diy LF Straight Down Shooting ideas?

[mark]

I would love to use my LF cameras going straight down. None of my tripods have arms and I really would like to work without praying my camera does not tip over. A full blown copy stand is not necessary, I don't think.

Anyone DIY their own set up that would be willing to post a pic or description so I can at least have an idea of where to begin. I know I am over thinking this but I can't wrap my head around it.

 

[voceumana]

Depending upon the size and weight of your camera, a copy stand may well be your least expensive option. Another alternative is a center column intended to be clamp mounted to a table, but in your case, you would need a vertical surface on which to clamp, which would probably need to have some reinforcement to prevent twist.

Most of the issues with a side-arm type of tripod arrangement is the need to brace the tripod with weights to prevent tipping over, as you suggest. A copy stand inherent counterbalances the weight of the camera with the weight of the mounting board. Your enlarger might offer a copy stand adapter so you could investigate that.

 

[MattKing]

Does your tripod permit you to mount the head to the bottom of the column? Some do.

 

[Pieter12]

Not DIY or necessarily inexpensive, but one way to do this. I would remove the head from your tripod and attach the arm directly to the center post. Don't forget to hang a sandbag from the tripod center post and maybe a small one on the arm, opposite the camera.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554331-REG/Manfrotto_131DB_131D_Lateral_Side_Arm.html

 

[jtk]

I did a "straight down" assignment with Graflex XL by bolting my Gizo head to a 2x4 and resting that on steps of 2 ladders.

I photographed the full 30yd length of a beautiful mosaic bar top for the bar owner and the artist. Lighting was studio strobes, moved along length of bar top and positioned carefully with Minolta meter to keep illumination even. E6.

Would be easy with LF assuming the ladders and cross piece were adequately strong.

Was fun and very rewarding.

 

[Luckless]

Two solutions I've seen from product photographers:

1. If you're photographing something suitable, then don't shoot 'straight down' on it. Split your difference: tilt your subject to 45 degrees, and aim your camera down at 45 degrees.

2. Use a yolk/fork/H mount, and suspend your camera between two tripods. Trying to do something like this with just clamping the camera to a pole can be hard to balance and not have it twist. But if you use something that is wider than you camera on at least one end then you can take better control over its balance.

 

[bdial]

You could fashion some sort of support with some pipe, and secure the camera with a super clamp

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546356-REG/Manfrotto_035RL_035RL_Super_Clamp_with.html

 

[jtk]

I did a "straight down" assignment with Graflex XL by bolting my Gizo head to a 2x4 and resting that on steps of 2 ladders.

I photographed the full 30yd length of a beautiful mosaic bar top for the bar owner and the artist. Lighting was studio strobes, moved along length of bar top and positioned carefully with Minolta meter to keep illumination even. E6.

Would be easy with LF assuming the ladders and cross piece were adequately strong.

Was fun and very rewarding.

No reason to spend money on pair of tripods/stands. which would produce inferior results VS the pair of ladders setup I described as well as being less stable.

As alternative to my suggestion, it would be easy and relatively cheap to build the support structure using plumbing supplies...

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Have you heard of a Benbo tripod?
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/classic-benbo-tripod-no-1/

 

[ic-racer]

 

[jim10219]

Does your tripod permit you to mount the head to the bottom of the column? Some do.

One of my tripods does this. My Bogen has screw holes where the legs attach to the center column where you can install some 5/8" threaded bars to mount a head on and can tilt them down from there. It gets the head further from the center and depending on the head you have, you can get it away from the legs enough to take them out of the picture.

For something more diy, you can buy a proper sized bolt and mount it to most anything that will support it.

 

[mark]

Have you heard of a Benbo tripod?
https://www.patersonphotographic.com/product/classic-benbo-tripod-no-1/

Yes, I've heard of Benbo. Used a few and they are nice tripods. I don't want to use a tripod in this manner. It might be great for a DSLR/35mm camera but I would need a long arm for a LF camera. I don't trust it.

If I could get it into the house my outdoor option, 1970 toyota forklift and DIY man cage, would suit my purpose but would be over kill. It is almost ready to go though I should be ready for that project Idea when the weather warms up. I am looking for a much small unit I can take from the shop to home and back with little problem. JTK got me thinking and I might be on to something. Time to break out the aluminum welding supplies and find some time.

 

[Pieter12]

How big and heavy is your LF camera? From your original post, you mention the option of using a copy stand, so I guess you don't need too much height. Here is a photo of a Linhof Technika on the Manfrotto arm I mentioned before. (Sorry, it's a bit cluttered in my tiny studio right now).

 

[Pieter12]

Forgot the photo...

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Forgot the photo...

View attachment 239513

I had to mount my Sinar F in the same configuration with my Bogen and side arm. I had to sand bag the leg opposite of the camera.

 

[jtk]

Should mention the obvious:. The setup should be strobe lit, not continuous, because some vibration is inevitable.

 

[mark]

How heavy is that weight? The arm is not an option for me. I'm glad it works for you.

 

[Pieter12]

10 lbs. I would normally have another 10 lb weight hanging form the center post.