Horizontal Arm Pods?

[Miyamoto Musashi]

I really want the Horizontal arm feature to be able to take pics of small things on the ground.

I have only found the Benbo's, the Bogen / Manfrotto 3021BPRO, and the Gitzo G2220 (aluminum), are there others that do this? And is Benbo the only one that really gets close to the ground? (The other two brands look like they only go Parrallel to the ground, I would like it to go "past" parrellel.) - Meaning the horizontal arm tips toward the ground a lot.

I also saw the Gitzo horizontal arms, - do they fit on any tri-pod, or just gitzo's?

I know there are similar threads, but I need help. What are your views on the reliability and ease of use, etc.

I need to support a descent amount of weight and important features are not getting sand or other debris in the slider tubes making it hard to telescope.

I don't want to waste money by buying a pod that's not gonna stand the test of time. I don't mind spending more for something that'll last "forever".

The benbo's look like the least expensive, but are they "tough"?

[lostdoggy]

I've seen a Giotto tripod, only in mags, that will pivot beyond the horizontal, but I could not located it on the web.

[Miyamoto Musashi]

I want to add, I am 6' tall and I don't want to stoop down, unless doing the horizontal arm thing. I don't care how heavy it is, I kinda think the heavier the better, as in more sturdy.

[Miyamoto Musashi]

I went ahead and got the Gitzo G2220 pod legs with a Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head

[CyberDyneSystems]

Manfrotto 3001 pro.. slighlty smaller and lighter then the 3021,.. yet still a very strong sturdy unit.

[DavidEB]

love my gitzo 2220. the arm can go horizontal or at pretty much any angle you want (different to the manfrotto, which is either vertical or horizontal). the tripod can get very close to the ground with the arm horizontal, or you can bring the arm in from above at any bizarre angle you want, and it's still rigid.

combined with an acratech ballhead, the versatility is amazing. The acratech has a very wide range of motion, and if you spin around the pano bearing you can get the funny-angled ball support anywhere you want.

[SkipD]

You can't beat the performance of the Bogen 3021BPRO - especially the newer ones with the two-piece center post. You can get the head virtually on the ground if you like. The center post can go horizontal for some really unique setups such as looking straight down at a table, hanging the camera over a fence or short wall, and the like. In my book, the 3021BPRO is a great value for the money. Slightly on the heavy side, but quite sturdy and very well built.

[Miyamoto Musashi]

I am so darn happy with the Gitzo G2220 legs. It's got BALL BEARING washers on the adjustment knobs for spectacular smooth tightening. I just can't get over the build quality of this thing. Now I understand the fascination with the company Gitzo. I guess I have one of the cheaper ones, but I really don't see how they could get much better, except, of course, higher load bearing capability. I am gonna be sticking with Gitzo for the remainder of my years, boy, I'll tell you what...

[ScottE]

You made the right choice.

I have both a Gitzo 2228 (carbon fiber version of the 2220) and a Manfrotto 055PRO (non-USA version of the Bogen 3021PRO).

For close to the ground and uneven terrain photos the arm of the Gitzo can be locked at any angle, including lower that horizontal. (Not quite ANY angle. There are detents that lock it firmly in place so you have to lock it at one of the detents.) Also, the legs can be locked at any angle which makes it very easy to set up in difficult locations.

The Manfotto is not anywhere near as adaptable. It's only advantages are that it is slightly taller and the leg clamps are a little quicker to use than the tightening collars on the Gitzo.

[Miyamoto Musashi]

Yeah BABY!
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3500/gitzog2220manfrotto488rc23hd.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)