BUYERS’ GUIDE
The eye-wateringly expensive OConnor borrows the Flowtech technology from sister brand Sachtler, but it’s not identical. Both are easy to set up, light and have flat legs to make them easy to carry around on the shoulder. The OConnor uses a 100mm bowl to take the Ultimate 1040 fluid head, which has a huge range of adjustment to make it suitable for light through to heavy cinema cameras. It has a stepless, ultra- smooth pan-and-tilt fluid drag accurate balance at any point in the tilt range. The Ultimate 1040 supports payloads up to 20kg/45lb at a 15cm/5in centre of gravity and a +/-90° tilt range. and the OConnor sinusoidal counterbalance system for OCONNOR FLOWTECH100 WITH ULTIMATE 1040 HEAD £9617/$13,300 ocon.com
SACHTLER FLOWTECH75 MS WITH AKTIV8T HEAD
£2909/$3250 sachtler.com
This is the tripod most indie production companies and freelancers want to own. It’s the most award-winning tripod of recent years and it’s easy to see why. The lightweight, carbon-fibre Flowtech75 MS legs and Aktiv8T head are quick to set up yet the legs fold flat so are ideal to carry. The head mounts to the legs using a single lever lock, rather than having to be screwed on and locked down with a safety screw. The camera goes on a quick-release plate that clicks
into place. There are 15 steps of counterbalance and seven steps of pan-and-tilt drag adjustment. The Sachtler Flowtech75 MS with Aktiv8T head kit weighs 5.7kg/12.6lb and has a
maximum payload of 12kg/26.5lb. It’s the de facto standard high-end tripod for the serious professional.
Pros: The best of the best Cons: No, that price isn’t a mistake!
Pros: High-tech and speedy Cons: Not cheap
VANGUARD VEO 3+ 263CPS £380/$369 vanguardworld.co.uk
VELBON VIDEOMATE 638 £139/$140 velbon.co.uk
If you want an affordable system that still performs well, Velbon’s Videomate 638 is something you should take a look at. It is a full- size video tripod that can take a maximum 4kg/8.82lb payload, so is ideal for mirrorless cameras or camcorders. On top is the PH- 368 fluid hеаd, which has been a proven performer for years. It has smooth pan and tilt movements that can be adjusted by separate dials. There are large locks, but some components are plastic to save weight and cost. Aluminium uрреr legs and the central brace can be adjusted with a locking knob. It has a gеаrеd сеntrе соlumn which moves when you crank a side handle. This adds complexity, but means you can adjust the head height precisely.
A good-quality carbon-fibre tripod that won’t break the bank is the Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CPS with an Arca-compatible three-way pan head. It includes an innovative Multi-Angle Central Column that can also be used as a mount to attach accessories. But, sadly, no fluid-damped head. The centre moves almost 360° in any direction and can be used as a multi-mount with included adapter. So you can mount your monitor next to your camera. The whole kit extends to a height of 173.5cm/68.3in and has a maximum capacity of 10kg/22lb. It folds down to 77.5cm/30.5in and weighs 2.3kg/5.1lb. Its 26mm diameter legs have three sections – and one leg can be removed and converted into a monopod. Padded bag included.
Pros: Good for stills and locked-down video Cons: No fluid head
Pros: Very affordable Cons: Old-school look
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