Tripods and Heads for the 900

John Morrison · September 24, 2004

Howdy,

I have been using a 1993 vintage sachtler vision 20 head with carbon fibre 2 stage sticks. The old girl has be refurbished and there is some annoying play in the head on the most useable drag settings. This camera is almost 11 lbs heavier than our old camera and the play in the head is starting to make me look like more of a hack. :unsure: So I'm looking for a new rig, who has some suggestions.

Jason McKelvey · September 24, 2004

O'connor heads are my favorite, hands-down. Vinten Vision 100 after that. Since you are using an SDX900, I assume you make professional videos... be prepared to spend between $4000 (used) and $7000 (new) for a tripod, fluid head, dolly wheels and case.

jason

John Morrison · September 24, 2004

Yeah, not doing wedding videos ;) , I work for rite aid corporation, we do higher end training and corporate message videos.

I was thinking about 7grand would be all the corporate masters would permit after ponying up to buy the 900.

What I have experienced ,and don't know if my post relayed this, is the weight of the 900 and the anton bricks really stresses the sachtler head . Our last camera was a sony 300 with np1s for power so the sachtler was dandy. Now if I'm doing any sort of tilt move, I get a little hitch when I resolve the move, not good.

Ken Zukin · September 24, 2004

I shopped tripods at NAB last year and came away really impressed with Miller's product line.

Silky-smooth action, and a better deal than Sachtler.

(Currently using a Sachtler),

Ken Zukin

Mitch Gross · September 24, 2004

You may just want to have the Sachtler overhauled. There are parts in there that wear over time and a decade is pretty good performance. Sachtler USA service is located in Long Island, NY. I had a head repaired for less than $500 two years ago.

Jason McKelvey · September 25, 2004

Check this page out

http://www.ocon.com/doc04f.htm

So smooth it will scare you. I'm not just saying that. After using an O'connor, I realized that I unconsciencely anticipated friction spots with my vinten. It wasn't until I used a head that perfectly smooth that I noticed it. Great stuff.

Jason

Michael Nash · September 25, 2004

I regularly use an Oconnor 1030B with a betacam rig that's heavier than an SDX. Works great.

cineshooter · November 5, 2004

Hey:

Thats a fine system you are using, why not just get the head re-built. It will probably cost around $800 - $1000 and that Satchler is well worth the cost.

I use the same rig, (camera/head/stix) and I have the Canon 21X high def zoom (a big and heavy piece of glass) the satchler handles that rig beautifully.Here's Satchler's phone # 1-516-867-4900. Satchler is located on Long Island, NY. They rebuilt my VIDEO 20 a couple of years ago and the 'old girl' now performs smoother than I do at happy hour (my attempt a humor).

JD

Cineshooter, LLC

WWW.CINESHOOTER.COM