An Introduction To Video Tripods 

+Freek Wijffels thanks so much for the feedback - always appreciated. ☺️

I agree with Freek word for word. Great vid.

Thanks Erik 😀 Means a lot to get feedback like yours - and huge respect for those teaching the next generation of film makers. 😀

Ha... that seems dependent on regular uploading. 😋

Thanks @Gemthermakleingk 😃 Greatly appreciate the feedback and happy to hear you found it helpful👍👍👍

Thanks Mik 😀 I try to change up the scenery as much as possible simply because I get bored while watching anyone in one location for too long - and I assume others feel the same way. As for the changing t-shirts, there's no need to fool a viewer into thinking everything was captured in a single day. 😝

Whaaaat not in one take??? Just kidding :-)

@Klausalix, I definitely would love to have the extra load capacity of the FSB 8. Though I've successfully used a 800mm f/5.6 without any issue on the FSB 6 👍

@@neilfisher Yes, this is a great combination. I think its not big different between FSB 6 and FSB 8. Greetings from Austria

+Tom Schüler thanks - glad to hear you found it helpful. 😀😀😀

Yes, the weight of any trip is an important consideration, but it's important that the tripod isn't too light weight and is capable of supporting your camera system's weight.

@Anthony Peirce you won't experience a great deal of difference between the FSB 6 and FSB 8 in terms of overall smoothness while panning or tilting. The most significant difference between the two heads is simply the number of selection options for drag on panning and tilting: the FSB 6 having three and the FSB 8 having five. Honestly, with the considerably lightweight of your Panasonic HCX1, you'd be fine going with the FSB 6 and saving a few dollars. Hope this helps 👍

thankyou neil that is great to here , but will 3 drag step settings be enough for faster panning and tilting aircraft footage when optical zoomed in .on the FBS 6

Thanks @Thomas Gamsjäger 👍👍👍

Hi Ryan, You're correct in that there are few options for fluid heads designed for smaller load capacities. One head I have encountered that is rated from 0-4 kg is the Sachtler Ace M: www.sachtler.com/products/fluid-heads/ace-m/ Though, I've had little luck finding a retailer that sells the head separately from legs. Hope this helps :)

neil fisher Hi Neil. Thanks for the reply. I have looked at a couple of the Sachtlers. The Ace M looks OK but I am unsure if it is a real fluid head because they don't seem to mention that. It's probably good anyway but as far as I can tell the only Sachtler that allows you to remove the bowl and use as a flat head is the Ace XL. This one they definitely describe as a fluid head. The problem is that my setup is only just over 2kg with heaviest lens and this Sachtler starts at 2kg counterbalance. I suppose you could just add some kind of weight or maybe heighten the centre of gravity. Some more weight is not a bad thing. I can't find anything that would be better. I don't want to buy a head and then find it's not good enough some time in the future but at the same time I don't really need an extremely expensive one for heavy load. There are so few fluid heads that fit my criteria. Manfrotto's newer Nitrotech 8 head does because you can adjust the counterbalace anywhere from 0 - 8kg but I don't have faith in Manfrotto "fluid" heads at all. I don't think any of them are true fluid heads.

I have read that the Sachtler Ace heads suffer from some sitback (what people are calling it when you stop movement but the head moves back slightly). This is something I definitely want to minimise. Apparently this is not the case with the FSB models and the FSB4 does start at zero counterbalance and has a removable bolt and flat bottom on it's bowl to allow flatbase mount so this one is currently top if my consideration unless I find something else. 0-4kg seems like a very good option for lighter systems but some room to grow.

@Youssef Hallouly I hesitate to recommend any tripod without knowing the camera system intended to be used with it - in addition you'd also want to ensure you're tripod head is compatible with said heads 👍

Thanks 😀 It was created with a Canon 5D mark IV - files create a challenging workflow, but the quality is worth it.

Right now I'm contemplating getting the mark or the Sony A7iii. I started off with the SL2 and outgrew it so quickly. Didn't see any good quality videos displaying the video quality of the mark iv. Yours is the best I've come across. I'm realizing now you can get good footage out of the mark iv if your using decent lens and can get pass the tedious workflow. You changed my perspective on the 5D Mark iv. I subscribe to your channel after I watched the review on the mark iv you did. Your videos are of such amazing quality and you provide such solid in-depth reviews. I'm looking forward to seeing this channel grows. I'm sure as your content grows a lot of will be subscribing.

