Fast setup video tripod recommendation?

I'm looking for a fast setup video tripod.

I need to level it quickly. This usually imply a bowl mount.

I need to fine adjust the height quickly without having to adjust 3 different legs. This usually imply having a center column, which means no bowl mount.

I don't need real fluid head or counterbalancer because I have light cameras and I usually leave the camera fixed once adjusted. For this reason I also don't need double tube legs. Light weight is more valuable since I need to bring this to different places.

Any suggestion?

shutterhappens said:

I'm looking for a fast setup video tripod.

I need to level it quickly. This usually imply a bowl mount.

I need to fine adjust the height quickly without having to adjust 3 different legs. This usually imply having a center column, which means no bowl mount.

I don't need real fluid head or counterbalancer because I have light cameras and I usually leave the camera fixed once adjusted. For this reason I also don't need double tube legs. Light weight is more valuable since I need to bring this to different places.

Any suggestion?

Click to expand...

With video, it's expected that you would pan and tilt, so it needs to be level. If you're stationary, you can just use a conventional tripod with column and level the camera with the ball-head.

I love my E-image GH06 with 2 stage legs, but it hasn't been in stock for months.

This one seems to meet most of your criteria.

I have a Gitzo 2531LVL with a built in quick level head and a Feisol CT-3472 with the Feisol LB-7572 Leveling Base. Both are fast to level in seconds and no need to adjust anyo of the legs. The Feisol collapses to a folded length of 20.5 inches and so it is what I use for air travel as it fits inside the overhead compartment crossways and parallel to the center aisle.

The Gitzo 2531LVL when in production was the favorite of wildlife videographers as it was lightweight and very fast to level the head in the field.

robertfel said:

I love my E-image GH06 with 2 stage legs, but it hasn't been in stock for months.

This one seems to meet most of your criteria.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1507208-REG/manfrotto_mvtsngfcus_fast_single_leg_tripod.html

Click to expand...

That is the tripod kit at the top of my list. Over and over it gets good reviews even from some surprising sources. Hopefully my March 2021 I'll be able to swing it.
If I had a bunch more cash coming I'd go all the way to a Sachtler system but I think the E-Image won't be a waste of money. Videographers pressure newbies to spend large the first time and go big or go home.

There is another interesting tripod in that category, brand name Teris TS-N6, but on several features, it comes up short of the E-Image kit consisting of the GH06 on a GC752 carbon tripod.

How long have you been using it? For what kind of camera gear or activity?

I'll want mine mostly for a Sony FDR-AX700 XDCAM, indoors locked down for mini-documentaries, outdoors locked down and free to pan & tilt - set up on rocks, natural ground and parks.

Charlie BRM said:

How long have you been using it? For what kind of camera gear or activity?

I'll want mine mostly for a Sony FDR-AX700 XDCAM, indoors locked down for mini-documentaries, outdoors locked down and free to pan & tilt - set up on rocks, natural ground and parks.

Click to expand...

Coming from the photography world, I had been looking for a proper video tripod. I was using the Manfrotto 502AH and it was okay. I still use it on my slider, but I don't really do any additional moves on that.

I had been eyeing the Sachtler with Flowtech legs, but the demo unit at B&H had some cracked plastic. You can also see it here at 1:24: The plastic felt kind of brittle, like it should have been reinforced with nylon or something like the plastics in my power tools, which you can drop off a ladder and they're fine.

We have very different use cases. I needed a better tripod for 3 camera corporate interviews and retail store coverage. Nikon cameras with Ninja Vs and big batteries. The head is fantastic: super smooth, highly adjustable, easy to use. The legs adjust quickly, though you do need to reach down sometimes, unlike the Sachtler. It's more reach down than bend down.

My A-camera is usually front facing, locked down the whole shoot. I use the E-image for the B-camera that I move around, looking for interesting shots. Occasional C-camera is an overhead for corporate training or on the slider for another angle. I like that the QR plate is the same as my 501 and my gimbal.

Some times I put my 4' slider on it vertically for shots in stores to cover floor to ceiling shelves. But it takes precise placement so nothing knocks on the way up or down, the clearance is a mm or 2.

I now use the legs for rushed photo shoots as well, it's so much faster to adjust the height than my other tripods. I picked up their dolly too. It isn't smooth enough for actual dolly shots, it's just to move from location to location faster. You'd need big inflated wheels for smooth dolly shots.

If it were still $700, I'd buy another in a second. They ended that steep discount. If work picks up, I'll take a look at their 100mm options. I hope to get a crane/jib for it.

shutterhappens said:

I need to level it quickly. This usually imply a bowl mount.

I need to fine adjust the height quickly without having to adjust 3 different legs. This usually imply having a center column, which means no bowl mount.

Click to expand...

A bit offtopic, but are you aware of products like this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/330...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

I don't know if this is an option for you for video gear, but they kind of add a "bowl" to any tripod.

shutterhappens said:

I'm looking for a fast setup video tripod.

I need to level it quickly. This usually imply a bowl mount.

I need to fine adjust the height quickly without having to adjust 3 different legs. This usually imply having a center column, which means no bowl mount.

Click to expand...

If the centre column is essential you can use a levelling base instead of a built-in bowl.

Another option is the UniqBall head. The outer ball provides the levelling capability so no separate levelling base is needed, and with that adjusted and locked off you then have a ball head which is constrained to pan and tilt - which is just what you need for video. I wouldn't recommend it for smooth panning, but in other respects it's great.

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevebalcombe/ or
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/stevebalcombe/popular-interesting/

See what pro media gear tripods might have. I’d also use the B&H photo website to further research as they are typically full product line dealers for photo and video gear & accessories

shutterhappens said:

I'm looking for a fast setup video tripod.

I need to level it quickly. This usually imply a bowl mount.

I need to fine adjust the height quickly without having to adjust 3 different legs. This usually imply having a center column, which means no bowl mount.

I don't need real fluid head or counterbalancer because I have light cameras and I usually leave the camera fixed once adjusted. For this reason I also don't need double tube legs. Light weight is more valuable since I need to bring this to different places.

Any suggestion?

Click to expand...

Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 carbon fiber legs with click locks, and the Manfrotto 055LC leveling center column, and whatever video head matches your gear.

I have the 055XPROB legs, which are aluminum (and heavy).

Click locks are faster setup than twist locks.

The 055LC has a leveling head that is tightened by a knob on the bottom of the center column. So you can raise and lower the column, and level the head (it's just tricky if you raise it all the way, but also not so stable so don't do that).

Alternatively, just get a leveling head to put between your tripod and camera head. I prefer the ball head style leveling head, and use an Acratech for lighter gear and a Manfrotto 438 for heavier gear. Then choose the tripod legs that you like.