Libec TH-V2 Tripod and ALX S8 Slider – Affordable and Lightweight Camera Support

by Mascha DeikovaApril 23^rd, 2026

Subscribe to News - Accessories

At the NAB tradeshow this year, Libec presented their new tripod, the Libec TH-V2. This product is the successor to the previous best-selling model, TH-V, with a number of new features and adjustments. Yet, one thing stayed as it was: the tripod’s affordability. Alongside it at the booth, the company also showcased their ALX S8 slider and the matching TH-Z2 S8 KIT, a complete slider and tripod bundle that shares the same design philosophy. CineD’s Nino Leitner stopped by Libec’s booth to test the products and talk about their unique selling points.

We wrote about the TH-V tripod a few years ago, and you can read our review here. A lot of the advantages of the previous model have been kept in the new one. For instance, it’s lightweight, cost-effective, and straightforward in usability, all of which make it perfect as an entry-level tripod. The TH-V2 sits at the budget end of a lineup Libec has been actively refreshing over the past year, which now also includes the TH-Z2 mid-tier system, the LX-7R and LX-5R professional tripods, and the Arca-Swiss TH-650X travel option. So, what’s new?

Libec TH-V2: new features

As Libec President and CEO Koichi Yamaguchi points out, they added some useful features. For one, the new tripod has a built-in carrying handle for better portability. Its position can be adjusted in 90° steps to suit the user’s shooting style. And if you don’t need it, no problem, you can easily remove it.

Another practical addition is an accessory port. On the base of the tripod, you will find three sets of accessory ports with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threads, which are convenient for attaching accessories such as monitors and lights.

Original knobs and locks

In this tripod model, Libec redesigned the friction knobs that adjust the pan and tilt drag settings in order to make them easier to grip and rotate. As in the previous version, these knobs are stepless and have the same size. Apart from that, all knobs and locks are located on one side (unlike most tripods). Koichi explains that it is intentional. They wanted to make the process more comfortable for cinematographers and operators, so they could pan and tilt with their right hand while simultaneously making all required adjustments with their free left hand.

Other technical details of Libec TH-V2

Just like its predecessor, the TH-V2 tripod can support up to around 5kg (11 pounds). It features a universal (Manfrotto- and Sachtler-type) quick-release plate and an adjustable mid-spreader. Its standard three-stage legs are made from lightweight aluminum. Nino tried it during the interview and confirmed that the aluminum tripod is really lightweight.

One additional detail worth mentioning: the TH-V2 ships as a fixed mid-spreader configuration. When Nino asked about a ground-spreader option, Koichi confirmed that this version comes only with the mid-spreader, which is particularly suited to shooting on uneven ground.

To read more about the Libec TH-V2 features, head over to the product page.

The ALX S8 slider and its integration with Libec tripods

Apart from the new tripod, Libec also used the booth to show their ALX S8 slider, a product that has been in the lineup for a while but is worth revisiting here because of how well it integrates with the company’s tripods. As Nino noted, a frequent friction point in any slider workflow is attaching different brands of sliders onto different brands of tripods, so having everything come from the same manufacturer makes a real difference.

The ALX S8 measures 80cm (31.5in) and runs on eight high-performance ball bearings. As Koichi explains, these are applied with a special grease that Libec mixes in-house to achieve just the right “texture,” as he puts it, when the carriage moves across the rail. The idea is that the sliding motion matches the pan and tilt dynamics of Libec’s fluid heads, so there is no mismatch in movement feel across the rig.

On a flat surface or tabletop, the slider has a payload of 15kg (33 pounds) and a sliding range of 71cm (28in). A spring-loaded friction knob fine-tunes sliding tension, a brake knob locks the carriage at any point on the rail, and a supplied hexagon wrench lets you adjust the pushing force of the ball bearings over time. The slider mounts directly on a 75mm bowl tripod or on a flat base with a 3/8-inch screw, and the 80cm rail can be swapped for optional 40cm or 120cm lengths.

The TH-Z2 S8 KIT and SS-5 monopod support

The ALX S8 is sold both individually and as part of a complete bundle called the TH-Z2 S8 KIT, which includes a fluid head, the slider, a tripod, and cases for a little more than $600. The head in the kit has the same 5kg (11 pounds) payload as the TH-V2’s, with one difference: no friction control, so pan and tilt drag is fixed. Apart from that, it is the same lightweight, cost-effective head we are used to seeing from Libec.

What makes the kit particularly appealing is its modularity. You can simply remove the slider and use the head and tripod as a regular combo, so buyers are effectively getting a full tripod setup that also happens to include a slider in the package, rather than a separate extra purchase. For those who want more stability when the slider sits on a single tripod, Libec also offers the SS-5, a two-piece monopod support set that secures under each end of the slider to keep it from flexing. It is sold as an option for a little more than $60 and was set up on the demo rig at the booth.

Price and availability

When the new Libec TH-V2 hits the market, the complete unit will cost around $380, including the head, tripod, and case. Presumably, it will be available for order around June.

The TH-Z2 S8 KIT, pairing the new TH-Z2 tripod with the ALX S8 slider, will come in at a little more than $600 for the head, slider, tripod, and cases combined, and it is also expected to ship from June. The ALX S8 slider is already on the market as a standalone product, and the optional SS-5 monopod support set adds a little more than $60 to the setup.

What do you think about these affordable Libec options? Have you tried Libec’s previous tripod or slider? If so, what do you think about the added features and bundle combinations? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!