Carbon Fibre Tripod

Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250

Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250
Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250
Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250
Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250

Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250    Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250
5% DISCOUNT FOR CASH ON COLLECTION. For your peace of mind. ENG/EFP CF 2-Stage Tripod Legs (100mm Bowl) Mid-Level (Spread-Loc) Carbon Fibre Spreader with 3 carpet feet included.

The closest thing to having your camera bolted to a block of concrete. Load Bearing: 99.2 lbs / 45Kg at full height (more if lowered).

3 times more rigidity and 6 times less backlash than its nearest competitor. And WINNER of many awards.

This is unusual, but we've found an almost new Vinten Fibertec Tripod. Offering 3 times more rigidity and 6 times less backlash than its nearest competitor and winner of many awards, simply put, this tripod is the'Buggati Veyron' of all tripods, but don't just take my word for it, feel free to carry on reading and disagree with me later - if you still can, that is. Although used, it is in almost brand new condition. If you're seriously interested in finding out why no other tripod can compete with it, then it will be time well spent. 3 years of research and development produced some surprising innovations the most surprising of which is that it is made of a glass composite, yes, I did say glass - no need to run to Specsavers, but that it just a very small part of the whole story. For those of you who need rock solid images or use long zoom lenses, this is your first choice bar none. Minimum Height 16.6" (42.2 cms) Maximum Height 61.4" (1,56 metres) Leg Stages / Sections 2 / 3 Leg Lock Type Lever Action Clamps Mid-Level Spreader Yes Spiked / Retractable Feet Yes Carpet Feet Yes Folded / Transport Length 28.0 (71.12 cms). The leg locks simply lift to open, and close flat to lock the legs. The high position of the lower lock means no more back-breaking stooping low to unlock (or lock) the lower stage. The mid-level carbon fibre spreader is essential in creating the triangulation required for rock solid stability, as well as offering other advantages. And it comes with rubber carpet feet which can be removed to reveal spiked feet, so it's compatible with Vinten dollies and ground spreaders. No more strings and hooks. And to make it easy to find the lock (when unlocking the legs), Vinten have coloured it yellow. Vinten 3781-3 Spread-Loc Mid-Level Spreader plus 3 Carpet Feet (3378-902SP). The Spread-Loc spreader may be installed on any tripod provided with Spread-Loc attachment points. Fits all Pozi-Loc 75, 100 and 150mm bowl tripods and Torque-Safe ENG tripods as well as the legendary Fibertec tripod.. Great for rough or uneven terrain. When the terrain is rough or uneven a mid-level spreader becomes the safest option to ensure stability and camera control in any situation. The Spread-Loc mid-level spreader ensures fast and simple set-up and infinitely adjustable positioning in all applications. Its revolutionary design incorporates a unique deployment system and a number of innovative safety features to prevent accidental damage to both spreader and tripod. The Spread-Loc easily achieves multi-level positioning or an incredibly small footprint so in the toughest terrain or the tightest of spaces you can be sure of reliable camera support that gives great control. Unique feature eliminates the chance of accidental damage.

Central lock knob enables fast repositioning. SPECIFICATIONS Weight 1.3 kg / 2.2 lbs Extended Arm Radius 500 mm / 19.7 inch Closed Length 377 mm / 25.5 inch Tripod Footprint Infinitely variable to maximum arm extension Compatibility Fits all Pozi-Loc 75, 100 and 150mm bowl tripods and Torque-Safe ENG tripods as well as the legendary Fibertec tripod. REVIEWS So easy to use!!! Twist of a knob and it's ready to open, twist again and it's locked solid. Arms also will extend out individually with the press of a button for uneven ground or for shooting in a weird and awkward configuration.

By Mulisha911 from Edmonton, Alberta Surprised with features I chose this Mid-Level spreader for use with my Vinten 3776-3 ENG Carbon Fiber 2-Stage Pozi-Loc Tripod Legs. It's especially good for use outdoors; but, really it's useful anywhere. Installing on the legs was a snap.

Setup is fast no futzing with this leg falling that way and the others falling another. The pleasant surprise is the fact that this spreader is geared and uniformly spreads the legs -- awesome!

