Let me just begin by saying that the process of buying an affordable fluid head tripod system is quite complex - probably unnecessarily so due to my habit of obsessive research of big purchases. Since I'm a DSLR filmmaker, I needed a tripod that can easily support both a little weight and, potentially, a decent sized rig with a monitor, loupe, follow focus, and audio equipment. Eventually, I settled on the Sachtler Ace L tripod system, a newly released model that sports a carbon fiber tripod (shiny!) and a fluid head capable of holding up to 13 pounds.

Concerns When Choosing a Fluid Head Tripod System

Price was a major concern when buying a fluid head tripod. After considerable

research, I came to the conclusion that spending just several hundred dollars would yield poor results. On the other hand, I didn't want to spend more than, say, $1,000 if I could help it, but professional tripods cost thousands of dollars. Still, a good tripod is a great investment in terms of gear, since it will be used frequently (unless you like handheld and handheld only shots) in most projects. Initially, I expected to buy the Manfrotto 504 HD tripod system. However, many professionals seemed unenthusiastic with the quality of Manfrotto's fluid heads. It was back to the proverbial drawing board.

The online filmmaking community trumpeted two major tripod manufacturers: Sachtler and Vinten (Miller also received some brownie points). Much has been said about Sachtler's Ace tripod, now called the Ace M, thanks to its relatively affordable price of about $500 dollars and recommendation by Philip Bloom. User reviews pointed out the quality and smoothness of motion provided by the Ace M's fluid head, but others complained of the tripod's cheap construction. Instead, DSLR filmmakers proposed the Vinten Vision Blue head and tripod system to have superior quality legs unmatched by any in its class. The catch, of course, is that this tripod system starts at just over $1,200 dollars and has a minimum weight requirement of just over four pounds, which might be too heavy for a basic DSLR setup with a light lens.

The Ideal Candidate for the Job

Once I became aware of the upcoming Sachtler Ace L, I knew it was the best choice I had available, particularly because of the improved carbon fiber tripod model and expanded weight capacity compared to its cheaper line member, the Ace M. Unlike the Vinten Vision Blue, the Ace L can balance as little as a pound of camera gear and as much as 13 pounds of gear, assuaging the balancing concerns I had about the Blue. After pre-ordering the tripod package months ago, it finally arrived last week. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to do a video demo. I also realized that I would need a second video camera, which I don't have, to film myself while testing the tripod. So, I settled on taking some pictures, which are displayed below.