I know this subject has come up before (I've been searching the posts) and no-one has come up with an answer, unless I've missed something.

Somewhere, there has to be a set of short tripod legs. Something that gives a height of 1ft to 3ft open, and about 18 inches closed. Something that is lightweight because it doesn't have 6 ft of metal, not because it is made of inferior materials.

At present, I have Manfrotto 190B with a levelling column (50mm half ball) and a 701 head which is reasonable to carry long distances, and fits in my suitcase. But the 50mm half ball isn't good enough for my Canon XH-A1.

I've just bought a Libec 38 which does all the things the Manfrotto won't, but is so big and heavy (for me at just over 5ft) that it won't be going far from the house or car. But it is a real pleasure to use.

To get something relatively lightweight that will take a 75mm half bowl, it seems I have to go to a hi-hat. But not all of my subjects can be filmed at ground level, and I won't always (or even often) have something suitable to rest the thing on.

A cinesaddle has some advantages and disadvantages too.

So I'm really looking for some short length, proper video tripod legs.

The nearest I've found:

Manfrotto 351MVCF but I'd like something even shorter.

Manfrotto 350SHMVB Short Video Pro has a built-in 100mm half bowl

Any omments on these, or others welcome.

Hi Annie,

It is probably of little interest as it was a home-made one-off but you could have a look at my post: -
Lightweight tripod / fluid head combination for low level use
Alastair Traill
I am sure I have not referred correctly but the post is currently on the second page of “tripods, sticks and threads”.

Some further details: -
For transport and storage the legs telescope into one another making it very compact. The legs lock into a clamp block that makes the structure very rigid. There is no ball cup, instead there is double clamp system that can be positioned at a convenient point along the thickest and longest leg. The double clamp system makes it possible to set the column in a vertical position. The fluid head is a side mount unit and can be mounted on the vertical column either above or below the long leg. I can use it with the camera touching the ground or up to about 30’’. Once set up with a camera it very easy to move around - even one handed. As tripod and head weigh less than 2 kg it has to be handled very gently to prevent unwanted camera movements. For what it was made for it has been very successful. Unfortunately I have had problems trying to scale the design up.

I will probably try one more design as the telescoping legs make carrying and transport so much easier. In rough terrain with the legs inside one another the tripod becomes a monopod and can be used as a staff to assist rather than hinder one’s passage.

Any of these suit the bill?

Professional Video Tripod Baby Legs | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/3911/Camera_Support_Baby_Legs.html)


CS

Alastair - that is ingenious - where did you get the parts?

Alastair - I did see your post, but was looking for something to buy off the shelf. At present I'm too busy to worry about non-standard items, but I'll look at it again in the future.

Chris - thanks, that's a useful link. I guess I didn't look at B&H because I probably confined my searches to Britain. But I should have done to see what was generally available, then get it ordered over here (so someone else can take care of import duty etc).

There were two seperate threads from people wanting travel-size tripods back in May, but neither got a single response. So it was worth asking again.

Now, back to earning some cash for yet another set of sticks!

Alastair - that is ingenious - where did you get the parts?

Hi Doug,

For better or worse the bits and pieces are home-made. I have a lathe, milling machine and some tooling from the 1930s that is very useful for trying out ideas but not particularly suited to any sort of volume production. However I am happy to discuss details of any of my projects, some ideas have worked better than others. In the absence of intelligent design I progress, if at all, by evolution.

Found another set of baby legs. This one doesn't have a bowl, but it seems the top plate can be removed and replaced with a 75mm bowl head

Gitzo GT3320BS Tripod - Fast UK Mainland Delivery (http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~productID~8460~categoryid~240.html)

or for the US

Gitzo | GT3320BS Series-3 Systematic Aluminum Tripod | GT3320BS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/611064-REG/Gitzo_GT3320BS_GT3320BS_Series_3_Systematic_Aluminum.html)

Gitzo GT3320BS Tripod - Fast UK Mainland Delivery (http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~productID~8460~categoryid~240.html)

Hi Annie,
At a maximum height of 35cm it is quite a bit shorter than your initial specification of 3 feet.

Here is the Gitzo 75mm bowl adapter.
Gitzo | GS5320V75 75mm Bowl Adapter | GS5320V75 | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/569199-REG/Gitzo_GS5320V75_GS5320V75_75mm_Bowl_Adapter.html)

There is also a 100mm bowl adapter.

Gitzo GT3320BS Tripod - Fast UK Mainland Delivery (http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~productID~8460~categoryid~240.html)

Hi Annie,
At a maximum height of 35cm it is quite a bit shorter than your initial specification of 3 feet.

