By Carl Mrozek, June 17, 2008
The "transformer" SOOM in a few of its different incarnations.
At a glance, Sachtler’s SOOM 4160 Tripod System — first glimpsed at IBC last year and then unveiled at NAB – looks like a typical medium-sized, two-stage tripod, but with a monopod descending from its 75mm ball and protruding below the mid-level spreader. In fact, this tube drops through the ring bowl of the mid-level spreader, but is secured to it with a locking pin for added stability. The legs themselves are secured by locking clamps. When fully extended, they measure 57" overall or up to 54" from the floor to ring bowl when spread for use. There’s also a removable carrying handle that snaps onto the upper length of any of the legs for balanced transport. When properly positioned, the 11.5-pound SOOM tripod can be comfortably carried from setup to setup. For convenient use indoors and on the street, round rubber footpads are fastened to each of the claw-toed feet. This provides for rock-solid footing on floors and on paved and other smooth surfaces.
If not for the aforementioned 35" vertical tube and the high-hat bracket atop it, SOOM would be quite similar to other midrange Sachtler tripods. However, with these additions, the maximum lens height is around 3’ higher than it would be otherwise. What is also unique about this tube is that it is also a self-contained monopod when removed from the tripod. After loosening two locking bolts, the tube can be pulled out from the top, ready for use as a fluid head-monopod. The fluid head functionality distinguishes SOOM‘s tube from other monopods, as few of them have truly functional fluid heads. Panning and tilting are usually problematic with monopods, as they lack the stability needed for really smooth camera moves. SOOM‘s secret solution to this shortcoming is a simple foot stabilizer pedal. The pedal lies flat against the tube when it’s not needed and flips out perpendicularly to allow placing one’s foot upon it when extra stability is needed. With this stabilizer feature, the monopod shaft is held securely in place, enabling the fluid head to pan and tilt much the same as when integrated with the tripod. This makes it feasible to utilize Sachtler’s FSB 6 fluid head for panning and tilting. It also makes it feasible to move the tube in an arc at various angles, much like a mini boom or jib arm. This is assisted by the hard round ball at the base of the shaft that makes it smooth and easy to move in any direction.
The SOOM monopod and baby legs in use.
Another unique SOOM feature is that once it’s detached from the tripod, the mid-level spreader (tri-spread) becomes a two-stage mini-tripod with a set of mini-baby legs, complete with rubber-tipped spikes for use on the ground or on bare or carpeted floors. There are high and low leg positions for the “mini,” selected by rotating the adjusting ring counterclockwise or clockwise. In the low position, the lens height is only about 8" off the deck and in the high position, a bit more than 19".
The same clamping bowl (tie-down) secures the FSB 6 head to the baby legs, as well as to the ring bowl atop the tube. In both cases it must be inserted carefully from below to fit and operate properly. SOOM ‘s mid-level spreader is sturdier than most, as the upper section has a pair of rods, while the lower has one. All are permanently attached to a ring bowl that encircles the tube when in use and is also where the fluid head fastens when the spreader becomes a mini-tripod.
Packaged with SOOM, the FSB 6 head features three grades of pan-and-tilt adjustment, along with a 10-step counterbalance and 75mm ball. It also features Sachtler’s Snap and Go sideload mechanism for fast loading. The SOOM is also available with Sachtler’s classic Touch and Go camera plate. The FSB 6 is designed to support cameras weighing up to 13.2 pounds. When used with SOOM, the FSB 6 sits 5" higher up than it would with a typical cradle atop the tripod. It’s fastened to a ring bowl/mounting bracket atop the monopod, with just enough space beneath it to fasten and loosen the clamping bowl tie-down. The head and cradle can be elevated by loosening the clamping lever on the outside of the collar atop the tube
. The tube can then be moved upwards to a maximum bowl height of 98.4".
The SOOM I tested arrived complete, except for the FSB 6, which was packaged and shipped separately. It took a little trial and error to figure out how to use the clamping bowl (tie-down) that secures the fluid head to the ring bowl on the tripod. It is designed to fit snugly on the inside of the ring and there is only one correct way to insert it from below. Once installed to the base of the FSB 6, it was secure, yet adjustable. The procedure is identical when mounting the fluid head to the mid-level spreader when it’s drafted for use as a mini-tripod.
With the tripod ready for use, I tightened a single fastening screw on the camera adapter plate beneath a Canon XH A1 camcorder and was ready to go to work.
On my first few outings with the SOOM, I mainly used it outdoors and in urban settings. The rubber “toe-pads” are well suited for both applications. In fact, they provided a very stable base on both level and uneven surfaces, even those covered with hard frozen snow and ice. It was a bit tough to loosen the clamping bowl with gloved fingers at first, but I quickly found a sweet spot that kept the head secure and also enabled me to quickly level the head if necessary.
In general, the SOOM provided exceptionally stable support, even when conditions were windy, partly because of its sturdy construction, but also due to the support added by securing its mid-level spreader to the center tube. Moreover, the dual rod-lower legs of the tripod, and also of the upper “legs” of the spreader, added more rigidity to the tripod when it was set up. This proved essential when raising the inner tube for higher-angle shots.
Conversely, I was impressed with how long I was able to keep the image steady when using the camcorder supported on the monopod. This was helped partly by the stabilizing pedal, and partly by the mass of the tube and head. For tripod-smooth pans and tilts, I preferred to have my back against a wall or vehicle for extra stability. When this was not feasible, I used my free leg for balance, usually by panning towards it. The best counterbalance measure was to shoot with as wide an angle as possible without compromising the shot. This is what I did while covering a parade and a dance performance. These were both situations where wide-angle shots are often desirable. With the monopod, I was able to grab more shots from more angles and miss less action between shots, than if I had been using a tripod. The monopod approach also enabled me to weave through crowds faster, and more safely than with a tripod.
From my perspective, the mini-tripod is the most ingenious aspect of the SOOM system. The difference in lens height when using SOOM as a standard tripod and when using the spreader as a set of baby legs is dramatic. With the baby legs and in the low mode, you’re just inches off the ground. Although I didn’t have a lot of time to experiment with this feature during my evaluation, I can see the potential for some dramatic, virtually vertical, low-angle shots.
At the start of this millennium there was a limited selection of tripods for smaller cameras, and many of those lacked “beef.” Sachtler’s SOOM corrects that deficiency without adding too much weight, while also adding versatility and value: it has been described as the “Swiss Army knife” of tripods. Equally important, each SOOM component is designed with Sachtler’s trademark reliability and ruggedness. For the most part it performed as advertised. I do offer one caveat, though: assembling and disassembling the monopod and baby legs can be tricky, even with the manual. Perhaps a better-illustrated manual, DVD or video on the company’s Web site would make it easier for newbies to get up to speed and to use it correctly.
Sachtler SOOM
$1,650
DV Score:
Pros:
Sturdy construction, multiple applications in a single package provide reduced equipment load.
Cons:
It’s not light. Assembly and disassembly takes practice.
Bottom Line:
A breakthrough camera support product that offers users of all stripes additional versatility, value and creative avenues.
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