Hello. I'd like to get a tripod for my Sony HVR-A1u. If you look it up, it's quite small and light (just under 2lbs!) The WxHxD is 2.9 x 4.1 x 7.6".

I have a $300-$400 price range. As I was going through the threads (of course, the search feature isn't working for me again...) and I see a lot of mention of the Bogan/Manfrotto 501 and the 701Rc2.

I checked B&H, found this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...pod_System.html

Would this be sufficient?

Upon searching B&H, there's A LOT of these in the $300-$400 range, all slightly going up in price a little at a time (although I'm not sure what exactly makes the price go up as they all look the same...). I ran a search for "Manfrotto 501" and listed the results by price from Lowest to Highest if you want to see what I'm talking about.

There's actually a more expensive one than the one I linked above, however the legs look less supportive than the linked one above. See it here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...pod_System.html

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

***EDIT: I also saw I should get a Ball Leveler. Any recommendations on that as well would be appreciated (unless there's a tripod that comes with one that you can recommend). Thanks!!

It looks like it would work. It's spec'd at 7 lbs so you should have no problem with your A1U. That's a good head. The legs look OK. There's so many Bogen legs it's hard to keep track of what's what. If they're not too heavy for what you intend to do they should be fine.

As for a leveler, I have this Bogen leveler and it works just fine.

Good luck.

Dennis

Just to be sure, are you talking about the first or second link in my post?

I was talking about the first link, yes. Sorry I wasn't clearer. The second tripod seemed to have thinner legs but it might just be the photo. My Bogen (3221WN) has legs and locks like the first one you linked to and it works fine.

Good luck.

Dennis

Great. Thanks a lot Dennis, always helpful!

- Keith

OK. Let us know what you decide and how you like it after you get it.

Good luck.

Dennis

The specs are ok. This will work properly. It will have no problems whatsoever.

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