Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head
The Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 is the ProVista, combined with the FM18 Fluid Video Head. This system provides rigid support for those who need strength more than versatility in height options. It assembles to its working height very quickly thanks to a 75mm claw ball and twist locks which require just half a rotation.
- Double strut top leg sections enhance stability
- Pivoting rubber feet
- Perfect studio tripod for applications of up to 18 lb
- Bubble level
- Dual adjustable pan handles for greater control
| Maximum Height | 78.0" (198.1cm) |
| Maximum Height w/o Column Extended | 57.0" (145cm) |
| Minimum Height | 35.0" (89cm) |
| Folded Length | 35.0" (89cm) |
| Load Capacity | 18.0 lbs (8.2kg) |
| Leg Sections | 2/3 |
| Leg Lock Type | Snap lock |
| Independent Leg Spread | No |
| Center Column Sections | 1 |
| Center Column Type | Geared (not rapid) |
| Center Brace | Yes |
| Spiked Feet | No |
| Head Type | Two-way fluid head with quick release |
| Head Mount Thread Size | 3/8 to 3/16" stud |
| Weight | 10.30 lbs (4.67kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 67 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
97%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (48)
- Professional quality (44)
- Improves performance (30)
- Highly compatible (22)
- Compact (14)
Cons
- Poor design (7)
- Heavy (3)
Best Uses
- Independent films (45)
- In the studio (33)
- Complex projects (23)
- Home movies (22)
- Weddings (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Business owner (27), Professional artist (24), Enthusiast (11), Film student (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (45)
Most Liked Positive Review
Home Run for B&H
Ok, I've been provding professional video services for 9 yrs. I bought the sony HDR HD-1000 (shoulder mount)video camera, so I needed to upgrade my tripod to support the weight. What...Read complete review
Ok, I've been provding professional video services for 9 yrs. I bought the sony HDR HD-1000 (shoulder mount)video camera, so I needed to upgrade my tripod to support the weight. What CAN I SAY...I looked and looked...and after too many reviews, I settled on this deal. AND LET ME TELL YOU, It is just that...A DEAL. When got it & opened the box, it was instant happiness (It wasn't a case of "you get what you pay for" or junk). The tripod is eye candy (looks professional & like you paid twice as much). It's sturdy, sets up easy & quickly. Even without reading any instructions I was able to grab my camera, load it, and started putting it to the test. Motions are smooth, as fluid heads should be, even at max extention. Does eveything you want a tripod to do; WELL. OH YEA, the dolly, nobody talks about the dolly...simply put, it is ice cream to a chocolate brownie. The tripod case is a nice assessory also. The only con is the head has 5 to 8mm play in the side to side motion. But its not a big deal because it smoothly moves past it (besides the one you get might not have it). Also, adjusting the handles might be aggravating depending on your level of expertise (some screws just seem like am I really suppose to turn this that way). [...] Woooahh, I hope this was helpful.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Decent for the price
I bought this tripod for use with my hvx200 and this is a nice tripod but very stiff. I would prefer to not have to loosen screws just to get this to work properly for...Read complete review
I bought this tripod for use with my hvx200 and this is a nice tripod but very stiff. I would prefer to not have to loosen screws just to get this to work properly for me. Since it does what I need it to do I can deal with it. The free dolly works really good, better than I expected actually. Since it locks properly I don't have to worry about going back and forth removing the dolly, and putting it back on.
Reviewed by 67 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I dunno, I hope peru dream is my mistake ... A friend bought the same product and compare it with mine and the one I bought was stronger, thicker new look. Well, the important thing is that this product meets the requirements ... especially for fast work.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Professional Quality
Cons
- Not quite a smooth a head
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
Tri_pod and head for this price great for doing bull-work with both video and DSLR cameras. Head not as smooth as say as the Manfrotto 501 but great for most routine work. tripod great versaitility for higher elevation shots and yes its stable. May want to have some balast for the base if you do a lot of aggressive pans, but not any more an issue than other tripods. Going to order a second one
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
For light cameras, this tripod is a no-brainer. Motion is very fluid, although ours took a little adjustment before we were satisfied. All adjustments are very easy to do, however, and require no tools. I have used heavier cameras with this tripod as well (15+ lbs) with no issue. You have to watch the balance of your camera, because it may want to tilt forward or back, but I have never been concerned about the stability of the tripod even if the camera is not properly balanced.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
The head on this tripod rotates easily. It has a soft touch.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I took this around new york one night for about 6 hours and it worked very well. Its light enough and has a lot of different uses. There is one slight draw back and that is the powder coated tripod head and shoe plate. It is hard to slide on and off the head without getting a little stuck. Other wise I love this thing!
