1 2 Previous Next 45 Replies Latest reply: May 26, 2013 10:30 AM by able123 RSS

    Tripods - heads and legs

    Steven L. Gotz Community Member

      OK, we all use them. Or should. Tripods are the topic of this thread.

       

      My main set of legs are an extremely heavy set of Bogen Manfrotto (3036) legs which can be quite tall - like even I need a stepstool tall (and I am a tall guy) and extremely sturdy.

       

      The head is really for photographers not videographers. It is a 3029 and I will have to buy a fluid head one of these days soon. One great thing about buying from Manfrotto is that they have so many different heads that fit the same legs. And they have lots of different choices for legs.

       

      I teased someone on this forum about using a rubberband with his expensive fluid head when he was trying to get used to it, which is how you get smoother pans from cheaper tripods. http://lifehacker.com/5942055/film-smoother-video-with-a-tripod-and-a-rubber-band

       

      He didn't get that I was teasing him which surprised me, but what can you do? Teasing in print can be difficult.

       

      In any case, what are people using for their DSLR, or larger cameras? What legs, and why? What heads, and why?

       

      If we all use tripods, what about yours makes you happy you bought it? Or, if you are unhappy, have you looked at better ones? Do you have unanswered questions? Do you know any cool tricks we would like to hear about?

        • 1. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
          joe bloe premiere Community Member

          OK, we all use them. Or should. Tripods are the topic of this thread.

          I am a tripod.

           

          • 2. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
            Community Member

            I now dream of rubber bands on my head.

             

             

             

            They make my ears stick out !

             

            Joe, we used to call this guy , Albert , THE HUMAN TRIPOD... really !

             

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_and_David_Maysles

             

            even locked off shots.. he would have us build a little platform for him to sit on so he could hand hold the camera on his shoulder at that specific height.. ( using apple boxes ).

            Like he would crouch down and put his behind in a certain spot and we would fill in between the ground and his behind !!!!

             

            I don't know if it would be helpful to mention and illustrate what 35mm pro cameras use for tripod, heads and rigging ( like on car hoods or stuff ? ). Maybe it would help to see at least what that stuff is.. and then downsize it for DSLR...

            The plus side would be seeing how stuff works on pro stuff ( mitchel plates etc ), which may give people " ideas " relative to the adaption to smaller cameras ?

            • 3. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
              Community Member

              An example of "comparing "...

               

              A wheeled head is the smoothest most accurate type head for pans and tilts. They are tricky to use and it takes a long time to get used to them where you dont have to THINK about what you are doing...where it is all muscle memory and lots of experience. Wheeled heads are used on motion pictures more than fluid heads.

              The wheel on left.. turn it counter clockwise and it pans left...turn it clockwise and it pans right. The wheel no back, turn it counter clockwise and you tilt down, turn it clockwise and you pan up. To make circles and figure 8's and follow action etc with this head takes TONS of practice...but it is arguably the best type head to use...

               

              here is 35mm version motion pic head...one of several brands...

              http://www.arri.com/camera/pro_camera_accessories/support_systems/arrihead_2.html

               

              arrihead.jpg

               

              here is a new DSLR version by CPM ( bh sells it )

               

              http://www.cpmcamerarigs.com/category_s/33.htm

               

              CPMHead-224x224.jpg

               

               

              • 4. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                That is exactly what I had in mind for this thread.

                 

                I have never seen anything like those wheels. I think I really like that idea. Darn it, now I have a reason to go to that expensive camera shop again and see if they have one for rent so I can touch it and feel the wheels move.

                 

                Wheels? That makes SO much sense to me. But I can't spend twice as much for a tripod as I did on the camera. No matter how much I want one. I just can't. Sigh!

                • 5. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                  Community Member

                  cons of using wheeled head...

                  Since both your hands are as camera operator on the wheels...you cannot use a follow focus or zoom motor .. in other words your hands are tied up on the wheels, so you need an assistant to pull focus and zoom... it is basically at least a 2 man piece of equipment if you need to follow focus and zoom during shot...

                  • 6. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                    Community Member

                    yeah, it is maybe cool to at least " know " about some stuff used even if you never use it..

                    Even just doing a diagonal with the wheels is hard to do until you get used to using the wheels.. it really takes a very long time of practice to get coordinated ( left and right hands ...its kinda like an etch a sketch ).

                     

                    But boy, talk about nice moves ! You can't beat it...the pro heads have 3 speeds ( gear changes ) for both wheels, numbered 1 to 3...3 being the fastest.

