What choice is a good indie tripod

What would be a good tripod to get? Preferably the "best tripod". (I did a search here and couldn't find anything)

As an 'indie price', maybe $100 to $200 would be a good price range.

And maybe some places to purchase it on the web that are good and/or safe.

I think you want a fluid level head, and good, smooth panning and tilting. And solid, but not too heavy. Relatively rugged. To hold a consumer or prosumer camera.

I just purchased a Panasonic HDC-HS100 for indie filmmaking of shorts, documentaries (maybe weddings), and longer productions up to feature length films. (it's amazingly small and lightweight, almost too small and light) ~$600 (srp ~$1200)

I hope no one says, "You made a mistake getting that camera". I did quite a bit of research, and I think this will work for what I want and need for the price range I was forced to stick to.

I am now looking at mics and lighting and could use some suggestions there, too. I like the stuff at this site, and will probably go with it.

http://www.juicedlink.com/index.htm

And this lighting stuff seems good and affordable, but I'm not sure exactly what to order for a mostly basic 3-light kit. (or whatever semi-minimal kit I need -- maybe around $500) I sent the website an e-mail asking questions and they didn't reply.

http://www.skaeser.com/
 
This is not the best tripod by any means, a good tripod is $1200-$7000 for tripod and head, but it is a decent one in your price range:
Velbon 7000
 
I bought a Weifeng E-Image 717 fluid head tripod on ebay for under $200 about a year ago and I love it. Very sturdy, nice smooth motion, and it's the best I could find in the price range..

Search ebay for "EI717"..

this is the one I've got:
3451769602_599c9a41f4_o.jpg
 
I got a Manfrotto tripod with 3130 head - forgot how much I paid, but must have been pretty cheap as I bought it on impulse at a local camera shop.

And this lighting stuff seems good and affordable, but I'm not sure exactly what to order for a mostly basic 3-light kit. (or whatever semi-minimal kit I need -- maybe around $500) I sent the website an e-mail asking questions and they didn't reply.

http://www.skaeser.com/

They've never been good with the email, but they're easy enough to call. I've bought two light kits & a portable greenscreen with frame from them before. Good peeps. :)

Since you're in California, you'll get whacked with sales tax - but every time I've ordered from them, they've offset that by reducing the cost of the flat-rate shipping.
 
I purchased a Bogen/Manfrotto tripod system from B&H. Bogen/Manfrotto is the workhorse of tripods. Its a good, steady reliable mid-priced tripod if you take care of it.

When you buy the system, you get the tripod which includes a fluid head, the 'handle', the legs, a carrying case, the plate, etc. So that might be something you should consider. Make sure your tripod can hold the weight of your camera plus a little more if possible, in case you want to attach a shotgun mic and a on-camera light. The more weight the tripod can hold, the more it will cost and the price can go up steeply by $100 dollars or more.

Start here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/category/8172/Tripods_Supports_Systems.html

Make sure you click on the "sort by" button and change it to: low to high (lowest in price to highest in price)

My tripod system cost about $300 and I love it. Get the best you can afford.


-- spinner :cool:

EDIT: by the way, if you were planning to order today, B&H won't be taking orders until tomorrow, Jewish holiday.
 
Back
Top