Camera/Tripod Boom Arm

Has anyone any experience of (say) the Velbon Boom Arm, particularly when used for macro work?


Roger

I've got the V4 boom arm and I find it very useful for getting into tricky places. It's simple to move and extend and locks into position securely. It has a both 1/4 & 3/8 inch adapters.

You do have to decide what sort of head to put on it, or a macro rail if that's your preference, and add that to the cost.

I'd recommend it as it suits what I need, others may have different requirements and I'm sure will post their own views.

Phil

How about a Benbo or Uni-loc tripod? You get a long boom arm built in.

Some don't like them as it needs a little practice to set up but you can't beat it for getting a camera into awkward places. The legs can be arranged to support the camera really well in a lot more directions than most tripods. Legs are sealed so can be used in water/mud and the benbo 1 & 2 have 1/4' & 3/8' fittings.

My Trekker tripod also has the Uni-loc Centre Column Swing Bracket added. This allows even more movement of the center column when used sideways.

Probably cost less for the whole tripod second hand than the Velbon Boom Arm.

x2 for UniLok. I have had mine for many years and love it. At first you think this is a demented octopus BUT THEN you get to know it and WOW. A bit heavier than most but this gives it great stability.
CHEERS Vic.

Thank you all for that info - you've given me a couple of unfamiliar alternatives to research.

I've got to the age where I tend to fall over if I lean too far out of the vertical and I am definitely NOT allowed in the flower beds. Hence my interest in boom arms.

Roger

I bet the tripod with an eccentric load can do that better than you!

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No editing allowed...... Part of above post

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I take your point Algi, some under-slung ballast might be desirable.....


Roger

Slight aside here but I've seen a few examples lately of cellphones/tablets being wirelessly connected to cameras, so you can stick the camera into weird places on the end of a pole, and compose and fire the shutter from the camera screen. One example was on a pole above crowds, but I can't see why that sort of approach couldn't work for flower beds either etc?