What's more, it has a locking/unlocking dial with easy to read symbols for my aging eyes; AND, if you forget it's locked -- surprise, surprise -- there's a clutch mechanism that gives way instead of your tripod or spreader or worse breaking. The rubber feet take the edge off the spikes adding a level of protection for indoor carpets, tile, and hardwood floors. By VideoGearHead from Oceanside, CA MORE INFO. Hat-Trick of Awards for the Vinten Fibertec. The revolutionary tripo d from Vinten. The Vidy Award for "Advancement in the Art and Science of Video Technology" awarded by Videography Magazine.

Editors Pick of the Show for "Advancement in the Science, Art and Business of Television" awarded by Digital TV Magazine. "In Recognition of Innovative Achievement in the Advancement of Video Technology" awarded by Government Video Magazine.

What users of the Fibertec have said. As a vinten Fibertec owner I have to say that I just love the legs. The location of the latches means you never have to stoop down to release them. They are light weight yet incredibly rigid. In terms of rigidity they are in my opinion better than the sachtler CF HD legs I was using at the weekend which are far more bulky.

Nothing short of awesome for HD shooters. Lever leg locks are brilliant. I can detect not one parsec of rotational wind up even with my zoom racked out to 20X and maximum drag applied. With the head locks on, I've kneed legs, walked into pan handles, fiddled with the camera all without any of it appearing on the video. They really are one of the best camera supports manufactured, at any price. I love how the system all clips together at the base of the legs, you can kick it together to lock it saving time and effort. In short, they are utterly bomb proof. Put a decent head on the Fibertecs and you are in a completely different league. No matter what size zooms the next few generations of HD cameras come out with, no matter what resolutions the sensors have, no matter what size camera I want to stick on them, the FiberTecs will take it with ease, and grace. This system is very robust and is capable of operating well in varying climates and terrains around the world.

It offers great versatility giving the operator more freedom to be creative. Fibertecs features along with its extra rigidity provide the reassurance required by cameramen to forget about their kit and concentrate on capturing that all-important image. By re-evaluating the fundamentals of traditional tripod design, the Vinten Fibertec tripod provides the professional with an even more stable working platform, suitable for any application. Fibertec is exceptionally rigid; noticeably more stable when using high levels of drag or long lenses particularly in windy outdoor conditions.

The strength of the Vinten Fibertec comes from the unique channel leg sections of carbon/glass composite. To improve set-up and positioning time, lever action leg clamps are positioned adjacent to each other at the top of their respective stages. To further increase durability and reliability, all exposed edges are reinforced and molded joints have eliminated the need for adhesives. The unique design of the Fibertec's lever-operated clamping system is a significant contributory factor in the overall performance of the tripod. With long term reliability, ease of operation and minimal maintenance in mind, Vinten's designers have introduced a system that utilizes the entire length of the leg overlap.

So the more the legs are nested, the bigger the clamping area, almost doubling the maximum carrying capacity of a traditional Vinten 100mm tripod to an impressive 99.2 lbs. Hi-Tech Construction A molded joint construction improves strength, durability and reliability, eliminates the need for adhesives. Exposed section edges are reinforced with a composite material to improve additional durability. If the clamps require in-field adjustment, a single screw makes the operation simple.

Locking Clamps Can be unlocked simultaneously for quick deployment. The overlapping clamp design increases the stability of the tripod further. Locking Levers Provides a simple lever operation with clear visibility of lock status. Shuts flush to avoid cable snags, they also dislocate to prevent accidental damage. Unique Channel Sections Gives more resistance to the loads that frequently force tubular legs to bend - e. Long lenses, distant objects and small movements - and provides extremely stable platform for pan and tilt movements with minimal spring back at the end of the movement and very low backlash when changing direction. Integral Leg Tie Catch Enables safe and convenient transport and storage. SPECIFICATIONS Material: Carbon Fiber Load Capacity: 99.2 lb / 45Kg Bowl Diameter/Thread: 100mm 4" Half Bowl Minimum Height: 16.6" Maximum Height: 61.4" Leg Stages/Sections: 2/3 Leg Lock Type: Lever Action Clamps Center Brace/Mid-Level Spreader: No Spiked/Retractable Feet: Yes Folded/Transport Length: 28.0" Weight with spreader: 4.68 Kg / 10.3lbs. Weight without spreader: 7.3 lbs / 3.32 Kg The New Fibertec tripod from Vinten is "the perfect partner" for all camera operators. A genuine break-through in tripod innovation, Fibertec is three times more rigid than the nearest competitor's product.

