SIRUI’s Rapid System SQ75 Tripod is my new studio favorite

Over the years, we have tested my tripods from many brands; I think a few dozen is not an exaggeration. And checking all the boxes for a tripod is not as trivial as it seems. I mean, you can make a fantasy tripod, but the price would be out of reach for most. Or you can make it super sturdy and pay with weight. Or fast and pay with stability. You get the point. But the new Rapid system SQ75 twin leg tripod coupled with the VHS10 fluid video head provides a near-perfect balance for most of the tradeoffs at a very reasonable price for the package. ($424 at the time of publication, though price will increase after the introductory period). It is not the only tripod I use in the studio, but it is quickly becoming my favorite.

SIRUI VHS10 fluid video head

If you are just looking for a TL;DR for this review, it is this: the VHS10 fluid video head is a wonder. It is packed with an amazing set of features and feels amazingly solid on one hand and incredibly smooth on the other.

As a tripod head, it is a 75mm bowl head, which makes it compatible not only with the SQ75 twin-leg tripod but also with any tripod that fits a standard bowl. But unlike most bowl heads, this one comes with a quick-release mechanism. Instead of the endless screwing of the bottom handle, you can simply glide it up and only spring the last thread or two.

It comes with your typical rosette-mounted telescopic operator handle, which you can secure on both the head’s left or right sides.

VHS10 fluid video head controls

This head offers an impressive amount of control on both load and smoothness of movement.

Facing the operator, there is a counterbalance dial with seven steps from Zero to Six. Setting this dial to one offers very little resistance, which is good for smaller cameras like the Sony a6600. Pushing the dial all the way to six gives some potent resistance for something like an Ursa or a fully-kitted rig up to 10 kg. The zero settings offer no resistance, which I don’t really use. The only thing to note here is that when you move from one setting to another, you need to hold the handle, as there is a slight tension-free moment when the gears move.

On the left side, you have your tilt control; there is a big gray lever for tilt-lock and a four-steps tilt-dampening wheel knob. This goes from zero for effortless to three for hearty resistance.

There is a similar mechanism for pan control. A knob on the front locks the pan, and a big wheel selects four degrees of pan dampening, from incredibly soft to significant resistance. Depending on your personal taste, the specific shot, and the weight of the rig, there is a good tune. I typically shoot with a Sony FX3, but it feels the head can handle anything from an iPhone to a fully kitted rig. My only caveat with the head is that the pan lock lever acts opposite to your expectations. [A quick update: I reached out to Sirui to ask about the pan lock level position, and they told me that this allows to apply more force to verify the lock]

VHS10 fluid video head other features

There are a few more features worth noting on this head. The first is a swappable plate. The option to use both a “standard” plate and a DJI plate is becoming common, and this feature is present with the VHS10 head as well. I will say that the buttons feel smoother than the competition. More on this in a bit.

The other feature that is usually reserved for more expensive heads is a lit level. This is small round level near the counterbalance knob. I know, I know, most modern cameras have an electronic level (my FX3 included). But that level only provides Roll axis data. The onboard level also provides Tilt axis leveling, which is crucial for panning shots. And looky here, there is another level on the top plate as well.

Big friggin’ knobs

I don’t typically linger on knobs, but SIRUI did some amazing work with the knobs. They are big. Huge even. This may seem like an odd design choice when the trend is minification, but big knobs just make your life easier. You don’t need to fiddle to remove the camera from the head. The level is very “present” and blue. The locking latch is also quite big. And it’s not the screw-to-tighten type; it’s an actual latch.

Big levers mean good leverage. So it’s easy to open the locks, and it’s easy to lock them as well. Just the right balance between a good, solid feel and applying the right amount of pressure to feel secure. This also means that the tripod is gloves-friendly and easy to operate if you are wearing a pair. Aside from the odd decision on the pan lock lever, I hope that tripod makers take a cue from this design decision.

