A lot of tripods that are heavy enough for LF just don't get low. What does the group suggest for mounting an 8x10 (for example) to shoot a foot off the ground?
A lot of tripods that are heavy enough for LF just don't get low. What does the group suggest for mounting an 8x10 (for example) to shoot a foot off the ground?
I use Gitzo tripods, all with a flat top plate and no center colum. The legs can spread un-restricted to essentially ground level. My most used model for 8x10 is the carbon fiber 1325, though now there are many optional offerings from Gitzo in that load capacity range.
Two solutions.
RRS ground pod http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/pod/index.html
or
Overexposed pro plateform http://www.overxposed.com/oxproplatform.html
This afternoon, I just made a couple ground level shots, it's screamingly low until my upper part of Sinar F1 almost touch the ground, this happened cos i reversed the center colum of my 055prob, although the legs of 055prob can spread un-restricted to essentially ground level but it's not low enough for me, so I reverse the center colum with camera attached, but it's hard to see the ground glass unless you laying down on the ground too...
I use a Ries J100-2 with a Canham 8x10 on top, and it is secure lowered all the way to the ground.
You can also use a sand or bean bag to get really low.
Ed Richards
http://www.epr-art.com
Majestic tripod with side arm. The head comes off the main body, the pole attaches to the bottom of the center column, and the head is installed on top of the arm, off to the side. Crank it up and down anywhere you want. This was shown in AA's The Camera.
In another discussion about shooting at ground level, on, IIRC, APUG, someone reported putting a front-surface mirror in front of the lens at 45 degrees to the lens' axis and pointing his camera straight down. Clever idea and I'm ashamed that I didn't think of it. I've spent entirely too much time lying on my side in the dirt trying to look through the ground glass.
Long ago (in Pracktica FX3 days) I mounted a tripod head on a camera box for low level shooting. It might also work for LF if one carries a few wedges for stabilizing the box.
The Novoflex BasicBall and Berlebach Tabletop Tripod. Either would work well for large format at low heights, and cost quite a bit less than the RRS solution. The Novoflex is rated for up to 55 lbs.
I have considered the beanbag approach, though still undecided. There are some interesting folding and moveable types on EBAY currently, or that newer Bogen Pod round shaped bag. The trouble I think would be the camera moving while inserting the film holder.
Ciao!
Gordon Moat
A G Studio
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks