Please only answer this question if you are a professional or an experienced amateur/prosumer video producer. Please tell me the basis for your answers.
I've got a small digital video camera for which I am trying to source a tripod.
I was originally trying to source a fluid head with a spirit level at the head, but then found out I can order a cross spirit level that will clip into the hot shoe on my camera.
I am thinking that I can do without the level on the tripod if I have one on the camera - do you agree? Are there any makes and models (I'm based in Australia) that you could recommend?
The camera is a small one - a Panasonic NV-GS300 - about 14 cm by 6cm by 7 cm. The tripod is necessary because the execs want to do talking head to camera pieces for use on the 'net. I want a fluid head because I want to be able to do smooth movements when zooming and there is the likelyhood that I'll want to pan and zoom across photos and documents in macro mode. I believe Miller tripods are made in Australia. Fine products.
Weight of camera is what determines the size tripod you need, not how large the camera dimentions are.
The level should be on the tripod itself, clip-on's can be decieving.
If you can afford it, look for a fluid head with adjustable drag, it will allow you to adjust how much or little force is needed to make the camera movements.
Good Luck ! A level on a tripod is fairly useless in most instances. The final judgment of "correct-look" is the monitor's perspective of what will be represented to the viewer, not anything the bubble says. Learn to adjust the tripod angles for viewer perspective first and the bubble will then become totally meaningless.
WK | 