heavy duty Table top tripod

[r.morales]

Who makes one that will support an XTI w/ battery pack - 35-350
Be nice if it could also hold flash bracket and 580 II .
I saw one but all I remember is it had 4 legs . [ quad pod ?

[SkipD]

Try a bean bag or sand bag. You'll get a lot more stability than on any tiny tripod.

[r.morales]

Thats kind of what I did , but I put in plastic bag . [ used real bagged beans and bagged rice ] Kind of unstable .
Thanks

[DisrupTer911]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554046-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_345_345_Tabletop_Tripod _Kit.html

i've got one and I've used it a lot actually.
i've even had it support a 30D gripped w/ a Sigma 70-200/2.8 mounted on it w/o issue!

it's a great little tripod

[SkipD]

Thats kind of what I did , but I put in plastic bag . [ used real bagged beans and bagged rice ] Kind of unstable .
ThanksA plastic bag does not work well. You'd need a heavy cloth or leather bag.

Also, a heavier fill works better.

Sand or even lead shot works very well as long as you leave room in the bag to be able to smoosh it around to fit the camera into a formed depression in the bag.

[r.morales]

Actualy , I put the beans or rice bags into plastic because of dust . Then put in pillow cases . This was last year in Mexico . 2 weeks ago I needed again at a reception -
Going to look at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...pod _Kit.html
now ,Thanks

[SkipD]

Actualy , I put the beans or rice bags into plastic because of dust . Then put in pillow cases . This was last year in Mexico . 2 weeks ago I needed again at a reception -
Going to look at
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...pod _Kit.html
now ,ThanksThe plastic and lightweight fabric would definitely slip around too much, especially with lightweight fill. A proper bag for supporting the camera would be made of a fairly heavy fabric or leather as I said above, and heavier fill material works a lot better as well.

Don't give up on the bag idea just because the one you put together didn't work. I wouldn't expect a bag made that way to work very well.

Very few tabletop tripods are going to work well. Most that I have seen don't have the distance between the "feet" to provide a stable platform for an SLR. Many that I have handled can't even support a heavier point-n-shoot camera (with an off-center tripod screw socket) without nearly tipping over. You need either significant weight in a small tripod or a wide stance between the feet to be SURE it won't tip over with any off-center weight on it.

[Denny G]

Have a look.

http://www.minitripods.com/

[Tapeman]

Velebon mini F will support that lens and body. It is a very veratile little tripod.

[Denny G]

Photo of Velbon

http://www.pbase.com/mngatorguy/image/35960693

[Jannie]

Gorillapod Focus, holds up to 11 pounds, I just got one last night and am amazed how sturdy this thing is.

[r.morales]

I have the little Gorillapod - almost useless , but works for HP p&s
Giottos has some that will support 11 lbs but feet look like they would slide to easy . model were QU ---

[Permagrin]

my husband actually uses this with his 1ds2. It's surprisingly sturdy although very bendable.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589879-REG/Trek_Tech_00201_OPTERA_460_PRO_TRIPOD_w_MAGCONNECT .html

[r.morales]

Thanks , bookmarked site - I would like a little wider feet , says it will hold 2 kilos [ about 6 lbs ] with Xti , battery pack , 35-350 , flash bogen 625 RC0 and rotator over 8 lbs , with 10-22 and 26-135 still over 7 lbs .
Doesn't say how far apart feet are and all measurement are in mm .

[SkipD]

I just had another idea for you....

You could make something that would be very serviceable out of hardware store bits and pieces and a conventional ball head. Think of a 12" circle of 3/4" plywood (that thick for weight) with a 3/8-16 stud sticking up from the center. A ball head such as a Manfrotto 486RC2 would fasten to the stud. Put three stick-on rubber feet or felt pads under the board so that it won't mar tables, etc.

The only disadvantage would be the inability to get this above a flat surface (no extendable legs), but telephone books or something like that could do the trick there.

I made something similar (though with the board cut in a rectangular shape) to clamp onto the top of my 8-foot stepladder for use when I am doing large group shots. It works extremely well.

[mdr]

How about this mighty boy?

http://www.kirkphoto.com/MightyLowBoy.html

[r.morales]

mdr - thanks , thats a lot more / closer to what I want . I book marked it
SkipD - thanks - I have an 8 inch chrome plate [ you probably have seen in bathrooms ] - I put little rubber feet on it and screwed a 625 bogen head on it - to tight - ended up adding a 1 1/2 plastic pipe to raise a little . Worked Ok with rail [ no battery pack ] but unstable - I don't trust - with more weight - And awkward to take with me .