                     

                    There is also a built in tilt wedge on the panahead and arri head...allowing for very steep angles. There is a Worrall head ( which I think was the first wheeled type head built ? )

                     

                    http://geared-head.net/2011/03/31/the-worrall-head-is-alive-but-tiny/

                     

                     

                    • 7. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                      Stan Jones CommunityMVP

                      Joe, we used to call this guy , Albert , THE HUMAN TRIPOD... really !

                       

                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_and_David_Maysles

                      Did  you work on the original Grey Gardens? Ha, ha! Too funny!

                      • 8. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                        Community Member

                        heh.. no Stan... I only worked on some commercial things Albert did. Odd as it seems ( or maybe not ) when film people work on 'commercial ' stuff they are not into the same realm of 'credits' and resume stuff.

                        In other words, I may have worked on a bunch of tv commercials shot with motion pic cameras etc. but none of those are a part of IMDB resume type stuff, the don't roll credits on tv commercials.

                        Same with all pro film makers.. directors, producers, crew people etc. You DO hear of someone doing music videos sometimes but that's sorta in between documentary and movie and commercial.. it's in a sorta no mans land.

                         

                        Anyway, I dont know if you've ever seen those tv commercials for some live theatre show ( lion king, phantom of opera, les miserables ?? etc ).. and some people ( audience members ) are coming out of the building after the show and they say stuff like , " WOW ! THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT SHOW ! I LAUGHED, I CRIED, I LOVE IT !!!! "

                         

                        That's a creation of Albert. We can thank HIM for that format. He started it and it has been a big success. It paid the bills for him ( bread and butter ) over the years. That's the sorta stuff I worked on with him.  Basically a bunch of stuff that crosses the line between documentary and commercial.

                         

                         

                         

                        edit: there used to be ( and maybe still is ? ) trade mags like " advertising today " that dealt with that stuff... probably the gist of what MAD MEN ( the movie ) is based on.  I got out of commercial work years ago cause I couldn't stand looking at hamburgers anymore in front of the lens and people who couldnt light their way out of a paper bag thinking they were God's gift to mankind.

                         

                         

                        • 9. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                          Community Member

                          One thing most people shooting motion have to do is not only point the camera at the action but also focus as the action moves closer or further away. Sometimes with simple shots ( wide lenses mostly ).. you dont have to adjust focus as the action happens. But when you get into tighter lenses it is sometimes necessary to focus on the fly.

                          Some can do it by hand or with auto focus ...hand held, whatever...

                          Sometimes you need to get more help...

                           

                          This system is helpful... but its only an 'example' .. theres other companies etc.. and this DSLR oriented.

                           

                          http://www.adorama.com/ZCZW6.html?gclid=CNHEhvqArbcCFYZaMgodblsASQ

                           

                          followFocus.jpg

                           

                          The whip...attaches into the wheel you see above.. see that little hole in middle ? thats where the whip, which is a flexible wire fits into...

                          followFocusWhip.jpg

                          The reason for the whip is it allows you or an assistant to focus without having to have hand on the lens barrel, which interferes with the smooth pan and tilt of the camera...

                          It gives you more ability to move your focus 'hand' with the smooth motion of pan / tilt...so your hand ( or asst hand ) doesnt interfere with that motion...

                           

                           

                           

                          edit.. think of " snake " and how flexible it is...thats how the whip is...it " forgives " camera motion because it is flexible. I added the snake reference for Ann mostly

                           

                           

                          • 11. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                            Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                            Joe,

                             

                            You are extremely good at finding interesting graphics to express emotion or to get a point across. And sometimes just to have fun.

                             

                            Once again, I think this forum needs to add an emoticon for bowing down. Some things just deserve a little praise, and your particular talent, while a bit odd, is always a welcome addition.

                            • 12. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                              joe bloe premiere Community Member

                              ..while a bit odd...

                              I think in images... can't help it.

                              After all, we do work in a visual medium.

                               

                              • 13. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                Community Member

                                Joe , can you draw ? Like, could you make your own comic book " COVER " ? Similar to what you posted earlier ? But with specific "characters " ?

                                • 14. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                  joe bloe premiere Community Member

                                  I wish...

                                   

                                   

                                  I've tried, but I suck at it.

                                  My mother was an artist... my dad, a writer.

                                   

                                  I would make a much better art director than artist.

                                  • 15. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                    Community Member

                                    rats.

                                    I just had this cool idea for documentary title and introduction.

                                    Had thought of making a sorta " book " with photo on cover and text.. and book opens..video inside.. you know.. been used a lot...

                                    But now I'm thinking it would be cool to do a comic book cover. Split it up into panels like your earlier post..

                                    'the ice age'

                                    'the homesteaders'

                                    'the hermit'

                                    'the railroad tycoon'

                                    'the hotel tycoons'

                                     

                                    stuff like that...

