Remote camera mini-tripod?

Hello all!

I wanna know my options for a mini-tripod for pocketwizard'ed remote camera use.

It'll hold up a remote camera such as a 5D / 50D with wide angle lens and pocketwizard for goal shots.

My main aim is to go as low as possible and have the tripod legs as small as possible. I will use my own head, the Kirk BH-3, as my cameras are all arca-swiss compatibly plated.

Anyone know the cheapest / most bang-for-buck tripod out there? I know manfrotto has one, but haven't found info on it regarding the price and usability, as well as the removal of tripod head. I'm not looking at the gorillapod yet unless it's the only option.

Cheers,
Zexun

the Slik mini pro III or V are pretty cheap and low down, but I can't remember if you can change the heads or not. The manfrotto one you're referring to is a good one too, but again, not sure if the head is removable. It is rather cheap though, comes in at about $25US, same as the slik minis.
Velbon does the ultra maxi mini, I did a short review on it in this forum a couple of days ago, but it does cost more.

You can easily unwind the head on the Slik Mini's, it has a 1/4-20 in thread so you might need an adaptor if you have 3/8 in thread on your ball head.

The center column can be raised for more height, but it's useful down as well, acting as another leg support. The head included is a basic pan and tilt which does not add much to the height of the tripod, but it can support quite a lot of weight.

This is the lowest I can go with the tripod by directly attaching it to the camera.

You can go with the floor plate from http://overxposed.com/ or any cheaper knock off or DIY

I have themanfrotto. The ball head is movable. I have used it for 15 years, and it is still working perfect. So, the quality is great. There is no changes from back then. I have had it with me everywhere all these years and it is still as good as new.

I can recomend it. But with a lens that is to heavy, you need to put some weight on the legs, to keep it stable. Not that the tripod is bad, but the physical laws are still there. The weight of the smal tripod is close to nothing, and a lens with more weight brings the balance point to high up.

Thanks for the reply! The manfrotto ballhead is removable or movable?

Might check out the SLIK as well! Seems like the floor plate for US$60 is gone actually, from photopat's link.

Headshotzx wrote in post #11696647
Hello all!

I wanna know my options for a mini-tripod for pocketwizard'ed remote camera use.

It'll hold up a remote camera such as a 5D / 50D with wide angle lens and pocketwizard for goal shots.

My main aim is to go as low as possible and have the tripod legs as small as possible. I will use my own head, the Kirk BH-3, as my cameras are all arca-swiss compatibly plated.

Anyone know the cheapest / most bang-for-buck tripod out there? I know manfrotto has one, but haven't found info on it regarding the price and usability, as well as the removal of tripod head. I'm not looking at the gorillapod yet unless it's the only option.

The simplest and, by far, the least expensive solution I can think of is a piece of plywood - maybe one foot square or even circular shaped - with a 3/8-16 bolt through the middle of it. Fasten the hood to the bolt. Put some rubber "feet" on the bottom of the board and you're ready to go.

The length of the bolt will be determined by the thickness of the board and how deep the female thread socket in your ball head is. You want a bolt that is just a bit shorter than the total of the two dimensions.

Headshotzx wrote in post #11697274
Thanks for the reply! The manfrotto ballhead is removable or movable?

Might check out the SLIK as well! Seems like the floor plate for US$60 is gone actually, from photopat's link.

Sorry, it is removable...

My english is emproving for every misspelling...