Sachtler and Vinten reinvent the tripod with Flowtech technology

This revolutionary tripod technology simplifies and accelerates camera operators' workflows, thanks to quick and easy setup, a wide height range, and exceptional torsional rigidity.

Sachtler and Vinten, two of the Vitec Group brands, today introduced Flowtech, a revolutionary technology in the world of tripods that allows camera operators to set up and start using the tripod immediately, thanks to its exclusive quick release brakes and easily adjustable mechanisms. Both companies will exhibit this technology for the first time with the presentation of the Flowtech 75 tripod at IBC 2017.

Tobias Keuthen, Director of Global Product Marketing Management, commented that “we have used and tested flowtech in every environment imaginable: in the Arctic, on top of mountains, on the beach and in the sea. It represents an evolution in tripod technology and promises to transform the way camera operators work. “Flowtech is the type of innovation that comes when two legendary brands from the broadcast, film and video industries join forces.”

Keuthen adds that “with the world's fastest deployment system, this fantastic carbon fiber tripod combines the speed and portability of a Sachtler tripod with the torsional rigidity of a Vinten. “It is easier and faster to deploy and adjust than any other tripod, allowing the user to capture that perfect shot quickly and enjoy the reliability and performance offered by these two market-leading brands.”

The Flowtech tripod design consists of a set of two-section carbon fiber legs with an easy-to-remove center stabilizer (middle triangle) and rubber feet, and offers a load capacity of 20kg. Unique quick-release brakes on the top of the tripod allow all legs to deploy simultaneously and automatically adapt to the ground surface, without the operator having to bend down or manually adjust multiple brakes on each leg.

Flowtech 75

Lightweight and easy to transport, the new Flowtech 75 is specifically designed to be carried comfortably on the camera operator's shoulder and features magnetic closures that keep the tripod legs securely attached during transport. flowtech 75 can extend from just 26 cm to a height of 153 cm without the triangle, which is removable, or from 63 cm to 157 cm with the triangle. A very simple fixing system allows you to take very low shots at ground level, avoiding having to carry a second baby tripod to each session. The exceptional torsional rigidity of flowtech ensures that the tripod does not rotate during panning of the camera, an extremely important issue in any film production.

Luke Thomas, a freelance videographer based in Los Angeles, admits that his first impression of the Flowtech 75 is that “it is a revolutionary tripod. It is clear that Sachtler and Vinten have thought through every detail when designing it, taking into account the essential functions of tripods to create a solution that will significantly improve the workflows of camera operators. “It is unusual to see so many innovations in a single tripod.”

To evaluate flowtech performance, the tripod has been tested in the most demanding environments, from mud and sand to the most extreme temperatures. After more than 30,000 laboratory test cycles, in which the tripod was folded and unfolded; and from 1.5 million locking and unlocking operations on the endurance test bench, it was determined that flowtech exceeded the strict performance targets set by the two brands Sachtler and Vinten.

Karen Walker, vice president of Product Management, assures that “often, the tripod is not taken into account much, since the operator makes more use of the camera and the fluid head than the legs that support the equipment. However, it is worth emphasizing the importance of the tripod; since it is a decisive element so that the camera operator can take a shot as quickly and efficiently as possible. With Flowtech, we have thought through every detail of the user's workflow to create a tripod that is much easier to use and more versatile than ever before.”

Flowtech 75 is compatible with the main 75 mm fluid heads on the market, and adapts perfectly to Sachtler or Vinten fluid heads. This tripod is the ideal complement for digital cinema cameras such as the Sony PXW-FS7, the Blackmagic URSA Mini and the Canon Mark II.

Other articles on IBC2017, Sachtler, To be seen, Vinten