In a move to enter the consumer DSLR camera market, professional camera support company Libec has announced their brand new tripod system, ALLEX, which with its integrated design, will give more usability to filmmakers working with little money, time, and/or experience. Made up of a tripod, slider, and ball head, the ALLEX system allows users to pull off a number of simple, yet dynamic camera movements, raising the potential production value on your next low-budget project. Continue on to find out more about Libec's ALLEX system.


Here's a bit from Libec's press release:

The system allows amateur DSLR users greater usability by allowing for pro level pan, tilt and slide camera movements. The ALLEX system includes three components, ALLEX H, a 75mm dual head, ALLEX T, a 75mm ball diameter lightweight (2.5kg/5.5lb) tripod and ALLEX S, a 30” slider. By the integration of all three components, The ALLEX system makes dynamic camera moves possible at a surprisingly affordable price.

The system has many features, of which you can check out on their website, but to summarize a few key specs:

Tripod

  • Newly modified leg stoppers for more rigidity
  • Lightweight (8.4 lbs.)

Head

  • LED bubble level
  • One touch attachment and release
  • Lightweight (about 3 lbs.)
  • Supports up to 9 lbs.

Slider

  • 30" in length
  • Legs open and close to 180˚
  • Tripod mount adapter and bowl clamp included

If you're a beginning filmmaker who wants a setup that is simple, portable, and will give you the tools to create professional-looking footage, then maybe the ALLEX system is right up your alley. As you saw in the video, there are several combinations to take advantage of other than a simply still tripod shot. You can mount your camera onto the slider with the head to get nice tracking (or even dual panning/tracking) shots on the ground. You can mount the slider onto the tripod to not only get fluid horizontal movement, but vertical movement (or diagonal and anything else in-between).

Allex_overview_1

My first tripod was a Libec and it has served me well thus far, however, it is quite robust -- or monstrous. It's a beast meant for a similarly designed beastly camera. Now that I'm scaling back the size of all of my gear, it's good to know that if I want an all-in-one camera movement system that is geared toward smaller cameras, from a brand that I've trusted for many years, there's one out there -- or will be out there, anyway.

Libec hasn't released a price for the ALLEX system, but they've reported that it will be available for purchase in August. (They'll be at NAB, so we'll follow up with more info later.) However, if you want to get your hands on one of these systems for free, Libec is running a video contest that will award 5 winners with ALLEX gear, from an ALLEX H Head to an entire ALLEX S + H kit. All you have to do is show off some unique and innovative camera moves! Go here for more info on the contest.

What do you think of the ALLEX system? What similar systems do you use and which would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below.

Link: ALLEX tripod system -- Libec