Sachtler OB Systems: Which Outside Broadcast Pedestal or Tripod Do You Need?

Last updated: 25 August 2026. All payload, weight and dimension figures are Sachtler's published specifications, always confirm against the current spec sheet on the linked product page for your exact model.

Sachtler builds an "OB" version of several of its studio camera-support systems, and the difference is not cosmetic. Eight OB systems have just joined the Black Flag Distribution range: five Vario pedestal systems and three OB 2000 tripod systems. This guide explains what the OB specification actually changes, what that buys you on a live location, and how to pick between the eight.

What "OB" actually changes

Outside broadcast asks things of a camera support that a studio floor never does. The ground is not flat, it is not clean, and it is usually crossed by cable. Everything has to break down small enough to travel, then go back together quickly, often in weather. Sachtler's OB variants answer that in two different ways depending on whether you are buying a pedestal or a tripod.

On the pedestals: bigger wheels

The headline change is the wheels. A studio Vario pedestal rolls on 125 mm wheels; the OB versions roll on 160 mm wheels, which Sachtler specifies "for greater ground clearance". Sachtler sells the OB wheels separately as a 3-piece upgrade set, which tells you how central they are to the difference.

In practice, larger-diameter wheels are what let a loaded pedestal cross the things an OB compound is full of, cable runs, cable ramps, door thresholds, matting, expansion joints, without the camera taking a jolt. A bigger wheel meets an obstacle at a shallower angle and climbs it instead of stopping against it. That is a mobility and smoothness argument, not a payload one: the OB and studio pedestals carry the same weight.

Note the trade: you gain ground clearance and pay for it in about 4 kg of extra pedestal weight. Both versions still fold to the same 73 cm narrow transit width, so neither is harder to get through a doorway.

On the pedestals: everything else that matters on location

The OB pedestals carry the rest of the Vario feature set, and each item earns its place away from a studio floor:

• Detachable dolly or skid. The pedestal breaks into two sections for transport and storage, which is the difference between a two-person lift and a truck-pack problem.
• Narrow transit width of 73 cm. Sachtler notes the skid adjusts to a narrow position for "easy manoeuvrability through tight spaces such as doorways", the recurring problem in venues and OB trucks.
• Crab and steer. Change direction on shot, or crab sideways along a barrier line without re-aiming the whole pedestal.
• Six trim weights. These let you re-trim column pressure when the temperature moves during a shoot, a real issue on a long outdoor day that simply does not arise in a climate-controlled studio.
• Manual pump and pressure gauge. Set the column up correctly on site with no compressor and no guesswork.
• Operating range of −40°C to +60°C on the Video heads.

On the tripods: the OB 2000

The three OB 2000 systems take a different route. Instead of a pedestal, they use the Tripod OB 2000, a heavy aluminium flat-base tripod rated to 140 kg that weighs just 9.6 kg and packs to 84 cm. Its spreader is built in rather than a separate part to carry, fit and lose, and it stands on rotatable rubber feet. A level bubble, leg scaling and a rotary leg clamping system make setup fast and, more importantly, repeatable, so the second and third rig of the day match the first.

What you give up against a pedestal is on-shot height movement. What you gain is a support that one person can carry, that costs far less to move, and that goes up on ground where a pedestal would be a liability.

The five Vario pedestal systems

All five pair a Video-series fluid head with a Vario Ped OB pedestal on 160 mm wheels. The two decisions are how much on-shot height travel you need and how heavy your camera is.

1-70 or 2-80? Start with the stroke

This is the decision that matters most and it is not about payload. The Vario Ped 1-70 OB has two stages with one perfectly balanced stage, giving 41 cm of on-shot travel. The Vario Ped 2-80 OB has two balanced stages and gives 77 cm, nearly double.

If your operator needs to follow a presenter from seated to standing in one continuous move, you want the 2-80 and the 77 cm stroke. If the camera mostly holds an eyeline and height changes happen between setups rather than on air, the 1-70 does the job for less weight and less money. The 1-70 OB also has an integrated pump; the 2-80 OB is supplied with a manual pump.

