Director of photography Danna Kinsky may use large cameras and heavier support equipment when shooting feature films like the upcoming Untold but she wants the same kind of support performance when she shoots with smaller form factor cameras like her Canon 7D. In connection with the Untold project Kinsky shot a public service announcement about anti-gay bullying in schools. On that shoot she used her DSLR and new Sachtler Ace tripod system designed for camera packages weighing from 0 to over 8 lbs (0 to 4 kg). The bottom of that weight range is important to her because she often uses a lightweight camera package her Canon 7D and a small prime lens. “Smaller cameras actually present more of a challenge to a tripod than larger cameras because there’s so little mass to help smooth the panning and tilting moves ” she says. “I’ve shot before with small tripods that want to inch along the floor when you pan which means you have to hold the sticks in place with one hand while panning with the other. It makes me a more confident shooter to know that I don’t have to deal with problems like these when I’m using the Ace.” The way Ace solves both those issues for Kinsky is that Sachtler’s engineers developed a completely new patented SA drag (Synchronized Actuated Drag) which the company says guarantees the familiar accuracy and repeatability that Sachtler’s larger tripod systems are famous for. With 3 vertical and 3 horizontal grades of drag (+0) the patented SA drag enables fine adjustment for precise panning and tilting no matter how small the camera package. Additionally Ace has five different counterbalance settings. Kinsky adds that “The Ace is stable enough that it stays put when you’re panning and the legs are substantial enough that there’s no backlash when you start or stop a pan.” Ace can be tilted through a range of +90° to -75°. Kinsky also appreciates the ruggedness of Ace. She says “When it’s time to move the camera to a new location I easily adjust the mid-level spreader and the sticks come together and I’m off to my next spot. The Ace is rugged enough to handle circumstances that happen on set.” Ace is easily adjustable up and down and it can be used on uneven surfaces. For shipping it breaks down to less than 34” (86 cm) which allows it to be put in a suitcase instead of requiring its own shipping case. “What’s really amazing ” says Kinsky “is that at a remarkably economical price Sachtler has put a lot of the features that were previously only available in tripod systems that cost thousands of dollars.” Photo by Gina M. Garcia Sachtler www.sachtler.com
