BLOG DISCLAIMER: I do not work for Sachtler or Vitec. I have not been paid to do this review in any way.
I was lucky enough to blag a demo version of this new tripod from Sachtler for review a week or so back. It was unveiled on day one of IBC (today) in a press conference.
So why the big deal and is it any good?
My favourite tripod for DSLRs has always been my trusty Miller DS20 with solo legs, but it’s a $1500 investment. Not a huge amount at all for a decent video tripod but out of the price range of many, especially DSLR shooters. There are loads of low market tripods but I haven’t liked any of them. I have a couple of Manfrotto ones but the heads are really not great for me. The flat head ones are useful to put on sliders, but a non ball-mount tripod is a massive pain to level. Ball mount is the way to go…
Sachtler have been around since the late 1950′s and became part of the UK company VITEC in 1995 but still very much operate independently with regards to their products. My first tripod 20 odd years ago was the good old Video 18, which is still around today because it’s so damn good. It’s not cheap though. £5000 ish for head and legs. It’s also total overkill for a DSLR, even though that is the tripod I used when I was shooting RED TAILS as you can see below…
Shooting Red Tails with Rick McCallum in California
It’s a great tripod but heavy. Not ideal for fast one-man DSLR work. Sachtler do make a very nice lower end tripod for smaller cameras which is still are around £1000. Great price but still out of the question for many…
That is where the ACE comes in. It’s priced at around £480 for the system. The sticks and the head. Suddenly we have a really affordable excellent tripod and it’s still a Sachtler. Something reassuring about the brand, certainly for me having used them (and Vinten) all my career.
It’s designed for payloads of up to 4kg, so it will take your pimped up DSLR just fine. It will also cope with cameras like the AF100 and FS100 just fine.
It’s a 75mm bowl head tripod, so it’s great for easy adjustment of the level. It packs down nice and small, meaning it can go into a suitcase easily – I don’t like having to have a whole extra case just for my tripod with excess baggage costs on planes these days!
The head is lovely and smooth, although it doesn’t have quite as many friction points as I would like on the pan and tilt. From 0 to 3. But it’s fine in practice. Sachtler friction is in whole stops unlike others where you just turn the dial until you are happy. It also means at 0 the head has zero friction on it so it’s free floating. Good for controlled pseudo handheld work.
The sticks themselves are very good but not the greatest in the world, nor should they be at that price. I still easily prefer my Miller Solo legs mainly because they go so damn high and so crazy low. The ACE legs don’t, they are more traditional in height ranges. There is a mid spreader that can be extended out to make it go a bit lower, but we are still talking no lower than about 3 feet. You can buy them with a floor spreader if you prefer which does go a bit lower, but I hate floor spreaders! The tripod can take 20kg of weight. Not sure if that’s with the legs all the way down or at any height. There is a floor spreader version which lets you have the tripod sit 20cm lower than this version, so worth considering. Shame this one doesn’t.
There is a nice 5 step counterbalance dial which works great for balancing your camera.
Here are some specs for you:
Centre Spreader version total weight: 4.4kg
Floor spreader version total weight: 4.6 kg
Head on its own weight: 1.7kg (only sold with sticks)
Centre spreader min max height: 78cm/169cm
Floor spreader min max height 57cm/173cm
Length for transport: 85cm
Payload for both: 0-4kg
Temperature range: -30 C to 60C
Max angle of head 90 degrees down, 75 degrees up.
I have done a video review of the tripod which you can see below where I talk more about the tripod. If you are interested in what the video was shot on, it was using the new Sony NEX5n and a Samyang 35mm f1.4 and old Nikon 50mm F1.2. Really impressed with this little camera, I will do a full review once I have had a chance to shoot more with it and once I get the OLED viewfinder. I had ZERO light in my hotel room. This was lit by the dimmest bedside light in the world and the TV!
It is due to go sale at the end of October. But as soon as I find it online I will post some links. Overall, this is a bloody damn good tripod at an absolutely bargain price!
Review of Sachtler ACE DSLR tripod system from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.
LOVE THOSE RRS plates!!
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Less than a year ago Sachtler released the Cine DSLR system..any difference between them??? The price of the Cine DSLR is double….
yes, the cine system is better! but it’s more expensive. this is their new entry level system.
Thanks for the review!
i love my nex5:
http://www.benedict1.com/bens/stuff/4_WEEKS_IN_DECEMBER.html
http://www.benedict1.com/bens/stuff/CHELSEA_2011.html
http://www.benedict1.com/bens/stuff/NEX_IN_ROMA.html
benedict campbell
Hey Philip,
the tripod is going to be available starting October 24th in Europe (from Sachtler website).
One question to the camera plate:
It looks similar to the Manfrotto 501PL.
Does anyone know if those two are compatible?
- Sebastian
no idea. sorry!
I just purchased this tripod today and to answer your question (which I had as well) YES! Surprisingly the plates are interchangeable. If you have a Manfrotto 501 PL Plate, 501/701 HDV head, etc, this is compatible! Keep in mind the sachtler plate is 1.5x longer than a 501 PL. Your 501 PL Plate will slide, stop, and tighten just like the sachtler plate, and you can of course pop the sachtler plate into any of the aforementioned Manfrotto heads. Brilliant!
