tripod
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Andreas Wideroe
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I agree!
Yes, Manfrotto is great and quite cheap too. I bought mine for about $120 and it's steady and reliable.
Andreas Wideroe
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Guest
If you think $120 is steep you'll probably have to settle with something thats gonna keep you're camera still and nothing else. Provided there's zero wind (or no mosquitos landing on your tripod). Say goodbye to any kind of smooth pans and tilts, not to mention ruggedness. But I guess that's not what you're looking for. Maybe a monopod will do. It sure is portable enough for you. The kind of ultra cheap tripods you want can be found almost anywhere. I don't think the make of the tripod matters at all. It's all just cheap plastic anyway.
To be honest I've used these kinds of tripods alot myself. they do the job of keeping the camera still (if you put some weight on it), if you loose it, just buy another one. And when you're out and about filming you can leave it anywhere and go get some coffee, cause no one's gonna steel it.
To be honest I've used these kinds of tripods alot myself. they do the job of keeping the camera still (if you put some weight on it), if you loose it, just buy another one. And when you're out and about filming you can leave it anywhere and go get some coffee, cause no one's gonna steel it.
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Guest
"Say goodbye to any kind of smooth pans and tilts, not to mention ruggedness. But I guess that's not what you're looking for."
I'm still looking for good shots! But on a low budget, that's all. Isn't that the beauty of S8?
You can still get good with cheap, eg Russian brands/ 2nd hand.
Anyone got any advice on problems to watch out for with 2nd hand tripods?
Thanks.
I'm still looking for good shots! But on a low budget, that's all. Isn't that the beauty of S8?
You can still get good with cheap, eg Russian brands/ 2nd hand.
Anyone got any advice on problems to watch out for with 2nd hand tripods?
Thanks.
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Guest
That's not what I'm saying. I disagree with you on the subject of Super 8 being a low budget medium. It's the cheapest if you insist on film, but it isn't cheap at all.
Allthough your super 8 camera can produce beautiful pictures, you're not gonna improve their quality further by using a plastic piece of crap tripod. Your jerky pans will do nothing but advertise the impression of you being an amatur.
With that said I'd like to apologise in advance for offending you, cause i feel I'm a bit harsh in my statements. I'm an amateur, just like yourself, striving for perfection in the only film format I can afford. I realised a long time ago the value a steady shots and smooth pans and camera movements.
I'm going to say this one last time; A cheap tripod with a cheap head may give you a steady shot, but forget about anything else, and don't even think about breathing on the tripod while filming. It'll quite simply tip over, breaking your beloved super 8 camera to pieces.
Allthough your super 8 camera can produce beautiful pictures, you're not gonna improve their quality further by using a plastic piece of crap tripod. Your jerky pans will do nothing but advertise the impression of you being an amatur.
With that said I'd like to apologise in advance for offending you, cause i feel I'm a bit harsh in my statements. I'm an amateur, just like yourself, striving for perfection in the only film format I can afford. I realised a long time ago the value a steady shots and smooth pans and camera movements.
I'm going to say this one last time; A cheap tripod with a cheap head may give you a steady shot, but forget about anything else, and don't even think about breathing on the tripod while filming. It'll quite simply tip over, breaking your beloved super 8 camera to pieces.
I think the point of the initial question has been lost here. It all depends on what a person wants to do, and the money a person has to do it. There are a lot of tripods out there. I have used a Bolex Pailliard that I picked up for $10 US at a household moving sale. Pretty beat up looking, but worked great anyway. That's budget material. Had no complaints about the tripod, and when the time came, I sold it with a piece of equipment and intend to upgrade when I need a tripod again. There are quite a few wooden tripods that sell for $30 or so. Not the smoothest to rotate on two different axis, but work very well as stationary tripods or to use in a single axis. Used to use the $30 units for mounting test equipment and sensors in the R&D department where I worked. They were stable enough for testing measurements. Check around in the stores, set one up and play with it in the shop., or go price shopping. There are quite a few bargains on ebay. Seen some really nice transit / surveyors tripods go dirt cheap just because they are listed outside the mainstream categories for where camera folks are looking for equipment. Sometimes it's better to buy
better the first time, but not always and not every one can afford to shell out up front.
better the first time, but not always and not every one can afford to shell out up front.
The best cheap consumer tripod I have used is a Velbon. disregard the comments about all of the cheap tripods being the same, they arent. although none of them can match a nice Bogen/Monfrotto. Try and find something in your price range that seems sturdy and stable, used isnt a problem if its stable, you arent going to find anything with a good fluid head for under $100 (a good one would cost much more unless you can find a really good deal used) but you should be able to find something that will atleast give you a reaonably steady picture under decent conditions. I use 2 tripods, one is a Velbon which I believe is atleast 10 years old, works great for light cameras (such as a super8) when you dont need to pan or anything, then I have a bogen which is WAY overkill for super8, but provides extremely steady images no matter what the conditions, and has a nice fluid head. Bogen/Monfrotto does make some nice lightweight tripods, Mine is an older one made for those old HUGE video cameras, overkill but I got it really cheap.
~Jess
~Jess
Experience:
1. pick a tripod where ALL the height is in the legs - no central pillar.
2. Given patience, a suitable tripod will turn up for next to nothing at a sale
3. Fluid damping can be achieved with high viscosity grease given
large head bearing areas - mine are good enough for 'scope.
4. For windy conditions, arrange to hang a weight below the head. A water-
filled weight or a sling that will take a brick or two can reduce the
weight to be carried around!
1. pick a tripod where ALL the height is in the legs - no central pillar.
2. Given patience, a suitable tripod will turn up for next to nothing at a sale
3. Fluid damping can be achieved with high viscosity grease given
large head bearing areas - mine are good enough for 'scope.
4. For windy conditions, arrange to hang a weight below the head. A water-
filled weight or a sling that will take a brick or two can reduce the
weight to be carried around!