A friend bought a nice fluid-head Velbon at Fry's Electronics last year. It will never be mistaken for an expensive pro tripod, but nonetheless does a surprisingly good job. I think it was around $100.

I have an older Velbon tripod with a fluid head (Velbon Stratos 480/PH268) that I guard as carefully as my new VX-2000 camera.

For other options, check eBay. I've had great luck so far getting pretty good deals there.

Jsnck,

Sounds good. There are lots of varieties of Bogen tripods. Can you tell me which you are using with your camera?

David

Some need here (big need little budget).

I was turned on to this tripod, Slik 504QF II

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=150608&is=REG

Not bad for $120 anyone have experience with this. The specs say it is made for video shooting.

David,
You could find something you like at your local camera store, then check the price at bhphoto.com. For my VX2000, I use mostly Bogen 3221 legs and a 3130 head. That's an inexpensive Bogen head but it works well for me. Many people recommend the 503 head.

Dale

Problem I see with that tripod is no spreaders.
I've got an old Daiwa, not too bad but none of them are real fluid heads. What you get at this price point is fluid damping with variable friction. With top flight stuff such as Miller the fluid damping is variable.
Does in matter, you bet!
You really notice it trying to pan on long shots. The striction of the friction system makes it's impossible to get the pan to start smoothly! I'm not in favour of spending more money than necessary but having felt and seen the difference I've become a true believer.
Look at it another way, a pro tripod will outlast many cameras, probably even us. The original Miller tripods are still in service and have probably appreciated in value so don't think of a good tripod as an expense, think of it as an investment. It's about the only thing in this game you can buy that you should expect to last more than 5 years.

Amen o what FARSS said. I just helped out at a party and the tripod I was using was a Bogen with the 503 head. As fluid as water itself. Might be more to start but it will pay itself off in a long run.

And a critical feature lacking in all the "affordable" tripods is a claw-ball top.

This device is a levelling ball situated between the tripod itself and the panhead and is standard fare on professional tripods, such as the Miller unit mentioned. It provides for exact levelling of the pan axis to be perfectly perpendiculat to the horizon. Try to getthat long pan to remain horizontal with any other tripod adjustment.

I bought this Bogen outfit and I use it for my VX2000. I couldn't be happier:

http://www.thebestthings.com/tripods/tripodkits.htm

I bought it from this company, but both are reputable and charge reasonable shipping:

http://www.central-camera.com/tripods/bogen/bogen.htm

When I called them they even upgraded the bag for the same price.

John

A really sweet setup for shooting while following the action:

Bogen 3221 legs
Bogen 501 fluid head
Bogen 522 remote control handle

This setup works great for the GL2 (and similar size cams).

The 522 has thumb controls right on the handle which allows for simultaneous operations such as pans and zooms using only one hand. Really is the only way to go for active shooting from a tripod.

BTW, the above tripod head can be leveled using the built-in bubble level by adjusting the individual leg heights, similar to how survey instrument tripods are leveled.

JL

JL,
That's the same head and tripod in the kit I mentioned only at a combined price with padded legs and a free bag.
John

John,
Yes, I noticed that after I posted. Actually I do have the 3221-WN (padded) legs as well. I’ve used the tripod for several years with a ball head for still photography and more recently picked up the 501 head and 522 controller handle for video work. Had to make my own bag though as I had trouble finding one at the time that fit the legs with the head attached. All in all I think the setup provides a good compromise between ruggedness/rigidity and weight.

JL

Some months ago client comes to me with tape he'd shot in HK of some famous doctor talking about SARS. Client only has TRV17 and cheap sticks. Anyway doctor is moving around so he's trying to pan the camera but the thing is stuck. You can see the shot wobbling as he's trying to free the thing until finally it lets go but emits this 0dB FS fart!
Fortunately it was right when the doctor was drawing a breath so I was able to cut it out and dropped in some ambience from elsewhere to mask the cut.
We showed this clip many times in cinemas and eveytime the guy who shot it was there it was fun to watch his body language as the segment came up. I should have dropped that fart back in just once to catch him out.

If you do have the good luck to own a decent tripd with a bowl for levelling make sure you've got a small torch at hand, I've been nearly caught out a few times in a dark auditorium trying to see that damn bubble. I think it's either Manfrotto or Satchler who have had the wisdom to put a light under the level. Most sensible gimmick I've heard of.

Personally I don't get teh logic of buying a decent camera and a cheap tripod, I'd go the other way. Most client couldn't pick the difference between 3 CCDs and 1 CCD but a jerky pan sticks out like nothing else. The worst problem I've struck, and this wasn't on a cheap tripod either, the legs would twist about 5 degrees. So as you tried to pan at first you were taking up the slack in the leg pivots and then you hit the striction in the head, not good when trying to pan a long shot.
If you're really stuck with a cheap tripod try a shot bag hung from the head between the legs. Also if it does have a fluid head warm it up before shooting.