When you're looking for something apparently non-standard, you have to start somewhere - hence the 3ft max height. So here we have a small tripod that is more flexible than any hi-hat that I've seen as it has adjustable legs, so it's worth considering.

The aim of starting this thread was to gather information on short sticks, and I think we're going along those lines. I haven't decided which ones I'll get yet.

Hi Annie,

Have you looked at Sachtler Soom TriSpread - the very ingenious tripod / tripod spreader that is one part of a very clever and versatile system? It has a 75 mm bowl and a height range of 21.5 to 49 cm.

Thanks Alastair, that's another one to add to the catalogue.

Here is a review of the whole system, but it seems the mid-level spreader can be bought separately as baby legs - at least here in the UK.

In Review: Sachtler SOOM Tripod, Carl Mrozek (http://videography.com/article/77192)

i have one of these for super-light travel:

Kirk Enterprises : Mighty Low Boy (http://www.kirkphoto.com/Mighty_Low_Boy.html)

Hi Meryem

The Manfrotto/Bogen version has been discontinued here in the UK at least and replaced with the 190Pro, which doesn't go quite so low. This cut down version looks good. Now I'll have to find a company that imports Kirk stuff here.

Thanks

Well, I finally made a decision a couple of weeks ago, and ordered the Manfrotto 350SH Pro. The decision was based mainly on price and availability here in the UK.

My first disappointment was that the legs are silver, rather than black, and that isn't so good for wildlife (light reflecting off silver is to be avoided).

Virtually all the leg levers were very stiff, but I loosened them with the key supplied by Manfrotto - I can always tighten them again as necessary.

The second disappointment was that the 75mm ball head from my Libec LS38 didn't fit the Manfrotto with the 100-75mm adapter fitted. The screw shank on the head just isn't long enough to go right through the bowl. I'll have to get the adapter machined to a better size. Meanwhile, I'm back to using the 701 head on the 100mm half bowl that came with the tripod.

Other than that, everything so far is positive. It's a lot easier to carry about than a full-sized tripod. I have it on a "mulepack" The Mulepack - The Mulepack (http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/mulepack-i567.html) and it's really comfortable, even with the camera mounted - though heavier than the mule is designed for.

Most of my video is done in open country or along the coast, so a low tripod isn't usually a problem. And it's certainly easier for getting down and personal with plants and insects! However, it is uncomfortable to use in woodland with birds over head - but I have to decide whether or not to carry the weight and bulk of the big tripod in that situation.

Now I just have to get those two items sorted out, and I think I'll then be very happy with this tripod.

Annie,

I am going through the same decision process at the moment, although my primary aim is to cut down carry weight rather than reduce height. I want to be more mobile, so have replaced my Sony V1E with a Panny HMC41E - smaller, lighter and no tapes! But less zoom...

The tripod is a stumbling block. My Sachtler is gorgeous, but is overkill for this small cam. It actually works fine, the cam balances no worse than the bigger Sony, but the tripod isn't fun to carry over fields and up mountains.

The weight does appear to be in the head (over 3kg) , the legs on their own are pretty light at 2.x kg (forget what the ".x" is). I see that Manfrotto you have weighs 4.2kg. Yikes! Adding a decent head would make it no lighter than the Sachtler DV6 that I think is too heavy to be mobile at just around 6kg!

BTW, they do list the Manfrotto in black, though I'm not sure of availability, but you probably know that: tripods, heads, monopods, light stands, camera supports, lighting supports, professional tripod 350SHMVB - VIDEO PRO-TRIPOD SHORT/SPK BLK (http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/3325?livid=68&lsf=68&child=3)

My current thoughts are to get a lighter head for my existing Sachtler CF legs. Lighter, however, seems to imply something like a Manfrotto 701HDV or 501HDV, and I don't really want to go there, unless I forget about pans and tilts.

It might work... use the DV6 head for important work or anything that isn't too far, and strip down to a 4kg tripod for off-road work and make a compromise on the ability to pan and tilt, particularly when zoomed in.

The Miller Solo legs are pretty light being carbon fibre, have a 75mm bowl and can get down very low.

Miller | SOLO DV Carbon Fiber 2-Stage Tripod Legs | 1501 | B&H

The legs can be set to an angle of around 80deg which gets the bowl around 9 inches from the ground on a level surface.

Annie,

I am in the market for packable legs. I went to t&h and looked at these legs and was surprised that just the legs were over 9 pounds!! Place a head on them and you are looking at 12 to 14 pounds the weight of a a regular tripod rig!!!

what are you going to use for a head? A light head will be alright for static shots. All three of my fluid heads, a gitzo 1380, vintin v 6 and my miller all are over 4 pounds each.