And just for sake of argument as well, the tripod is fantastic and Philip’s review is 100% on point, I need not say more!
Good review, great-looking tripod, awesome images especially for the lighting conditions.
Hi Philip,
I’m a dslr-filmer and bought this year the Cineslider from Kessler Crane. When I wil use it with the Hercules Head I need a tripod with a 100mm mount for good stability. That’s what I always thought. I’m still looking for a good tripod which has also a good price. Is this tripod with a 75mm mount still a good choice??
Thanks, Corné
for a cineslider? i would say no. too lightweight…
Hi Philip!
Would you rather go with the Sachtler abc or the Manfrotto 504HD with 546 legs with is a bit more expensive?
Greetings.
i don’t like the Manfrotto. Too heavy and don’t like the head. i have one.
I did not find this information on the site of satcher.. Can you say to us, approximately,the maximum height, the minimum height and especially, what is the most interesting for this kind of light tripod the closed length.. Thank you.
have updated blog. it’s there now.
Thank you. And for the closed lenght I found an information of 85cm on another internet site.
useful review phillip, searching a good option to jump from my Miller, Im waitin for Ace.
Just a question, wich reallyrightstuff plate are attached on your 5DII?
seems safe option for HDMI cable.
thanks
it’s the 5dmkii L plate. Love it!! not cheap though
Have you tried the Sachtler Cine DSLR?
Cheers!
Johannes
Thanks for the review. Any idea how much it weighs?
Good to know. Also a very nice little image from that Sony NEX5n. I just happened to walk into a sony store on a vacation a smidge back the day they put these toiny wittle bukkahs on the shelves and was very intrigued not only by what its packing but what its packing in that tiny little form factor. Slick rick.
Good, honest review Philip !
Do you think its “worth” saving up that little extra for a Manfrotto 504HD head with decent sticks ?
oh, and will you perhaps be doing a review on the Manfrotto 055 Photo-Movie Head
link: http://www.manfrotto.com/product/8374.31708.83523.0.0/MH055M8-Q5/_/055_Magnesium_Photo-Movie_Head_with_Q5_Quick_Release
I have the 504 HD and really am not impressed. It’s also VERY heavy for it’s payload. I don’t know much about that other head, i doubt i will be doing anything on it. Will check it out at IBC tomorrow
Thanks, thinking about buying 055 for a spare tripod.
Is it setup comparable to Sachtler Cine DSLR head?
Have you ever tried Cine DSLR Philip?
Would you recomend it?
Aloha
the cine is nicer Gal.
Hello, I want to buy a tripod a little big bigger than the ACE, i was thinking of buying a cine dslr, your miller ds20 is better? I could put your pb pocket dolly on it? The biggest lens I would use is a 70-200 2.8 but wiht anton bauer dionic battery’s and a viewfactor cage
Thanks for the help!
i love the miller over almost all!
Philip have you used/tried a Vinten Vision Blue package? That’s the nearest system I can think of (and one I’m considering) and I wondered how the two compared. Seems the Vinten has got the continuously variable drag and balance, but struggles with the lighter cameras like the NX70 I’d be putting on top of it.
love your shirt, too, Philip. hahaha
Hi Phil can you recommend the lightest tripod to go with your PB Cineslider traveller size? Is it worth waiting for this one to arrive in October or get any carbon fibre tripod. I’m confused as which one to get? I do a lot of travel work and the weight has to be as low. Cheers Matt
some manfrotto sticks with flat head work well with a 503 head to screw on the top. it’s not ideal as ball mount tripods are better for general use Matt. But this is cheapest and simplest solution
Looks like a good tripod. I use a MillerSafari, it’s also a good option for DSLR shooters on a budget- about £300 or so fluid head and light. Like the image out of the Sony- look forward to your review on that.
Hi, Philip!
What were the NEX 5N’s ISO values set to in the video?
Thank you
Have you tried the Vinten Blue? I know it’s a little more expensive but still…BTW, £480 is that including VAT?
the blue is lovely. but its a full size tripod
My one question is- any idea how it compares to the Vinten Vision Blue? Any thoughts appreciated in terms of head quality and also as you rightly mention size and weight.
the blue is a better system, but much heavier and bulkier.
I have the libec ls38 and think its a great tripod for the money see the review here http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=150 this tripod has no kickback when you pan etc. It is also pretty sturdy and well made, no friction adjustments on it though, so it’s just one setting but to be honest I have found that to be fine.
Cheers
Mike
I have the Libec LS38 aswell, great tripod for the price, misses the friction settings and too heavy for DSLRs. Perfect as a first tripod for a EX1 or something.
Phil-
What would you grab this set up or the 501HDV head with 546B 2-Stage Aluminum Tripod Legs?
Seems around the same price
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/687057-REG/Manfrotto_501HDV_546B_501HDV_Head_w_546B_2_Stage.html
no the 501 head is AWFUL!!!
