Vinton Vision 10 A Success In Kenya

Documentary filmmaker, Alan Dater, and partner Lisa Merton concentrate on the arts, education and social issues.
One of Dater's latest passions has also garnered a number of awards and been broadcast on PBS 'Independent Lens' series. However, he said 'Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai' has been most of his most challenging.
He added: "It was made far easier, thanks to support from my trusty 20-year-old Vinten Vision 10.
"While shooting in Kenya, I not only had to deal with plenty of dust, so much so, that at times we could not see the road in front of our van, but also when it rained, we had to deal with the amazing Kenyan red mud.
"This stuff will suck your shoe off in a second. It sticks to everything. Imagine, as you walk, the soles of your shoes gain in height as the mud builds up. Yet, the Vinten equipment never failed us. All I had to do was wash down the tripod at the end of every shooting day."
Dater often works single-handed and needs a tripod that he can throw over his shoulder while carrying a camera in his other hand.
He explained: "Prior to getting my Vinten, I had been using a tripod and head that were simply too heavy. When I first bought the Vision 10 in 1992, I was shooting with a Sony Betacam. The Vision 10 head and the two-stage legs were perfect.
"I bought the mid-level spreaders for the legs as soon as they were available. And I often use my tripod on a Vinten dolly for simple dolly shots on smooth floors.
"As a cameraman, my equipment has to be completely dependable and its use becomes second nature to me."
The Vision 10 has been so successful for operators like Dater, that its successor, the Vision 10AS, is popular for use in a wide variety of productions, from documentary shoots to breaking news coverage.
The Vision 10AS can be configured to support a wide range of camera weights from 6.5kg to 17kg. With features such as the Side Load System, illuminated levelling bubble and Perfect Balance, this system is ready for rapid set-up in all situations.
www.vinten.com
(JP/CD)