Low min height tripod

[anthonyhong]

I know how you guys really push the neccecity for a good tripod and I completly understand, I have used 2 tripods, both really bad. The first cant hold ANYTHING above its minimum height... or it just slides down on its own.. its 30 years old now and breaking down.. but it was never good in the first place. The second is a Giotos something something not sure of the name but its sold at blacks.. I got it because ontop of the sales price, I got a lot of discounts added to it bringing it to a third of its price :P.

I am currently using that giotos tripod but I was never really satisfied with it. It was never sturdy, I was scared of tipping it over :cry: and shooting outside I had to step on the legs to hold it still!

So now Im pretty fed up with it and Im looking for a new real tripod! I dont know where to begin looking, ive read the stickies, ive checked a bunch of mfg websides but I am pretty confused! Can anyone reccomend a decent tripod for a fairly light setup (20D+ mediocre zooom lens) that has a very low minimum height?

thanks a lot guys!

[SkipD]

Can anyone reccomend a decent tripod for a fairly light setup (20D+ mediocre zooom lens) that has a very low minimum height?The Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPro (055ProB outside the U.S.) topped off with a Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head can get the camera within an inch or two of the ground while the camera is upright and fully supported.

You would use a combination of spreading two of the legs out totally horizontally and one almost that far, and using the horizontally mounted center column on the low side. The ball head does the rest.

This tripod/head combination is EXTREMELY versatile and not terribly expensive.

Here’s the combination at B&H: 3021BPro/488RC2 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=353322&is=REG&addedTroughType=search/)

[anthonyhong]

Thanks for the suggestion! Im having a bit of trouble finding it locally, do you know of any more?

[philbyuk]

depends where you are? try looking for the 190 prob and the 488rc2. I have this setup its great ..sturdy and very adaptable. The legs splay almost horizontal (the hieght can go as low as about 4 inches)the pole can be reversed(ie upside down so the camera can be inverted). also the pole can be placed horizontally too. great for above shos etc and not a bad price

[SkipD]

Thanks for the suggestion! Im having a bit of trouble finding it locally, do you know of any more?Where is "locally"?

Regarding the previous post, the 190 is shorter than the 055ProB. The 055ProB is the same as the U.S. 3021BPro.