Recommendations for a tripod around £50-60 to hold 4-5kg

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Hi,

I am looking to buy a tripod to clamp to my wheelchair, where the camera will be operated remotely, and panned/tilted with an electric pan/tilt (an mp101).
The one kind of caveat, is the tripod must be able to extend with all the feet very close together, as they will be clamped to my wheelchair.

I was wanting to spend around the £50-60 mark, and want something where the lowest height of the tripod is around 40-50 cm. I am using an mp101, and also have a manfrotto ball head.

My sister has the Manfrotto Compact Advanced Aluminium Tripod with 3 way head. I used this, and it was good, and would extend with the feet together - but it says a max payload of 3kg, so I don't know if it could be used safely, and regularly, at 4kg+.

I have seen a rangers tripod (here) that states it can take a 12kg payload, with a minimum height of 38cm. I don't know much about rangers though.

Any other advice or tripod recommendations would be great,

Thanks
 
How does the clamping work? Is each leg secured separately to a different point onthe chair, or does the clamp go around all three? If it's the latter, would a monopod work? There are monopods that claim >5kg loads.
 
Why not a monopod? (oops! didn't read Retunes post fully!!!)
 
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i did think about a monopod, and a convertible tripod to monopod. but how safe would it be in terms of just being secured at the base.
 
I suppose it depends on the clamping system? Googling for wheelchair mounts finds a few custom solutions, but they tend to be more expensive or look designed for lighter gear. Some photographers are using Manfrotto Magic Arms, which have a flexible joint in the middle so the upper tube can be at an angle to the lower tube, and there's a heavy duty double braced version, though this seems to lack the convenient friction control of some of the single tube versions and could be more difficult to adjust.
 
Ah, I now see from the previous thread you've already tried the Magic Arm, and need more height adjustment.
 
Have you considered a hide clamp?

I have seen some pretty hefty gear mounted on them, think Manfrotto do one that takes a tripod centre column, others probably do too
 
I can clamp a monopod/tripod to the wheelchair without much problem. I can make a clamp solution that will hold the weight without an issue.
It is more that i would fear with a monopod that it might slide down under the weight quickly (i've never used a monopod so im not sure how secure they lock)
 
A suitably heavy duty monopod can take a significant weight with no danger of collapse. Something like an old Manfrotto 434 will easily take 10kg + and are cheap on eBay. I would have more faith in this than a cheap tripod set up. This could be attached using a pair of Manfrotto superclamps making for a bomb proof set up.
 
I would imagine that weight ratings are more attuned to heads and their clamping strength to prevent movement, than anything to do with simple, vertical static load. Also a tripod with its legs clenched together is going to have no advantage that I can at this moment see over a monopod, which would be simpler to clamp to the wheelchair, and lighter overall. So separate out the problem into two departments - the support, and the head.
 
droj said:
I would imagine that weight ratings are more attuned to heads and their clamping strength to prevent movement, than anything to do with simple, vertical static load. Also a tripod with its legs clenched together is going to have no advantage that I can at this moment see over a monopod, which would be simpler to clamp to the wheelchair, and lighter overall. So separate out the problem into two departments - the support, and the head.
Click to expand...

My thinking with the tripod, was that if it slides, there are 3 legs that need to fail or slide rather than a single leg.

In terms of the head, I think the bescor mp-101 can attach directly to the monopod/tripod like in this image http://nature-images.eu/contents/reviews/mp-101/tilt_down.jpg
Or I would use my Manfrotto 496RC2 as this seems to lock in place well
 
So it seems the heavy duty monopod seems the best way forward.

So far the Manfrotto 434 has been suggested, are there any other suggestions for monopods, or is this the best option

Many thanks - I am glad that I have finally figured out what to do!
 
The 434 is not the "heaviest duty" manfrotto monopod. Look at the 679 & 681 (&XPRO or similar for the latest) for 3 section monopods (680 for 4 section). The fact the monopod is steady or not is part of the issue as the wheel chair would move. Ideally you want a monopod that would extend and press against the ground whilst it is clamped on the wheel chair ... sorry if all this has been discussed before.
 
Would a very sturdy Manfrotto 075 be any good to you? I used it with RZ67 on it - it will happily take my weight! Literally, you could stand on it - each leg can be clamped on the stay so it won't slip - leg stays are not used on smaller tripods at all. They rely on the click ratchet at the head.
 
It might be - can the legs extend without being spread apart (although it looks like they can, and equally if they're that resilient, using one leg could even be an option?), and the height seems like they extend more than most
They are a lot above the budget i have for a tri/monopod though
 
newbie1 said:
How about mounting the mp101 on a super clamp attached to your chair? If you don't need extra height from the tripod or monopod a superclamp could be a neater solution: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-035RL-Super-Clamp-Standard/dp/B0018LQVIA
Click to expand...

I have a calumet version of that clamp, and a manfrotto magic arm. While they are great for set height things, I am trying to figure out how i can make something that also has scope to raise or lower, but thank you for the suggestion
 
scoped said:
It might be - can the legs extend without being spread apart (although it looks like they can, and equally if they're that resilient, using one leg could even be an option?), and the height seems like they extend more than most
They are a lot above the budget i have for a tri/monopod though
Click to expand...