This rigidity is crucial for optimising the effectiveness of the drag system on any pan and tilt head, it also minimises spring-back at the end of a movement and reduces the risk of wind buffeting and camera shake. Excellent rigidity improves the quality and value of any camera work. This revolutionary new tripod gets its strength from its unique "channel" leg sections of Carbon/Glass composite, enabling Fibertec to out-perform traditional twin tube design. This concept brings with it not only unrivalled rigidity, but is also lightweight, robust and rapid to set-up; these features satisfying the most critical demands of professional camera operators working in News, current affairs, documentaries, wildlife and many other applications. Fibertec's lever action clamps are positioned adjacent to each other (at the top of their respective Stages) optimising control of set-up and breakdown.

The flush design of the low effort clamps ensure more secure locking whilst minimising cable snags, accidental breakage's and most importantly, reducing set-up time. REVIEW ARTICLE The Vinten FiberTec System. The FiberTec looks like no other tripod Ive ever seen. Out of the box it seems tiny, surely not capable of getting to that published maximum height of 61.5 inches/ 156 cm? Then you grab the tripod by the attached carry strap and lift - they arent lightweights, those 7.3 pounds/ 3.3 kilos are there all right. Pressing the yellow leg latch on the bottom of one of the first main leg sections allows the legs to be spread and a decent look to be had. My immediate impression was of utter solidity.

At the tripods lowest height setting, those nested 3-section legs offer a solid black girder appearance, with not a chink of light visible through them anywhere. When viewed standing back from the tripod, the "front on" leg appears to be massive widthways (as, indeed, it is), the other two legs, slightly more side on, offering a much slimmer profile. Flicking the touch coded leg lock levers (the centre section lock is smooth, the lower has raised "bubbles") up to their horizontal position allows the legs to be extended and locked, with a satisfying "clunk" from the leg lock levers.

Yep, it really does go to 61.5 inches! In this configuration its possible to appreciate the genius of the leg design. The upper main leg section is an "H" pattern girder design, the width of the "H" measuring a massive 60 mm (over 2¼ inches). The "H" uprights measure approximately 25mm (1 inch) with the "bar" of the "H" being much closer to the inner face of the leg (the bottom of the "H" uprights). The middle / first sliding section (yet another, rather more convoluted "H" section) nests in the square bottomed channel formed by the top of the "H" uprights and the "H" bar. The lower / second sliding section (more like an upside down Pi symbol cross section) is nested inside the first sliding section. To casual inspection, the actual workings of the leg locking mechanism are a complete mystery. It took a good five to ten minutes of flicking levers and moving legs for the true genius of the design to hit home. Each side of the two sliding sections on each leg have projecting rails that engage in corresponding grooves in the outer section they are nested in.

One of these rails is fixed and is an integral part of the whole carbon fibre moulding of that section. The other rail is not fixed! As the section leg lock lever is depressed and closed, the rail extends out of the moulding, jamming into its corresponding groove and pushing the entire length of that section hard up against the side wall of its nest. How the sideways expansion of this rail is actually achieved I still havent worked out.

At maximum extension (61.5/ 156cm) the locking area for each section by my measure is about 2 inches (50mm), which may not sound like much but is more than adequate to ensure those legs cant move due to wobbly locking areas. The sheer strength of these locking areas is best illustrated by reading the maintenance manual for the FiberTecs the minimum weight that EACH LEG must bear before a leg lock slips is a massive 35 kilograms (77 lbs)! I should add that this figure is with the leg extended to its maximum height.

This gives a theoretical total load on the tripod of 105 kilos (231 pounds) before a lock slips under normal operating conditions. Note: In order to get access to the Maintenance Manual, I believe you need to be a Vinten registered customer.

It does not take a lot of thought to realise the implications of this leg locking design. The more the sections are nested and the shorter the tripod sits, the more locking area is available. At the tripods minimum height, the entire leg length cross section is a solid rectangle of carbon fibre 2¼ inches wide by 1¼ inches thick (60mm x 30mm).

The legs in this mode could, in all likelihood, support a Mack truck, though I think the tripod receiver and hinge pins may have a bit of trouble with that particular task. On the subject of the receiver and hinge pins, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what the receiver is made from. It "tings" like metal but has the same slightly glossy finish of the carbon fibre making up the rest of tripod.

