I read in WPF where some one was telling Jeff he needs a table top tripod. I also would like to have one. I have never heard of one, but have thought about building one.
Where can I find one? Thanks, Mike
I bought mine at The Sony Store but Radio Shack or the Source, what ever they call it sells them as well as Walmart, Sears etc.
I have one I picked up on Ebay for about $5.00. It is pretty simple and the thing I like most about it is it folds real flat so it is easy to take when out railfaning. I use it on the hood or roof of my truck to take long exposure/timer pctures.
Dan Pikulski
Mike,
About 6-8" tall, they’re usually not too expensive either. And they’re nice - especially if you don’t have a lot of room to set up a larger tripod. Camera shops should carry them. You might also be able to find them in the camera section of large electronic stores like Best Buy.
Tom
Got mine at WalMart.
I just saw some at Odd Lots/Big Lots. $3 for an 8", $8 for a 27".
Even at 6" they are too high for most of my best shots. So, I lay the camera on the tracks, or I place it atop a shaped small piece of 1X4 left over from construction to get a bit of height. I have even shaped small blocks of extruded foam scrap and set the camera atop them.
I only use a full-size Slik tripod when I need distance.
This one came from Wal-Mart and cost about $12. It has an LED in the bottom of it that’s handy for finding items in the dark.
It’s fine for a distance shot on the layout or if I want a shot where I’m looking down at something. Many of my good shots come from right down at layout level with the camera sitting on the layout.
Another nice tripod substitue is a bean bag.
Tom
Outstanding, Tom!
I wish I could take credit for the idea but I read about it in another forum somewhere.
Tom
Thanks for the replies, While I was in Lawton today, I stoped in Wally World and picked one up for around $15.00. It isn’t as small as I was wamting, but it will work for now. Mike
If you have a digital SLR with some good size lenses many of the mini tripods are not stable enough so be a little careful. I have been using one of these Monster Pods. It has a ball head and is low and wide. You don’t have to use it in sticky mode as it comes with a nice cover.
Joe Martin had one out at the Radcliff Model Railroad Association’s HO layout last Saturday. He just set it up on top the layout and commenced taking digital photos of some houses and vehicles. I was amazed, it’s a great idea and it won’t be too long before I own one too. Thanks for the tips on their use.
Ed
Hi mikesmowers
I got my one from a camera shop it was not expencive.
I have also been told a very small bean bag the sort of thing they use in primary schools could also be use full for uneven surfaces.
regards John
If you don’t have one of those, an upside down bean bag ashtray does a good job too, if you make sure to clean it first.
What I’d really like to find is a boom for a standard tripod. A go anywhere boom, able to angle down over scenery or obstructions and still shoot any angle, with counterweight and the cable that feeds the view screen to a big screen TV, would be awesome for composition, focus, even exposure. Mike stand booms have good counterweights, but the fittings don’t work with photo equipment.
I have a monopod I could clamp to the tripod somehow, but the universal head won’t tilt past 90 degrees.
My ex gf’s studio where she worked had a cadillac model, stout enough to hold an 8x10 view camera and a 12 inch steel mounting column, bolted into the concrete floor, but that’s a little more than I’m looking for. I’ve got a massive old Bogen, maybe they make a boom and counterweight to fit it. I’ll poke around and if I find one, I’ll post a link.
Jeffers,
You might take a look at the Gitzo Explorer 2227. Basically, it’s a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod which has a center column that can operate in the manner you describe as a boom.
It’s stout enough to easily support any 35mm or medium format camera you throw at it, and even a 4x5 as long as you’re careful.
Being a Gitzo product, it’s not cheap, but it sounds like exactly what you’re after.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/gitzo-2227.shtml
My daughter bought a table top tripod with very flexible legs. You can twist the legs into any shape or direction to get the camera as low as you want or to use on an uneven surface. You can even twist the legs around things to hold the camera onto something like a tree branch or chair back. I’ve seen them advertised once in a while in flyers. A camera shop should have them.
Seamonster: You talking about one of these?
I picked up one at Best Buy for less than $15.