talk me out of it... plz....

ok.. since i've been playing with the Dolica $99 CF tripod for a while, I've noticed that I need to shoot low. they have one version model number ending with 300 that can detach the center column from the ball head and attach it directly on top of the tripod leg. thus enabling me to shot low, without flipping the center column upside down and shoot upside down.

well, that's 1 thing i didn't think i needed, and ended up i do need that.

secondly, the total unit folds up to 23.25" or so, which i can still put into my carry-on luggage by detaching the center column from the legs and put it in. however, as i'm looking for a backpack style bag, the tought of carrying a 23.25" tripod and bumping into things.. well, that's not good.

*edit* actually I checked and there's another way to shorten it to 19". see here.

so, i started looking into benro travel angel. it's pricey, but i'm willing to take aluminium over dolica CF and paying the premium for the same weight, shorter folded 17" or less.

but anyone know, can it be configured to do this? see photo

Benro does sell short center columns for low shooting. I would contact them to make sure you get the right one.

oh yeah? do you know if i can get it with a head that support a heavier load?

The travelangel legs fold over for the shorter packed length to about 16" or so. I actually don't extend the last segment of the legs often for more stability (and I like the torso level height). The legs have 2 locking levels for "low level" shooting...

Here's a thread showing it... https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=938777

EOS mE wrote in post #13893873
oh yeah? do you know if i can get it with a head that support a heavier load?

You do realize that tripod head mounts are a pretty standard thing right? You can put whatever head you want on there.

You could also look at the Oben travel series. With some of them you can remove one of the legs, mate it to the center column and voila, instant monopod.

http://www.youtube.com …Zg5d5S28s&featu​re=related

^^ thanks for the link. my worries is that the head will creap when put into portrait orientation with my 5D2 gripped + 70-200L f2.8 IS + 580EX2.

oh.. the oben looks pretty good too~~ thanks for the video!

EOS mE wrote in post #13894001
^^ thanks for the link. my worries is that the head will creap when put into portrait orientation with my 5D2 gripped + 70-200L f2.8 IS + 580EX2.

oh.. the oben looks pretty good too~~ thanks for the video!

Always take the grip off of the camera when you're using the tripod. The flex between the grip and the body can not only leave you fighting "creep" when trying to frame your shot but it can exacerbate any vibrations coming through the rig. I remember forgetting to take the grip off one night and I was doing some macro shooting. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why the camera just wouldn't quite "settle down". I had counter weights on the tripod, remote, live view, etc and at 10x the camera never stopped moving. When I took the grip off she settled down. BTW, if you didn't notice there is a spot in the grip to hold the battery door. This way you can take it on and off while you're out shooting.

"BTW, if you didn't notice there is a spot in the grip to hold the battery door. This way you can take it on and off while you're out shooting."

where is this located at?? got a pic?

EOS mE wrote in post #13894001
^^ thanks for the link. my worries is that the head will creap when put into portrait orientation with my 5D2 gripped + 70-200L f2.8 IS + 580EX2.

oh.. the oben looks pretty good too~~ thanks for the video!

You should select a tripod, and then select a head, you don't necessarily have to buy them as a combo deal. However, the set-up you mentions is just under 10lbs if I recall correctly (I weighed mine out of curiosity once, think it was about 8.5lbs), so if you have a decent head there shouldn't be an issue.

EOS mE wrote in post #13894026
"BTW, if you didn't notice there is a spot in the grip to hold the battery door. This way you can take it on and off while you're out shooting."

where is this located at?? got a pic?

give me a few minutes.........

yea, i weight my heaviest combo and it was about close to 10lbs. but the head did creap even when i mounted on the tripod collar of my 70-200L. landscape orientation, it didn't creap, but in portrait, it did even when i tighten down.

EOS mE wrote in post #13894051
yea, i weight my heaviest combo and it was about close to 10lbs. but the head did creap even when i mounted on the tripod collar of my 70-200L. landscape orientation, it didn't creap, but in portrait, it did even when i tighten down.

Is that with the head that came with the tripod? If you want a decent head on a budget you could look at Adorama's Flashpoint line. I have an F3 which holds my 5dII with 70-200mII at all sorts of odd angles with no issues. The only issue I thought I had was lens creep when tightening the ball, but it turned out to be the flex in the grip/body area (not an issue with the tripod collar obviously).
Beyond that I would stick with the Arca Swiss mount system. It's a fairly standardized system that is used by a lot of the higher end manufacturers, as well as the budget brands. If you decide to get a gimbal head for instance, it would be pretty easy to find one that takes an A-S plate, so you'd never have to take the plate off of the lens or body. If you decide to get a camera hand strap, several use A-S plates on the bottom. I have a Capture Clip and it uses an A-S plate to hold the camera as well.


As far as the battery door slot:

holy cow.. i didn't know there's a place for you to hide the battery door!! i have the zeikos for my 5D2, i wonder if it has that too..

edit: thank you thank you... now i found my battery door for my 30D. after all these years.. i thought i lost it!! lol...

EOS mE wrote in post #13894150
holy cow.. i didn't know there's a place for you to hide the battery door!! i have the zeikos for my 5D2, i wonder if it has that too..

edit: thank you thank you... now i found my battery door for my 30D. after all these years.. i thought i lost it!! lol...

Most of the third party grips have spots for the door also.

humm.. right now i have the canon strap on there.. so didn't take the grip off of the 5D2. i usually shoot with the grip, so never thought of taking the grip off to mount onto the tripod. so that's why i usually just mount it on the bottom of the battery grip. didn't think that would cause the creap to happen.