The A7iii is certainly a much 'newer' camera and as such has a few advantages over the 5D mark IV. However, the video offered by the A7iii is UHD at only 100mbps - which is great if you're only intention is uploading to RU-vid. Personally, the durability and reliability of the 5D mark IV makes it a winner, it works wherever I take it - and that includes some rather extreme environments. Additionally, if you've already made significant investments in EF lenses, that should be a large deciding factor. Hopefully, I'll find time to create more content. Currently, it's merely a hobby :P

Thanks again, this is all so helpful. Really hope you make lots and lots of content :). Would love to see some lenses reviews in the future as well ; ). Thanks again... You are very helpful.

Hi @Joshua Smith, I don't know of many sticks and heads at that price point and unfortunately, I don't believe there's any easy recommendations. I've tried the Manfrotto 501, 502, 504 and 509... and HATED them all. Just remember that long focal lengths exacerbate even the smallest stuttering or imperfections in pan and tilting. The moment you have the opportunity to use a good quality fluid head - you'll never want to use anything less. A spreader is by no means necessary on a video tripod. Many wildlife cinematographers use sticks with no spreader - which is very conducive to quick set up and tear down. However, once the camera and lens reach a certain weight, more camera ops use super heavy duty sticks with mid-level spreaders. Hope this helps and isn't too discouraging. 😃😃😃

@@neilfisher Bro, you just broke my heart!

@@joshuasmith1215 you could also start with a used system? There a heaps of quality fluid heads on Ebay and although they might look old cosmetically - fluid heads don't really wear out. Here are a few that caught my eye: ebay.to/2X2nmaS, ebay.to/2Byh35S, and ebay.to/2X2nUgW.

@@neilfisher thanks, I appreciate it! I started looking at some Benro heads and tripods last night and they seem to be an incredible value, especially for someone like me who will just be filming for fun on the weekend. Definitely going to research the the used ones though. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!

@@neilfisher Do you think the Ace M would be a good choice for me?

This video was captured using the Canon 5DmkIV and a variety of lenses. I am quite impressed with the quality of the 5DmkIV 4K footage, but holy storage batman - does it ever eat cards and hard drives!

neil fisher let me guess, A 16-35 F4L IS , A 70-200 II and an 100-400 is II usm?

Not quite... 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 35mm f/1.4L II, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 100mm f/2.8L IS, 400mm f/2.8L IS II ... hope this helps :)

Zaber, the content I share on this channel is for the most part just a hobby. My personal website does contain a small selection of photographs: www.neilfisher.com

Okay... but the shots that have visible shake are shots where the Gitzo tripod and Sachtler head are appearing on-camera. Meaning, the camera was mounted on a uber budget Manfrotto system. Footage captured using the legs and head talked about in this video, are rock steady and smooth when panning or tilting.

@@neilfisher Forget about panning or tilting -- that hides the flaws. I wish to put the camera on tripod and it should stay exactly where I wish without producing its own shakes. You want to test further. Put your camera on tripod and zoom at farthest object and see what your tripod is capable of doing. 99% Times it will fail to remain steady.

The combination of Sachtler FSB 6 head and Gitzo GT3543ls legs is a rock steady option. The legs are rated to 55lbs load capacity and the head maxes out at 19lbs load capacity. This combination performs incredibly well - and offers smooth panning and tilting equivalent to $20K O'Connor systems. I've used this system with a 800mm lens, 2x teleconverter, and a super 35mm sensor in extremely windy conditions - with no visible vibration in the footage. Panning and tilting does not hide flaws. If anything, it accentuates stuttering in movements and vibration in the legs.

@@neilfisher Thanks Neil. I accept your help and advice. Respect to you. I have spent tons of money on gimbals, tripods, monopods just to be disappointed with most of them and my search continues to find a perfect option for producing the stable video. I film stock footage most of the time. Your idea is good and I will try in future. Changed few words in my first comment and subscribed to your channel.