Posted by unrecoveredchocoholic on 10/21/05 03:19

A very expensive fluid head is not necessary, although it is really,
really nice. Actually, even better than a fluid head is a geared head
(Mitchell) that allows extremely smooth movements (and takes at least 2
people to set up). On a smaller budget, a few things can help:
- Get a real fluid head with fluid action, not a head that only relies
on friction, unless you are really on a tight budget and the friction
is very very smooth with no "catching" spots.
- Make a handle extension. You can strap it on the existing handle or
stem with hose clips, to get a very rigid assembly. If the handle is 2
feet long, you have very good control of the camera movements, because
it take a large movement of the handle for a small movement of the
camera. It is impossible to get smooth action with a short handle and a
friction head. With a long handle you can make even a cheap friction
head move like a much better head.
- Your tripod does not have to be heavy to carry, but it cannot twist
when you pan, and it must be heavy when you use it. Just try it in the
store: Extend the tripod all the way, lock down the pan, and try to
pan. If the tripod twists, pass it up. If it "untwists" when you let
go, pass it up. One common trick to make a lightweight tripod into a
more stable tripod is to hang a weight at the bottom. A gallon plastic
milk botte filled with water is great for that job--you can just empty
it before moving on. A bucket of dirt works also--you can literally
leave the weight behind. Just about anything as long as you can hang it
without bumping into it. Of course the tripod has to be robust enough
to carry that weight.
- Use a spreader to keep the legs from bowing out, especially on a
slick surface with the weight hanging from the tripod. Pro spreaders
are very expensive. You can make a cheap spreader with 4 large split
keyrings and 3 lengths of chain from any hardware store.
- If you can afford it at all, try to get a Miller tripod with a ball
head receptacle, and a half-ball fluid head base to go on that. It
makes the leveling of the camera so much faster that it is like a
dream. Get a Miller head while you're at it. See for example
http://www.dvestore.com/products/tripod.html (I have nothing to do with
that company, just googled it a minute ago).

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