Manfrotto 190xprob for flat lay photography?

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taxboy

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I'm thinking of having a go at flat lay flower photography using a light pad. Is getting a pre owned Manfrotto with the horizontal arm the most cost effective way of camera support without too much faffing ?
I've briefly searched for copy stands but they seem much more expensive. As I'm uncertain if I'll gets lots of use not looking to invest shed loads of cash
 
I have a tripod with an arm, and it is useful for some stuff. That said depending on what you are shooting size wise if you have a tripod already and can reverse the column try that and shooting straight down between the tripod legs with it straddling the subject.

If that makes any sense?
 
You might get away with it for really small things. It wont be very stable in that configuration either so you may be taking a crash risk. Either shoot handheld using strobes or mount on a vertical pole between two stands
 
the_accidental said:
I have a tripod with an arm, and it is useful for some stuff. That said depending on what you are shooting size wise if you have a tripod already and can reverse the column try that and shooting straight down between the tripod legs with it straddling the subject.

If that makes any sense?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately my tripod doesn't allow a reverse column
 
LongLensPhotography said:
You might get away with it for really small things. It wont be very stable in that configuration either so you may be taking a crash risk. Either shoot handheld using strobes or mount on a vertical pole between two stands
Click to expand...
I'm trying to visualise that. Do you have a link please
 
I'm very happy with the cheap arm that I bought from Temu
temu overhead pole.jpg
A statement of the obvious though, it needss to be fitted to a very heavy duty tripod - or can be fitted to two.
 
Super cheap:

Get a box/tube/etc that will allow the camera lens to pass through fairly snugly against the lens hood. Secure that at 90˚ to two pieces of wood/broomsticks/etc. Place the pieces of wood between the backs of two chairs or similar.

Alternatively, if you have a piece of glass handy (removable window pane/etc), you can use that as a "shoot through" support. But that adds potential optical issues and risk (non-safety glass).

I use my Benbo extensively for this kind of work, but that cheap arm Garry linked would work well. If you start cantilevering much weight on one you may need counterweights.
 
The Slik 88 would work, as well as the leg angle being adjustable (you can have two legs short and vertical with one leg stretched out behind it to balance) it has a thread in the lower end of the centre column, and another on one of the legs.

The drawback is that the plastic on the leg clamps deteriorates with age, and can break if you get an unlucky one.
 
realspeed said:
I have exactly what your after and i don't use it
it is a manfrotto 055xprob tripod and a 322rc2 head it weights a ton .

if interested it would have to be collection only I am in East Sussex. tghis is far too heavy to post. price negotiable on inspectikon
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Please feel free to create a thread in https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/items-for-sale.15/ - which you can link to here - but we shouldn't advertise in other forums.
 
I've got a Manfrotto with a column that goes at 90 degrees, as others have said it can be a bit unstable at full stretch, the main issue being that to keep the legs out of shot you need the camera between two legs but the most stable situation is to have the camera over one of the the legs. An arm with counter balance like Garry linked is probably a better approach
 
One of the Benbo tripods would do the job or their Uni-Loc derivatives.

Pretty much the most flexible, stable and yet portable camera stands I've found in sixty years...

Benbo Tripod in use HX90 DSC00704.JPG
 
I have been using a Manfrotto with the removable horizontal arm for years for macro photography
Can’t remember the model number but I tjink its the same as the one in Bazza,s picture but mine is carbon fibre, same head as well
It’s very stable as long as everything is tightened properly
I,m using it with a Sigma 150 macro which is quite heavy
 
sk66 said:
Super cheap:

Get a box/tube/etc that will allow the camera lens to pass through fairly snugly against the lens hood. Secure that at 90˚ to two pieces of wood/broomsticks/etc. Place the pieces of wood between the backs of two chairs or similar.

Alternatively, if you have a piece of glass handy (removable window pane/etc), you can use that as a "shoot through" support. But that adds potential optical issues and risk (non-safety glass).

I use my Benbo extensively for this kind of work, but that cheap arm Garry linked would work well. If you start cantilevering much weight on one you may need counterweights.
Click to expand...
I think Garry's suggestion will work but as you highlighted I'll probably need a counterweight. My tripod is rated to 30kg so should cope
 
sirch said:
I've got a Manfrotto with a column that goes at 90 degrees, as others have said it can be a bit unstable at full stretch, the main issue being that to keep the legs out of shot you need the camera between two legs but the most stable situation is to have the camera over one of the the legs. An arm with counter balance like Garry linked is probably a better approach
Click to expand...
You can hang a weight off the Manfrotto arm with a bit of ingenuity. e.g. strong carrier bag with rocks
 
Ed Sutton said:
You can hang a weight off the Manfrotto arm with a bit of ingenuity. e.g. strong carrier bag with rocks
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This, in my opinion, is where the Benbo design is so useful.

You can arrange the legs and the arm in such a way that no counter-weight is required for stability, even with the column fully extended at right angles. Each leg is totally independent from each other leg, apart from meeting at the top.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
This, in my opinion, is where the Benbo design is so useful.

You can arrange the legs and the arm in such a way that no counter-weight is required for stability, even with the column fully extended at right angles. Each leg is totally independent from each other leg, apart from meeting at the top.
Click to expand...
I have a Benbo Trekker and it's the first tripod I've actually liked using. Easy to set up (when you get the knack) and versatile. Not expensive either. (y)
 
I've got 3 Manfrotto 190 versions and all of them can have the centre column either rotated through 90° or upside down.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
This, in my opinion, is where the Benbo design is so useful.

You can arrange the legs and the arm in such a way that no counter-weight is required for stability, even with the column fully extended at right angles. Each leg is totally independent from each other leg, apart from meeting at the top.
Click to expand...
Yes, but fully extended at 90˚ would require a very low overall height (very wide leg spread).
I have several tripods that have tilting center columns to include a Benbo Classic #2. I don't really consider one better than the others in that aspect, and I've had to counterweight all of them.
 
sk66 said:
Yes, but fully extended at 90˚ would require a very low overall height (very wide leg spread).
Click to expand...
That would depend on how high the centre hinge was, what the angles of the legs are and how heavy the camera/lens is. I can only speak from my own experience and I haven't had any difficulty with setting up either my Benbo or the Uni-Loc for overhead work.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
That would depend on how high the centre hinge was, what the angles of the legs are and how heavy the camera/lens is. I can only speak from my own experience and I haven't had any difficulty with setting up either my Benbo or the Uni-Loc for overhead work.
Click to expand...
If you took your setup pictured above and fully extended the center column it would fall over. The only way it won't fall over is if the center of mass is within the spread of the feet. You could possibly extend the legs to bring the center of mass back inside, but then the legs limit the usable area for composition.
 
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sk66 said:
If you took your setup pictured above and fully extended the center column it would fall over. T
Click to expand...
All I can say is that it never has, when I've used it that way.
 
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