exomonkeyman

Yeah, the 717 is pretty legendary. Picked the fluid head up in GH2 times, as recommended on http://www.gh1-hack.info/wiki/ShootingMoviesWithHackOnVeryTightBudget . I think everyone has (had) one, e.g.
However, I'm all about lightweight and twistlocks, so I didn't get the video tripod... went ahead and picked up a Velbon Rexi-L and Sirui N-2004. Nice ones. Very affordable as well.

I got my son on of those "fancier" tripods from Amazon when he started UT film school. Then I got one for myself after playing with it. 75mm bowl, decent head. I use it when I have to manage multi camera shoots, or for making oddball rigs, and I often stick the head at the end of my crane. Really phenomenal for the $$.  They start at $99.
http://www.amazon.com/Fancierstudio-Professional-Heavy-Camcorder-Tripod/dp/B013HBO39C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450288375&sr=8-2&keywords=fancier+video+tripod

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camlink-TPVIDEO1-Pro-Video-Tripod-Double-Pan-and-Tilt-Fluid-Head-Carry-Bag-/400867049618?hash=item5d5589c092:g:xlYAAOSwEeFU5ctf
 
superb, heavy tripod.  avail for less than $150 on ebay US I imagine.  Just search 'Fluid head tripod' on ebay and you'll see them pop up.
I've had one for around 6 years.  i had it around 5 months and the rivets died on the spreader.  these were easy to drill out with a 4mm drill bit.  I then replaced the rivets with some m3 bolts and some locking nuts.   if you grab one of these then replace the rivets before they break you'll never look back. - 30mins work to swap the rivets for some stainless m3 bolts.  
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-M4-M5mm-A2-Stainless-Steel-Machine-Screws-Slotted-Pan-Head-Bolts-/150863410183?var=&hash=item232028f407:m:mgDxTbKl1z2ODx5iv040BHA  some m3, 30mm bolts will do it.    
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A4-Marine-Grade-Stainless-Steel-Nyloc-Nylon-Insert-Locking-Nuts-M3-4-5-6-8-10-12-/360650014234?var=&hash=item53f86a7e1a:m:mO7ApJ-con6PbvWHpFurl-g  m3 nylock nuts.
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A2-STAINLESS-STEEL-FORM-A-FLAT-WASHERS-TO-FIT-METRIC-BOLTS-SCREWS-M1-6-TO-M30-/150802639052?var=&hash=item231c89a8cc:m:mAdvuPIIKGFCGZAWUgnX8gQ  washers.
 
 
quick release plates are around $10usd.  
 
it's got a mini bowl for quick levelling.
 
ps.  it takes around 2 months for the head to become truly fluid.  at first it might be a bit graggy, but once it's been used a bit it smooths out lovely.
 
so apart from the rivets on the spreader this tripod has nothing to go wrong and is lovely and heavy - perfect for dslr's
 
pps.  I forgot to mention, I replaced the rubber feet on mine for some softer rubber feet (i used the type for walking sticks) since the ones on there from the factory were a bit hard and could slide on hard flooring.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Walking-Stick-Rubber-Ferrules-Tips-Feet-Stoppers-Black-Choice-of-5-Sizes-/400887863108?var=&hash=item5d56c75744:m:m86f6CfsJQHFUwHkLERgBkQ  13mm should do it.  or bigger ones will go over the existing feet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If your Cullman is decent enough (stable, accepts head), then you just need to get a tripod head for video. And for that money you can find pretty decent video heads. 
As Hans said, I would not buy a video tripod+head for that kind of money. 

For £150 on a new tripod for regular video use, people would more likely swear at it - rather than swear by it. 
I'd personally search for used ebay tripod listings for that budget. Broadcast houses often turf out gear that is not needed any more - and it's possible to grab a bargain sometimes on some decent quality Manfrotto or Vinten model from the HDV days. I'd recommend going with a known name rather than the thousands of tempting cheap Chinese no-brand models, as it's always a lucky dip as to what the quality of some of the components are like....and they are often not as lightweight as they appear in pictures (if you are after a lightweight model). Going with a known brand also increases the likelihood of finding spare parts or online help if something ever fails.
Saying that, I'm sure people will chime in with good experiences with cheaper Chinese models they have had (E-Image brand for example) - but everyone's needs for durability and payload are different. But there is a reason that camera hire facilities do not rent out these models....they simply ain't built to last, unless you are handy with modifying/ upgrading failed components as they occur. 
 

I so often see worries from people regarding AF capabilities on the A7 range.  Personally I think when you have a camera with the capability to punch in (auto punch in with sony FE native lenses) then AF is completely pointless.  Ask anyone who uses the loxia zeiss lenses (35mm, 50mm and now a stellar 21mm), completely manual focus, and someone who has invested time into learning how to do things properly, they'll take the loxia over any oversized, flawed canon lens - flawed and bigger than it needs to be due to needing to be designed to avoid the mirror box.  
I do believe the sony 55mm fe lens outdoes the sigma art in every respect when we're getting to the nitty gritty and actually using it on the stunning 42mpx sensor.
Conversely I often look at the price of the FE lenses and am amazed how well priced they are..  the 28/2 is a perfect example.  The A7R2 and that 28mm will smoke anything on offer for canon use on a canon camera.  
   

