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Home: Inactive Forums: Underwater Video:
Tripods underwater

 
 


sailordiver
Novice

Nov 14, 2004, 9:53 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1996 views)
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Tripods underwater Can't Post
Anyone use tripods underwater? I've used a Manfrotto 501 video head with a Gitzo aluminum tripod with mixed results. The exterior of the Manfrotto head disintegrated rather quickly and I want to change to something else. Anybody have experience and or recommendations on this subject?
Thanks...
Steve


CamDiver
Novice


Nov 22, 2004, 2:14 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1860 views)
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Re: [sailordiver] Tripods underwater [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi,
Unless you're willing to buy a dedicated underwater pan & tilt tripod from the likes of Pace Technologies then get used to replacing terrestrial tripods that become open water qualified!! Dedicated tripods are very expensive. I have a 501 too although I dont use it underwater. I basically went to a machine shop with the housing and sat with one of the design engineers and came up with a very nice solution. I have four independant "legs" one at each corner of the housing. They are telescopic and when fully extended offer a platform some 2 feet high. Folded down to 6" they are unobtrussive enough not to cause problems. Made from Inox they should last a while but as with anything underwater require a lot of maintenance and greasing.

RnD is one of the most challenging, and interesting, aspects of this work.

Cheers,
Mark.
Leading the hard life as a Cameraman in Palau!!!!
Palau
Western Pacific
(someone's gotta live here, right?)


exallias
New User

Nov 29, 2004, 6:43 PM

Post #3 of 3 (1783 views)
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Re: [sailordiver] Tripods underwater [In reply to] Can't Post
I've been using the Manfrotto 3130 video head on the 3021S (short) legs. I've had about three of these tripods since 1997 and I've used them on hundreds of dives. The short tripod is heavy enough to be really useful underwater but short enough that I can carry it tucked under the cumberbund of my BC. During long trips with multiple dives I just keep it wet. When I return home I thoroughly wash it, and oil all the moving parts with penetrating oil (especially the little pin that allows the locking mechanism on the head to snap closed).

Unfortunately after tellilng you all of that, the short leg tripod was discontinued but you might still find one on e-Bay (I did - and I bought it right away as a spare!).