SPOTLIGHT ON TRIPODS GEAR
U sing a genuine video tripod and head set-up just once shows how it can transform your work and improve your shots. While tripods made for stills or hybrid shooters can work decently enough – especially for a locked-down shot – a fluid-damped video tripod is an investment all serious filmmakers should buy. Capturing motion often involves panning or tilting the camera, requiring a head with smooth, adjustable fluid damping for full control. For heavier payloads, adjustable counterbalance makes sense, allowing you to release the camera without it tipping forward, backward or trapping your fingers. Unless you’re a fan of shooting the tilted, Dutch-angle look, it’s important to keep the horizon straight. You can do this by fiddling around to adjust the leg length on a stills tripod, but it’s far better to use a real video set-up that has a quick-adjust head with a spirit level. To speed things up, a spreader fits between the legs on some tripods, which lets you instantly open up them up and start filming without much faff. Although many tripods are sold as a kit with a head, many high-end brands do sell the legs and head separately, allowing a full custom rig to be built. Check out our guide on the best tripods for different users at various price points and target users.
Choose the right video tripod that will hold its ground for all types of projects
THE EVERYMAN CHOICE More professional filmmakers use Manfrotto tripod systems than any other brand, and it’s easy to see why. The Italian brand makes some of the
you to control the entire leg with a single lock and get the tripod set up quickly. The aluminium tripod is a great performer, but if you’re in need of a lighter option, a carbon-fibre version is available at a higher price point. For a much more affordable alternative, take a look at the Manfrotto 190X Aluminium with 500 head at just £359/$319. The 190 series is a legendary tripod used for decades. The latest X version features various revisions and is teamed up with the 500 Fluid Head and a self-levelling kit to make this a decent, basic system that also performs well. The head boasts a side lock mounting system, so the camera plate clicks in from above, which is much faster than lining it up to slide it in from one end. Fluid cartridges on the pan and tilt movements offer resistance for smooth, controlled motion. The spring-loaded counterbalance is not adjustable, though. manfrotto.com
best-performing tripod kits in a range of sizes and price points to suit all users.
Its 645 Fast Twin aluminium tripod –costing £743/$800 –
features a traditional double tube leg system. It also has the latest Fast Lever Lock technology for super-quick set-up. On the top is one of Manfrotto’s high-end
Nitrotech heads that uses a unique pressurised cartridge damping system. The tripod comes with a two-in-one half ball. There is a 100mm bowl along with a 75mm adapter, enabling the use of various heads. It also features a mid- level spreader, but you can remove it and use the three-angle selectors if you wish. The closure mechanism is between the upper and lower locks, which allow
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