Tripod Wars: Sachtler Flowtech FSB6 vs. Cartoni SDS 8

January 29, 2018 Hugh Brownstone

For those of you who remember the review of the Cartoni SDS 8, it currently holds the blog's record for fastest set-up and take down times. However, Sachtler released the Flowtech tripod series, which also promises light-weight and fast operating speed.

So, if both tripods are in the same price range, and they both promise a light-weight tripod with a quick operating speed, how do they actually compare? It's time to strap in for a battle of the Tripods.

Secced Reach Plus 1 Tripod: Inspired by German Company Sachtler, Priced by Chinese Capitalism - But No One's Sitting Still

September 29, 2016 Hugh Brownstone

The Reach Plus 1 is a Sachtler-inspired tripod kit from Chinese manufacturer Secced. It also competes against my own Cartoni Focus HD -- even though the Cartoni has much higher payload maximums -- because it demands to be taken seriously and my A-cam is the light weight Sony a6300. How well does it succeed (geddit)? Read on.

Sachtler vs. Zacuto vs. FOTGA -- or Why the HECK Would Someone Spend Five to Ten Times as Much on a Freakin' Baseplate When You Can Get a Perfectly Usable One for $60? THIS is Why.

July 2, 2016 Hugh Brownstone

This is why it makes sense to find the optimal compromise between price and performance for the core components of your gear (camera and lenses): you're going to need a pile more dough for everything else. But "pile" is a relative term. Welcome to episode 2 of what I'm now calling our Goldilocks series, where this time we look at baseplates - a category I used to think was beyond mundane. I was wrong.