Updated 3/20/10 - I finally have a nice hybrid DSLR video/still tripod package. It is a compromise but the best I have been able to find so far for the money.
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Now that I own a Canon 7D with HD video capability, I find myself obsessing over how I can actually take decent videos with it. Stability is they key and it has become immediately apparent that my current carbon fiber tripod and Kirk ball head are completely inadequate for video so I put them up for sale on Craigslist and found an immediate buyer. Now I'm in search for a compromise solution for both stills & video.
There's no shortage of fluid heads available but they are by nature designed to only hold a camera in the horizontal position so stills in portrait orientation aren't possible. I'm a big fan of Arca style lens and body plates so I've been looking for a hybrid solution for stills and video. From cruising numerous forums on the matter, I'm not alone.
The most reasonable answer I've found is the use a Kirk or RRS (Really Right Stuff) L plate on the camera to switch the orientation and then use an Arca clamp adapter on the head of choice. Head to head, the RRS L plate seems to have an advantage because the dovetail work by sliding fore/aft or side to side. Still unsure whether I will get the Canon WFT-E5a wifi grip or not, it is pretty expensive with a $699 MSRP. OK, so this part of the equation is partially solved, next step what video head to buy? I think I might have found a possible solution with the new Feisol VH-40 video head which has an integrated Arca clamp.

On paper the Feisol head looks like a nice solution but there are a couple catches...
- The Arca clamp is front to back oriented so the plate on my camera would be aligned incorrectly necessitating another adapter of some sort for shooting stills. It would work just fine with the RRS L Plate and lens plate on my Canon 70-200 2.8 however. Vertical stills are more of a challenge.
- It is so new there are now reviews available and it comes from a family of products not known for making video heads. Is it fluid dampened? Friction or spring tensioned?
The alternate popular choices right now appears to be the Bogen 701 HDV (pictured) and the Gitzo G2180, they of course will require adapters as well.

There does not appear to be a clear consensus from users as to the best tripod/video head combination for DSLRs shooting both video and stills. I really wish Kirk or RRS would come out with an integrated solution with their existing clamp system, their quality is top notch and I'd likely but their offering immediately. Unfortunately neither appears to be embracing video which is clearly going to be integrated into most or all upcoming DSLR cameras moving forward.
If you have an ideas on the matter, I would love to hear from you.
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