Best tripod for Bluefin HD and macro?

Hello everybody.

Shawnh and I have started discussing the pros and cons of currently available tripod choices/options for the L&M Bluefin HD housing for FX1/Z1.

The housing's relatively large size, like the Gates and the Amphibico, is great for WA and Medium shots, but shooting Macro (e.g., +2) poses some problems in terms of getting "rock steady" shots, given the tendency of the housing to rock back/forth or side to side when there's even minor surge.

Any suggestions on winning tripod configurations with this puppy when shooting Macro (e.g., using the buit-in flip macro lens and standard port) ?

Appended is the discussion we've had so far.

(Disclaimer: This is the first time I post a new thread, so I apologize in advance for perhaps not having followed any well established "policy and procedure" in setting up this new topic, I'm green at this.).

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Shawn, I've a question for you and the other folks using the Bluefin HD.

I shoot a lot of macro, and with my previous rig (PD100 in a Bluefin 900) due to its much smaller size it was relatively easy to do, even super macro when using a tripod. I actually made one myself using bendable arms, with Locline materials, same as those used to hold the l&M lights, following Steven Fish's advice.

I tried to use the same tripod with my new rig, but as I expected given its much larger size, when I'm shooting in even minor surge, it's a bit tricky because the bulkiness of the housing makes it prone to movements back/forth or side to side, even with the tripod in place. I may need to add extra weights to the legs of the tripod or something. Right now my rig is a bout 2 lbs negative, may make it a bit more negative so it stays down better.

Any suggestions on tripods for this new baby?

Btw, I've looked at the new tripod by Gates; it seems nice an solid, however it may need to have a few pounds added to it; and those articulated legs/feet take a while to be repositioned (unlike my Locline bendable arms on my tripod, which can be repositioned in a flash). Plus it may be tricky to mount on our Bluefins ( I have the Blufin HD tripod mount, that can be secured in the grove between the battery pods, but the Gates tripod can't really be screwed into this mount, unless one starts modifying things..)

I wonder if we should start a separate "tripod" topic for this question, what do you and other people (Mark, Mike, Steve, Wagsy, Nick, Dan, etc.) think?

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Nick, I am running into similar tripod issues with my FX1 housing. My Bluefin 950 housing was much more forgiving. I have been shooting iwth a large heavy tripod but even that rocks with modest swell. I am now about to experiment with a fixed smaller tripod (Vanguard) that sits much lower. I am hoping that lower center of gravity and less exposure to swell will do the trick. If not, we will be talking a seriously heavy tripod set up. that is ok for "park and dive" but not so hot for more challenging conditions and entries. I'll keep you updated.

I gave the gates a serious look at DEMA. I like the streamlined nature and easy configuration. It wouldn't take much to set it up with a std tripod mount for the Bluefin. However, I fear regardless, that the legs are pretty flimsy and don't offer much of a base for sand and the like. They seem fine for rock and coral. Finally the price tag is steep (srp 550). Anyway, i'll wait for some folks iwth big boy housings to be the guinea pigs on this one before i seriously consider:)

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Shawnh, I share your concerns about the Gates tripod.

Perhaps a few "ankle weights" may get that sucker to sit steadier in the sand or on coral. My feeling/hope is that considering that it was meant to work with the Gates housing (which is a bit bulkier than the Bluefin HD), you would think the Gates guys have properly tested it with their housing, and that it "passed" their tests. But we all know how sometimes these "gizmos" are designed more at the computer table than in the field, and may not be tested long enough in real conditions, with surge, swell, etc.

Re: the guinea pigs, Mark (in Palau) will be one of the first ones; in fact, the Gates tripod I've ordered for him is sitting here on my desk, ready to be shipped to him in a couple of days, after his Expodisc from B&H also arrives. I can already see his face when he'll unwrap that contraption...

If all else fails, there's two options for me:

1) Shlepp another heavy piece of gear (= big tripod, a la Imax; comes with hot blonde as assistant), or

2) Buy myself a Sony HC1, throw it in my Bluefin 900 housing (it's doable, with minor modification to the tray), and keep using my current tripod while shooting macro in full Auto, perhaps with automatic -1 AE shift (since the back plate buttons on the Bluefin 900 would not be able to control any of the shutter/iris dials on the Sony HC1 inside)

Since I was considering getting anyway an HC1 as a "backup" HDV camera / playback deck, plan 2) may not be so bad afterall. It'll just mean that I'll bring "only" two housings with me on the boat every time I get in the water... :-)

Man I should have chosen soccer as my passion... A ball and a pair of shoes.

nick

Well Nick, the very nature of a tripod is to be heavy and steady. To minimize bulk carried to location, tripods have been designed to be light and stable while adding accessories (like battery packs etc) and adding lead weights isn't hard.

Your requirements of it fitting in the L&M setup as well just compounds the problem. My point is that there is no one solution for all shooting conditions. If you shoot in swells then you have to weigh the tripod down or hammer the legs into rock . Obviously the weight has to be at the very bottom to lower center of gravity and reduce swaying. That is why the base on the Gates tripod is wider, to even out the weight distribution.

