Portable Solution to Make Overhead (90°) Photographs

[r.e.]

Here's the Gitzo component (G541) that holds the centre column. It's mounted on my ground tripod. This is a very solid piece of gear made of steel. The interior diameter of the ring is about 85mm (3 3/8"), and (see the third photo below) the ring is about 20mm (3/4") wide.


Mounted on the tripod:



Closer:



This photo shows the panning base and the interior width of the steel ring. The lower knob locks the panning position:



This final photo shows a closer view of the ring, with a U-shaped cutout in the upper right and a cutout on the bottom. I'll have the centre column later today, at which point I'll figure out how the pieces fit together.



I purchased this via Fred Miranda's site a couple of days ago, before I knew that the centre column that B&H was selling included this component. B&H's package is supposed to arrive this afternoon, at which point I'll apparently have two G541 holders