Shooting down onto a table top or floor

[macolive]

What do you use when shooting directly down to an object on the floor or table top? Do you use a tripod or one of those cranes? I imagine that using a tripod with a rotating center column (like the Manfrotto 055CXPro) would be a bit unstable for an LF camera.

I tried searching for the answer around the forum but couldn't find one…so my apologies if this has been discussed before.

Thanks!

[Tin Can]

I use old Arkay studio stands, I bought 2 for $200 with Majestic heads. Since one is 9 feet tall, i slide it under a big table and shoot down onto the table.

Here is what a smaller one looks like.

[macolive]

I use old Arkay studio stands, I bought 2 for $200 with Majestic heads. Since one is 9 feet tall, i slide it under a big table and shoot down onto the table.

Thanks Randy!

[NickyLai]

What do you use when shooting directly down to an object on the floor or table top? ......

It is simpler to shoot into a front surface mirror reflected 45 degree down to the floor/table where the object stands.

[Tin Can]

Thanks Randy!

I want one of those!

But they are Hell to keep in nice shape, you really cannot clean it. I have one in my Gowlandflex and I am scared to touch it. Somebody did touch it a little with a cloth. Bad Juju.

[Ian Gordon Bilson]

Most any tripod will do if you adjust it "over center " and sandbag one of the legs.

[Tin Can]

Most any tripod will do if you adjust it "over center " and sandbag one of the legs.

Yes, I did that for awhile, but no thanks.

I shoot a lot of copywork and stuff vertical, the old tripod on an angle is for one shot once in a blue moon.

My studio stands with quality Majestic heads were cheaper than used tripods.

ymmv

Nicky, I used to use the MP3 I gave you, I prefer studio stands for bigger art work.

[NickyLai]

...

Nicky, I used to use the MP3 I gave you, I prefer studio stands for bigger art work.

I much appreciated it and that is one solid strong vertical setup for copywork in quantity. Will use it when needed.

[DrTang]

failing a studio stand, manfrotto makes a sidearm kinda thing

tripod screws into the middle, camera mounting screws on either end.. so you can put a camera on one end and super clamp a weight on the other side.. and tripod is normal configuration, but I'd sandbag it anyway

I imagine it would be okay for 4x5 and smaller


I have one and haven't used it with a LF camera although a 2x3 Galvin would be just perfect for it

[Bob Salomon]

Linhof, among other tripod manufacturers, made an Outrigger Adapter for their Large Geared Center Column to get the camera out and over the subject when the head was mounted to their Kardan Pan/Tilt Mount II.