GEAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SUPPORT
Sometimes you need your camera locked into a solid position. Other times you want to pan or tilt it. You may want it to move in a controlled slide, or need the flexibility to move it around either on your shoulder or on a gimbal to iron out the vibes. Either way, getting the right support is crucial. Thanks to the mix of great spec and functionality, reliability, relatively affordable price and a huge range to choose from, so many filmmakers end up using Manfrotto tripods and heads. So it’s perhaps no surprise the Italian firmwas voted top in both the Tripod System and Slider classes. The tripod winner is the Manfrotto 546GB with Nitrotech 612 head, which uses the revolutionary fluid head with an increased payload up to 12kg/26.4lb. It’s a traditional twin-tube design tripod with a mid- level spreader. Fast and easy to set up, it’s also strong enough to resist twisting or bending. The high-tech bit is in the minimalist head, which is designed to be quick and easy to balance for lots of different cameras and lenses – and of course give silky-smooth pans and tilts. The head uses a nitrogen-charged piston to control the balancing of the camera, and it works quickly and without any fuss as you use the knob on the side to dial in the right amount of balance. It also works for small cameras so is good if you use a variety of kit for different shoots. For the price, it’s a great buy for a working professional and is a popular set-up. Also a winner is the Manfrotto 60cm slider, which is a basic, all- manual slider that’s small enough to be taken with you on shoots, then quickly mounted to the top of your tripod with your head on the top. The carriage runs on four wheels fitted with high-precision steel ball bearings. The wheels have a smooth polymer coating to keep any movement as quiet as possible.
In the monopod class, the winner was the Libec HFMP (or Hands Free MonoPod). It’s so called as you can leave your camera in a locked-in position without using your hands, because there’s a foot-activated locking device and three large feet to keep everything stable. The Libec kit comes with a good quality fluid head, and there are dual rosettes so you can fit the handle to either side or add other accessories. When time comes to move the camera aroundmore freely, a rig is what you need. Our award goes to the Vocas Handheld rig. It’s well thought-out, built to last and is packed with features real filmmakers appreciate. It turns a mirrorless camera or a DSLR into a fully workable, professional shoulder rig fitted with a top quality matte box to take full-size pro filters. And the geared follow focus comes with an adjustable ring to fit it to standard lenses without geared rings. So many filmmakers nowadays have a stabilising device, and the motorised stabilising gimbal is the most popular. Our winner is the Feiyutech AK2000, which saw off considerable competition from big names like DJI and Zhiyun. With a 2.8kg/6.2lb load- carrying capacity, the affordable Feiyutech gimbal works with the majority of mirrorless and DSLR cameras, and lightweight video cameras. Tripod system • Manfrotto 546GB with Nitrotech 612 head Editor’s Choice: Sachtler Flowtech 100 MS Monopod • Libec HFMP Slider • Manfrotto 60cm Rig • Vocas Handheld kit Pro Type P Stabiliser/gimbal • Feiyutech AK2000
EDITOR’S CHOICE: SACHTLER FLOWTECH 100
The radical Sachtler Flowtech 100 is the winner of the Editor’s Choice award thanks to its very large and wide carbon fibre tubes, which are designed not only to twist less but also be far more comfortable to carry on the shoulder. The legs are held close together by a magnet, so you need a little bit of force to pull them out and splay themwide. Then, instead of having to reach down and fiddle with leg locks, there is a single locking lever per leg right at the top near the head. You just undo these big and obvious levers, then quickly raise the tripod to the height you want and fasten the locks up again. It’s simple and makes for an innovative tripod.
IMAGES (From top, clockwise) The Vocas rig, Manfrotto slider and Sachtler Flowtech 100 tripod system are the winner of our awards
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SPRING 2020
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