I have the same problem as you. I have the A7R II.

But I can't be satisfied with still quality of 7D, 5DII (had both) and even 5DIII (had it also). 
As far as I am concerned I love A7R II still quality. 
What I hate is lenses, ergonomics and long exposure noise which are big issues for me. 
I love it too for video. 

My ideal set up would be a D810 for stills with a 14-24 for landscapes and a 85mm for portraits. 
And an A7S II with let's say 35/55/85mm for video. 
But this is too big, and too expensive. 
There is not a solution yet. A7R II was close thanks to its photo/video quality but still missing. 
5D4? Probably no 4K, not even HFR.... 
D820? Probably not before 1 year, probably 4K but will it have clean 120fps..? Then we are left with the DSLR problem for video : lack of EVF and nice focus peaking, tilt screen, ... 
 
I would just love a 5DIII body, with Canon menus and ergonomics and Canon lenses, with an A7SII video spec+quality and a D810 still quality. 
All of this without the mirror, with an EVF and all sony video functions. 
AM I the only one to wish for this? All of this tech is existing in cameras today, so it is not the moon to ask... But I have the feeling it won't come anytime soon. 
 
 

Just bought one too, but I'm keeping a 6D for some still jobs.

I am not a photographer, and barely a videographer, but maybe it would be a better idea, since the majority of your work is photography based, to get a D750 for stills, and a separate camera for video (maybe a RX10ii) Sell off your lenses and slowly build a good set of Nikkors and Sigma Art lenses. 

You shoot with PP off, that will fix the clipping
 
I personally spend more money on lens and support gears than camera body, since camera body depreciate too fast and support gear will work with what ever camera you have. Lens doesn't depreciate too fast like body do.

Well get a 7D then. Even cheaper. And crop will help telephoto reach for sports.
Problem solved.

But the difference between a 60D (he owns one) and a 7D is very small.

But the 5dmkii only if it's not real sports because the AF is kind of lame.

The commlite af with a7rii is way way inferior to the af with metabones v4 adapter. Its amazing how much difference the adapter makes. I'd also add in that i shoot 50% video 50% stills with my a7 and use manual focus primes for everything, i have a beautiful set of fast nikkor ai's.

I use the cheaper Sony/zeiss lenses like 55 1.8 when I want AF and then use all manual Contax zeiss . Cheaper and amazing quality. For £1000 I have 55 1.8 zony, cy 28 2.0, cy 85 2.8, cy 100-300 f4-5.6. Stunning glass that works on my nx1 too (when not using 16-50s).

Instead of spending so much more on Sony's lenses, it might be an idea to keep a little pet 5D Mark II body for AF with Canon glass, and let your A7R II do all the video and manual focus stuff (+ low light). They are cheap used now... under 800 quid!

Buy manual glass, and yes you can have cheap and good quality.
I have a d800 and the tyical af lenses ,135 2,28 1.4, 85 1.4, 70-200 2.8,etc... But since I got manual lenses, I mostly leave the AF stuff at home, it's big and clumsy, and my eye sight is good enouh to focus by eye.
The a7rII is even better for is, you have an evf, and you have access to all lens mounts, minolta, fd,etc... Sell that ugly zoom (you can adapt your canon zoom) and spend those 600pounds on a complete manual setup. (Thats what I would do)
i don't understand the part where you say your photography has taken a hit, if I understand correctly you were using the canon 60d before, with no special lenses.

Have you not heard of the Metabones adapter for you Canon lenses?
Yes AF and lenses are one area for Sony to work further on. And yes the FE lenses are too costly. Agree with you there!
I am using mostly Canon glass and manual focus rather than AF. With Canon lenses on A7 bodies, AF can sometimes be very fast especially on the A7R II but the hit rate is poor compared to the FE lenses. The Zeiss ZA lenses via EA-LA4 adapter solve this but then another big expensive investment.
For stills compare the handling of the Olympus E-M5 II or Fujifilm X-T1 to the Sony bodies and you will see where they have got it badly wrong

This doesn't mean that lenses with small diameter do have to give swirley bokeh that strong. The contax 50 1.7 I think does'tt have the problem that strong and is a modern lens with modern coatings, have a look at flickr, that's the best way.

Is it just me that feels like we need a moratorium on using the phrase "nifty fifty"? For some reason, it makes my skin crawl a bit. Maybe because the OES 50 isn't all that nifty?

Well, you can consider 'nifty' to be 'fine', 'attractive' or 'smart'. And the 50mm f/1.8 is very attractive, because it offers fine quality for very little money. Which could be considered a smart buy. Nobody is claiming optical perfection from it. Just that getting it is a good deal. I suggest we keep it around a little longer!

For 100 bucks... It is pretty nifty. 

You have to find a lens with a larger front diameter, these give less swirley bokeh.

yes i agree but sharpness is a though one to messure because the sensor changes it so much. The vingetting, chromatic aberation and distortion is equal on all sensors.

+1
 
Nikon F mount can be physically adapted to almost any camera, but keep in mind that the electronics (AF, image stabilization) may not work.