charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Maybe a platypus with a good head might do what you are looking for. Packs easily and takes up very little space

Chuck

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

I like my RRS tripod. Also - I mount my long lenses to the tripod (even my 70 to 200) which balances the load.

photoman43

My Induro CLT 204 travel tripod might be able to handle that rig if it had the correct head. Not sure what the current Induro model number would be if I were buying it today. A well made series two tripod from any good company might get the job done if the leg dimensions were sufficiently long enough for your moon application.

I use this tripod in Costa Rica for hummingbirds with my Nikon 500mm f5.6 pdf lens.

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

I purchased a heavy duty tripod from a thrift shop and cut the legs off at the length I wanted. Put crutch tips son the legs.

User ID

Follow the link again. Look in the upper lefthand corner of the photo of the tripod. See the small red circle there ? Yes $180.

Small red circle kinda like this one: 🔴
In photography, small red circles don’t come cheap ! Someone should jump on Bill’s offer. Not me, I’m already all set.

Sensei

I picked up a small heavy duty, table top tripod from wish, or groupon. I don't recall which one. Go on to their site and type Tripod in the search box and see if anything interests you.

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

I have one of these. They are amazingly stable, compact, and excellently designed. Not cheap, but I believe that you usually get what you pay for, especially with tripods. Check out the videos on the Peak Design site.
I put my D850 with a total of 420mm on it at full leg extension & was able to go sub one sec with no loss of IQ during a test.

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

Look at high hats. They are ten or twelve Inches high and hold a tripod head. Originally made to hold motion picture cameras for low angle shots..

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

There are basic accessories for a camera that are necessary. A good tripod (Gitzo is one of the great tripods) is of course a necessity. Unfortunately, most camera users have no clue about their tools. A drill press straight out of the box is of little use even with drill bits. Same with tripods straight out of the box. What you need is a universal accessory for any and all photographers, it is the Bogen Super Clamp. It is so universal and so necessary one wonders why every photographer does not have one. You should look into this tool and see the possibilities.

Direct application of the Super Clamp would be to use it to attach to any tripod leg so that the user can put a camera close to the ground, or simply convert a tripod into a light stand easily and quickly.

For your problem here is an application...the moon is outside, so drive too a low light environment, roll down the car's window part way (a few inches), attach the Supper Clamp to the cars chasse, or to the door while open, and mount the camera to the super clamp. Me I would place a head so I could easily move the mounted camera around. Is there any studio stand or tripod as stable as a 2 ton car resting on inflated rubber supports?

On location the Super Clamp can be attached to just about any object with out marring that surface.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mefoto has a number of small tripods that will support a good amount of weight. I keep one with me in my vehicle for "those" occasions.
--Bob

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Great idea for a basic accessory. It’s on the shopping list.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry. The most votes went to Leica, Leofoto and Peak Design, with RRS being an aspirational goal. I picked up the Leica on eBay, and am incredibly impressed with the engineering and design of this simple item. This is certain to live in my camera bag. The Leofoto might be on ghe shopping list as well.

Stay Safe and good shooting.

splatbass Loc: Honolulu

Sorry I'm late to the game, but it might help someone else in the future. MeFOTO works great. In the pic is a D7200 with 1.4x and 300mm PF, basically the equivalent of your setup. works great, solid.

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