As this system actually belongs to me, destruction testing to ascertain this materials composition is not about to happen. The hinges are tight, which may well ease with repeated use, with absolutely no play or give in any direction, as is to be expected.

Returning to the subject of the legs, when extended, a couple of things readily become apparent. The legs are flexible in two respects. Grabbing a leg anywhere along its extended length and twisting about that length is quite easy, becoming progressively more difficult the closer to the receiver you get. Where this slab like leg geometry really shows its strength is in the "wind up" and "lateral displacement" tests. With the tripod set to its maximum height, grabbing the receiver with both hands and attempting to twist it to imitate the force applied by a heavily drag set head produces nothing whatsoever. I can detect absolutely no indication of movement. Its not really that surprising when one considers the amount of carbon fibre box girder one is attempting to bend. Placing both hands on the receiver and attempting to push the tripod sideways is equally unrewarded by visible movement. A couple of extra little bells and whistles remain to be mentioned.

Firmly screwed to the underside of the receiver are three metal plates, covering the three receiver extensions that house the hinge pin bearings. One of the plates is blank though drilled and tapped to take some kind of bolt. The second has been similarly drilled and tapped but is fitted with a seemingly flimsy but in practice exceedingly tough rubber tipped metal hook. This is to hang weights from should the tripod/ head/ camera system be a trifle light for the prevailing wind conditions and the systems total sail area.

The third of these plates, again drilled and tapped, has a subsidiary rounded edge rectangular plate firmly bolted to it. This plate extends beyond the receiver extension about half an inch (12.5mm).

There is a hole drilled in this projection and this is used to attach one end of the carrying strap using a "nut locked" carabineer. The other end of the strap is attached to a small metal eye fitted to the bottom of one of the main first leg sections.

The strap itself is two-inch (50mm) wide webbing, adjustable for length and fitted with soft but durable cloth "sleeves" to prevent the metal carabineers from damaging the tripod surfaces. Fitted over the strap is a ten-inch (250mm) long, well-padded, er, pad which is free to slide to any location on the strap.

In practice, with a head attached to the tripod, the unit is carried head down, spikes up, with the pad slid to the top of its range. The only issue with the strap is the "nut locked" carabineers. The nuts must be checked and tightened with a spanner (not pliers) on a regular basis as in practice they tend to loosen. The last item on the tripod proper to mention is the feet.

They follow the same "double spike" pattern as used on many Vinten and Manfrotto sticks, but for reasons not readily apparent have only one spike, not two. That the pattern is identical means that any attachments designed for the Vinten or Manfrotto "double spike" system will work with the FiberTecs, namely floor spreaders, dollies etc. The Vinten Mid-Level SpreadLoc spreader comes complete with a set of three oval, textured face, rubber "booties" that fit to the tripod feet using the familiar Manfrotto "thong" system, thus obviating the need for a floor spreader on wooden floors, for example. The system is quite easy to sling over one's shoulder; the camera acting as a counterbalance on the other.

The only issue with the bare tripod and head being slung "head down" is to beware when walking in public where young children are around. That video head is pretty substantial and just at the right height to put the kybosh on a five-year-old in no uncertain fashion should there be a collision. Dismounting the system when thus loaded is actually easier than I had envisaged. Get a grip on the fabric and metal of the head-end carabineer and just shrug the tripod off your shoulder. The tripod will describe a graceful arc around that gripped fitting and end up "feet down" ready to be lowered.

It makes life a whole lot easier at this point if you shrug off the camera as well and place it somewhere soft on the ground, leaving both hands free for the set-up. A momentary press on the yellow leg release lever on the bottom of one of the main sections allows the legs to be partially spread. It isnt necessary to do it this way; the leg lock levers can be undone and the legs extended to the required length without them being spread. However Ive found that doing this first, then extending the legs whilst still bent over saves me the pain of bending again to unlock the locks I should have done first time round. Now would be as good a time as any to talk about one of the FiberTecs safety systems.

The leg lock levers are designed, in normal use, to flip from full down to nearly horizontal to release the leg. Doing so produces an almost excruciating "crunch" from the mechanism, which sounds just like bones breaking.

