Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/27

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Subject: [Leica] RE: carbon fibre television tripod
From: jeremy.kime@bbc.co.uk
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 11:47:00 +0000

Joseph,
 I work in television (as a producer/director) and can talk with some   
knowledge of carbon fibre tripods.
 They are rigid, but rigidity is not everything, if you work in windy   
conditions you need wieght as well, and the carbon fibre tripod was   
designed to reduce the weight carried in a tripod whilst still offering   
rigidity. So, they're great in studios, for example, or non windy   
conditions, and there's always the argument that a traditional video   
camera is quite heavy so that helps too, BUT, most cameramen would choose   
a stainless steel tripod to use if they didn't have to carry it   
themselves, it's just so much more rigid and stable because of the   
weight.
The weight of a 35mm camera is peanuts in comparison (to a video camera)   
and as such it isn't a great idea to stick one on an expensive carbon   
fibre tripod. Some people would suggest hanging a sack of stones from the   
tripod to increase the weight, sure, that's the best way to get the   
solidity from carbon fibre.
The fluid head is largely irrellevant, though again it adds weight to   
decrease the risk of camera shake. The main advantage of a fluid head is   
that the camera platform can easily (in one action) be levelled in all   
planes, and then smooth pans made in all 3 planes too. As we don't pan in   
stills photography the second use is unneccersary and the first is   
arguably useful. A normal pan and tilt head is usually just as useful for   
stills photography.
Carbon fibre is great for monopods however, when those are used there is   
pressure exerted downwards and therefore the rigidity is maximised.
'Hope this helps.

Jem
 ----------
There is no question that good equipment is required to obtain good   
results.
However I fail to see how a "a carbon fibre television tripod with
a fluid head " can be better than a good conventional tripod. Do you (or
anyone else) have any thoughts on this point?

Joseph Codispoti