Flowtech tripods causing a stir
An interview with Tobias Keuthen Director, Global Product Marketing Management, The Vitec Group
This article originally appeared in the IABM Journal, issue 105 which is available to view online here
I haven’t seen such excitement in years over what many regard as just a ‘must-have’ piece of everyday equipment. Why has flowtech caused such a stir?
We believe flowtech is so popular because it fills a niche for a professional tripod that is lightweight and extremely easy to carry and set up, but is also strong, stiff, and rugged in any type of terrain or environment. We went to great lengths to develop a solution that really supports the way camera operators want to work in the field, with unique features that accelerate their workflows. And the industry accolades are an indication that we’ve succeeded! Since flowtech’s launch last autumn, it’s won many awards – including IABM’s own BAM Award at the 2018 NAB Show.
What makes flowtech so different from all the many alternatives on the market?
There are many high-quality tripods out there – but flowtech is the first to combine speed of use with exceptional torsional stiffness while being extremely lightweight and easy to carry and use just about anywhere, even on a beach, in the sea, or on top of a mountain. With the world’s fastest-deploying legs and a highly versatile height range, flowtech is easier and quicker to set up and adjust than any other tripod. One unique feature is the quick-release brakes located at the top of the tripod that enable all the legs to be deployed simultaneously and adjust automatically to the ground’s surface. Instead of fussing over the tripod, camera operators are able to get to work immediately to capture the big shot.
[bctt tweet = “The quick-release brakes located at the top of the tripod that enable all the legs to be deployed simultaneously and adjust automatically to the ground’s surface… camera operators are able to get to work immediately to capture the big shot – IABM Journal 105”]
How did the idea for flowtech come about? – was it driven by customers or the brainchild of one of your engineers?
The short answer is that it was a bit of both, overlaid by a lot of teamwork. At Sachtler and Vinten, we work hard to build products that mirror customers’ requirements.
That means getting out into the field with filmmakers and videographers and experiencing their workflows and environments, to truly understand their day-to-day needs. From there, our designers and engineers apply their skill and creativity to build something that is truly customer-driven. With flowtech, we weren’t just looking to design a new tripod but to give camera operators a new way of working. Customers were asking for a tripod that not only offers great shot stability but is also lightweight, easy to transport and fast to set up.
Carbon- fibre offered the perfect solution not only for reducing weight and making flowtech much easier to carry, whether in your hand or on your shoulder, but also for delivering a tripod that is extremely stiff and beautifully balanced.
Have sales matched the level of excitement generated by flowtech? – and do you have any customer feedback from use in the field yet?
Sales have greatly exceeded our expectations – so much so that we’ve had to expand to a 24-hour manufacturing schedule just to keep up with the demand. And yes, we have received significant feedback from the field, including early testers of the tripod as well as current end users. One of them, world- renowned filmmaker Phillip Bloom, loves flowtech so much that he named it “Best Tripod of 2017” on his annual gear roundup. He said, “flowtech instantly became my favourite video tripod the first time I used it. The ability to change the height from the three top latches has speeded my ability to get the perfect angle for shots. flowtech also saves my grumbling back from constantly bending down to change the height, as with the traditional tripod adjustments.”
[bctt tweet = “Carbon-fibre offered the perfect solution not only for reducing weight and making flowtech much easier to carry, whether in your hand or on your shoulder, but also for delivering a tripod that is extremely stiff and beautifully balanced – IABM Journal 105”]
More information on flowtech is available at www.flowtech-tripod.com.
