Tripod for Drag Racing Videoing ?

Hi
I have a Panasonic NV-GS35 and I use it for videoing Motorcycle Drag racing.
So I'm lost when it comes to which Tripod will be best.
I see these different types motioned and can you guys tell me what they are and which might be best.
Pan and Tilt Head type.
Ball Head type.
Fluid Drag Head type.
So as I need to pan as the bikes take off,and tilt a bit ,should I be looking at the Pan / Tilt type head and are those available in the Fluid Drag style?.
All help and info greatly appreciated.
Richard

Richard,
For video you want a fluid head with tilt and pan. A ball mount between the head and the legs will allow you to set the camera for a level pan. This allows the tripod legs to be a bit off level but then you loosen the ball and set the camera and tilt/pan head on the level. Now when you do a pan the camera stays on the same horizon line. It doesn't drift up or down during the pan.

The fluid head will give you smooth tilts and pans. A still camera really only needs a ball mount. Once the shot is framed and the ball is tightened that's all that needs to be done. Video on the other hand is dynamic during the shot thus the need for a smoothly operating tilt and pan head.

Manfrotto is a good brand among a few others. Look at the 502 and 503 heads. Legs are usually sold separately as is the ball mount.

Manfrotto makes excellent tripod systems. But they are pricey for consumer grade cameras. You could easily spend more money on a Manfrotto than you did on your camera. People will tell you that you will keep your tripod forever but cameras come and go. I won't argue with that.

But if you find that the prices of the Manfrottos are more than you want to spend (you didn't mention any price range) I would suggest the following. You can buy the Sunpak tripod listed on this web page (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538299-REG/Sunpak_620_750BB_7500_Pro_Platinum_Tripod_with.html) which has a great set of legs and a very good head for shooting still photography. I would then buy the Velbon PH-368 fluid head found on this web page (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=152289&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) which is an excellent video head. You can put it on the Sunpak legs and have a very good tripod for just over $100. This is a very popular setup on this board because it gives you about the cheapest tripod setup you can find that is still a quality setup. I will say that the Velbon head is made of mostly plastic parts but it has friction controls for panning and up and down movement which is rare on a tripod head in this price range.

I think you will find this is a very good setup for the money. If you have the money I'd say get a Manfrotto. But IMO that's a lot of tripod for the camera you own. With the Sunpak and Velbon combination you will have a good still head and an excellent video head for around $100. That's a hard deal to beat IMO. I've made this suggestion to a lot of people and no one that has bought this setup has ever said anything except good things about it. I suggest you do a search to see other people's comments on this setup.

The legs are oversized aluminum and there is a threaded stud on the bottom of the center tube that will allow for adding extra weight for even more stability. The Velbon tripod has all the features you will want in a video head. It is a true fluid head. The Sunpak head has 3 axis movement (the extra axis is for shooting portrait shots with a stills camera) and is very solid as a stills head.

I just don't think you can go wrong with this setup. It rivals more expensive heads and legs IMO. It is plastic which probably means it won't last as long as a Manfrotto but it should last for many years if you treat it right.

Good luck.