Ground level tripods?

[TwoWheeler]

I have one of these little guys and it works well for a lot of low level photos...but in some cases it doesn't go low enough.

I CAN reverse the center column on my regular tripod, but that means working upside down...and I'm not even competent working right side up.

I searched for "ground level tripods" and got some strange results that weren't what I was looking for, as well as the Ground Pod. The GP is kind of the right idea, but I really don't want to carry a trash can lid around with me.

I've been looking at printing one of these, but it's kind of janky and requires removing my Arca plate to use. On the plus side, it's light and compact enough for my liking.

Any other ideas? My current idea is to make a modified version of the printed one, that lessens the cheese factor and allows me to keep my Arca plate on, but if there's other ideas, I'm interested.

 

[Dean Wilson]

My 3-Legged Thing is 6" without the center column, and there nave smaller ones as well.

Macro and Low-Level

 

[Bryan Conner]

This is what I have, I exchanged the original tiny ballhead with one that is a little larger.

Small Rig Tabletop Mini Tripod

Here it is with my EOS R with a battery grip and my Tamron 24-70 G2. Removing the battery grip would definitely bring it closer to ground level. I am not sure if this is any better than what you already have though.

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[TwoWheeler]

DOH! How could I be so stupid? The answer is blindingly obvious! Dig a hole for the tripod!

With my current rig the center of the lens is 9" off the "ground":

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When I took this worm's eye view the other day, my "tripod" was a square of plywood and a kitchen towel stuffed under the lens.:

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In looking at my current tripod, it has occurred to me that I might be able to fabricate an adapter that would fit where the center column currently lives. For stuff like the above image, I don't really need a ball head or a swivel...

Hmmmm... when I get back to work Tuesday, I'm going to have a backlog of "government jobs" to do...

 

[ShipleyNW]

Here's another small tripod that gets low. I've got a Moman tabletop tripod that looks like it might have come from the same factory as Bryan's Smallrig tripod above. It's well made and works fine for what it is. It has 2 settings: low and high. Pictured is the head that came with it, but any head will screw right on.

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[Josh217]

I have a Platypod. It works well. I’ve used it with the RF 100-500 and it was stable.

 

[TwoWheeler]

I have a Platypod. It works well. I’ve used it with the RF 100-500 and it was stable.

Well here is my current pro-fesh-nul, hold my beer setup:

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I'm starting to think anything with a ball head is gonna be too tall. I'm going to have to give the aforementioned 3D printed thing a go.

 

[Josh217]

Well here is my current pro-fesh-nul, hold my beer setup:

View attachment 38007
I'm starting to think anything with a ball head is gonna be too tall. I'm going to have to give the aforementioned 3D printed thing a go.

If you want lower than that reversing the center column is the only thing I know of on the market.

 

[Bryan Conner]

Well here is my current pro-fesh-nul, hold my beer setup:

View attachment 38007
I'm starting to think anything with a ball head is gonna be too tall. I'm going to have to give the aforementioned 3D printed thing a go.

I don't see a beer holder. You cain't be a bonafide profeshnul.

 

[TwoWheeler]

I don't see a beer holder. You cain't be a bonafide profeshnul.

Shows what you know - a plywood table, a plastic tablecloth and one o’ them there Canon coasters that handily stores right on the front of my lens. What more do you need?