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Poor Performance
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
Good support. Fluid head is awfully tight. Good build. Should work well enough for folks who can't afford a Vinten. Consider this a disposable tripod.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Poor Design
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
This tripod is great for the money. The carrying back it comes with has a special padded protector for the head to keep it from being banged around in transport.
the only con this tripod has is that it does have the "lag" or "play" some of the other reviewers have mentioned. there seems to be about an 1/8th of an inch between when you start to pan, and when the fluid head starts to move. This isn't a big deal for me and how I use it but if you're looking for a tripod for live event videography this might not be the one for you.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- Sandbags
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
This tripod panes so smooth it unreal I don't think that I would have found a better deal anywhere else.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Lightweight
Cons
- Poor Design
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I bought this tripod after seeing review videos on You-Tube. My main concern was with the smoothness of pan and tilt. I was surprised when the videos indicated performance similar to my Manfrotto 3066 head. Not quite as stable but very good none the less.
For the low price of this tripod-head combo I'm willing to put up with some of the design flaws.
For example, the tilt drag-lock lever interferes with the pan-handle mount and the column lock screw handle should have been moved so it could be freely turned. The leg locks are difficult to operate but the tension on these locks can be adjusted with the allen key provided.
This tripod comes with little to no information as to features and use. I discovered the leg lock adjustment by looking in internet forums and the like since the manufacturer's website offered little to no information.
Once I got the tripod set up and adjusted to my liking, I'm thinking it was money well spent.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Tv reports
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
The tripod is great, not smooth head as the one I tried in the showroom, but OK.
The thing that's missing is a little useguide if you want to change or improve a piece.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I am Freelance Photographer located in the City of Lakewood, Ca. For the most part I do mostly Photography, but I was recently offered to Videograph an event and I wasn't sure as to whether or not to cover that event because I need to buy some Video's gear. So I bought this particular tripod, sort of risking it but truly it has turned out just great. It is light weight and yet, it has a nice stability-easy to move around. The head feels a bit tight by itself but once you have all your gear /camera light batteries and everything else it feels really smooth, I would definately recomended to a friend or to anyone in search of a good gear in a great price. So far I don't have anything bad to say about it,so it has performed better that I've expected.JGPS©
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great value
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
Cons
- Need screwdriver
- Some wobble in head
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
For the price, this is a great tripod. The construction is solid and durable. The FM18 head produces consistently smooth vertical pans. There is a bit of horizontal wobble however, which means it is very difficult to produce smooth horizontal pans when changing directions. Interestingly, this can be rectified to some degree by adjusting the height of the head, so depending on your setup, this may not be an issue. My only other complaint is that you need a flathead screwdriver to securely attach a camera to the tripod's baseplate.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
It's very sturdy and massive (no pun intended).
For those that say that the piece that tightens the shoe plate is a bad design. Actually, all you have to do is pull it out slightly and rotate back until it tightens at the right place.
I am really glad I got this tripod. The bag is very sturdy also. It came also with the free wheels, which I really don't care much. But hey, that's just me. You will not confuse it for the one grand hollywood tripods. But overall, I think it's a great tripod for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Poor Performance
Best Uses
- Independent Films
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I bought this for my XH-A1s. Works great except for pans. The head is a little loose and causes a jerking motion if you are not careful when panning the camera. Other than that it is great. Only 3 stars because I do a fair amount of pans at weddings and have some trouble. The free dolly is nice and has come in handy.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Church Services
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
We use this tripod with our Canon XH A1 video camera to record and send live feeds of our Sunday morning church services. This is a great product. It is very user friendly and durable. Would definitely recommend this product to anyone using a professional weighted camera.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I use this for wedding and event videography I own 4 of these tripods.
Pros
- Professional Quality
Cons
- Lacks Functionality
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Home Movies
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
As a video enthusiast this tripod is exactly what i needed: A sturdy base and a good quality fluid head. Very tall!!! Still not tested with a heavy camera, but i bet it will work fantastic. So happy with it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Highly Compatible
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
Good tripod. A little tricky to fold down though.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Independent Films
- In The Studio
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
I am using the Provista on independent films, with a Panasonic HG-HMC40 camera. It is an extremely sturdy support for smaller cameras. I like the ratchet-style keys, since without them, it would be difficult to tighten the head sufficiently, depending on the configuration of the equipment. The only downside is the weight, when having to carry the tripod.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Independent Films
Comments about Davis & Sanford PROVISTA18 ProVista Tripod with FM18 Head:
Just got this last night used it to shoot a dance recital. First impression is fantastic. Smooth pans, durable construction, and very stable. I am using it with my VX2000 and VX2100. For the money, you absolutely cannot go wrong. Haven't tried the dolly that came with it, but looking forward to giving it a try.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Leg Accessories
- Price: $18.95
- GBP 12.10
Spreaders & Dollies
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- Original: $41.95
- Save: $4.19
- Price: $37.76
- GBP 24.11
What's in the Box
- Tripod
- Head
- Padded Case
- 10-Year Warranty
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