Shooting with Camera upside down on tripod for macro shots (Page 4): It is universally understood that under these conditions you are supposed to stand on your head. :sm09: --...

Bill_de Loc: US

xptom wrote:

The only problem I have found using this method is that it makes your photo up side down!

It is universally understood that under these conditions you are supposed to stand on your head.

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lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Quantus5 wrote:

Very cool tripod! Didn't realize that there were s... (show quote)

Like all Gitzo equipment, expensive. I saw a couple completed (sold) G2227's on ebay. They were sold at up to $300. Yes, it may be discontinued. I wonder why, it is not old being Carbon Fiber? My two Gitzos are vintage aluminum models from the Eighties.

Not totally flat but really low with a short column raised. Is this low enough? With an even shorter column one could get even lower. A different head might get one lower yet. Gitzo has many interchangeable and optional components to set up almost any "tripod" imaginable. In normal raised position one could also attach a head to the bottom of the column as well. Side-arms and L-adapters can help with that. I often shoot flat copy or macro using a 90 degree side-arm and weighting down the arm with bean bags.

Gitzo with two legs in low position and one in 90 degree

(Download)

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Here is a link to my travel tripod (B&H sold them for almost $600 before they were discontinued. I won mine)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/903226-REG/3_Legged_Thing_3lteddieblack_3LT_X2_1_Eddie_AH2_Kit.html

Quantus5

lamiaceae wrote:

Like all Gitzo equipment, expensive. I saw a coup... (show quote)

Yes -- this is pretty low. I can see that with a super short column how this tripod lays flat, and is only limited by the height of the tripod head. Very cool!

Bill_de Loc: US

imagemeister wrote:

MY version - simpler and cheaper ! - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-390606-1.html

Having a right angle adapter on your center post or an articulating centerpost can be very advantageous for low angle work - just make sure you use a counter weight if necessary for stability.

I've been using this for around 20 years. Sometimes I put a gimbal head on it. The two piece of Velcro are for the pouches holding batteries and FILM. The sides are high for pushing it ahead when crawling it wet sand and mud. To get lower I flip the ball to the side.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-355991-1.html

Quantus5

Bill_de wrote:

I've been using this for around 20 years. Sometimes I put a gimbal head on it. The two piece of Velcro are for the pouches holding batteries and FILM. The sides are high for pushing it ahead when crawling it wet sand and mud. To get lower I flip the ball to the side.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-355991-1.html

Awesome!! Man, I really want to build one of these now. :-)

Toad Rancher Loc: Central PA Mts.

I have a tripod that I actually bought at K Mart back when they had a "photography dept" that has a 1/4-20 stud on the bottom end of the column. I have used it on occasion for macro shots.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

aflundi wrote:

[ ... ]
Do the reversible column trick with a gimbal head attached. You would have the camera upright and could position it in any orientation and any position right down to touching the ground, easily. And since the weight would be placed low, it would be intrinsically stable.
[ ... ] I'll be trying it as soon as I can get back to my equipment. [ ... ]

Ok, I've tried a reversed gimbal. Apparently no one else was as taken by the idea as I was, but FYI, it works great with no sign of bearing problems with the Nest gimbal. Adjust the height by adjusting leg length/angle and/or column position, and if the camera is balanced, just point it to the desired orientation (otherwise point and tighten gimbal lock).

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

These kind of remind me of the new Platypod tripods plates except they are much bigger & bulkier. I'd imagine a pain to transport as well..... I got the smaller Platypod recently...
https://www.platypodpro.com/

Bill_de wrote:

I've been using this for around 20 years. Sometimes I put a gimbal head on it. The two piece of Velcro are for the pouches holding batteries and FILM. The sides are high for pushing it ahead when crawling it wet sand and mud. To get lower I flip the ball to the side.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-355991-1.html

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

All of those options are fine if that's what works for you. I have two tripods without any center column; both get me within MWD which gets me to 1:1..... Both maintain stability.

EoS_User Loc: Oshawa, Ontario Canada

My tripod has reversible feature but, I've not employed it to date. If I do then I will mount my camera and lens to it via the lens' tripod ring. This way the camera can be rotated in the lens ring to keep everything right way up. Also, as mentioned by another, insects aren't likely to wait around while you're getting this stuff set up. They get bored easily and run away to find something more exciting.

Quantus5 wrote:

I'm taking an advanced photography class and the i... (show quote)

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

One of the men in my group uses a monopod to get close to the ground. He is elderly and had hip problems, so just sitting on the ground did not work very well (especially the getting up part).

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

EoS_User wrote:

My tripod has reversible feature but, I've not employed it to date. If I do then I will mount my camera and lens to it via the lens' tripod ring. This way the camera can be rotated in the lens ring to keep everything right way up. Also, as mentioned by another, insects aren't likely to wait around while you're getting this stuff set up. They get bored easily and run away to find something more exciting.

And this is where you eschew the tripod and go with a camera+macro lens+flash with diffusion.

Bill_de Loc: US

Screamin Scott wrote:

These kind of remind me of the new Platypod tripods plates except they are much bigger & bulkier. I'd imagine a pain to transport as well..... I got the smaller Platypod recently...
https://www.platypodpro.com/

I don't think the little one with the spikes would work well pushing it through the mud or sand. For setting in a spot you can walk up to it looks great. For transport the ball head with the camera are on the tripod over my shoulder. The plate slides into a backpack.

There are so many things that work for what we each need to do, as long as we take the time to think about it.

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kd5jbk

The bottom line is that the best tripod is the one that allows you to get the shot you're after. Regular tripod,reversible center column,piece of wood and a bolt,pile of rocks... Just because HE doesn't use a pod with a reversible column doesn't mean they are useless and a gimmick. Your style of photography might be the polar opposite of his. Who knows maybe you could capture a stunning landscape from a totally unique perspective with the camera just inches off the ground. To bad that he suffers from rectal cranial inversion. If it works, it works.