[Konvas] Decent Tripod/Support System for a Konvas?

Sat Sep 20 12:31:26 CDT 2008

 Mixing my replies into your message--

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Frey <thefirstrule at chainsawlinux.com>
To: Konvas Discussion List <cinema at konvas.org>
Sent: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 9:54 am
Subject: [Konvas] Decent Tripod/Support System for a Konvas?

I've been wanting to get a new (or used in decent condition) tripod/head 
combo for quite a while now, but haven't gotten around to doing so for 
several reasons, the biggest of which is, of course, related to a 
slightly malnourished wallet.?
?

The second reason is that there are so many to choose from, I want to 
make sure that I get the right one. 

There is no such thing as "the right one."? There are working limits and uses for tripods, and mix, match, and whole new items are common.
?

The third reason is that, if I'm going to spend [insert: more than just 
a little bit of] good cash on one, then I'd want to invest in a decent 
system that can work with me as business expands and for the next 
umpteen plus years. BUT, if there are decent tripods out there to be had 
for under $500 that can also do a good job, then it might be worth 
getting that instead and upgrading in the future.?
?

I'd like to invest in something that can handle my needs, which include 
EVERYTHING: from time-lapse (and stop-motion animation), to a fully 
loaded Konvas 1M, to a basic HDV rig (currently my Sony Z1U). I'd like 
it to be able to handle a jib arm as well (preferably, a jib arm that 
can hold my fully loaded Konvas - is that *too* much to ask for?). 

For the stop motion work it depends on which camera you are using--? general rule is that if you can move the tripod by yourself it is too light for stop motion work.

Each head and type of head has a different working weight.?? The small, light cameras you mention would be lost on top of a major tripod since there are MINIMUM weights for the heads.? A CamHead III on a Quickset Hercules is blah and not particularly good until the camera on it reaches about twenty five pounds-- at which point the loading makes it one of the smoothest, quickest, easiest working heads out there, and one that works from -40 degrees up to the point water is boiling.

Yes, I have a couple of them, and I love them, but they are NOT for a little old Konvas unless it has a four hundred foot mag AND a huge zoom, matte box, support rails, and you are putting the battery on the head with the camera-- and it is an oversize battery.? The right tripod/head weight for Quickset with a Konvas is the Samson series.? 
?

I also want a smooth head - I'm tired of using heads that do just 
"okay". You know the heads I'm talking about - the ones that allow you 
to ever-so-slightly jerk it at some point during the pan (it's always 
frustrating when I see that in my post-process).?
?

So, basically, my ideal tripod would, preferably, be affordable and 
could do everything under the Sun (btw: I'm also hoping that the 
temperature in Hell hits 0 degrees Celcius and that Pigs will grow wings).?
?

With all that said, I know Todd really loves his Oconnor, and I have to 
say, looking at the load limits, Oconnor can handle some heavy rigs:?

http://www.ocon.com/products/tripods.html 

I have a couple of older Oconnor tripods, and I like them much better than the newer models-- they work well for the Frezzi HW-16e or the Konvas, but the "pan" heads do not lock down, period, ever.? The locking heads don't pan worth a nickel, plugged or not.
?

QuickSet tripods are also pretty heavy duty:?

http://www.quickset.com/pages/ultra_stable_tripods/63.php 

A camhead III on a Herc will easily handle forty eight pounds plus of Auricon Super 1200 with a full mag, Angenieux Zoom, blimp, AND the battery with it on the head.? If you want to lock it down go to the geared heads Quickset makes.? I like the old brass or bronze gear heads from several Hollywood suppliers, but for stop motion the Quickset is great.? I cannot find a K series bronze head, the only one with pins that drop in to lock it in place-- and the Quickset works as well.? I still want another large brass or bronze gear head "just because" but it would only be used on a Gibraltar tripod with a fully decked out Kinor 35C and anamorphics-- it is overkill and un-smooth for lighter cameras. 
?

And, of course, there are quite a few other ENG/MoPic tripods to look at 
as well, including:?

Miller (http://millertripods.com)?

Cartoni (http://cartoni.com)?

