Chinese-borne tripods have been getting a lot of good press lately.  I decided to check out one of the latest models to find their way to US shores to see how it compares.

For the most part, my experience with video tripods has been centered around models from Sachtler and Vinten, neither of which I’ve ever had any complaints about.  However, I used these cameras with large (15-25lb) ENG cameras, so the same tripods would not be suitable for the new wave of smaller hybrid HD cameras (Panasonic GH2, Canon 60D, etc.).

Manfrotto seems to be one of the bigger names in this segment, but with all the talk of these budget-friendly tripods from China that supposedly offer the same performance at half the cost, I was curious to see how they compared.

The Fancier FC-270 tripod (currently ~$170) is based around the FC-02H head.  The first big difference compared to a Sachtler or Vinten is that it features fixed drag.  Compared to the 3+ levels of repeatable drag settings on Sachtler heads, I was not sure how much I like this.

In terms of smoothness and resistance though, I would venture to say that the FC-02H head does compare favorably to Manfrotto heads such as the 701HDV, which also lacks any type of drag adjustment.  In fact, the first Manfrotto head to get drag control is the Manfrotto 501HDV (~$175), which costs more than the entire kit from Fancier.

If you need drag control, neither the Fancier FC-02H, nor the Manfrotto 701HDV will fit the bill.  In fact, even more expensive heads such as the Libec H38 (~$365), the basis of the well-regarded Libec LS38 tripod system (~$525) features adjustable drag.

I still haven’t decided whether I need drag control or not, which may explain why I’ve still got one eye on a Sachtler FSB-4 tripod system (~$835).

Unfortunately, I think my choice might have been made from me during my testing of the Fancier head.  The best test of any tool is to use it in a real world application, so after some cursory testing, I took the Fancier FC-270 tripod on a shoot a few nights ago.  It was mainly used for a static shot for most of the shoot, but when I decided to use it for a few simple pans and tilts, I discovered that it had a major dead spot at the start of the pan movement.  See below for a video demonstrating the dead spot:

This is obviously a deal-breaker, and while I may simply have a defective unit, I’m not too keen on the idea of trying the Fancier again.  In fact, I’m quite dubious of any tripod head under $200.  Even the Manfrotto 501HDV ($175), which is definitely a beefy head by comparison, loses points due to its friction-based drag adjustment (for one, the drag cannot be completely disengaged).

According to the internet (which is always reliable), things really only start to get real when you get up to heads like the Sachtler FSB-4 ($680).  This confirms my initial suspicions, though I can’t say I’m happy about that.  I would much rather there be a true contender under $200, especially since I shoot mostly handheld these days, so a tripod will really serve for static shots, or as a base for a slider.  Pan/tilt movements are secondary, so I may still opt for a “budget” setup such as the Manfrotto 501HDV/546BK setup ($450) in the hopes that it will meet my needs, if not my wants.

In other news, I think the Fancier ET-75 legs that are part of the FC-270 setup are pretty decent.  Rather light, but quite stable thanks to the wide rubber feet.