GROUP TEST GEAR
We take a look at a range of tripods suitable for mirrorless, DSLR or small cinema cameras
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
A steady tripod is obviously an essential buy for all movement look amateurish and really ruin your production. But there is somuchmore to buying the right tripod than just whether it can be locked down steady or do smoothmoves. You filmmakers. There’s nothing worse than a wobbly, hand- held shot when what’s needed is a rock-solid, locked down camera. And a juddery pan or tilt canmake any camera
have to consider size and portability, how quick it is to set up and use, how solid the locks are and, of course, howmuch it costs. As there’s a vast difference between the most expensive and the cheapest on the market. While you can drop five grand on a tripod, we take a look at a range of tripods that are all relatively affordable and offer decent spec for the money.
MANFROTTO MVK502C-1 PRO VIDEO CARBON SYSTEM £616/$944 manfrotto.com Manfrotto has a huge range of tripods in different materials, lengths, leg designs and spreaders. Add on one of the Italian company’s range of heads, and you have myriad combinations to suit lots of different users. This is the Manfrotto MVK502C-1 Pro Video Carbon System, which mates up the MVH502A fluid with the MPRO 535 Carbon Fibre tripod in a decent padded carrying bag. Starting with the head – it’s not the latest Nitrotech systemwith super- adjustable counterbalance but a more basic head, designed for use with DSLR, mirrorless cameras and camcorders as well as lighter cinema cameras. The 502 head has a pre-set counterbalance of 4kg/ 8.8lb but is able to support equipment up to 7kg/15.4lbs. This pretty much includes most kit that independent filmmakers might use as it’s designed to match the weight of the most popular cameras and accessories, like external monitors, lights or microphones.
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SPRING 2020
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