Sachtler rules. They are typically the most expensive or close to it, but, like Arri lights, they really are worth it for serious work.

The very best long run buy is Manfrotto (Bogen for US customers). Very well made and they sell every replacement parts and accessories you can imagine.

I use 255 CL + 503 video head with mt DVX100 and like them very much. Cost more but you will not regret it.

Jsteehl,

You asked for a review of the Slik 504QF II. Everyone went on to tell you what they use, but nobody, except one knew about the Slik 504--and he just complained about "No spreaders." I'm not sure what they are, I assume it is the brace that shows up 1/2 way down the tripod (which are NOT good, since it is harder to shoot on an uneven surface w/out adjusting the pole length). The poles have several lock mechanisms for similar stability.

I have purchased two Slik 504QF II's and consider them an absolute steal!! First, the head is very fluid, does not jerk and makes no sound. It has a bubble level which I use all the time, the legs can extend all the way out for upside down closeup macro shots, the weight is light, but the black annodized aluminum is not too thin. I've never had it slip, works fantastic.

I've seen Bogens and others but I have not seen any advantage for such a massive delta in price (aside from one that turned upside down). I was so pleased with one that I bought another. I have completed over 70 videos on these within the last two years (I bought it right when it came out).

This tripod got an editor's choice from one publication and a great review from Videomaker. Exceptional value, just not as well known. You should be very happy with this tripod--especially since the price is way under what it should be (this may be a positioning mistake (since it may not be deemed as credible), but then, like Vegas... it is the price/performance leader by far).

The 504 seems to have disappeared off their web site, it's listed but no link. Seems to be replaced by 506 which does have spreaders.
Both of them though are basically stills tripods with a fluid head.
Try using your DVX100 on a Miller DS10 I think you'll be surprised.
BTW, you can take the speaders off for low shots or else get a set of speaders for just that.

The other thing is that most of the other kit such as dollys come with a choice of latches, Miller or Satchler.

Search on E-Bay or www.mandy.com for an old 16mm Miller fluid head and a set of wooden legs.

I have to agree with Farss, the Miller is a great system. There new DV solo series is outstanding. Someone metioned spreaders earlier. If you're shooting by yourself, spreaders are one more issue you don't want to deal with. The newest designs from Miller offer a great head, composite sticks, and a lot of flexibilty. They are designed for the one man show, so they are light, strong, and set up quickly. The also offer a lot of shooting angles that other models don't.
Sachler is a solid choice as well, however after using both, I'd have to pick Miller. Especially when I'm paying for it myself.
I know the original poster was looking for something cheap... however something cheap will always give you what you pay for. Especially where sticks are concerned.

As a final note, whether your tripod cost $25 or $2500 (or in the case of high-end Sachlers $10,000+) be sure to turn off your electronic stabilizer when your camera is on sticks. Leaving it on results in jerky starts and stops while panning and tilting, regardless of your tripod.

The 504 is still listed on the B&H site at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=150608&is=REG

it is also listed on the SLIK US distributors site--I couldn't find the 506 that you refer to.

I appreciated your comments earlier (it looks like you went back in and added comments) about the difference between fluid heads. When I looked up the Miller tripods, and saw that their fluid heads sold for $700+ alone, plus the tripod, well... there better be some difference!

I just filmed a Christmas event where I was setup in the back of a long chapel and had to zoom all the way just to get the desired close shots (20 x optical zoom with my Canon GL2) and I could finally feel some difference in the flow when I started, but I could compensate by how I finessed the handle.

Regardless, I'll stick with the $120 Slik 504's since the constraint was "budget." The info you provided about fluid heads was very interesting though--thank you.

OK,
I'll admit I'm biased, got a bit of a sweet spot for Rode mics and Miller tripods. Both made in Oz.
Those wooden Miller tripods are a case in point, they're going up in value and they'd be as old as I am. I actually think the fluid heads in them are better even today than the newer Millers.
The only thing Miller I wouldn't buy are their cases. I'm sure they're well made but a length of sewer pipe and a few cheap fitting will get you a suitable case for 10% of the price of the Miller ones.

If you fly put your sticks in a case! The bag is not enough protection.
For some reason the baggage handlers love sliding tripods up against something and snapping the catches.

Where did the guy go that started this thread?
Dmcmeans,
What did you end up doing?

John

What did I end up doing?

Man, I'm still sorting through the wealth of suggestions. Miller, Sachtler, Bogen, Slik. It's dizzying.

The Slik sticks sound interesting in that they might be underpriced. However, the Bogen 503 "like water" sounds compellling too.

That customers will notice a bad tripod before a lower-quality camera make sense, too. Better to buy a pro tripod and upgrade the camera later, it seems.

I guess I'm leaning toward the 503 head with whatever legs you should get with that. Sounds like it's quality and will last a long time.

David