View Full Version : Favorite tripod/support device for macro
stevenb1
02-04-2009, 02:34 PM
What is your tripod/support device of choice for maco shooting, esp close to the ground.
archphoto
02-04-2009, 02:50 PM
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
02-04-2009, 03:28 PM
I think this is one of the best ground pod out there: http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/05.html
David A. Goldfarb
02-04-2009, 03:39 PM
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
02-05-2009, 11:45 AM
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
02-05-2009, 11:53 AM
Thanks to everyone for their responses. The ply idea is interesting, esp. since I have some lying around.
Bosaiya
02-05-2009, 01:58 PM
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.
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.