Mighty Low Boy tripod [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

View Full Version : Mighty Low Boy tripod

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 00:09

Does anyone use this tripod, and have any comments about it?
I'm sure it'd be nice for macro, but even more so, what about general use for landscape and various other things? It'd be neat for low to the ground shots, but more so, it'd be an easy way to travel with a tripod when you go shooting in the day. An example of when I wish I had something like this was Friday when I went shooting, but didn't want to take my tripod with me because I'd have to strap it to my bag or carry my shoulder bag. So I didn't take it, but I wanted to take soem moon shots later, and couldn't stabilize my camera properly for any long exposures getting noise-free shots.
It would definitley fit in my bag perfectly. I wonder if the legs spread out close enough that you could mount it on various platforms that are a few feet in the air.
http://www.kirkphoto.com/MightyLowBoy.html
(I love to shoot low to the ground too, so maybe it's worth it. I've been using my bean bag, but sometimes it's a little too windy or whatever to use it, or you just wish you had a tripod.)

Pinto

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 11:05

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 13:33

Well, as they indicate, it's just a modified Manfrotto 3001BN tripod. Many, many people here use and like the 3001, including me. If you need a constant low mount pod, i don't think you could go wrong with it.

I have a 3001 too. I like it, although I might need to upgrade as it doesn't support enough weight for possible future setups to be very solid.
I am, sort of curious, how tall it is exactly with everything extended. They say 28" and 15" w/o the normal center pole, but that photo on their site with the girl using the small center pole kneeing down would be totally out of scale and reality if it is only 15" (she has to be more then 15" tall even kneed down, LOL.)
I am just thinking it'd be useful as it's easy to pack, and a lot of times there is a surface you can put the tripod on that's higher, and I do a lot of low to the ground shots anyway, and soon will do macro.

Pinto

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 15:29

Don't forget that's there's a tall head on it, maybe 5 inches, plus a lens bracket, plus lens. So you're up to maybe 25 inches. That's still short, but maybe she's a small girl.

Dorman

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 16:58

Pretty cool tripod, if I spent the entire day near the ground I'd consider it, but she's no substitute for a full-size and much more versatile tripod IMHO.

Dorman

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 16:59

...

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 17:17

Don't forget that's there's a tall head on it, maybe 5 inches, plus a lens bracket, plus lens. So you're up to maybe 25 inches. That's still short, but maybe she's a small girl.

Maybe..
Dorman, I shoot at night near the ground a LOT. I shoot in the city, and I've shot all the easy / obvious stuff if you want to call it already, so I try new perspectives. I'll post some photos later, maybe. I use my bean bag for that, and get soft images because when my exposures are slightly long (a few seconds) wind or other variables usually cause image shack or just softness.
Pinto, that's true, still seems a little weird though.
Probably need the right angle finder to take full advantage of that pod, which is awfully expensive.

SkipD

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 19:03

The 3021BPro will get the camera as close to the ground as it is possible to do - without any modification. Just put a decent ball head on it (I use the 488RC2) and away you go.

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 19:48

The 3021BPro will get the camera as close to the ground as it is possible to do - without any modification. Just put a decent ball head on it (I use the 488RC2) and away you go.

But the 3021 (huge), and even my 3001 are too large to throw in your backpack, and very inconvenient to use close to the ground, I've done it with my 3001, it's a huge pain in the ass, especially with that center pole.

SkipD

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 20:10

But the 3021 (huge), and even my 3001 are too large to throw in your backpack, and very inconvenient to use close to the ground, I've done it with my 3001, it's a huge pain in the ass, especially with that center pole.The 3021BPro comes with a two-piece center column that easily disassembles. This allows the center of the tripod to go flat to the ground with the legs splayed out.

You can, of course, use the center column in a horizontal manner which adds tremendously to the versatility.

If all you want is to use the camera at ground level, just put a 3/8-16 bolt through a piece of plywood and screw a ball head to that. It's simple, sturdy, lightweight, and you can burn the board if you really need a fire.

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 20:12

The 3021BPro comes with a two-piece center column that easily disassembles. This allows the center of the tripod to go flat to the ground with the legs splayed out.

You can, of course, use the center column in a horizontal manner which adds tremendously to the versatility.

If all you want is to use the camera at ground level, just put a 3/8-16 bolt through a piece of plywood and screw a ball head to that. It's simple, sturdy, lightweight, and you can burn the board if you really need a fire.
I also was thinking this would be useful for shooting from the ground up, like the moon (some nights I go shooting with no tripod, and wish I had one because the moon happens to be beautiful that night), and other landscape shots from the ground up.
Also will be getting a macro lens soon, I have no intentions of getting a 3021, it is way too big, and my 3001 needs the center column to be put into horizontal to be used low to the ground, which imo is a huge pain in the ass that drives me nuts, and like I said, I can't throw it in my bag INCASE I need it, I have to lug it around.

Pinto

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 20:37

If all you want is to use the camera at ground level, just put a 3/8-16 bolt through a piece of plywood and screw a ball head to that. It's simple, sturdy, lightweight, and you can burn the board if you really need a fire.

I've seen this suggestion from you before and it really is a good idea. Just a 12"x12"x1" piece of pressed board would be heavy enough for most setups and still small enough to keep in the backseat of a car. Mount short rubber feet on it to rise it up off the bolt head,(or recess it), and you're done.

Pinto

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 20:41

Probably need the right angle finder to take full advantage of that pod, which is awfully expensive.

You do know that a couple of third party angle finders have been introduced recently that are less expensive than the Canon.

JaGWiRE

6th of March 2007 (Tue), 20:44

You do know that a couple of third party angle finders have been introduced recently that are less expensive than the Canon.

Another photographer was speaking of one, but it was still like $200.
What other alternatives are there?

Pinto

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 10:45

For starters, the Hoodman is $129.00: http://www.hoodmanusa.com/H-RAV.asp

Pinto

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 10:54

JaGWiRE

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 13:35

Adorama has Pro Optic brand at $89.95: http://www.adorama.com/CZRAF.html
Amazon has Seagull brand at $69.95; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000CS40WY/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-7241886-6024114?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics
They all look exactly like the Canon. Hope this helps.
What do you recommend, the Pro Optic or the hoodman? Amazon doesn't ship that item to Canada, not sure about hoodman, I think Adorama does though.

Pinto

7th of March 2007 (Wed), 15:24

I'm sorry, I can't give you any recommendation. I'm just trying to help you with the information you asked for. I have the over-priced Canon unit.
Maybe somebody else can come forward with a recommendation for you.
You might want to start another thread on that topic to get better response.

JaGWiRE

9th of March 2007 (Fri), 03:18