video tripod

[kj1983]

I have an AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod.
I used it on Sony HDR CX-440, it works great when it is steady and not rotate or move around.

Any recommendation video tripod with smooth direction of rotation left/right? My current one it give a shake or I have to force it to rotate but it is not smooth. I like with easy snap on & off.

Thanks.

[Cornucopia]

You need to look at "fluid head", professional tripods. Minimum cost I've seen for decent ones is ~$270USD (goes up to >$4000 for best ones. Yes, that much). Manfrotto, Vinten, Sachtler, O'Connor, Miller...

Scott

[hech54]

A Rubber Band.
https://youtu.be/Fj6fMcJ18aA

[pippas]

Any recommendation video tripod with smooth direction of rotation left/right...

I can recommend this one for smooth pans: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/150608-REG/Slik_615_504_504QF_II_Tripod_System.html

Good quality construction, and at a more reasonable price than some of the more 'famous' names....

[newpball]

A Rubber Band.
https://youtu.be/Fj6fMcJ18aA

Hahaha!

[hech54]

A Rubber Band.
https://youtu.be/Fj6fMcJ18aA

Hahaha!

If you don't do it for a living(like 99% of people)....don't knock it until you've tried it.
Worked like a charm for me the 2 times I wanted to do a pan shot.
My tripod is really hard to .......dust.

[flashandpan007]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj6fMcJ18aA

[newpball]

A Rubber Band.
https://youtu.be/Fj6fMcJ18aA

Hahaha!

If you don't do it for a living(like 99% of people)....don't knock it until you've tried it.
Worked like a charm for me the 2 times I wanted to do a pan shot.
My tripod is really hard to .......dust.

I am not knocking anything, I am merely delighted at the creativity!

[Cornucopia]

Any recommendation video tripod with smooth direction of rotation left/right...

I can recommend this one for smooth pans: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/150608-REG/Slik_615_504_504QF_II_Tripod_System.html

Good quality construction, and at a more reasonable price than some of the more 'famous' names....

I like Slik and all (have a great monopod of theirs), but one word of warning: It has been my experience that if you want to have consistently "still", stable shots (aka lacking in tripod motion blur), you should always use a tripod that is rated for at least TWICE the maximum weight that is actually to be used on it.

So, that suggested tripod would then really only be rock-solid for <~5 Lbs. This amounts to: light DSLRs (with few, if any, attachments) and point & shoot consumer camcorders and GoPro/sportcams and smartphone cams.

Your Sony HDR CX-440 should work as long as you don't have much accessories on it (smaller battery OK, but not the larger aftermarket ones, no separate audio or even boom mike, no recorder/monitor...). And watch the cabling if you are plugged into AC/mains power.

Still cannot vouch for the "fluidity" of that model, though.

Scott

[smrpix]

Another advantage to getting a good fluid head, even for a light camera, is that it adds a perception of "stately weight" to the movement and comes across as a more polished, professional production.

[newpball]

With respect to camera movement on a tripod, some advice:

1. Don't do it, unless,
2. you have to move it to prepare for a new shot, or,
3. you want to do the once in awhile panning shot.

~ and no, once in awhile does not mean once every half minute! ~


More importantly, never, ever use one single camera unless you are documenting the walks of a single snail.

[johns0]

Most people will disagree with you,one camera is good enough unless you are shooting movies or tv series.

[smrpix]

With respect to camera movement on a tripod, some advice:

1. Don't do it, unless,
2. you have to move it to prepare for a new shot, or,
3. you want to do the once in awhile panning shot.

This is insane advice and I can only imagine it comes from never having used a good tripod.

More importantly, never, ever use one single camera unless you are documenting the walks of a single snail.

Thus negating most of the history of photography and film making. Dumb.

[newpball]

This is insane advice and I can only imagine it comes from never having used a good tripod.

A good tripod is there to get a stable shot, it is not there to create 'dizzyfying' psychedelic pans every three seconds.

Remember the action should be in the scene or in the cuts definitely not in the camera movement.

There are obviously exceptions, a handheld closing up on a face can cause a great dramatic effect, pans can be used to to reveal something surprising or create an introducing or overview giving effect to a new setting.

But again those things only apply once in awhile.

More importantly, never, ever use one single camera unless you are documenting the walks of a single snail.

Unless it is a very short clip a single shot recording pretty much guarantees your viewer zones out after 10 minutes, it's unpalatable.

This is all common sense, filming 101.

[smrpix]

A good tripod is there to get a stable shot, it is not there to create 'dizzyfying' psychedelic pans every three seconds.

Like any other tool, a tripod is used to further the intent of the filmmaker in whatever traditional or inventive way he or she sees fit.

You're inexperienced and trying to be unproductively provocative. You've succeeded. It's annoying.

[Cornucopia]

This is insane advice and I can only imagine it comes from never having used a good tripod.

A good tripod is there to get a stable shot, it is not there to create 'dizzyfying' psychedelic pans every three seconds.

Remember the action should be in the scene or in the cuts definitely not in the camera movement.

There are obviously exceptions, a handheld closing up on a face can cause a great dramatic effect, pans can be used to to reveal something surprising or create an introducing or overview giving effect to a new setting.

But again those things only apply once in awhile.

More importantly, never, ever use one single camera unless you are documenting the walks of a single snail.

Unless it is a very short clip a single shot recording pretty much guarantees your viewer zones out after 10 minutes, it's unpalatable.

This is all common sense, filming 101.

Tell that to Orson Wells (Touch of Evil opening) or Alfred Hitchc*o*c*k (Rope) (stupid autocorrect!) or the thousands of followers who have used single-shot & single-shot-like tripod & crane moves to wonderful effect!

You're just digging your own hole deeper, especially when you are clearly out of your element...

Scott

[newpball]

Tell that to Orson Wells (Touch of Evil opening) ....

That shot is about three and a half minutes, that is not even close to 10 minutes.

...or Alfred Hitchc*o*c*k (Rope) (stupid autocorrect!) or the thousands of followers who have used single-shot & single-shot-like tripod & crane moves to wonderful effect!

Indeed for effect it is great.

But more than 10 minutes?

[Cornucopia]

Spoken like a true curmudgeon.

[julitomg]

Tell that to Orson Wells (Touch of Evil opening) ....

That shot is about three and a half minutes, that is not even close to 10 minutes.

...or Alfred Hitchc*o*c*k (Rope) (stupid autocorrect!) or the thousands of followers who have used single-shot & single-shot-like tripod & crane moves to wonderful effect!

Indeed for effect it is great.

But more than 10 minutes?

Gee newpball!, why didn´t you think of this before? You could´ve told the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences so they wouldn´t give "Birdman" awards for Best Cinematography and Best Picture!

[newpball]

Gee newpball!, why didn´t you think of this before? You could´ve told the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences so they wouldn´t give "Birdman" awards for Best Cinematography and Best Picture!

Academy award level filmography....

Perspective folks!

We are trying to help people who use Sony HDR CX-440 and AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod like equipment.

Have it anyway you like criticizing me but I see far too many examples of amateurs making the same mistakes all the time:

- not using a tripod
- constantly moving the camera on the tripod in an almost 'psychedelic' fashion
- zooming in and out just for the sake of it
- bad sound
- bad camera position
- endless single shot recordings

I am just trying to help here!

[smrpix]

I am just trying to help here!

Clearly, even you have stopped reading your posts.

[somebodeez]

I really like my Davis & Sanford MAGNUMXG13 Magnum Grounder tripod. It's very smooth, quiet, extends to 6' and has a 10 year warranty.