toptrainer Loc: Wellington

I will be shooting a catalog 5 times a year for a company. While shooting the catalog it is very important to have the same angle and height for each shot. Can anyone recommend a tripod that may have measurements on it to help with the process, but also does not cost $1000?

uhaas2009

Gaff Tabe, sharpie whatever helps

izziadog

Buy a second tripod and leave it alone

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

That would be impossible, as I will have to go back five different times per year I can’t leave a tripod set up all that time in his business.

izziadog

pardon me....tongue in cheek, as I think you'll figure it out....

pendennis

I might add; take measurements of distances at angles, write 'em down in your notebook, and put a piece of tape on the center column marked at the right elevation.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Mark the floor and get a tape measure. Shorten the thinner legs first and try not to rely on the center post for height UNLESS you have to

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I thought buying a second tripod was a good idea.

MrPhotog

In olden days, surveyors carried a chain made with long links. Folded, it could be easily carried. Unfolded, it was a consistent length. Follow their example.

Get a 6’ length of light chain at a hardware store. Make a hook from a coathanger and twist that around the neck of the tripod.

When you have your preferred height, suspend your chain from the hook so it just touches the floor.

You can mark that top link with permanent marker, or bright, cheap, nail polish from a dollar store. Or, use a wirecutter to remove the excess and there will be no confusion.

When you reset the tripod at a later date, confirm the height with the chain and adjust as needed.

Chain will hang straighter than rope and won’t stretch or be affected by changes in humidity.

This is assuming you are using the same camera and lens in the same orientation. Your real goal is to have the center of the lens at the same height.

You can confirm this by using your chain and holding a designated link in the center of the lens cap. Sure, you could hold the chain in the front of the glass in the lens, but some klutz will pick that time to nudge you and you risk scratching the lens. So, do your measurements with the lens cap on.

If you use two distinctly different colors of nail polish on the chain you can place matching dots of those colors on the tripod and lens cap respectively so your alignment points are clearly color coded.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

What a great detailed response and solution, wow!
Ugly Hedgehoggers helping Ugly Hedgehoggers makes me . . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Bravo Zulu

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Get a plumb bob and tie it to the bottom of the tripod's head - there is usually a hook there. Record the height of the centerline of the camera lens (in case you get a different camera). For future shoots, adjust the height by adjusting the legs and level the tripod and camera. Measure the distance from the plumb bob to the edge of the table where the goods will be photographed. Do a couple of setups/break downs to make sure you can repeat it. You don't need a tripod with measurements - as long as you have a measuring tape, a plumb bob, and the client doesn't change tables on you.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

If you know someone that does woodworking here some ideas. These items may be a little remedial hope you are seeing a solution.

Not my photos borrowed from the web.

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Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

James I deal with this also...
I have several steel tape measures.
And fortunately my commercial assignments are all in my studio.
I have markers on the studio floor for tripod center line and model/subject position(s)
And keep a measurement journal of each session.

This has worked well for me.
Wishing you much success on your photographic endeavors James.

photoman43

This is great advice. I am glad someone mentioned using the same lens and camera with the same orientation. This is a very important part of the solution.

Make sure your client does not change the table or other surface where the items will be displayed. The whole "system" orientation needs to be retained, not just the tripod and camera and lens.

bnsf

Sirui has great tripods with and without the heads.
Go to www.Sirui.com and choose USA