I use the ULCS tripod and also use it as a monopod. I can easily add more lead weight to the legs and the ball feet dig into sand well. But the feet don't do so well on harder surfaces (obviously coral is not a good place to use ANYTHING). I can use the extra ULCS arms I carry for the lights. I strap lead weights by velcro to the arm legs.

Considering you have a bluefin and assuming you want your lights and battery packs attached, you'll need to make sure the tripod base is heavier than the housing rig on top.

I'll look for the pics I took of the ASL tripods made for bigger housings but set up for the phenom.

Alternatively, make sure your blonde assistant (Giles is available) carries this tripod.

send me the hot blonde and tripod and i will test it all out for you... (Giles is not hot.. nor my idea of a blonde..)

hmmm.....

not really a serious macro man on video so haven't messed with teh tripod situation yet.

Hey Drew,

Thanks for your input, very useful. I'll look up that link to that Japanese manufacturer, the tripods on their webpage do look like they may do the job.

Although I do like the Gates for the articulated legs.

Yeah, adding several weighs to the bottom part of the legs seems the way to go, with this and other tripods.

Bummer, my macro setup with my Bluefin 900 rig was so much easier to take around, Locline tripod and all...

Oh well, I guess that's what you get when you "upgrade" to a bigger/better housing: no free lunch...

Gimme a couple of weeks and i'll test out my idea. I am going to mount 2 tripod mounts to my bluefin hd housing, one in the front and one in the back. i am then going to remove 1 leg from each tripod and attach the duo pods to each tripod mount. Using two low cost tripods ($30each), with 12inch segments i should be able to create a very stable base (legs will orginate at each corner of the housing). it should alos fold up quite nicely under my housing while swimming. i'll plan to bring two extra weights (one for each pod) to clip on once set up. if i use 3 segment legs, should be able to have a range of 12 inches to 30 inches of height.

Thougths or ideas to improve on this?

-shawn

Shawn,

great! Have fun testing the two "bipods". Btw, are the bipods gonna be made out of Locline, or the usual "rigid" metal legs found on most regualr tripods? If the latter, rust will probably kill them after a while, unless they're specifically for uw use. In which case I'd guess they'd be a lot more than $30 each.

It'd be great if you could post a couple of pix of your "four-legged" beast once you set up the two bipods.

I'll experiment with two "bipods" made with Locline (15 segments/modules per leg) and see if by also adding a few ankle weights (say 2 per bipod) I get more stability with this method. I'll have to order another tripod mount from L&M though, which ain't cheap (around $100). I also need to talk with the Uultra Light guys here in town, and see what they suggest.

I have a cheap and very light Velbon Max i 343E tripod which is mostly plastic and aluminium so might not corrode so fast. The mount on top of it is tiny but could be extended. Would be big enough if you used 2 of them. It would go nice and high but the trouble is that with rigid legs it won't go really low (17 inches minimum). Personally a lot of the shots where I want extra steadiness are really low down to the ground for example to get the horizon down low behind your critter in the foreground. To my mind that gives the locline idea more promise.

How about a beanbag

I plan to low cost but reasonably firm std tripods. If you fresh rinse it immediately...you can get a decent amount of time out of them. My current (not for underwater tripod) has about 8 months on it and still going...for now:) I'll let you know how this experiement progresses.

Hey Drew,

Thanks for your input, very useful. I'll look up that link to that Japanese manufacturer, the tripods on their webpage do look like they may do the job.

Although I do like the Gates for the articulated legs.

 

Yeah, adding several weighs to the bottom part of the legs seems the way to go, with this and other tripods.

 

Bummer, my macro setup with my Bluefin 900 rig was so much easier to take around, Locline tripod and all...

Oh well, I guess that's what you get when you "upgrade" to a bigger/better housing: no free lunch...

Nick, that titanium tripod is over $6k if I remember correctly. The NHK guys were in Indo shooting and had that shiny thing around... it was beautiful but for $6k, I'll just settle for shakey clips and deal in post.

I've just had a Really Right Stuff tripod shipped to me - they tell me that it is totally field strippable, and so far it looks like they are right. It goes FLAT and extends to about 50cm high, has 3 angle positions for the legs and a two part leg. Design is elegant. I'm still trying to figure out a head to suit underwater use but can say that it is proving ideal for seashore rockpool work with a conventional B&S on it. If interested it is found at reallyrightstuff.com. When I've used it underwater I'll report further.

Nick, that titanium tripod is over $6k if I remember correctly. The NHK guys were in Indo shooting and had that shiny thing around... it was beautiful but for $6k, I'll just settle for shakey clips and deal in post.

Drew, holy mackerel, 6K for the tripod? Titanium huh? Gee... a bit too steep for my pockets (big holes right now after getting the new Z1/Bluefin rig...).

I've got to give the Ultralight Guys a call, here in town... but I know the answer will be to fork out a least half a K for something that will do the job, their stuff is never cheap! Will keep ya' posted though.

Nick