                                     

                                    hmmm.. will think about it some more...

                                     

                                     

                                    • 16. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                      joe bloe premiere Community Member

                                      Reference:

                                      CLOUD_COMICS.png

                                      I wish I could draw like this...

                                      all I can do is re-purpose with a new concept.

                                       

                                      • 17. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                        Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                        Just too funny. Glad that my coffee cup was empty, when I saw it!

                                         

                                        Hunt

                                        • 18. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                          And its cousin, Triped Alexa

                                           

                                          Triped_Alexa.png

                                          Hunt

                                          • 20. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                            Community Member

                                            car rigs...another form of "tripod"...ways to lock off camera on THINGS....

                                             

                                            car rigs.jpg

                                             

                                            I personally would not do this where you rely on the glass suction cups ...modified to use with film equipment ( basically just weld and 750 stud onto it , like the chain vice grips with stud )

                                             

                                            http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=glass+suction+cups&gbv=2&oq=glass+suction+c ups&gs_l=heirloom-hp.3..0l10.626.15090.0.15249.34.20.8.6.7.0.150.1262.19j1.20.0...0.0...1a c.1.12.heirloom-hp.AyF9W71d-W0

                                             

                                            As I don't trust the suction cups, and especially as I've always worked with way heavier cameras ( panaflex etc )...

                                            But you can get into position like this and use a few ratchet straps to safety the rig ( or whatever it takes.. rope is cool if you can crank it down with trucker's hitches etc )

                                             

                                            In the old days rigs were made with wood and rope and simple stuff that you just cut and fit as you went along...

                                             

                                            The basics is that the DP ( or YOU ) look through lens and frame shot.. and then measure where the camera is...related to car... and then build your rig... and then mount the camera.

                                             

                                            is fun !  Can see portion of front of car as it drives around in this case...action !

                                            If it is still work its the same thing...same frame...and probably a little 'blur' etc to accent motion...

                                             

                                             

                                            • 21. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                              Now here is a camera car:

                                              http://www.ponysite.de/charger_welch.htm

                                               

                                              I still think that Bullitt had the best auto chase scenes to ever make it to the big screen.

                                               

                                              Hunt

                                              • 22. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                Community Member

                                                my favorite is french connection, under the El train in queens...

                                                 

                                                YIKES, LOOKOUT ! GET OUT OF THE WAAAAAYYYYYY !

                                                 

                                                hehe...

                                                 

                                                YIPEE , ITS BEER THIRTY !

                                                 

                                                 

                                                • 23. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                  Community Member

                                                  For those ' mounting positions ' the arrow points to... you use this stuff.. weld it to frame of car...

                                                   

                                                  http://www.metalsdepot.com/products/hrsteel2.phtml?page=sqtube

                                                  drill out and tap ( thread ) for 3/8" bolts...so you can lock down

                                                   

                                                  PIPE that fits into the square tubing..using 1 1/2" black pipe schedule 40...and that black pipe is your pick point...extended from square tubing....so you got room to attach stuff to the pipe.

                                                   

                                                  Last job where that was done for us ( is done by props / SFX in NY usually ) was men in black I think...

                                                   

                                                  Jobs are getting cheaper as the years go by.. production doesnt wanna spend the money on pre lights and pre rigs... so process trailers are used more often now...or something like the ULITIMATE ARM.. ( sent you T shirts of that place , Bill )

                                                  Google Ultimate Arm and you'll see ...now you can get that camera right in face while driving really fast....

                                                  Times are a changin...

                                                   

                                                   

                                                   

                                                  http://www.ultimatearm.com/

                                                  • 24. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                    Community Member

                                                    I really love bullit movie too !!!! Obviously ! hehe... who wouldn't ???

                                                     

                                                    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062765/

                                                     

                                                    But the visceral feeling I get from french connection beats it.. .the sunlight through the railroad ties of the El...racing up the windshield ( reflection ) of the car... the sparks and noise of the EL as it travels... the inserts of his foot stomping on the gas and the brake...it just gets to me !

                                                     

                                                     

                                                    • 25. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                      Community Member

                                                      Let me loose and I can probably get some shots like the french connection with a rig that puts my nikon on a car rig...but it would be WAY more locked down and reinforced than that image in above post with suction cups... hehe.. no way I would trust those things...

                                                       

                                                       

                                                      • 26. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                        Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                                        Rodney,

                                                         

                                                        I felt just the opposite. Though I did enjoy Friedkin's work on FC, that chase just did not move me at the same visceral level, that Bullitt did. I was soaked with perspiration from the Bullitt chase scene, and just went "very cool," after the chase under the El, in FC.

