Tying the new Smallrig Freeblazer AD-120 - What's Up with Tripods These Days?

[@kylehuntmaui]

Thanks for the review. I was hoping to see more smooth and slow panning and tilting with dampened start/stops, like how I would actually use it when tracking a non-fast subject on video. If you do a follow up with more sample footage, that would be helpful.

[@MattRamseyTube]

Thanks, Kyle - since publishing these initial impressions, I've used it in practice (with favorable results), and am considering making an update--I'll keep that in mind. I agree it's those starts-and-stops that really make the difference.

[@MozTS]

3:11 that's completely standard. Extremely expensive and high end ronford baker legs work exactly the same way with the spreader. (and are rated for hundreds of Kgs)

[@MattRamseyTube]

Yeah I hear that, but it does seem like the other "quick" (is that the right way to classify these?) tripod systems have the stills-tripod-style angled stops at the top so they can hit min height without having to change spreaders, and I found it especially annoying with this one because it can only hit bottom using the ground spreader, and the ground spreader can only be used with the floor feet attached, so it can be a LOT of changing (and hoping you have all the parts on hand) to get the tripod low. Thanks a ton for adding that to the conversation, though!

[@TheUnknownVideographer]

One thing people should be aware with these AD series tripods. The rubber feet have a nasty habit of falling off if you shoot outdoors and move around a lot. All it takes is a small bump in the right spot and they pop off without you noticing. Smallrig cheaped out on the design of those.