Miller Camera Support Shows Versatility Over Land, Air and Water with Levi Whitney

When Levi Whitney, owner and creative director of Uphill Cinema production  company,  was  enlisted  to  create  a  video  demo  showcasing  one  the  latest  mirrorless cameras,  he  knew  he  needed  a  rugged,  compact  and  multi-tasking  tripod  custom  built  for  the  smaller payloads  of  DSLRs  and  HDV  cameras.  He  chose  the AIR  CF2  Carbon  Fiber  System  from Miller  Camera Support,  LLC,  a  leader  in  the  production  of  innovating  camera  support  solutions,  to  put  the  camera through its paces in the ideal professional context.

A  three-year  Miller  tripod  user,  Whitney  selected  the  AIR  CF2  Carbon  Fiber  System  to  showcase  the capabilities  of  the  new  Sony  Alpha  7R  II  in  his Camera  Review  project.  The  AIR  proved  to  have  the reliable, lightweight setup he needed to take on the active outdoor Utah-based events he was shooting for  the  video. It  saw  the  most  action  during  two  of  the  larger  events  he  shot  with  the  camera—  the Autumn  Aloft,  a  popular  hot  air  balloon  festival  held  in  Park  City,  UT,  and  the  XTERRA  Utah  Off-Road Triathlon, which required him to move around swiftly and constantly just to get the shot.

Miller  [Camera  Support]  solutions  are  professional,  says  Whitney. The  fact  that  the  products  are  a professional setup means you can pick it up and go, you can throw it in the bag, and then just run-and-gun. It’s amazing. Basically, during these events, I was just running and flying to the next place, which is what made the AIR so good to have along. It’s so light and versatile for those types of projects.

Whitney  says  one  of  his  favorite  things  about  Miller  tripods  is  they  have  the right  feel,  as  the company’s tagline implies. The feel of the pan and tilt is super nice, he explains. You can feel this drag that’s not this big clamp down, it is just this different feeling when you pan and tilt on it. You can feel it instantly.

For  the  XTERRA  triathlon,  Whitney  had  to  follow  participants  competing  in  a  1,500-meter  swim,  a  28-kilometer bike ride and a 10-kilometer trail run. In addition to the lightweight feel of the AIR’s Solo 75 2-Stage  Carbon  Fiber  Tripod  body,  Whitney  relied  on  its  spiked  feet  for  secure  positioning. Before  the XTERRA shoot, I never really thought too much about the spiked feet, but now I use them almost every time, he says.

Whitney also extolled the physical flexibility of the AIR CF2 Carbon Fiber System, noting how helpful it is during a shoot that the  tripod can get extremely low or high. You don’t really need a hi-hat if you get one of these tripods, he says. It can get that low and you can get those low shots, and be completely fine. The fact that you can get the feet nice and super wide is a huge advantage.

Whitney is also quite fond of the way Miller Air locks. It is one of my favorite things, he says. I know it sounds crazy but when you lock the pan and tilt, it is  not using screws to pinch down on anything using a disc break that grabs. So it is really easy to get them to stop. You don’t need to use your hand; you just need to use your thumb to flip it and lock it.

Whitney  is  quick  to  point  out  how  valuable  the  AIR  could  be  not  just  in  the  hands  of  his  seasoned colleagues but for younger videographers just starting out as well.

The  AIR  tripod  is  built  in  such  a  way  that  if  this  was  out  years  ago  and  I  was  buying  my  first  tripod,  I would have saved a little extra money and just bought it because it would last me years and years, he says. I  really  think  it  is  targeted  to  the  professional  and  then  also  that  kind  of  up-and-comer videographer and cinematographer that doesn’t want to break the bank but still get amazing quality.

The  AIR  CF2  Carbon  Fiber  System  features an  AIR  Fluid  Head  and  the  Solo  75  2-Stage  Carbon  Fiber Tripod  to  support  the  latest  generation  in  acquisition  from  the  DSLR  to  film-ready  HDV  alternatives weighing  between  4-11  lbs/2-5  kgs.  The  system’s  fluid  head  offers  a  two-position  counterbalance system, quick release sliding camera plate and extraordinarily stable pan/tilt movements. With a 75mm mounting with bubble level version available, the AIR Fluid Head is an extremely durable fluid head in a low-profile and lightweight package.

To learn more about Whitney and his upcoming projects and view more of his creative content, visit his company page, Uphill Cinema: http://www.uphillcinema.com.  

About Miller Camera Support Equipment

Founded  in  1954,  Miller  Camera  Support  Equipment  designs,  manufactures and  delivers  professional fluid  heads  and  tripods  to  the  film  and  television  industry,  providing  support  for  the  world’s  leading camera operators. Celebrating more than sixty years in the industry, Miller is a longtime, global leader in the  field  of  contemporary  camera  support  and  holds  the  first  patent  for  fluid  head  design  for  film cameras,  which  it  obtained  in  1946.  Today,  Miller’s  tripod  and  camera  support  systems  are  frequently used  during  electronic  news  gatherings  (ENG),  electronic  field  production  (EFP),  and  digital  video applications   by   the   world’s   leading   networks,   production   houses,   corporate,   educational   and government institutions in more than 65 countries.

For more information, call +61 2 9439  6377  or visit www.millertripods.com.

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For Further Information Contact:

Heather E. Ball

Account Manager

D. Pagan Communications

heatherb@dpagan.com

+1 631-659-2309

Charles Montesin

Marketing Manager

Miller Camera Support Equipment 

Charles.montesin@miller.com.au

+ 61 (2) 8436 6122

Gus Harilaou

Regional Manager for the Americas

Miller Camera Support Equipment  

Gus@millertripods.us