New they might be - happy to let mine go. I am winding down for semi retirement and will not need it again. I would be glad to see it go to someone who both needs it and will make use of it.

Yes the legs can be used folded flat to the middle - and you could lock them closed so they don't flop about too. It extends to about 6 feet tall - then you can crank the centre column up another foot or so, and lock it - and there is no flex even at that kind of height extension. I was asking £90 in the ads for it - but happy to drop the price for you a bit.
 
scoped said:
I have a calumet version of that clamp, and a manfrotto magic arm. While they are great for set height things, I am trying to figure out how i can make something that also has scope to raise or lower, but thank you for the suggestion
Click to expand...

Aha, in this case maybe the cheapest option is to secure a steel tube to your chair and move the superclamp up and down on that to your desired height? Otherwise I'd also suggest a sturdy second hand monopod. Carbon Fibre probably to be avoided as attaching to the chair might cause crushing.
 
Lensflare said:
New they might be - happy to let mine go. I am winding down for semi retirement and will not need it again. I would be glad to see it go to someone who both needs it and will make use of it.

Yes the legs can be used folded flat to the middle - and you could lock them closed so they don't flop about too. It extends to about 6 feet tall - then you can crank the centre column up another foot or so, and lock it - and there is no flex even at that kind of height extension. I was asking £90 in the ads for it - but happy to drop the price for you a bit.
Click to expand...

That is definitely interesting! how low can it go at its lowest, and, how heavy is it?

Thanks!
 
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There are 3 things that everyone wants from a tripod - light, sturdy and cheap! I'd settle for 2 and would prefer the 2 to be light and sturdy, although I'd be happy with cheap and sturdy. Simon's 075 is extremely sturdy and a very good price but I don't think it's that light but if I hadn't recently bought a 4th tripod, I'd have bought it at his £90 asking price and kept it as a home based tripod.
 
Only my thoughts, but given you will be sitting in the wheelchair any slight movement will be transmitted to the camera via the tri/monopod.
Therefore it would be advisable to keep the length of any legs or column as short as possible, lower centre of gravity should help negate the vibrations.

It's surprising just how much any movement is amplified, recently braced my hold on a pedestrian suspension bridge and could feel the vibrations, it showed up in the photos too.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Only my thoughts, but given you will be sitting in the wheelchair any slight movement will be transmitted to the camera via the tri/monopod.
Therefore it would be advisable to keep the length of any legs or column as short as possible, lower centre of gravity should help negate the vibrations.

It's surprising just how much any movement is amplified, recently braced my hold on a pedestrian suspension bridge and could feel the vibrations, it showed up in the photos too.
Click to expand...
That is something I hadn't actually considered much. I thought attaching it to the electric wheelchair would be very stable, but I didn't think how it being on a long pole would make every movement amplified. Thank you for making me think about this.
I suppose in a studio setting, it would be ok if using flash. I guess it is a toss up between me being able to move the cameras position, vs setting up a tripod, or, using a smaller reach device. I think this is something I'll have to do through experimenting.
 
Hi all,

I have spent some time developing ideas around this, sorry I haven't updated this. I have managed to rope my dad in to start building and developing how this could work, so he is here for the next few days to help.
Ive been looking for manfrotto 434's and none seem to have come up on ebay.

What alternative monopod could I use?
The Brief is: a monopod thatll happily hold around up to 5kg, on its own safely without me touching or supporting the camera, being clamped at the bottom, to my wheelchair.
 
Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to update this thread as I have now managed to put all the ideas together, and it works!
I wanted to say thanks for all the help given here, and show some photos!
The monopod has been tighetened up, and is rock solid even at full extension and definitely wont fall or slip down. At full extension it has a small amount of vibration or wobble, so slow shutter speeds are limited, however at half extension or less, it has minimal movement.

In the end the kit I am using is as follows:

Calumet 4 section monopod attached to my wheelchair using a Manfrotto Double Super Clamp
MP-101 electric pan tilt head
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 3 10 10.1-Inch tablet to control the camera using DSLR controller
A Tablet holder to hold the tablet in place
Micro USB to USB OTG adapter
Canon 60D
I have a bluetooth keyboard with mousepad to control the tablet if needed

Here is a photo on location of it all together attached to my wheelchair :
Hey_there.png


And to show the results, here are a couple of photos I took with the set up (Processed in lightroom, resized, all taken on 60D, 100mm 2.8):

f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO 100
outside.jpg



f/2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO 100
pool_1.jpg


Thanks again for all the help you guys have given!
 
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Brilliant!
 
Result!
 
Looks like a cool solution!

P.S. Love the socks!
 
johnf3f said:
Looks like a cool solution!

P.S. Love the socks!
Click to expand...

Haha, I didn't think I would feature in any of the photos! But, I thought being in the disused pool shows a bit of context! The bottom photo was taken a few minutes before from where I'm pictured
 
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