A Review of the New Giottos Mini Video Head & CF Tripod
By Paul Hackett
Description
VH6011 Mini Video Head Weighs in at 0.6kg, Height is 10cm and has a max weight capacity of 4kg, with a sliding quick release plate, (MH658D) Suggested Retail Price around 80
Features
The video head has a fluid effect pan & tilt with a counterbalance spring on the tilt function
The pan handle can be used in a left or right handed position
Two spirit levels to ensure set-up is level
Aluminium construction
Matt Black colour
Balance plate is of the quick release type
MTL8261B Carbon Fibre Tripod 3 leg sections lever leg locks. Weight 1.6kg aluminium centre column. Suggested Retail Price around 225
Features
Lightweight but strong Carbon Fibre legs
Foam hand grips
3 position variable leg handles
2 thread sizes for head attachment (3/8 & inch)
Spanner in pouch for leg removal
First Impressions
VH6011 Mini Video Head
1. Tilt lever is very good, it handles both scope and camera well an improvement on previous model I looked at, and it handled the weight of all the scopes and cameras and Digiscoping adapters I used with it. I particularly liked the fact I could move the head when not too tight and it was a smooth movement, when locked down it was good.
2. Pan is fluid in movement, it was good for scanning the hillsides and skies for birds and also when shooting video, when panning no jerky movements even at high zoom mag on the camera.
3. Found myself using the spirit levels regularly, cant stand seeing digiscoped pics or video of a bird on a lake going up hill!
4. Pan handle - initially I thought was too short in length but over time, I got used to it and it wasnt a problem.
5. Lever lock for the balance plate is just right, and I could imagine in winter with gloves on, you could still grip it and tighten it without any problems.
6. Balance plate was also very good with plenty of movement. I played with the balance on this with 3 large scopes, a Zeiss, Leica and Pentax. It couldnt handle a DSLR attached to any of the scopes though, but for its size I didnt expect it to, although I had to try, compact cameras were no problem. I tried 7 different cameras with various weights and Digiscoping adapters, it worked very well with the different combinations.
Carbon Fibre Tripod MTL 8261B
1. Biggest thing I liked by far was the weight, it is so light, I didnt get the usual neck ache I have with other tripods, and I did 3 trips out with it one trip was around 4 miles.
2. Next thing I liked was the lock at the bottom of the centre column, great idea and actually works! I take low down pictures of birds sometimes and I take the centre column out and reverse it so the scope is lying UNDER the legs and attach the camera and take pictures from ground level, when you are setting up sometimes the column slips and the scope crashes to the ground, with this model no problems at all, liked that feature very much.
3. Three way legs always work for me and this model was more than adequate for using the legs in different positions.
4. The spanner in the pouch was a nice touch and had a few people ask me when I was out what was it for, initially I thought it might be in the way when carrying it, but it was no problem.
5. Spring on the bottom of the centre column was used twice with a bean bag attached, and again no problems.
6. The full extended height of these legs is perfect for my birding and Digiscoping, I have straight scopes and the centre column extended allowed me to get extreme angles whilst looking up at the birds, although I had to put my double bean bag on the spring to weigh it down when taking pics with the centre column fully extended.
7. Leg locks were fine and I had no problems with them.
Summary
This combination was light but very sturdy. I had only one small gripe with the video head, this was regarding the balance plate lock being a little close too the pan handle, this was the only thing that came up during my trials with this kit, but I enjoyed birding and Digiscoping with it, still cant get over how lightweight it was, a credit to the R & D boys at Giottos for getting this just right IMHO. Reasonably priced at around 300, I think it will sell well and will certainly give the competition in this price bracket a run for the money. This kit will be launched at Birdfair Rutland Aug 2009.
Paul Hackett Aug 2009
By Paul Hackett
Description
VH6011 Mini Video Head Weighs in at 0.6kg, Height is 10cm and has a max weight capacity of 4kg, with a sliding quick release plate, (MH658D) Suggested Retail Price around 80
Features
The video head has a fluid effect pan & tilt with a counterbalance spring on the tilt function
The pan handle can be used in a left or right handed position
Two spirit levels to ensure set-up is level
Aluminium construction
Matt Black colour
Balance plate is of the quick release type
MTL8261B Carbon Fibre Tripod 3 leg sections lever leg locks. Weight 1.6kg aluminium centre column. Suggested Retail Price around 225
Features
Lightweight but strong Carbon Fibre legs
Foam hand grips
3 position variable leg handles
2 thread sizes for head attachment (3/8 & inch)
Spanner in pouch for leg removal
First Impressions
VH6011 Mini Video Head
1. Tilt lever is very good, it handles both scope and camera well an improvement on previous model I looked at, and it handled the weight of all the scopes and cameras and Digiscoping adapters I used with it. I particularly liked the fact I could move the head when not too tight and it was a smooth movement, when locked down it was good.
2. Pan is fluid in movement, it was good for scanning the hillsides and skies for birds and also when shooting video, when panning no jerky movements even at high zoom mag on the camera.
3. Found myself using the spirit levels regularly, cant stand seeing digiscoped pics or video of a bird on a lake going up hill!
4. Pan handle - initially I thought was too short in length but over time, I got used to it and it wasnt a problem.
5. Lever lock for the balance plate is just right, and I could imagine in winter with gloves on, you could still grip it and tighten it without any problems.
6. Balance plate was also very good with plenty of movement. I played with the balance on this with 3 large scopes, a Zeiss, Leica and Pentax. It couldnt handle a DSLR attached to any of the scopes though, but for its size I didnt expect it to, although I had to try, compact cameras were no problem. I tried 7 different cameras with various weights and Digiscoping adapters, it worked very well with the different combinations.
Carbon Fibre Tripod MTL 8261B
1. Biggest thing I liked by far was the weight, it is so light, I didnt get the usual neck ache I have with other tripods, and I did 3 trips out with it one trip was around 4 miles.
2. Next thing I liked was the lock at the bottom of the centre column, great idea and actually works! I take low down pictures of birds sometimes and I take the centre column out and reverse it so the scope is lying UNDER the legs and attach the camera and take pictures from ground level, when you are setting up sometimes the column slips and the scope crashes to the ground, with this model no problems at all, liked that feature very much.
3. Three way legs always work for me and this model was more than adequate for using the legs in different positions.
4. The spanner in the pouch was a nice touch and had a few people ask me when I was out what was it for, initially I thought it might be in the way when carrying it, but it was no problem.
5. Spring on the bottom of the centre column was used twice with a bean bag attached, and again no problems.
6. The full extended height of these legs is perfect for my birding and Digiscoping, I have straight scopes and the centre column extended allowed me to get extreme angles whilst looking up at the birds, although I had to put my double bean bag on the spring to weigh it down when taking pics with the centre column fully extended.
7. Leg locks were fine and I had no problems with them.
Summary
This combination was light but very sturdy. I had only one small gripe with the video head, this was regarding the balance plate lock being a little close too the pan handle, this was the only thing that came up during my trials with this kit, but I enjoyed birding and Digiscoping with it, still cant get over how lightweight it was, a credit to the R & D boys at Giottos for getting this just right IMHO. Reasonably priced at around 300, I think it will sell well and will certainly give the competition in this price bracket a run for the money. This kit will be launched at Birdfair Rutland Aug 2009.
Paul Hackett Aug 2009
