Tripods: NOT all created equal

A first person article by Jim Selleck

When I bought my first video camcorder several years ago I was on a real shoestring budget. I knew I needed a tripod, and had heard the term "fluid head" before, but really had no idea what to look for. All I knew for sure was what worked right and what didn't work when I actually used it.

The first few tripods I bought for $20 to $60 at the big box discount stores and even the appliance stores with pretty big camera sections did NOT work the way I wanted or expected. I ended up taking about 5 tripods back to the store for refunds. Some of them had the word "PRO" on the box, but that turned out to be meaningless marketing hype. One actually had the words "Fluid Action Head", but as the tiny fine print explained, it was not a REAL fluid head, just kinda similar. Similiar in appearance perhaps, but not in function. These consumer tripods would all hold a camera fairly steady for a static shot, but they were nowhere near smooth or sturdy enough for the kind of quality movie making I dreamed of doing.

Sticks
Some pros call tripods "sticks". I learned that talking to camera store employees. I also learned that what I needed was a real professional set of sticks with an honest to goodness fluid head for smooth movements. At the pro level, these generally come as two separate pieces: tripod and head. You can also add a set of dolly wheels for rolling around on smooth surfaces. I was warned that going to the pro level increases the cost by hundreds of dollars. That was not going to fit into my budget, so I tried looking for something used on Ebay. What I found was an affordable solution that quickly became my favorite all-purpose camera support. I've shot dozens of pro jobs using the very same sticks and head I bought on Ebay, and I still have (and use) them today. Don't worry, I'm going to tell you exactly what they are, but first a few words about heads.

What is a fluid head anyway?
The following paragraph is borrowed with gratitude from an excellent article by Teresa Echazabal published on www.videomaker.com

The best video tripods have what is commonly known as "true fluid heads." These tripods contain two plates that float on top of one another in a viscous solution that alleviates jerkiness and enables smooth tilts and pans. They work similarly to a car's transmission; the plates never actually touch. The entire mechanism is well sealed against wear and weather. Less expensive models try to simulate the "true fluid head." Be wary of tripods with names such as "fluid action," "fluid-effect" or "fluid like." Though these cheaper models do have fluid between the plates, they are not made with the same precision and are not sealed making them much more susceptible to harm from dust, dirt, cold and wear from heavy usage and heavier cameras. A "fluid like" tripod may feel very similar to a "true fluid head" tripod on the showroom floor but it will not withstand the test of time. In addition, a true fluid head will allow you to adjust the rotating resistance (a.k.a. drag) to be as light or heavy as you prefer.

It's a tribute to the usefulness of the 3179N set that it continues to be sold new by Bogen Manfrotto today. At about $200, it may cost almost as much as your first camcorder, but it may well be worth it. Now, this combination works for me, but it's not for everyone or for all situations. Outdoors in high winds it's not heavy enough. Indoors in crowds it's not tall enough (about 6.5 feet with the center column raised). In any situation, however, it is versatile, light, portable, easy to carry, quick to set up, and for my money the little 3130 head is every bit as smooth on pans and tilts as any fluid head I've paid $600 to own. The nine pound weight limit is not likely to be an issue for any newer consumer camcorders, all of which weigh a lot less even with accessories.

Another nice, simple feature of the quick release head is a little lock that prevents it from coming apart. That's an essential feature on a lightweight tripod that is small enough to pick up and sling over your shoulder. I've done just that, running full tilt through the woods in northern Michigan after a sandhill crane with a $2,500 camcorder fastened to the 3130 head. I knew I might run into a tree, but the camera was not going to shake loose from the head.

(The crane stayed just out of sight, by the way, and in my opinion it was laughing at me.)