Favorite tripod/support device for macro

[stevenb1]

What is your tripod/support device of choice for maco shooting, esp close to the ground.

 

[archphoto]

Manfrotto 209 for 35mm: small, light and sturdy with the 482 ballhead,
Manfrotto 055 (full size tripod that goes extremely low too) for 6x6 and 6x7.

Peter

 

[Pinholemaster]

I think this is one of the best ground pod out there: http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/05.html

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Between the tripod head and the camera (or with a light head and smaller camera perhaps between the tripod and the head): Linhof macro rail. I've attached a photo showing the rail connected to a copy stand.

 

[John Koehrer]

You could use a 8" more or less diameter(or square) piece of 1/2" ply with a small ball head on it. Or if a little more versatility is desired, put a X-Y axis focusing rail between the head & ply. Little rubber feet too.

 

[stevenb1]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. The ply idea is interesting, esp. since I have some lying around.

 

[Bosaiya]

For most of my work I use a Libec cinema tripod with a 100mm ball head. The head is easily removable and can be placed in anything that will accept a 100mm half-circle. For low-work I use a high hat mounted on a thick piece of plywood, it has just enough clearance to allow for the underside mounting screw and a small amount of head movement. The support can be straddled for stability, although I've never had to do that when taking stills.

For smaller work I have a Bogen tripod of some kind sans-spreader that can do a pretty good impression of the splits. I cut down the center column head support so that there is just enough to fit into the sticks. Total height is a few inches, plus whatever head gets mounted. This is pretty stable since the legs are spread wide, but it's also less convenient than using a high hat or something more dedicated to the task. Then again, you probably have a tripod laying around you could use, so that's one less expense.

 

[ac12]

This is an OLD thread, but ...

I just got my wife a T-shaped focusing rail.
Besides the forward/backward focusing and framing of a normal focusing rail, it will also allow her to move the camera left right w/o having to move the tripod. This makes fine tuning the image in the frame a lot easier.

Just screw it onto the tripod/support of your choice.

 

[f/16]

I like the Kirk long rail. Not quite as precise as a focus rail, but much smaller and cheaper than one. For low shots I prefer my Manfrotto 3021BPRO. The legs spread flat. On my Induro tripods, they only spread out to about 70 degrees.

 

[vinhkha005]

Manfrotto 209 for 35mm

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I use a Manfrotto 3221 with a ball head.

Jeff

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
And, a Velbon Macro Slider !

.

 

[1+2äugig]

favorite tripod for macro

My preferred tripod for 35 mm macro is the Pentacon Universal Stativ.