I thought Id just managed to terminate my new sticks with less than three minutes use! When the panic subsided, I remembered that this situation was covered in the manual... Just grab the lever and push it back down to its closed position (more breaking bones) and it will re-set. Not something to make a habit of however as continued long term abuse will really break these latches. Okay, so youre all set up and ready to shoot. But wait, why is the tripod moving? The spikes on the FiberTec are only ¼ inch (6 mm) long and even minimal grass cover can give you a poor footing. Your choices here are pretty limited -- either dig a divot (or three) with the heel of your shoe (not too popular on manicured lawns) or resort to a ground level spreader. The only other tactic Ive found that sometimes does the job is setting the tripod up and physically draping yourself over the top to apply as much pressure as possible to those feet tips. Sometimes it will punch them through whatever it is to the soil below. It may sound like tripod abuse, and not something I would dare do with my 520s, but the FiberTecs just shrug it off. At this point I was going to put in a whole heap of figures based on head / receiver deflection whilst I put the entire system through what could best be described as torture. This was to be achieved using a laser pointer; a far off wall with measured graduations of some sort and an accurate set of scales to keep track of what level of torture was being applied. I may yet perform such tests some way down the track. The reason I have not done so here is that, in the absence of any realistic basis for comparison, the figures are meaningless. The only other tripods I currently have access to are my aged 520s and my new 528 XBs. The 520s would be such an unrealistic comparison model as to be laughable. The 528s would, no doubt, put up a pretty good fight, but as they are primarily designed to hold jibs and are not something anyone would realistically lug around the traps for run and gun shooting, again, a pretty pointless exercise. Hopefully I will get access to an appropriate set of Satchlers, Millers or OConners etc. (hey, maybe all three) when such comparisons will have some value.

Conclusion & Price So, for the moment, youre left with my subjective evaluation. In use, the FiberTec is rock solid. I can detect no wind up of any kind no matter how badly the sticks are provoked.

I have, on a couple of occasions, locked both pan and tilt locks on the head and inadvertently clouted the pan arm whilst the camera was running at full telephoto barely a flicker of movement. I quite often put a hand on the receiver whilst filming (if the wind is gusty) and press down, hard, to steady the rig due to its high sail area and low weight. There is never anything in the resultant video to show I have done so. I have even managed to knee one of the legs dead centre whilst changing position and even that didnt show in the footage.

Want to press that "Push AF" button on the side of the camera? Fiddle with the focus ring?

You can push, pull, fiddle, tweak and slide and it will not move the camera. Vinten have made a break-through in tripod innovation by designing a product that provides 58% more rigidity than other product on the market. The tripod gets its strength from unique channel sections of a carbon/glass composite that enables these legs to out-perform the traditional twin tube design. This revolutionary new concept brings with it not only unrivalled rigidity, but also a number of clever yet practical user benefits.

The tripod is both lightweight and robust due to the composite carbon fibre leg material, this satisfying the most crucial demands of professional cameramen in both news, current affairs, documentaries and many other applications. With exceptional rigidity, Fibertec is noticeably more stable when using high levels of drag or long lenses, providing three times less backlash than other products on the market. Fibertecs lever action clamps are positioned adjacent to each other (at the top of their respective Stages) optimising control of set-up and breakdown. The flush design of the low effort clamps ensure more secure locking, whilst minimising the risk of catching cables or breakages and most importantly reducing set-up time.

The system is much faster having two locks on each leg side by side. I think the new design is about 3 times faster to erect to full height than my current tripod, and of course de-mount is just as quick. "Where's my cheque book" did I hear you say? Too expensive you say, but so is a Buggati Veyron, but if you want one, you have to pay for it. NO VAT - NO MORE TO PAY! See our other items of broadcast television and film equipment by clicking. The item "Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250" is in sale since Tuesday, July 16, 2019. This item is in the category "Cameras & Photography\Lenses & Filters\Other Lenses & Filters". The seller is "broadcastequipmentsales" and is located in West London. This item can be shipped worldwide.
  • Model: Fibertec
  • Modified Item: No
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
  • Custom Bundle: No
  • Compatible Brand: Vinten
  • Non-Domestic Product: No
  • Type: Tripod
  • MPN: 3498-3
  • Brand: Vinten

Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250    Vinten Fibertec 3498-3 CF 2-Stage Tripod + Mid Spreader for Vision 11, 100, 250