Thanks for the review, looks like a great tripod.
Hi Philip,
The sachtler FSB4 and aluminum legs is selling as a kit for $830.
It seems to me that the FSB4 would be a better choice if one can afford the $180 difference. Seems much more solid (reliable long term?), has the same payload, and the weight is 1.9kg.
So without looking at the price, which one would you go for shooting with basic and light DSLR setup? I’d like to know what’s your take on this?
Thanks again for sharing so much information on your website, much appreciated.
Have a great day
Ced
While I am asking this to Philip, I’d be glad to hear anybody’s opinion on this. Of course
Anyone having overheating issues while recording? I have heard major problems with that.
My church is looking for a camera with clean HDMI out while not recording..wonder if this camera will work..mainly concerned about the overheating, but wondering if that’s even an issue while not recording.
the tripod does not overheat and has no hdmi output!
hahaha
Drat! I had just bought the Manfrotto 547BK kit with the 701HDV head.
Nice and light (could have it slung over my back all day!) but this looks like a similar build, AND has pan friction control (the only quibble I have about the 701 head) :/
If that’s you’re only quibble with the 701, then you’ve saved yourself $300 getting what you did rather than wait for the Ace
Will have to look at the Ace more in depth when it’s released. Have a Libec RS-250 (good build, good payload), but it’s going back because it’s defective. Now I have to decide between getting something else or waiting for the Ace to see how it matches up. The price is definitely interesting though.
You cant’ buy just the head? You broke my heart! I wanted to use it on my RRS TVC-33 sticks and lose my 504HD (too big, heavy and…)
I might actually buy it just for the head and sell the tripod.
Thanks for the review.
Hi Philip! Thank you for this post – was about to order an 501 head and saw your opinion and deleted it immediately!
Wondering if this system would work for Canon XF105…?
I’m going to be traveling with two XF105′s and two tripods, and want the tripods to be light and collapse into a suitcase. You said this system fits in a suitcase – do you have dimensions or a photo we can reference?
I have shot with the Video 18 before, and also Love it, but too big to carry. I’m now considering the Vinten Blue, Cine DSLR system, or waiting for ACE… Any advice?
hi michelle. this does fit into a suitcase. are the dimensions not on the page?
personally my favourite is still the miller solo ds20
p
Sorry Philip another noob question.
Just bought the 60D, will this tripod come with a standard plate I can mount the camera onto or do I need to buy a separate plate?
Can’t wait for this to come out as I definitely need a decent video tripod!
Thanks,
J
hi jordan, yes you can screw it in directly if you want.
p
It appears the release date has been pushed back to the end of November
I desperately need a tripod so looks like i’m gonna have to buy a manfrotto one then sell it when this comes out!!
Yesterday I got the Sachtler ACE, and really were quite impressed by it. Today I played some more with it, and discovered that it gives a slight reversal “jerk” when I stop moving the handle.
This jerk is apparent when the movement is coming to a halt while panning vertical or horizontal.
E.g. while panning slowly to the left and then comes to a halt, it moves slightly back again.
Seems like some pressure build up, that forces the head to move slightly back again when the movement is coming to a halt.
I guess you didn’t notice wile testing the ACE, but I would like to hear your toughts about it, and if anyone else is experiencing the same “reversal jerking motion”. Is it reason for buyback? I hate to do that, because it otherwise seems like a really great head.
I shoot my EOS 7D videos on Sachtler FSB4 tripod with Kessler CineSlider mounted on it and it’s virtually unusable without its legs spread as wide as possible. It has a 75mm bowl and Kessler’s bowl adapter fits that one, too but cannot be leveled. The head on FSB4 is AMAZING and my future idea would be to put this head on the CineSlider (I wonder if the optional High Hat can take this head, considering the long screw below it) and use something far more sturdy for slider support.
One of my videos shot with this configuration is here:
http://vimeo.com/31291349
The ACE is to be shipped back to the importer tomorrow. I will go for the Cine DSLR instead. According to the answers I got the problem should be apparent in all Sachtler heads, less on the more expensive ones. Due to the light weight design of the ACE this head should have the most “spring back” issue. Though Sachtler apparently didn’t regard this as a fault. So the advice I got was to use the “brake lever” in order to avoid the head to “spring back” when the panning comes to a halt.
In all other aspects the ACE was a given choice! Really great feeling, smooth movement. Just great.
According to the answers I got from Sachtler I will probably see a slight “spring back” movement also in the Cine DSLR, but less apparent. I really hope it is very much less apparent, since I feel that the ACE in its current state really shouldn’t have passed quality control.
Question for you Phillip, how would you compare this to the E-image 7060h? Also some have complained that the Sachtler’s legs are not sturdy enough. Comments?
i dont know that one. sorry david!
Hi Philip. need your advice.
I want to buy a head, choose between the manfrotto 504hd and miller dv10. what do you advise?
I don’t know that Miller head, never used it…you mean DS10? If so then it’s great. But not huge payload capacity. DS20 is better. 504HD is a beast!
Thank you!