Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head
The Velbon DV-7000 Video Tripod is a refreshingly capable video tripod for Mini-DV camcorders up to 9.92 lbs (4.5 kg). It sports a 2-way fluid head, geared center column, braced 3-section aluminum alloy legs, and a quick-release plate for rapid set-up and takedown. Be it fast-breaking news coverage or junior's first tooth, you'll be there and ready to cover the action with the solid, dependable support of the DV-7000.
- The Three Pillars of Hercules
- Robust 29mm upper leg sections with built-in mid-level spreader for the ultimate in dependable, vibration-absorbing support of your camcorder
- Separate pan/tilt locks lend a studio-feel without the overhead
| Load Capacity | 9.92 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Mount/Base | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Balance Plate | No |
| Pan & Tilt Range | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Pan & Tilt Drag | Fluid-effect |
| Leveling Bubble/Illuminated | No |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Leg Stages/Sections | 2/3 |
| Minimum Height | 22.44" (57 cm) |
| Maximum Height | 63.78" (162 cm) |
| Folded Length | 27.56" (70 cm) |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 55 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Smooth movement (26)
- Easily adjusted (22)
- Easy to use (19)
- Locks in tight (17)
- Professional quality (16)
Cons
- Heavy (6)
Best Uses
- Home (21)
- Outdoor events / games (18)
- Home movies (15)
- Independent films (15)
- In the studio (13)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (21), Business owner (6), Film student (4), Professional artist (4), Semi-professional (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (10)
Most Liked Positive Review
High-quality Prosumer Tripod
I use this tripod with a Canon HV30, WA lens/hood and a mic/light bracket. This tripod is built like a tank and is on the heavy side (not a negative). 99%...Read complete review
I use this tripod with a Canon HV30, WA lens/hood and a mic/light bracket. This tripod is built like a tank and is on the heavy side (not a negative). 99% of the parts are metal. The pans/tilts are very smooth and once locked down properly, the head does not move at all. The quick release plate works very well and snaps solidly into place. Very wide height range available due to the geared center column and legs that open almost 180-degrees. Rubber feet provide a good grip on smooth floors, but extending spikes would have been nice to include for grass/dirt use. Bubble level is located under the head; you have to tilt the head all the way forward/back to see it. A slight pain, but you get used to it. At least it HAS a bubble level.
Two small negatives:
1. The pan/tilt tension knobs are not linear. They're supposed to provide more/less resistance to movement as you loosen/tighten them, but I find that they are mostly "on/off" knobs. I just leave them loosened 1.5 turns and enable/disable movement with the locking knobs.
2. No carry handle on the tripod itself; would make expanding/collapsing the legs much easier
I rate this tripod 4.5 stars, but there's not a "half star" option, so I marked it a "4". EXCELLENT tripod for the money.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Beautiful motion marred by lashback.
with the fluid-dead feel, tilting and panning produces beautiful, deliberate moves, but this is marred by a millimeter or so of muscle memory or lashback at the end of each move, exacerbated by ...Read complete review
with the fluid-dead feel, tilting and panning produces beautiful, deliberate moves, but this is marred by a millimeter or so of muscle memory or lashback at the end of each move, exacerbated by the handle's resistance. at full wide it's negligibly noticeable, but at anything beyond a third zoom in, it adds a horrible lashback to the end of the tilt or pan, making the shot look amateurish.
perhaps the solution is in setting the two dials per motion, but without directions (the DV comes with none), I can achieve similar resistance while setting the two dials per motion (four total) in different combinations. which one is the correct way, and which will (if any) reduce the backlash the most?
as my first prosumer grade tripod, it created wonderfully fluid, deliberate motions--hampered by a rough finish. if only Velbon gave some sort of printed guide to reduce the backlash.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 55 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great value
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I am a casual videographer who needed an all purpose tripod. This is a well built trpod for the cost and easy to set up and easy to adjust pan and tilt drag. One issue that came up was the head was not completely screwed together making for jerky pans, but it turns out that it was never tightened from the factory, once it was tightened correctly, it works great. B&H has very quick shipping too.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- None
Best Uses
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Just bought one today in Kuwait city, the price is a steal for such steady and well built Tripod . Tested it with my Nikon D80 and Sony HD video cam , it is amazing. Very satisfied with what I got today
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Solid
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Great solid tripod. My first tripod that I've spent money on. This tripod feels very solid and stable, which is good as I do a lot of video of action sports outdoors. All the movements and releases feel good, not loose or shaky.
Only two very small annoyances. There's a level, but it is underneath the head, so you have to tilt the head all the way over to see it. Also, the fine tune adjustments for rate of pan and tilt don't seem to do a lot.
Other than that, it's awesome.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
- Proper Weight For Job
- Stable
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I have a Slik tripod with a ballhead, and a Manfrotto tripod with a 3-way head. I wanted a Fluid Effect 2 way head for video; my Slik has a fixed head, and I need the 3-way for my DSLR. I was going to stay with a brand that I knew, but couldn't find the features I wanted. My search led me to the Velbon DV-7000. It looked good in the photos, but it was the positive reviews on B&H that persuaded me to buy it. I am very pleased with my decision. It feels well built, lighter than I expected, but with very good heft and stability. The bubble level is a must with video. The movement of the head is smooth and well, like the name says, fluid.
