I am sometimes nonplussed but that is not necessarily negative...it just means I have not yet figured out what I am looking at. This applies particularly when it comes to video equipment. My motion-picture ambitions peaked with the Bolex C-3 and have not been revived since the demise of double-run standard 8 Kodachrome.
So looking at the Cullmann Alpha 9000 tripod and head takes a little time. It seems to have more tubes than a Belpaire boiler and a head that reminds me of an Ikara mount. Is all this necessary for a cam-corder?
Apparently, yes. The tubes and the quick release catches allow the legs to drop rapidly when you are setting the thing up on the run. Presumably if you are continuing to run they clap together with equal speed. They are lightweight tubes but as they are widely spaced they are stable. Stiffness vs weight.
The head sits in a semicircular bowl with a locking knob - if the whole thing is not on level ground you can at least set the head on the horizontal before you start to pan and tilt.
The head has a fluid drive - stiff without being sticky. It would be a royal pain to use if you were tracking SR - 71's on full reheat but it should be able to cope with most slower aircraft. You can increase or decrease the resistance to smooth the action. There is a geared sliding mechanism that lets the cam-corder go fore and aft - then lock in place.
I puzzled about this but then a client brought in a full-blown video rig and I realised that these things have a considerable weight spread over a long mechanism. If you swing it on the balance point - all well and good. If you get it overbalanced you have a problem.
The whole affair - legs and head - is only $ 399. It is a considerable bargain for the budding videographer.
