Craig Gillette wrote:
As my search goes on, as is typical, along with adding recommended items, there are also a number of counter reports which suggest that one user's favorite is perhaps also a different user's worst possible choice, etc.
I browsed a second Samy's today for a while. This one had several Manfrotto products out on the floor where the first didn't. At one, the guy I talked with favored Benro, at the other store, the guy I spoke with favored Sirui (not necessarily ruling out others).
I'm not sure I fully grasp the counter-balance thing.
Aside from the Smallrig and other small ones, which might be a bit too small for the A7Riv and 28-200 , I don't think I've ruled anything out completely. The Manfrotto MVH500AH (or A?) and a couple of both Sirui and Benro interest me. Haven't worked through some of the others that have been recommended
The Manfrotto MVH502AH is interesting but only for use with the 200-600. It's quite large, so like the 200-600, would be used intentionally, not just casual or walk around, etc. It also seems to generate broadly different responses.
Hi, Craig,
When you discuss tripods, tripod heads, and especially fluid video heads, you will get every opinion in the book, some of which might apply to your situation and some which will not. If you want to shoot professional looking stable 4K nature videos with a FF body and a big lens, and be able to pan and tilt smoothly, all while being able to take your hands off the controls and have the camera remain balanced in position, you will need to spend a lot of money on a fluid head and a beefy tripod, especially if it is windy. Also, these items will not be lightweight or compact or easily portable for travel. Pro level fluid head and tripod combinations are commonly in the several thousand dollar range and go up from there. Unless you are shooting professionally and have an assistant, that just isn't practical, even if you have the $$ to spend. So most of us have to make compromises.
If you read tripod and tripod recommendations on the Accessories forum, you will see that a common comment is that you will buy many tripods that won't fit your needs, until you finally buy expensive Brand X that will be perfect. I don't necessarily agree with that. There is no one ideal tripod/head that will fit all of your needs, unless your needs are very narrow. I have (and have owned previously) many tripods, from tabletop tripods (but still sturdy), through compact carbon fiber travel tripods, up to larger and taller and heavier tripods that I would not travel with. I shoot both photos and video. Depending on what camera and lens I am using, and what I am shooting, I choose between them. I have owned several Manfrotto tripods and many Manfrotto heads over the years, and still have a carbon fiber Manfrotto tripod. Ultimately, I decided to use non Manfrotto heads, as Manfrotto had their own mounting plates and clamps, which were incompatible with the (somewhat) standardized Arca plates. Now I only use Arca plates and clamps, as there are a huge variety of sizes of Arca plates and Arca clamps, appropriate for anything from an RX100 series point and shoot up to a huge telephoto with tripod foot.
I have numerous Benro and Sirui carbon fiber tripods. One of my favorite tripod/head combinations is this Benro, unfortunately now discontinued:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157845-REG/benro_hfta18cs2h_hybrid_9x_carbon_fiber.html
It is a reasonable size, weight and height, reasonably stable, with a reasonable pan-tilt head.
I was also able to purchase a separate Benro S2H head (also now discontinued) to mount on an old set of Manfrotto CF legs.
I did an early spring trip to northern Finland to shoot the aurora, and took three tripods along. I had a FF body, an APS-C body, and a 1" sensor Panasonic point and shoot with an f/1.4 lens. I shoot photos, time-lapse and real time video. The tripods were all modest in size, and I did not extend them all the way or extend the center column, to keep them more stable. It was a little awkward to set up shots, but it was all wide angle, so I would set up a shot and then do a long timelapse or video. I made do with what I was willing to carry along on an overseas trip.
Some will say that you should only buy a RRS or a Gitzo, etc., tripod, and not waste your money on less expensive brands. I disagree. Benro and Sirui make a wide range of decent CF tripods, and so long as you choose a model appropriate to your needs, they will work well. You can create stability on more modest tripods by hanging weight from a center column hook, and not extending the center column, if it has one. Of course if you are standing and trying to follow birds through a viewfinder, you are going to need a taller (and heavier) tripod, but you can consider bringing and sitting on a stool and using a shorter more stable tripod.
Some other shooters have praised Leofoto tripods. I own a Leofoto tabletop tripod with Arca ball head that is sturdy and well built. I think that Sony ambassador Mark Galer has a review of it.
In the early 1990s I temporarily moved away from photography and started getting serious about video. I bought a Canon L1 Hi8 camcorder, which I believe was the first prosumer interchangeable lens camcorder. It was big and bulky, and I had a huge Manfrotto tripod and head that I used with it. I remember carrying all of that around on the trails up out of Zion canyon in Zion NP to shoot video from the canyon rim. There is no way I would carry such gear these days. I am now all about using the smallest, lightest equipment that will get the job done. I am a hobbyist, and I am thrilled by the convergence of cameras that are excellent for both stills and video.
By the way, there are pan/tilt heads that are primarily for photography, that really don't work well for video.
Good luck in your search. I have been satisfied with Benro and Sirui, and if you have any questions about them, I might be able to provide some input about specific models.
