Recommendations for very low (ideally near-flat!) tripods w/ ballhead?

[Coldkennels]

A friend of mine has been working on a model railway layout since the pandemic started and I'd like to take some macro photographs of it for him. The problem is I don't have any suitable tripods; the average "tabletop" tripod puts the camera too high to frame anything correctly when positioned on the layout itself, and a full-size one used next to the layout puts the camera too far away for most of the shots I want.

What I'd like, ideally, is something with a relatively small footprint that really only acts as a stabilising base for a compact ballhead, keeping the camera lens as low to the surface as possible. I don't want to be faffing about with inverted central columns and an upside down camera as I'm planning on using either a Visoflex or Focoslide where possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this sort of thing?

 

[Godfrey]

I use this one from Really Right Stuff: https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/pocket-tripod
The head base when fully opened up is about 1.5" above the table and has a nominal 15 lb load capacity.

How high the camera sits on top of that depends on what ball head you use. My usual ball head for it is a Sirui C10S which is about 3" tall from base to A-S plate seat. Something like the Really Right Stuff Micro-Ball Head BC-18 is about 1.8" tall from base to plate seat and might be more apropos for your needs. See https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/bc-18 for specs.

For lower angle work, you might look into bean bag camera supports. Just nestle the camera into one of those to stabilize it and you can likely get down to having the lens an inch or so above the table top. Probably not useful for a Focoslide, but might work with a Visoflex.

G

 

[Calzone]

CK,

At the gift shop at ICP in NYC (International Center of Photography) they sold this small 1/4-20 mount that had not a ball-mount, but a one axis pivot that was on a small/ting c-clamp.

I would also suggest perhaps making a base of a heavy material and just counter bore a hole that would capture a 1/4-20 Allen cap screw.

Down and dirty, but EZ-PZ.

Cal

 

[Godfrey]

...At the gift shop at ICP in NYC (International Center of Photography) they sold this small 1/4-20 mount that had not a ball-mount, but a one axis pivot that was on a small/ting c-clamp. ...

Google "C-Clamp camera mount" and you'll find a host of devices in this class of camera support.

G

 

[Coldkennels]

I would also suggest perhaps making a base of a heavy material and just counter bore a hole that would capture a 1/4-20 Allen cap screw.

That's not a horrendous idea, Cal. That combined with the ballhead Godfrey mentioned might be the perfect combo.

I've got one of those C-clamp mounts somewhere. It's useful in specific scenarios, but I never found it useful enough to make it part of my usual kit bag.

 

[dourbalistar]

Check out the Platypod family of products. They have a few models which are essentially a flat metal plate with a tripod thread for a small ball head. Another possible option is the Edelkrone StandONE.

 

[Calzone]

That's not a horrendous idea, Cal. That combined with the ballhead Godfrey mentioned might be the perfect combo.

I've got one of those C-clamp mounts somewhere. It's useful in specific scenarios, but I never found it useful enough to make it part of my usual kit bag.

CK,

If you can’t get a counter or with a correct sized pilot look into getting a UNI-bit step drill.

It’s a pretty useful tool to own, and has legs into the future.

I found the c-clamp mount to be useful to use on stop or street sign poles in NYC.

Cal

 

[R_a_feldman]

Forget a tripod and the ball head and just use a bean bag or a bag full of buckshot to support the camera on the layout. Another alternative is to use a long counterweighted boom arm to cantilever the camera over the layout.

 

[wolves3012]

How about a Gorillapod? They come in a variety of types, with/without ball-heads, pan-heads etc and a variety of sizes & capacities. I have a 3K Pro, highly useful bit of kit!

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My brother does model railway photography on a semi-pro basis and he uses one.

 

[Coldkennels]

I remember using the first Gorillapods back in the late 2000s and spending most of my time wanting to throw it at a wall, to be honest. Always felt difficult getting it set just right.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I wanted to take videos of my train layout (actually my wife's train set around the Christmas tree) in much the same way as the OP'er. I mounted my pistol grip ball head to the bottom of the center post column to get low. It worked well as it could go right down to the floor. I then had to figure out how to 'flip' the videos right side up. All in good fun, it worked out OK.
To get 'on board' videos I've mounted a Go-Pro suction cup device to a piece of plexiglass I cut to fit in a flat car. Those train rides are exciting IMO.
I use a Canon SD1000 to shoot most 'on board' video, but have mounted a Sony A7ii on board too using a bigger train car. These are LGB size trains I'm talking about.

I just re-read the original post and see my method isn't what he wants to use. Sorry for the post.

 

[panatomic]

The Leofoto MT-02 or Pgytech T2 might work.

 

[Canyongazer]

Buy some beans (navy, lentil, kidney, your choice ;-)
Puncture the bag and remove "some" beans until the bag is malleable but still stable enough for the camera. Plunk said camera on said bean bag.
Use the self timer for exposures.
Enjoy. 🙂

 

[Richard G]

I bought years ago a tiny compact camera tripod made by Leica. A very stiff friction ball head on a small low height base. The ball head has very limited range in terms of angle. I’ve used it with much larger cameras, steadying the rig with my hands. Haven’t tried it with a Hasselblad. I also have a Manfrotto horizontal arm. Have used it once or twice. Not as stable as I’d like.

 

[Ronald M]

Many years ago, I purchased a Gitzo with long center column. Added a short center column. Legs splay out 90 degrees. Spend the money one time for a lifetime tripod