Then match the head to the camera

The Video 25 Plus FB covers rigs to 35 kg with a Touch & Go plate 35, 18-step counterbalance and 7+0 drag, the natural fit for a full ENG build. The Video 60 Plus Studio steps up to 58–65 kg with 9+0 drag and a 120 mm sliding balance plate, for big box lenses and studio configurations. The Video 75 Plus Studio adds a 24-step counterbalance with a Boost button and a 145 mm sliding plate. As always, size up rather than run a head at the top of its range.

Sachtler's own comparison of three fluid-head families. It uses the 18-class heads rather than the Video 60/75/90 in these systems, but the method for choosing between them is the same.

The three OB 2000 tripod systems

All three put a Video head on the Tripod OB 2000. Choose on payload.

The jump from 6093 to 8093 is only about 5 kg of system weight for nearly double the payload ceiling, so if there is any prospect of a heavier camera or a longer lens in the building, the headroom is cheap. Note that the Video 90 FB runs 7+0 drag and a +60°/−45° tilt range, slightly tighter than the 9+0 drag on the Video 60 and 75, worth checking if you tilt hard.

Pedestal or tripod? A short decision path

• You need height changes on air. Pedestal. Nothing else does a smooth seated-to-standing move.
• The camera sits at one height and the job is stability. OB 2000. A quarter of the weight and a fraction of the transport burden.
• You are working on grass, gravel, matting or anywhere genuinely uneven. OB 2000. A tripod with a built-in spreader and rotatable rubber feet is the right tool; a pedestal wants a hard, continuous surface even on 160 mm wheels.
• You are indoors at a venue with cable ramps and hard floors. Pedestal on OB wheels, which is precisely the case these variants exist for.
• You already own studio Vario pedestals. You may not need new systems at all, the OB wheel set retrofits to both the Vario Ped 1-70 and 2-80.

Frequently asked questions

What does OB mean on a Sachtler system?

OB stands for outside broadcast, production away from a fixed studio. On Sachtler pedestals the OB variant is specified with 160 mm wheels rather than the studio version's 125 mm, for greater ground clearance. On tripod systems, "OB 2000" refers to the Tripod OB 2000, a heavy aluminium flat-base tripod with a built-in spreader and rotatable rubber feet.

Is the difference between a studio and OB Vario pedestal only the wheels?

The wheels are the defining change, and they carry consequences: the OB pedestal is roughly 4 kg heavier, sits slightly higher and tracks marginally narrower. Payload, on-shot stroke, steering and the pneumatic column are the same. Sachtler also sells the OB wheels as a separate retrofit set for both Vario pedestals.

Can I fit OB wheels to a pedestal I already own?

Yes. Sachtler lists a set of three 160 mm OB wheels for the Vario Ped 1-70 and Vario Ped 2-80. If you have studio pedestals and an occasional location job, that is worth pricing against a second system.

What is on-shot stroke and why does it decide which pedestal I buy?

On-shot stroke is how far the column can travel smoothly enough to use during a live shot. The Vario Ped 1-70 OB gives 41 cm; the Vario Ped 2-80 OB gives 77 cm across two balanced stages. If you need to follow talent from seated to standing without cutting, you need the longer stroke.

Which OB system suits a full ENG camera build?

A rigged ENG camera with lens, viewfinder, battery and accessories generally sits inside the Video 25's 35 kg range, making the 2585-OB or 2596-OB the natural pedestal choice. For box lenses and heavier studio configurations, move to the Video 60 or Video 75 systems.

Do these systems work in cold or hot conditions?

Sachtler specifies an operating range of −40°C to +60°C (−40°F to +140°F) for the Video heads used in these systems. The pedestals also include six trim weights so you can re-trim column pressure if the temperature shifts during a shoot.

Where to buy in Australia

Black Flag Distribution is the official Australian distributor of the professional film, television and production brands featured in this guide. We supply an Australia-wide network of authorised retailers and stockists rather than selling direct to the public, so there is a local dealer who can help wherever you are. To check pricing and availability and to buy, use the Black Flag Distribution store finder to find an authorised retailer or stockist near you.

New to the Sachtler range? Start with our complete guide to Sachtler tripod systems and fluid heads.