Slik Daiwa (http://slikbroadcast.com)?

Vinten (http://www.vinten.com) 

Millers are good, the heads need more service than Oconnor or Quickset.? Cartoni is overpriced for the size and use-- not bad, but overpriced.? Daiwa is great until the first time you need anything done to it-- at which point you wave bye-bye as heads off for a long, long, long time.?? Vinten is way too high, heavier than Quickset, but they also "badge" other brands, so you may find a Manfrotto leg set with a Russell head, both bearing Vinten nameplates-- and you want to avoid Russell heads. 
?

I'd have included Bogen/Manfrotto (http://manfrotto.com), but I'm not so 
sure that they make one that can handle a fully loaded Konvas, 
especially if I'm going to add a sound-proof Barney to it (and speaking 
of Barneys, I've got some great pics from Pierre Sam that I'm going to 
upload to the site sometime in the near future). 

The big Manfrotto leg sets work well for up to about twenty pounds-- Konvas without the blimp.? I have two or three Manfrotto/Bogen leg and head sets, good for 16/super16 and unblimped Konvas.? I seldom use one, mostly shoving them aside for the Gitzo 400C Studex with an R3 cine head on it-- less weight, taller, smoother over the four to twenty pound range, just the price of a small car.?? A Studex with two heads would come really, really close to what you are talking about.? Here is one point the weight of the camera system is a vital part of the choice process--? the medium Manfrotto or Gitzo is what you need for that HDV toy, not the real tripods.? Unless there is enough load weight they are rough, un-smooth, or just jerky.? For the toy camera get a good lightweight tripod, don't use a big one.
?

So, the question seems to be four-fold:?

1) What tripods/tripod systems do you think can handle my needs? 

Go with your gut AFTER you play with it. 

2) What tripod/tripod system is the best bang for the buck? 

If you take your time and shop, Quickset on eBay--? people just don't know them, and they are "too big" for most people.

3) What heads are recommended? (Geared or Fluid Head?)?? 

Depends on what you plan to do with it, but one of each sounds better than one or the other.? The "smooth non fluid friction heads" by Oconnor, Vinten, and Quickset cost more than the fluid heads, but work over more extreme conditions. 

4) Can I use a head from one manufacturer and a tripod from another, or 
should I stick with one brand? 

I highly recommend mix and match to get what you want-- but somehow wound up with single brand sets in most cases.
?

I have a few older wooden tripods that I've collected and used/abused 
over the years, but they are (mostly) older and, by now, extremely well 
used. At this point, I've started working on the wooden legs with some 
really good glue and the heads are in need of some major TLC - should I 
send them out for repairs or forget about them? 

A good wooden tripod is a blessing-- I have wooden Miller, National, and unknown, and love them.? Head repairs or replacement have no relationship to what the legs are made of, but I just rebuilt an Oconnor 50 wooden leg set and showed someone how it worked.? Now I need to figure out how to get it back from her.? One day shooting with it and she wants older wooden legs over new metal.? They do feel better and work as well if not better. 
?

I've also had a few "cheaper" video tripods that have done okay for the 
lighter cameras, but are also showing wear and tear. I believe it's 
getting to be time to start looking to move on to something better.? 

Unless it is a magic brand I have never heard of, none of the cheaper video tripods are that good, but then, several people I know put Manfrotto and Miller into the cheap group, too.

BTW: Can anyone think of other tripods that are geared toward the MoPic 
industry? I plan on creating a page on Konvas.org for tripods, heads, 
and supports, as they are a very big part of our work. 

>From time to time Arri has had a tripod line, the Auricon tripods are amazing, the Houston Fearless could be used as a first line tripod today, and the Fearless II is the basis for the Quickset Gibraltar--? National, Wayne, and Mitchell all sold great tripods-- but are hard to find because about the only way they are sold is as part of an estate sale.? They are liked that well, and are that good. 
?

Thanks,?
?

Adam Frey?

Director/Cinematographer?

Crimson Chain Productions?

http://crimsonchain.com?
?

Crimson Chain Productions?

PO Box 35?

Libertytown, MD 21762?
?

_______________________________________________?
?

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