SIRUI SQ75 twin-leg tripod

The SQ75 is a twin-leg tripod, which is standard for video tripods at similar loads (the SQ75 is rated for 18 kg). The basic kit comes with a ground spreader, a soft case, and the VHS10 fluid video head. Height-wise, it goes from a minimum height of 48cm all the way to 1.6 meters. With the head, it puts your camera at about 180 cm.

I’ll link a comparison to some other tripods at the end of the post, but this is pretty tall, and will work for 99.9% of the applications.

SIRUI SQ75 twin-leg tripod features

Just like the STV75, the SQ75 has a single latch height adjustment mechanism. However, unlike the STV75, the latch is positioned mid-height, between the top and the second section. This is a common design for twin-leg tripods, and it provides more stability for this design. Just like the head knobs, they are big and easy to operate and provide a satisfying click when fully engaged.

Ground spreader

With the basic kit, you can select between two options. A ground spreader, and if you remove the spreader, you get spiked legs, which are less ideal for smooth floors. There is a set you can buy for $51.00 that will add a middle spreader and three horseshoe feet. This is a weird kitting choice, but for $51, I’d simply throw it in for good measure. If

This is one of those soft anti-friction spreaders that will provide extra floor grip. If you handle your tripods like me, you will also enjoy hiding the spreader with your leg while pulling the tripod up. And when you are tearing up, there is a ring in the middle of the tripod that you can pull to close off the legs.

There are three locks on the spreader that you can use to adjust how far it will spread. At its widest, the tripod can go as low as 48cm (sans the head). When pulling the spreader in, the tripod sets at about 68cm. Just like anything with this tripod, those locks are very big and easy to handle. I can imagine the product designer over at SIRUI insisting that everything should work with gloves on. Again, great choice.

Between the tripods I have tested in this category, the SmallRig FreeBlazer, Manfrotto 645 fast legs, and the YC Onion Pineta Peak, the SIRUI SQ75 is definitely the winner in the low-angle category!

SIRUI SQ75 extra features

There are a few other “small things” that I like about this tripod, and that sets it apart from similar tripods in the market. You already know my position on big, comfy locks and levers, but there is more. For example, there is a tripod handle for when you need to move around. And the handle has a hidden magnetized hex key. Or the fact that there are locks (there of them!!) to lock the legs in position when the tripod is folded for easy carrying. In the end, it is those things that make me feel that SIRUI takes the extra step to think about us.

Specs

Specification	VHS10	SQ75	VHS10+SQ75
Material	Aluminum Alloy	/	/
Color	Black	Black	Black
Balance Load Capacity (kg/lb)	0-10/0-22.0	/	/
Safety Lock	Yes	/	/
Pan	360°	/	/
Ball Dia (mm/inch)	75/3.0	/	/
Tilt	-65/+90°	/	/
Weight (kg/lb)	2.5/5.5	2.5/5.5	5.9/13.0
Height (mm/inch)	292/11.5	/	/
Panning Friction (Step)	3 Steps+0	/	/
Tilting Friction (Step)	3 Steps+0	/	/
Counterbalance（steps）	7 Steps 0-10kg	/	/
Handle	1X32-50cm	/	/
Sections	/	3	3
Max Tube Dia (mm/inch)	/	16/0.6	16/0.6
Min Tube Dia (mm/inch)	/	13/0.5	13/0.5
Retracted Height (mm/inch)	/	760/29.9	920/36.2
Min Working Height (mm/inch)	/	485/19.1	650/25.6
Max Working Height (mm/inch)	/	1650/65.0	1820/71.7
Max Load (kg/lb)	/	18/39.7	10/22.0

Closing thoughts

There are other similar tripods in the market, but two stand out as direct competition: SmallRig’s FreeBlazer (399.99) and Manfrotto’s 645 Fast Legs (989.00). If you are out for a very solid build and ease of operation, I think that the SQ75/VHS10 combo is a steal for the money and would be my pick for when you need a quick, solid tripod.

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