speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Fluid heads have the same ability to flip the camera as all other heads do, so its easy to change to portrait, but still an L- bracket is much more convenient.
A quality ball head does not have any sagging when using it for macro shots ( it depends on the heads)!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There's no 100% perfect solution.

A "macro focusing rail" might help you in some respects, used in conjunction with various tripod heads. There are single axis versions, as well as dual axis.
https://www.adorama.com/l/Cameras/Camera-Accessories?sel=Equipment-Type_Focusing-Rail&searchinfo=macro%20focusing%20rail
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?setIPP=48&ci=3067&fct=fct_accessory-type_3060%7cfocusing-rails&origSearch=macro+focusing+rail&srtclk=itemspp&ipp=48&N=4289360636&

One reason I REALLY like my Canon 100mm macro lens is it's optional tripod mounting ring, which allows me to easily change orientation from landscape/horizontal to portrait/vertical, regardless of the tripod and head. Or even on a monopod. In most cases, this also maintains balance better than "flopping" a ballhead or a pan/tile head off to one site. I think the two Canon 100mm macro lenses are the only ones around this focal length that have option to add a tripod ring. Longer 150mm, 180mm, 200mm macro lenses commonly come with a tripod ring. But that doesn't help much if the focal length is too long for your purposes (causing too much working distance... too small an aperture... etc.)

Other shorter macro/close-up lenses lacking a tripod ring, an L-bracket to mount the camera is a possible solution (AFAIK, this requires Arca-Swiss type quick release system be used). L-brackets aren't cheap and add some bulk to the camera. I instead use a "side mount" gimbal adapter with a ballhead, which allows vertical/portrait orientation mounting of camera and lens. (I have that Wimberley Sidekick gimbal adapter primarily for use with large lenses anyway... this is a neat, secondary use I've found it to do well.)

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Just wondering if by "up and down" you are talking about vertically or an angle up and down?

If vertically up and down, many tripods do have a crank to raise or lower the head a very small amount. With one of those tripods you can then get a simple adjuster like the one shown here on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-4-way-Macro-Focus-Rail-Slider-for-DSLR-Camera-with-1-4-Tripod-Head/132333124583?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

snapshot18

Geegee:

There is a 3rd type head and Manfroto has it. It is a "Geared" head. I have seen it, but don't like it as when I want to move a head, I WANT IT TO MOVE AS FAST AS I WANT IT TO. But, for what you seem to want, I would think a geared head (you can move it, maybe ONE DEGREE if you are a real 'Nit-Picker') would fit your use fine. Good luck..

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

If you read my reply further up about watching out for really terrible X Y axis racks then the one shown above from ebay is so bad that the manfacturing company should be banned. I had one of these and took it back for a refund within 10 minutes of trying to get it to do anything useful. If you look at the left hand end at the screw tightening the top rack onto the bottom one it is all plastic. When you do up the screw the plastic bits open up about a 1/4". When fully tightened the rack still moves very easily so it doesn't actually clamp. It "might" work with something as light as a point and shoot but with a DSLR it is so bad that anybody who even sells this crap should be banned as well. It is a classic example of poor product. When I took mine back and showed the supplier what the problem was he said that he hadn't even noticed that they were so bad and he would pull all his stock. He did mention that he had tried a model when it first came out and it had been made from metal but the last batch are not the same quality. This particular model is sold everywhere and I pity anybody who tries to make them work. I am guessing that it is a Chinese ripoff of possibly a good product made from metal which might work. Unfortunately I don't know how you find the original and I am picking that the original would be well over $200 if it was made properly. So be very aware of what you buy. If you look at any of these racks and there is even a trace of plastic on it then don't touch.
Even a metal model if made from aluminium probably won't have a very long life if used with any weight of equipment.
I did end up taking a single aluminium rack instead which is much better but still not the best piece of gear. You need 3 knobs on them. The racking knob, a locking knob, and a friction adjust knob. The friction adjust might be able to be combined with the locking knob BUT you need all three functions otherwise you are in for a very frustrating time.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

AND ME!

kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

You might have missed my response a few frames earlier, but the Manfrotto geared head has a "Quick Release" on all three of its axis. All you do is pull out on eht adjusting knob, then the head is free to move as much as you want in that direction. This makes it very quick to get a 'rough alignment' and then when you release the knob, it returns to the 'fine motion' mode...so you have the best of both worlds. It looks to me as if the Benro that another earlier poster recommended works pretty much the same way. Hope this helps...

kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

Thanks....!! <bows modestly>

kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

While this is not sold as a photo product, Micro Mark has a very good X-Y table that works just fine for any X-Y application. It is sold as a positioning table for modelling drill presses, etc. It has 5 1/4" travel in the X direction and 1 3/4" in the Y. It has very fine control via two hand knobs, MicroMark claims .0005" precision, should be good enough for most of our work. The link is : https://www.micromark.com/MicroLux-X-Y-Table-Attachment Currently the price for this table is $94...down from the normal $155. This would not be easy to mount on most tripods, but for any desktop/macro photography, it should be great. This is MUCH higher quality than any of the poorly machined XY tables that you find at most tool shops. And yes, I do have one....so this is a personal recommendation!

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I am saving my nickels and dimes for this flavor:

https://www.cognisys-inc.com/store/stackshot-macro-rail-package.html

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

Mount this on your tripod.
https://www.adorama.com/sb310900.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIha3Lzvn32wIVkj2BCh3ZNA6aEAQYAyABEgIggvD_BwE

Geegee Loc: Peterborough, Ont.

Thank you for all who tried to help me with my dilemma. Those who recommended a focusing rail missed the point. I have a focusing rail and it works well forward and back, left and right. I want to move the camera angle a little up or a little down without moving anything else. My pro tripod does not have a crank for the centre column. I also have a heavy duty pro Manfrotto ball head but when you loosen the lock it is free to move in any direction. I believe that those who recommended a geared head are right on the money. I am going to investigate to find the one which suits me best.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

This might do the job but is very limited as to the amount of angle up or down. I read it is only 5 degrees. The good news is that it is suppose to hold about 30 pounds. It's a base leveling platform. This might be bad since it's a 3/8 x 16 tpi mount and you might have 1/4 x 20tpi. But you can get adapters to go from 3/8 to 1/4".

You would need two posts directly sideways with the third closest to you, then just turn the leveler for a small amount of arch up or down. If you turn all three nuts the same amount, it would be just to vertically raise and lower.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=LP-64+3%2F8%27%27+Solid+Screw+Tripod+Leveling+Base+Max+Capacity+15kg+for+Veledge+lot+&_sacat=0


This might work, then again it might be too coarse.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adjustable-Angle-Pole-Swivel-Hot-Shoe-Mount-1-4-Screw-Adapter-for-Mounting-New/253433345935?hash=item3b01cdf78f:g:IDsAAOSw5M9aiE1w

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

To demonstrate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJve1GMJuwI