try the new Aktiv-10 head ? Or the older video 18 ? Thanks again!