                                                         

                                                        BTW - one of the stunt drivers from Bullitt also drove in FC.

                                                         

                                                        Hunt

                                                        • 27. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                          Community Member

                                                          I still like FC more

                                                           

                                                          A friend had this mach 1 ( 1969 ) ..the first mustang with that sloping rear window.. but it didnt have a stupid spoiler thing on it.. was emerald green... pretty.

                                                          I sometimes even got 'scared' driving it around town.. it sorta wanted to take off !

                                                           

                                                           

                                                           

                                                          http://www.howstuffworks.com/1969-1970-ford-mustang3.htm

                                                           

                                                          edit: I traded my bike for their cars sometimes.. my buddies.. they wanted bike, I drove the car instead.

                                                          Other car I traded with bike was the 67 corvette stingray... quad , headers ( closed on street )..could pop wheelies in 2nd gear from a slow 'roll '... now THAT was scary.. cause hood was so long you couldnt see ground when it came UP...

                                                           

                                                          like basically flying a supercub tail dragger on takeoff. cant see runway out front !!!!

                                                          • 28. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                            Community Member

                                                            ps.. if there is a time interval between what I was saying and what I end up saying.. and a sorta lag of storyline, a sudden disjointed plot or subplot.. this is only because I now have Jeff, Jim Simon, Kevin, Todd and some guy named MM and probably a few others  ... deleting my messages as it suits them without announcing this or whatever..

                                                            I am currently being scrutinized ( posts and so on ) by many of the policemen and wannabe police.

                                                            I say this and MOOOOOOOOO to you all... in the best of spirits and a hearty good wish for having some fun !

                                                             

                                                             

                                                            • 29. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                              Community Member

                                                              if you play the markets and sell adobe short ( which thank goodness you cant keep doing now without an uptick ( especially selling naked )... DONT say you hope the stock goes down ( so you make some money ). This is inappropriate behavior in the lounge !

                                                               

                                                              Personally I have so many options and puts on adobe short I hope it tanks tomorrow !

                                                               

                                                               

                                                              • 30. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                joe bloe premiere Community Member
                                                                ...some guy named MM...

                                                                m.m.murphy

                                                                http://forums.adobe.com/people/m.m.murphy

                                                                 

                                                                 

                                                                • 31. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                  Community Member

                                                                  yikes.. mm is a girl ?  OMG... now I really feel like a jerk...

                                                                   

                                                                  sorry...I take back everything I said..

                                                                   

                                                                  girls are smarter than guys usually and nicer... now I really feel bad ....

                                                                   

                                                                   

                                                                   

                                                                  edit: this doesnt mean I take back what I said about Jeff and Jim though.

                                                                  • 32. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                    Stan Jones CommunityMVP

                                                                    I say this and MOOOOOOOOO to you all... in the best of spirits and a hearty good wish for having some fun !

                                                                     

                                                                     

                                                                    Woooooof!

                                                                    • 33. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                      Community Member

                                                                      woof back !  hehe.. tail wagging !

                                                                       

                                                                       

                                                                      • 34. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                        joe bloe premiere Community Member

                                                                        edit: this doesnt mean I take back what I said about Jeff and Jim though.

                                                                        Spanking.jpg

                                                                        • 35. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                          Community Member

                                                                          I know this is about tripods and legs....and right now all I can see is the legs !

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                          ouch !

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                          • 36. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                            Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                                                            Joe,

                                                                             

                                                                            Yes, Madison is a very overworked young lady about now. She tries to do a great job, and usually does. While she is charged with the Adobe Forums, she has also been busy helping out users, who have gotten poor customer service. She wears a half-dozen hats, and does a very good job, IMHO.

                                                                             

                                                                            Hunt

                                                                            • 37. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                                                              Joe,

                                                                               

                                                                              Is that an outake for Fifty Shades of Gray Illustrated, or something else?

                                                                               

                                                                              Hunt

                                                                              • 38. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                                Community Member

                                                                                I disagree that MM is over worked or whatever..as we have no proof of that. Cerrtainly I dont have proof of that and mm was a perfect gentle person ( previously thought of as perfectly normal human before becoming a girl )

                                                                                So lets please stop this stupid stuff about MM and stuff.. as it has no bearing on reality.

                                                                                 

                                                                                grrrrr....

                                                                                 

                                                                                for that matter my first reaction to jims website was one of compassion too. ..

                                                                                • 39. Re: Tripods - heads and legs
                                                                                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                                                                  Rod,

                                                                                   

                                                                                  Take my word for it - she is working very hard, though much might behind the scenes.

                                                                                   

                                                                                  Hunt

                                                                                  1 2 Previous Next