A Tripod Setup for Tight Spaces

[r.e.]

I sometimes photograph or film in places where there isn't much room for a standard tripod, or where one may get in the way of other people. At one point, I dropped by B&H and checked out all of the monopods that had three short legs that could be deployed. I understand why wedding photographers buy these hybrid monopods, but all of the ones that I looked at made me nervous. My conclusion was that they invite an expensive accident.

The photo below shows a setup that I've used for about a year and that I've found to be acceptably stable. I mount a robust monopod on a solid ground tripod. The 3/8" female receiver on the bottom of the monopod screws onto the ground tripod's 3/8" stud. The tripod's legs can be extended for more stability, but I haven't found it necessary. With a little discretion, I've gotten away with using this setup in places where tripods are prohibited.

The Walkstool in the photo, in addition to being comfortable, eliminates or reduces the need to extend the sections of the monopod. I am a fan of the Walkstool, which is popular with nature and sports photographers.

The camera in the photo is a Blackmagic Cinema Camera, and the tripod head is a Miller fluid head, but the setup works just as well with a 4x5. I haven't tried this with an 8x10.

Links:

Gitzo GM4542 Series 4 Monopod

Note that Gitzo's Series 4 monopods are the most robust monopods that it makes.

Really Right Stuff Versa Ground Tripod

There are alternatives to the RRS tripod. I believe that the Benro and Induro tripods linked below are the same tripod, except that the Benro is made of aluminium and the Induro is carbon fibre. The Benro comes with a half ball receiver, the Induro with a flat plate. Both tripods will take either. The Benro is significantly less expensive than the RRS and Induro. In his case, the difference in weight between aluminium and carbon fibre is insignificant. I'd also mention RRS's aluminium ground tripod, but it was discontinued last year.

Benro Hi-Hat

Induro Baby Grand Tripod

There are YouTube videos on the Benro and Induro tripods. As far as I know, there are none on the RRS.

[Drew Bedo]

Maybe that will work for a DSLR . . .but it looks really shaskey for any LF set up.

[r.e.]

Maybe that will work for a DSLR . . .but it looks really shaskey for any LF set up.

In fact, it's quite stable. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have taken a photo from several feet away of a camera setup that includes a US$3800 lens

It works just fine for 4x5, in my case an Arca-Swiss. That said, there's some common sense involved when it comes to terrain, wind and bellows extension. There are conditions where I wouldn't use this, and in general I stay with the setup when I'm using it. No need to go wandering off.

The setup addresses a practical problem. With a bit of discretion, I can get away with using this in Manhattan, where standard tripods are prohibited, and in any event interfere with other people and invite a confrontation with a pedestrian in a cranky mood.

[Bob Salomon]

Maybe that will work for a DSLR . . .but it looks really shaskey for any LF set up.

Then check this system out.

https://www.novoflex.de/en/products-...s/triopod.html

[r.e.]

Then check this system out.

https://www.novoflex.de/en/products-...s/triopod.html

I've looked at that Novoflex system before. It's very interesting, although expensive. However, for the circumstances that I'm talking about it would only be useful in ground tripod configuration.

I noticed that the Novoflex brochure shows that the system includes a riser, which can be very handy. For people who aren't familiar with risers, the first photo below shows a 150mm (6") riser on the right, and the second shows the riser in use.

The tripod in both photos is the RRS Versa Ground Tripod discussed in the first post. The second photo shows the legs fully extended.

[Drew Bedo]

I've looked at that Novoflex system before. It's very interesting, although expensive. However, for the circumstances that I'm talking about it would only be useful in ground tripod configuration.

I noticed that the Novoflex brochure shows that the system includes a riser, which can be very handy. For people who aren't familiar with risers, the first photo below shows a 150mm (6") riser on the right, and the second shows the riser in use.

The tripod in both photos is the RRS Versa Ground Tripod discussed in the first post. The second photo shows the legs fully extended.

Thanks for the cautionary heads up. The gear does indeed look to be "hayll-fer-stout" as I have heard it said here in Houston. As I said, I'll give it a gentle try out at home and hope to never need it.

Re: The Walk Stool. I have something like that, one heavier and another much lighter from REI. I am seriously thinking of getting a "Ta-DAS Chair" as I am already walking with a cane for stability when outside.

https://www.amazon.com/Aron-Kasei-Ch...7755385&sr=8-4

[Drew Bedo]

Well if it works for you then of course go for it.

And what a nice kit you have there.

I may try it out carefully with my little Wista DX 4x5 kit at home, and keep the concept in my back pocket if needed the future.

My tripod is a much lighter Velbon El Carmagne 540 with a magnesium alloy Gitzo G1177M ball head. That combination is probably not robust enough. Yet it is aimed at keeping me out of the back doctor's office and is is just stable enough for the camera with 90mm Nikkor.

[r.e.]

This is an Induro video for its Baby Grand Tripod (link in the first post), which I believe is basically a carbon fibre version of the aluminium Benro, but much more expensive. It comes with a flat plate top. My understanding is that the Benro and Induro brands have common ownership.

[CreationBear]

This is an Induro video for its Baby Grand Tripod

Excellent, I've experimented with the Induro and my Pentax 67 streamside here in the Smokies--the idea being that a boulder-top will get you higher than any tripod you could set up in the streambed. With a chimney finder especially it worked quite well, especially since the Induro has articulating rubber feet that give a pretty good grip, even on Thunderhead Sandstone.

I've been wanting to try my Horseman HF in the same manner, though ideally on a substrate that would let me set a couple of tent spikes through the tripod feet to keep everything indexed while I'm faffing about with RFB's etc.

[r.e.]

Excellent, I've experimented with the Induro and my Pentax 67 streamside here in the Smokies--the idea being that a boulder-top will get you higher than any tripod you could set up in the streambed. With a chimney finder especially it worked quite well, especially since the Induro has articulating rubber feet that give a pretty good grip, even on Thunderhead Sandstone.

I've been wanting to try my Horseman HF in the same manner, though ideally on a substrate that would let me set a couple of tent spikes through the tripod feet to keep everything indexed while I'm faffing about with RFB's etc.

Yes, I agree that a ground tripod is a useful bit of kit. I've also found that a 6" riser really adds to a ground tripod's versatility. That extra 6" of height can come in handy. The riser in post #5 has a bowl receiver for a fluid head or levelling base, but I would think that there are risers with a flat top and 3/8" stud.