GEAR BUYERS’ GUIDE
MANFROTTO XPRO 4 SECTION VIDEO MONOPOD £253/$299 manfrotto.com
Manfrotto might be the most popular choice for tripods,
Sometimes you don’t have the space to set up a full-size tripod, or perhaps you need to fasten your camera to something like the branch of a tree or a handy fence or pipe. That’s where the Joby Gorillapod comes in, thanks to its articulating wrap-around legs. It should be a must-have accessory in every filmmakers’ kit bag. Although some of the cheaper models are plastic, this one uses some aluminium components for strength and extra safety for bigger cameras. This 3K Pro Kit is ideal for mirrorless cameras with a payload up to a 3kg/6.6lb and comes with a ball head that uses an Arca-Swiss fitting. The head locks into place with a single knob, so it’s fast and easy to use. It’s not going to be your main tripod, but it is an ideal backup that can get you out of a tight situation, or can be used to hold lights or audio kit, too. Just buy one. JOBY GORILLAPOD 3K PRO KIT £150/$97 joby.com
but the Italian company also does a line of monopods for filmmakers, too. For use in tight spaces, or out in the field when it just isn’t possible to use a full-size tripod, then a dedicated video monopod is a great tool. And they are useful for getting high- angle shots as well, with a maximum height of 203cm/79.9in. The XPro is a four-section aluminiummonopod with a pro- quality fluid head on the top, plus Manfrotto’s Fluidtech base, which helps with smooth pans and tilts without having to reposition the base. There’s a quick-release plate on the head, and the legs use quick- adjust levers just like some of the Manfrotto tripods. The head can be also removed and the monopod bolted straight on to a camera, if you’d prefer.
3 LEGGED THING JAY KIT-S £612/$702 3leggedthing.com
mirrorless cameras as it has five-section carbon-fibre legs for lightness and folds down to just 50.1cm/19.72in. Weighing only 2.16kg/4.76lb, it has a maximum height of 1.21m/46.6in and can take a payload of 14kg/30lb. It has a levelling base and comes with the AirHed Cine fluid head for smooth pans and tilts. The clever bit is that the legs can all be detached for use as a monopod or boom. And by fitting the optional ‘footwear’ it can be used as a tabletop tripod. Or add a foot stabiliser to turn the monopod into a more stable device, especially on rough terrain. The S kit uses a standard video camera plate, while it’s also available as an A kit, which is identical apart from the Arca Swiss-type plate.
Don’t let the quirky names and cool design touches put you off; funky British tripod brand 3 Legged Thing makes a range of professional-quality tripods that are ideal for filmmaking. Like all the brand’s tripods, the Jay has some unusual design features. The Jay kit is an ideal travelling tripod for users of
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