I am really interested in how you and anyone else is making out in this regard. this summer I am shooting fauna and flora and it will require a fair amount of hiking about,

would like to hear some ideas on this.


Dale Guthormsen

I often shoot low with my Gitzo tripod, and have found that carrying a plastic kitchen stool with me is very helpful. I can sit on the stool to focus and frame my shot. It also comes in handy if I just want to take a short rest. It looks awkward to carry, but is quite easy. Here is an example:

Amazon.com: Rubbermaid White Roughneck Step Stool: Kitchen & Dining

I suppose the advantage of the Miller sticks is they fold up smaller and they have nice padding on them, even if they do weight the same as my Sachtlers. So I could still get fatigued - but get fewer bruises!

If I added a decent Sachtler head then I'm at the same weight with the Miller single tube legs as I am with my DV6-SB setup. I save a few ounces at best.

I'm looking for compromise. An 'OK' head with an 'OK' set of legs that I could live with when hiking, and at least half the weight of my Sachtler set-up, i.e. half of 6 kg (~11 lbs), and even if the head isn't super I don't want spindly legs. It does seem to be something of a Holy Grail.

Mike

I knew what the weight of the 350SH was before I bought it, otherwise that would have been listed in my disappointments. It doesn't feel quite that heavy, which I think is due to it being less bulky and therefore more manageable for my 5ft1in height. I didn't know the legs would be silver, but that's all my local shop could get - or perhaps, all that the importers had in stock.

Dale

I intended using the head off my Libec LS38, but if I can't get the adapter adapted for that head, I'll have to look elsewhere - though I don't know what for, yet.

I have also purchased the Gitzo baby legs primarily for low level shots with the stills cameras. However, one attraction was that the top plate can be replaced with a levelling bowl for video cameras. No-one seems to have the bowl in stock here, and after my experience with the Manfrotto, I asked for confirmation that the Libec head will fit the bowl before making a special order. I'm still waiting for a reply on that.

The baby legs seem pretty solid, and easy to adjust for height. They spread well, and with the still camera can get down to ground level, but obviously with a levelling head won't go quite that low. The weight is just under 3lb for the legs only, and they support 30lbs. This also seems a better option than a high hat because the legs are adjustable - with a hi hat, you're supposed to use it on a reasonably level surface to start with - there isn't much room for adjusting a levelling ball on rough ground.

Annie.


If the "screw shank" I'm guessing that is the threaded stud which passes from the bottom of the ball through the centre of most tripod bowls, is too short. Depending on how it is fitted into the ball, it might be possible to take it out and have a longer one made.

With the DS Millers, which have a simple threaded stud, it can be as simple as buying a length of threaded rod, cutting a new longer one from it, unscrewing the short one and replacing it with the long one. If you cut your own, make sure you wire-brush the cut ends of the threads on the new stud otherwise they might be awkard to start and might jam.

If that is not an option and the hole in centre of the bowl is not too narrow, you might be able to have another wingnut or handwheel fastener made up which has a longer neck with threaded hole to extend through the throat in the bowl and pick up the existing short"screw shank" or stud on the ball.

With the thicker "neck" you might lose a few degrees of levelling ability.

Annie,

I looked for the gitzo legs you mentioned and can not find them by the name you give them.


I would like a short tripod I could either set or lie down, light in weight and will take a 75 mm ball head of some sort.

I would even consider a smallish head that could support 5 to 15 pounds (if the head was lightish), even if it would not be a good as my vinten.


Interested to hear what others have to say about this!!

Dale - here are the Gitzo legs:
Gitzo]Gitzo | GT3320BS 2-Section Aluminum Tripod Legs | GT3320BS | B&H | GT3320BS Series-3 Systematic Aluminum Tripod | GT3320BS

Something else I've seen, but not tried, is a groundpod, for example The Skimmer Ground Pod II - The NatureScapes.Net Store (http://www.naturescapes.net/store/the-skimmer-ground_pod-ii.html) which is designed to be pushed along the ground as you belly crawl behind it into position. I don't know how well it would work for video - and probably not for a large or heavy camera.

Bob

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm a little concerned that if I change the shank on the head, that it won't fit the Libec tripod any more.

Strangely I can sit the libec head on the manfrotto 100mm bowl, though only just, and without much room to manoeuvre. Likewise the 100mm manfrotto half-bowl head, with its long shank, will sit easily on the 75mm bowl of the libec. So I wonder if the libec isn't a little larger than the 75mm claimed.

I'll have to find some time to work on the problem.