The Lightweight Tripod is Nice, but Ace Accessories Make a Good Thing Better

Sachtler has long been known as the Mercedes-Benz of tripods for quality as well as price — topping out at around $14,000. With all of the world's economic woes, Sachtler got smart — just like the Mercedes did with the CLA Class — and came out with the more affordable Ace series. 

The Ace M is $589 and the new Ace L MS CF is $1,035 on the street. Both are very nice, affordable tripods. Neither is heavy, but the Ace L is 1.1 lbs lighter due to its carbon fiber legs. The tripod heads look the same on the two Aces, but the Ace L can take a 13.2-lb load with its fiberglass-reinforced head, while the Ace M can only take 8.8 lbs. If you are planning on a long trek where every pound counts, especially with a heavier camera rig, the Ace L may be a better choice.

The Ace L tripod is meant for use with compact camcorders, DSLRs, and mini cinema camcorders like those from Blackmagic Design, weighing up to 13.2 lbs. (In other words, don't put your 15+ lb ENG camera on it.) It has two-stage legs with a mid-level spreader, and rubber non-skid pads that, with a bit of effort, can be flipped up to reveal spikes. The rubber feet are red. Must be some sort of fashion statement. 

Sachtler’s Ace L fluid head utilizes the new-patented SA-drag system and provided the smoothness and fluidity found on their higher-end tripods. In use on location, it was very easy to access all of the controls. The drag controls are silver, easy to find and quick to adjust. The seven-step counterbalance is an easy-to-operate knob on the back. I would suggest that Sachtler label the controls so people can get up to speed quickly if they are coming from other tripod systems. 

Another nice feature is the tripod plate. It is nothing special — but that's the point. It is compatible with the ones on my Manfrotto tripod and monopod. If I'm using my Manfrotto 561HDV monopod and the Ace L or M on the same shoot, there is no need to swap plates. That can save lots of inconvenience and time. Is there a new tripod plate standard? I hope so!

The Ace matte box, with its giant, adjustable lens shades, did a great job of eliminating lens flares. The matte box has holders for 4” x 4” and 4”x 5.65” filters that can be used at the same time. Depending on the camera, you may need to raise or lower the rails. The BMD 4K Production Camera will have the lens sitting a lot higher then the Canon 6D. Even when you get it down as low as possible, it still brushes the top of the matte box, and the top of the lens is covered by the top of the inner 4” x 4” filter holder. Sliding the matte box forward or backward to accommodate the different lenses can be done quickly and smoothly. 

The 15-inch rods and mattebox were so sturdy that when moving between locations we kept the camera on the rails and just put it in an unpadded box for transport. 

Sachtler Ace Follow Focus

The Ace Follow Focus worked amazingly well. It has two switches that allow you to set “A” and “B” focus points for racking focus on the fly. To use it, you simply focus on the first point, set the switch, then do the same on the second. This means you don't have to worry about overshooting the focus points, allowing you to easily rack focus without needing to have a dedicated focus-puller on the crew. It's an ingenious device that can save a lot of time on set. The Ace Accessories package includes a matte box, the follow focus, 15mm rails and baseplate and will cost you $1,350 or, if you already have 15mm rails and a matte box, you can get the follow focus alone for $665 on the street. Right now, as far as I know, it is the only one that has the ability to set two focus points for rack-focusing. It may pay for itself quickly if you hire a focus-puller often.

Creekside with the Canon 6D. Click image to see high-resolution version.

Since the Ace L MS CF is lauded for its lightweight design, I took it and a Canon 6D on a mile-long hike along a creek bed where I like to test cameras by shooting the wildlife. I carried the 6D on a strap around my neck, had the Ace Accessories in my right hand and had the Ace L over my left shoulder.  After getting to my destination, I had none of the fatigue that I may have had if it had been my bulkier Manfrotto 546B system that weighs 13.6 lbs. (While the 546B is bigger, it also supports four more pounds of payload, making the difference between using only small cameras and being able to use my 15 lb. ENG camera.)

In conclusion, I think the Ace L tripod is a really solid choice for anyone who needs a lightweight tripod that doesn't compromise on sturdiness or payload. You pay about a $500 premium over the Ace M for the lighter carbon fiber legs, an illuminated bubble level, and additional 5 lbs. of payload.  If you want to save the $500, don't mind the 1.1 lb extra weight, and don't need more than an 8 lb payload, you may want to go with the Ace M. The Ace accessories are great and work nicely, but you may find a less expensive set if you don't need the ability to set “A” and “B” focus points. If you use a focus-puller, the follow focus could put that crew person out of work. Whatever your choice, you can't go wrong with any of these products in your kit.