Vinten Vector 75 Takes Up Residence at Fenway Park

For cameraman Tom Guilmette, who specializes in sports action shooting, rock-solid support is a must. A long-time user of equipment by Vinten, a Vitec Group brand, Guilmette has long relied on his Vector 70 to get his best shots.

“When I found out the new Vector 75 might be available, I was excited,” says Guilmette. “What could Vinten do to improve on the best pan and tilt head on the market? They were gracious enough to provide me with literally the first head available, serial number 1.”

Guilmette put his new toy into action immediately, using it to shoot action at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

“When I am shooting sports, I’m usually on a Sony HDC 910 with a Canon 75X lens,” said Guilmette. “That’s about 50 pounds combined. Heavy camera. Heavy lens. I usually end up high somewhere on a roof using the long end of the lens. Combine that weight often with heavy winds, vibrations, and temperature changes, as I follow a baseball flying through the air and I have to have rock solid support under that camera.

Guilmette believes the Vector 75 meets those needs.

“It feels identical to the Vector 70, and gives me all that I get from the older heads,” says Guilmetter. “It has that most important cameraman’s friend, a pivot point where you can swing, pan and tilt with instinct. When I’m tracking high speed I can feel the start and stop and know exactly what happens.

“The new head has the design of a pantograph, cams that breathe, rise up and down, not sitting in the traditional over-the-center position. It also has an improved T-bar spin to adjust the center point. To me, the T-bar is easier to use instead of a knob. Otherwise, the insides are exactly like the Vector 70 I know so well.”

The design of the Vector 75 is based on the popular Vector 70, but with an improved carrying capacity, and stronger, more durable components. The Vector 75 head incorporates the same LF drag control that helped make its predecessor the global industry standard for many years.

Vinten’s renowned drag systems are designed to offer complete control at any level of movement. The Vector 75’s LF drag is an infinitely adjustable lubricated friction system, allowing for fine adjustment of drag levels as well as whip pan at any level of drag. The new head also features Vinten’s signature infinitely adjustable Perfect Balance system. This pantographic balance system, unique to the Vector range, is suitable for camera, lens and teleprompter combinations of up to 165 lbs (75 kg) on the Vector 75. Combined with the LF drag system it provides the ultimate in smooth, precise quality of movement.

The Vector 75 also features an illuminated leveling bubble, for quick and convenient set up in low light situations and a retractable T bar slide plate positioner for controlled fore and aft camera adjustment.