Video review of new Vinten Vision AS line of tripod heads

I was lucky enough to get a chance to look around the Vinten factory in deepest Suffolk so I could pick up a new Vinten Vision AS head to test out for a few days.

My good friend Tom Guilmette was promoting them at NAB this year and I had a look at them then, but this was first real “hands on” with them.

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They come in 4 “flavours” for different payloads…

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Vision 3AS           2.0 – 5.0 kg / 4.4 – 11 lbs

Vision 5AS           4.5 – 10.5 kg / 9.9 – 23.1 lbs

Vision 8AS           5.5 – 12.5 kg / 12.1 – 27.6 lbs

Vision 10AS         6.5 – 14.5 kg / 14.3 – 32 lbs

I personally own a few tripods. A Sachtler 18p, Miller DS20 solo, Cartoni Focus and a Vinten Vision 11 Fibertec. I love my Vinten and Miller tripods very much. The miller is a bit too light for the EX3 with adaptor but is perfect for the 5dmk2…The Vinten is my “full time” tripod. I use is 90% of the time. They are so robust, so well made.

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The new Vision AS series brings a number of new features and a complete re-design. First off…all black to match the sticks (no new sticks as yet). A new quick release system, an amazing perfect balance system (do check out the second video for a brief explanation of it), and a number of lovely touches. The head itself is as smooth as you could want…

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I am thoroughly impressed with the new heads. They still seem pretty well made and the new features are a joy, anyway…enough writing! Watch the video to learn more!! Made for CVP.TV

Video was shot in 30p on the Canon 5d mk II and sound was mostly done on the Zoom H4Sn sound recorder and synced using Pluraleyes.

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Want to learn how to create the film look? Click below.

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Hear me talk about Canon 5dmkII workflow and meet me at the first London FCPUG Supermeet, with special guest the legendary Walter Murch!!

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12 comments

  1. Nice work Philip and Dennis.

    Very interesting to see these new tripods from Vinten, not a lot of stockists of the Vinten here in Melbourne (Aus). Would very much like to see a comparison of these excellent looking camera supports with the new Miller Compass series (http://www.millertripods.com/product_series.html?id=5).

    Am currently weighing up between the Vinten, the Miller Compass and the Sachtler FSB-8. Any thoughts anybody??

    BTW beautiful looking factory shots Philip, who would have thought a fluro lit factory environment could look so cinematic!

  2. The tripods look great, but I really wanted to see the video and use of plural eyes. Now, without hijacking the post I’m wondering if it is time to get rid of the 35mm adapters and pick up a Canon 5D?

  3. Hi Phillip, thanks for this review(and all the others you do)! I am currently looking into a video head to use with the Canon 5dMkII camera with lenses up to 400mm at the moment. What would you think the performance of this head would be like with this camera? I am a bit concerned about the minimum weight suggested being 2kg. I have looked at the new Miller Compass but it has the same weight rating as this one. Any suggestions? Many thanks.

    1. hi Colin, they are great tripods and you can get lighter load springs. But I really like the Miller Solo carbon fiber DS20 tripods for the 5d. Perfect match. Even the lighter DS10 would work very well.

  4. Hi Philip,

    Nice review. I am considering a new tripod for my EX3. I have a question though: will the Vision 8 AS be suitable for a naked EX3 (3.9 kg)?

    Or will there be problems with the balance?

    Could you please comment on this?

    Greetings,

    Barry

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