flexable mini tripod w/ ball bearing?

[Kamui K]

Hey guys. I remember seeing an article covering a 3 legged flexable tripod which was good for mini photogrophy. But while looking around online, this tripod doesn\'t seem to have a ball on top to adjust angles easily. So in order to take odd angles, you\'ll have to bend the legs in an odd shape right? But does anyone know of any good tripods which has both flexable legs AND a swivle ball top to ancor the camera on?

I\'d rather bend the legs for height adjustment and use the ball to adjust angles. It seems safer that way.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[finn17]

Depends where you have been looking...

I don\'t have any specific advice, but it realle depends where you have been looking. Photographic outlets might not be hot on bendy legged tripods as they somewhat defeat the purpose of having a tripod in the first place - rock-solid stability. I have seen the sort of gizmos you are on about being sold by computer stores in order to mount webcam thingies, which are much lighter and quality is so poor, stability isn\'t so important. You might have some luck if you tried these sources??

 

[Beelzebrush]

I know the tripods you mean... I almost bought one myself. They are made by Hama, who also make the bendy legged ones..

This is in the UK but you will probably be able to get them elsewhere...

http://www.hama.co.uk/section.asp?sectionid=223&catalogue=1

This site has lots of mini tripods

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/links/391.html

Hopr that helps

 

[finn17]

Happy etc\'s

Hey Beezlebrush!!

Congrats on membership!!:bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy:

 

[Kamui K]

That\'s a long list!
Thanks guys.

I though the tripod I saw here could use an extra attachment on top.

Photography: Good Tripod for Mini-Shooting

 

[finn17]

Have you thought of...

I have seen this tripod and it\'s really dinky. However, you might want to consider, as an alternative, a simple bean bag. Lots of wildlife photographers use these \'cos they can\'t guarantee the surface they want to mount their camera on will be flat.
You can buy or make a bean bag for a few pennies and they work just as well, if not better than a tripod. You will, of course, have to use the camera\'s \'timer\' function, but this applies to tripods as well.

 

[mouse]

beanbag is good...

finn is right again (hmm...just don\'t change your avatar )...a beanbag is used by wildlife photographer for a low-down shot. Beanbag is also used when there\'s uneven ground.

However, there are several tripods with ball-head. A few good tripods (stable and durable) can be from Kenko or Manfrotto.

Oops, forgot something. The tripod that you purchase depends also on the weight of your camera. The minimum and maximum height and the tripod head.

Eg. Sherpa from Manfrotto can be lowered almost to ground level cos of it\'s adjustable spread of its legs.

 

[Sand Rat]

You could also use a remote trigger for the Camera to eliminate the jiggle from pressing the the shutter release.

Got to stop posting from work - it confuses my brain lol

 

[Beelzebrush]

Originally posted by finn17
Hey Beezlebrush!!

Congrats on membership!!:bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy:

LOL! I hadn\'t noticed... Cheers!
It\'s great being a member... ahem

 

[Kamui K]

Originally posted by finn17
You can buy or make a bean bag for a few pennies and they work just as well, if not better than a tripod. You will, of course, have to use the camera\'s \'timer\' function, but this applies to tripods as well.

That\'s so crazy it just might work!
Professional wildlife photogrophers use bean bags? Sometimes its amazing how the most useful stuff are sometimes the most simplest.

Woo hoo! Thanks again guys.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Many Many years ago there was a manufacturer of tripods called \'Benbo\'. A good number of professional photographers swore by this as it was a radical design allowing a almost infinite variation of postures. If you can do an internet search then good luck .
Hope this might help.

PS Bean bags were fun to use, till you split them.

 

[finn17]

There\'s bean bags and beanbags...

Originally posted by Kamui K
That\'s so crazy it just might work!
Professional wildlife photogrophers use bean bags? Sometimes its amazing how the most useful stuff are sometimes the most simplest.

It is possible to buy a special beanbag from a camera supplier and spend a fortune for the privilege. Professionals often use them for convenience and nothing works better when taking a shot out of a car window. The principle is so simple though that there is no need to waste money buying a \'proper\' beanbag when you can make one so simply. I wouldn\'t use beans or peas though because they are too big. Something like pearl barley would probably be ideal.

 

[mouse]

self made \"bean\" bags ...

In the past, reading an article from Outdoor Photography, there\'s a desperate wildlife professional photographer who\'s tripod was left behind in his car (Huff! What expert leaves his tripod behind ) and had to take a close up ground shot of something (can\'t remember that creature). So he used his T-shirt (of course he\'s still wearing his jacket), filled it with sand and tied all openings.

hehe...sounds like sand bag to me.

\"Forgive the mindless ranting of a hamster on a treadmill...\"

 

[mouse]

Benbo...

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
Many Many years ago there was a manufacturer of tripods called \'Benbo\'. A good number of professional photographers swore by this as it was a radical design allowing a almost infinite variation of postures. If you can do an internet search then good luck .
Hope this might help.

PS Bean bags were fun to use, till you split them.

Benbo is still around...

 

[airhead]

Tripods with balls.

Most tripods have a tilt/swivel adjustment.

from wal-marx for $57

Look for the removable insert at the top of the tripod (quick release for cameras). Take a small piece of plywood and a threaded insert. Attache the plywood to the tripod insert = removable table top that can be adjusted, tilted, swiveled, etc.

Or are you just looking for a ball-head for a tripod?

from ritz camera.

also:

from ritz camera $15 - ball head mini tripod. I may have to get one myself.

 

[Kamui K]

Just want to check all my options for cheap. I\'d rather save my cash on the actual minis. But $5-$20 for a tripod sounds good. I just wanted to know what\'s out there for that price range.

And there\'ve been instances were I wish I could bend my camera\'s angle to get just the right shot.

And I needed to know if those flexy legs are good compared to the usual sturdy ones.

 

[Tuubje]

The bendy leg tripod looks great to use, but I take my pictures with a digital videocamera, which is bulkier than a normal camera and actually quite heavy. Is that bendy thing strong? I mean, could it hold my camera?

 

[finn17]

Probably....

Originally posted by Tuubje
The bendy leg tripod looks great to use, but I take my pictures with a digital videocamera, which is bulkier than a normal camera and actually quite heavy. Is that bendy thing strong? I mean, could it hold my camera?

Probably, provided:

a) It was all on a rock steady base such as the floor.

b) You had given it a few seconds after setting up, focussing etc. for vibrations to subside.

c) You triggered it using a self-timer or remote release.

Other wise no, I would not trust such a device to hold a DV camera still.

 

[finn17]

Found one!!!

I think I have just found what you were looking for:

http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?

Jessops is a UK firm but they sell a lot of reasonably priced camera gear.

 

[mouse]

jessops...

Originally posted by finn17
I think I have just found what you were looking for:

http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?

Jessops is a UK firm but they sell a lot of reasonably priced camera gear.

Yup, Jessops is one of the leading photographic chain of stores in UK. They not only carry various brands of cameras and accessories, they also have their own in-house items. Moreover, they held competitions annually to promote photography.

Well deserved the mention and definitely worth a visit (either to their actual store or to their website)