I've been working as a professional film and video cameraman,
producer and director for over 18 years. In that time I have used a wide
variety of portable camera supports (tripod and head). Some were good,
some were bad, and a few were downright terrible. In the documentary world
you simply must have a versatile tripod, especially when you're shooting
in High-Definition video, like I'm presently doing for Honor Squadrons
International (www.honorsquadrons.com).
Finding an affordable tripod and head combination that is lightweight,
stable, highly flexible, easy to transport, and able to support a heavy
camera package has been an impossible dream. Until now.
Gitzo has introduced a new tripod/head system that simply
is the finest portable video/16mm/ HD camera support system in the world.
Every system has its strengths and weaknesses, but this combination provides
a fantastic degree of flexibility, weight saving features, and affordability.
The 3-section carbon-fiber tripod can be lowered so that the top of the fluid head is 10” off the ground. The same tripod can be extended so that the head is 6'6” high.
Each leg of the tripod can be adjusted to one of 3 preset angles (for easy and balanced setup on stairs and substantially uneven ground). And thank God there are no spreaders—the worst invention ever created for tripods and the bane of every camera assistant.
At the bottom of each leg you can screw in the rubber shoes (safe for wood floors) to reveal a large metal spike for solid positioning in turf and sand.
The well-designed fluid head comes with 6 spring sizes that are inserted into the core of the head, and covers camera weights from 2 lbs to a whopping 33lbs! (the published maximum support weight is 22lbs, but that figure is grossly underrated). Heck, the total weight of the tripod/head combo is about 10 pounds, yet I've used the heavy spring in the Gitzo head with a Sony 700 and 900 HD camera, with Anton Bauer battery pack and zeppelin-covered Sennheiser 416 microphone mounted on top, and have found the system perfectly capable of delivering very stable shots of aircraft flying by me at 200mph, with the Fujinon ENG lens set to 2X and zoomed in all the way (about 350mm equivalent)! Simply Amazing!
The head is mounted onto the tripod with a claw ball, allowing for easy leveling, and the friction drag controls are very easy to use. Perhaps the tilt and pan locks could be more positive (in feel) when locked, even though I have yet to have the camera move when the locks are set.
The tripod and head combo comes with a nifty padded carry strap so the cameraperson can carry the tripod on the shoulder or back, all the while holding the camera in either hand, freeing up the other hand for other uses. Very cool!
The system also comes with a heavy-duty carry bag that also has a padded carry strap and an internal pocket for carrying extra springs and tools.
The head and tripod easily come apart in seconds and can be packed in a standard large suitcase with your clothes for padding; perfect for airline travel, or when space is a premium.
The Gitzo G-1338/1380 system comes through with one handle, but a second can also be mounted for a lightweight studio configuration.
The universal camera plate comes with the system and can be slid along the head and locked for perfect camera balancing. It also comes with hardware for pin-registered mounting of consumer, semi-pro and professional cameras.
The retail price of the Gitzo 1338/1380 system is an amazing $1,600. That's right, a system that is superior to every other tripod/head combination on the market today selling for under $12,000. I showed off the Gitzo system to my local PBS station that recently bought 4 Sachtler systems (at $10,000 each) for their DigiBeta and Sony HD ENG/EFP cameras. Not only did the Gitzo equal or outperform the Sachtlers in all but one test (flexibility, stability and weight for Gitzo, quickness in set up for ENG camera height for Sachtler), but you could buy 4 Gitzo G-1338/1380 systems for just over half the price of 1 Sachtler! INCREDIBLE!
Little Room For Improvement:
The Gitzo system came through with a handgrip for the clawball head assembly that was too long by 2”, making it impossible to lower the tripod to the lowest setting. After a call to Bogen Photo (the distributor of Gitzo in America) they recognized the error in the locking knob design and supplied a new shorter locking knob (for free). The tripod can now be set at the lowest position. The Bogen rep informed me that they will supply the new knob to anyone who requests it, and will probably include it in every system that ships in the U.S.
The sliding plate that mounts to the bottom of the camera for easy installs and removals from the head is secured with a small plastic locking knob that looks a little weak for its intended purpose (like every Sachtler I've ever used). I'd suggest buying an extra knob, which is much cheaper than overpriced Sachtler knobs.
That's it for the negatives. The new Gitzo 1338/1380 system easily sets the standard by which all other professional ENG/EFP camera support systems are now judged. If you buy any other tripod/head combination from another manufacturer, for portable professional or semi-pro ENG/EFP cameras, you are simply paying substantially more for less because of a brand name.
or more information about the Gitzo G-1338/1380 Carbon Fiber Tripod System go to: www.bogenphoto.com . For comparisons and purchases go to www.bhphotovideo.com .
By day, Todd
Hewey is the Creator and Executive Producer for Honor Squadrons International
("HSI"), a 10-part, 10-hour High-Definition aviation series
premiering on PBS in 2006. For more information about Todd visit Reel Adventures Production at www.reeladventures.net.
