Portable Solution to Make Overhead (90°) Photographs

[r.e.]

I'd have you take another look at the Uni-loc tripods if your Gitzo-centric solutions don't pan out.

https://www.uniloctripod.com/UNI-LOC...ide%20-WEB.pdf

The posts and photos in this thread show that conversion of the Gitzo centre column to a lateral arm works extremely well for cameras lighter than large format. I did further tests and photos that show the same for 4x5, but decided to stop making substantive posts to this thread (see post #54). As with the recent thread that I started on tripods, with emphasis on Ries, I've decided to use YouTube rather than this forum for content of this kind. I'll be uploading a video on the Gitzo solution in the future.

The Uni-loc is basically a version of the Benbo. The Uni-loc website has not been updated in 13 years, and it's unclear how available either of those tripods is. The Benbo appears to be available in the UK, but as far as I can tell major US and Canadian retailers don't sell it. This is a 2020 UK video on the design:

[CreationBear]

Excellent, glad to hear you've got a solution that fits. At any rate, probably the best source for Uni-loc's is the UK auction site (same with a lot of Paterson equipment, as you might expect.) Otherwise, Uni-lock and Benbo have a rather fraught history it appears--I've had both, but found the Uni-loc much more refined and robust.

[Pieter]

I may have posted this one somewhere here before. A Manfrotto crossarm and a small sandbag works great for me. If you need to shed some weight, you can use a refillable sandbag and fill on location with rocks or sand.