I will definitely look at Velbon if I need another tripod in the future.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
- Lacks Functionality
- Limited Compatibility
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I bought this to use with my Glidetrack. It worked well, but after about three hours of use, the 1/4" bolt broke off. I then bought another one and used it with Bogen adapter and it is working great now. I was able to fix my first one, but I use it just as a regular tripod now. It is a nice tripod for the money.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Have owned several of these in the past few years and have worked perfect every time. I use them a lot for beach weddings and sporting events, so they are put through the elements all the time. They usually last 3-4 years with through the elements, which is longer then expected due to the price!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Cost
- Professional Quality
- Smooth motion
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
- Photography
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Great tripod and a very reasonable cost. very fluid motion, solid and sturdy. perfect for dslr movie makers on a budget.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I use this with my Glidetrack SD (1m) and it is very durable. I love that I didn't have to buy a seperate fluid head and I just used the fluid head supplied.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Professional Quality
Cons
- Some plastic construction
Best Uses
- In the field
- Travel tripod
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I'm a professional destination photographer that uses the DV-7000 to shoot HD video for a major tourism agency using the Canon 5d Mark II. I traveled with the DV-7000 throughout Europe for 6 weeks of heavy usage, as well as Fiji, and several other locations.
I chose this tripod because size & weight becomes a serious issue on certain flights, and when out in the field (as I am already lugging nearly 40lbs of gear). It's rock solid and offers the smoothest panning head I could find for the price.
With that being said, I recommend getting the 2-year plan with the DV-7000 as the screws and construction of the head are not made for heavy abuse; hence the cheap price.
It's heavy, and fairly big...so shooters with non-full frame DSLRs might find it a bit excessive. But it holds up solid even with my 5D and the 70-200 2.8 IS (althought requires switching the plate to the lens mount for that one).
All in all, if you're looking for a video tripod that has a very smooth panning head, but not looking to spend hundreds, this is your guy. If you're mainly shooting stills, I would recommend a ball-head such as the Manfrotto 488RC2 or something of the like.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I now own 3 of these tripods, and have purchased one for the company I work for. These tripods have been very reliable and work well. The only complaint I have about the tripod is that the leveling bubble is located under the head, you have to tilt the head all the way down to see the bubble, but that is a minor inconvenience.
I use these tripods with Sony FX1 cameras for event videotaping such as weddings, graduations, plays, voice shows, etc.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
My first tripod has been in use in an educational setting for 3 years and has held up very well. It is easy to set up. I wouldn't put our money into anything else.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
just a perfect buy, i use it with a Canon T2i and it's amazin, it gives me a very smooth shots and it's very stable, couple peoples complain about the weight but i think it's just perfect, it's not too heavy and if it was lighter would not give that much stability. Easy to set up as well.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I could not afford one of those higher priced tripods, and this has been a great alternative. Fluid head is nice, legs are sturdy, and leveler is accurate. I would buy again.
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Very sturdy. Love the way it so compact.
Pros
- Good price value
- Smooth Pans
- Solid construction
Cons
- Heavy bulky
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I bought this tripod because it was recommended on a number of video forums as one of the best tripods for your money (under $100).
I mostly shoot stills though and don't really need the heft or fluid panning as much as I originally thought. Definitely more of an entry level video tripod, but if I start using the HD Video capabilities on my camera I'll be all set.
Leveling bubble is oddly located and not practical to use, you can only see it when the plate is pointing directly up.
Raising the height (unlocking legs, spreading/closing the legs) is a little tight, but maybe that's just because the tripod is new.
Overall, a bit much for an entry level photographer, but I'll probably "grow into it".
Pros
- All Metal Construction
- Improves Performance
- Smooth PanningTilting
- Sturdy
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I've always loved the PH-368 head, going back to when I owned a CX-686. It is very smooth and though not a true fluid head, it's as close as it's going to get with consumer gear.
I say consumer because this is not a pro item. It's a solid piece of equipment for the serious hobbyist or amateur, but it won't stand up to everyday abuse in the field like a Manfrotto or a Libec...nor should it be expected to. But for those of us who are weekend video enthusiasts with compact camcorders or DSLRs, there's no reason why this thing won't last a decade or two.
My only gripes are the location of the bubble level (you have to tilt the head all the way forward or backward to see it), and the fact that it's hard to find a bag or case that fits it properly....but that one's not really the tripod's fault.
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
This is semi prof tripod. Price/quality performance is the best.
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
Haven't had it long, seems good. Used it at a rehearsal dinner last week, and it was great. Light weight, and really nice. Love the quick release plate.
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I use this tripod to shoot video and photos with my new Canon T2i 550D and the smoothness in panning left to right and top to bottom is incredible.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
Comments about Velbon DV-7000 Tripod with 2-Way Fluid Head:
I read reviews on many tripods and the DV-7000 looked like it would do what I wanted. I have two other low-end tripods, neither of which pans smoothly.
When I opened the box it came in, I was surprised at the ruggedness and the way the tripod is built. The camera mounting plate is quick release and snaps back into place easily.
It can be setup low, about 22" above ground, which is great for low shots, and the head pans very smoothly. The bubble level helps and the DV-7000 has resistance settings for panning. It's quick and easy to use, and it's big and rugged so it provides a stable platform for shooting in the field.
Overall, I really love this tripod. It's exactly what I was looking for and better than I thought it would be.
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Spreaders & Dollies
- Price: $39.95
Bags & Cases
- Price: $21.95
Quick Release Plates
- Price: $14.95
What's in the Box
- QB-6RL Quick Release Plate
- 5-Year Warranty
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