Small Tripod for Wildflower Shooting?

[Dan Fromm]

Short of putting the ball head directly on the ground, or dispensing with the tripod and head altogether, I can't really imagine a way to get a LF camera much closer to ground level...

Ole, I hang my Graphics upside down from an inverted center post. This lets me put the top of the camera at ground level, i.e., in contact with the soil. With full rise, I get the lens' axis fairly close to the soil too.

Please understand that working this way isn't easy. In fact it is somewhat painful, especially on rocky ground. Working this low with a Nikon is a little harder.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[Claire Senft]

I have a Majestic 2051 tripod. This comes with a long center tube. I have a Bogen 3047 head. To allow for very low shooting I sawed off the center column so that about 6 inches of tube were left. I also raised the circurlar stops at the leg top. With these modifications I can get very low. The Majestic has been one of the most satisfactory purchases I ever made. Al;though I am using 35mm almost all of my work is done with a tripod mounted camera. The Bogen 3047 is beginning to wear out. I will be replacing the Bogen head with a large Majestic geared head.

I also have a Bogen 3021 with large ballhead. The tripod comes up way short as far as sturdiness is concerned.... It did not take much to wear it out. I also have a Tiltall that has been turned into junk by using it in the sand.

I am of the opinion that 35mm requires a very stable tripod more so than the other formats.

 

[mike_j]

small tripod?

For small flower shooting and many other wildlife applications I think a simple beanbag beats a tripod in many cases.

It is extremely adaptable, easy to carry and if it is filled the polystyrene beads it is very light.