Underwater tripod?

[gobiodon 63]

7 hours ago, Davide DB said:

 

If used for macro, I would arrange the camera on the opposite side

Good advice, thanks!

[ampm99 0]

I just received the BGNing plate mentioned above. Looks promising and cheap.  I can recycle some of my older strobe arms and ball clamps. looks sturdy to either mount Gimbal/ball head or directly attach to my Aquatica housing which has standard  1/4 inch holes on the bottom.  Macro would be the direct attach approach. clamps and/or a couple levels of short legs would let you tilt towards the subject. Can't wait to get out and try it

shipped from china

https://www.bgningoem.com/Search-+Triangular+Gimbal+Tray+Rig+Bracket+Mount+for+Underwater+LED+Light+Stand+DSLR+Camera+Tripod+Su/list-r1.html

BGNing Aluminium SLR Diving Video Triangular Gimbal Tray Rig Bracket Mount for Underwater LED Light Stand DSLR Camera Tripod Su

$32.32 USD

[Manatee 0]

I use Inon Carbon Fiber Telescoping arms (legs) attached to ball joints on a tray. Inon also makes an underwater tripod head you can attach those legs to. I haven't tried that yet because I don't pan underwater, but it would probably be pretty darned good if it is of similar quality to the arms. I wrap a weight belt around the legs for ballast. 

INON Arm System [UW Tripod System]

As an aside, I also have a 17" dome port and attach 2 of the arms to  that and 1 to the tray.

 

[Stoo 46]

I have used a mid-grade land tripod in fresh water... works fine. I'd use it in salt as well, but only if I considered it to be disposable. (It's about 20 years old, so it kinda is I suppose)

[TimG 62]

10 hours ago, Manatee said:

Inon also makes an underwater tripod head you can attach those legs to.

I've got this and it's extremely high quality enabling all sorts of positioning. Mind you, it should for what it cost! I bought it as a stand for a strobe with a  snoot.

http://www.inon.jp/products/armsystem/uwtripod.html

I'd guess that this strobe/snoot combination weighs a good bit more than an SLR system essentially balanced for neutral or slightly negative buoyancy. So it should take the weight no problem. Various leg lengths - or telescopic legs - are available

[Davide DB 583]

For that price, it should go into the water itself and bring me the photos 

Jokes apart, some of the DIY examples posted above are perfect and if needed they could be equipped with telescopic legs bought separately at much cheaper price.

[GTF8 24]

On 9/15/2021 at 6:48 AM, Manatee said:

I use Inon Carbon Fiber Telescoping arms (legs) attached to ball joints on a tray. Inon also makes an underwater tripod head you can attach those legs to. I haven't tried that yet because I don't pan underwater, but it would probably be pretty darned good if it is of similar quality to the arms. I wrap a weight belt around the legs for ballast. 

INON Arm System [UW Tripod System]

As an aside, I also have a 17" dome port and attach 2 of the arms to  that and 1 to the tray.

 

Which length telescopic legs did you go for?  I am about the buy the S (11in to 20in), wondering if that will be sufficient, these look longer in your photo maybe?  Thanks!

[narnars 0]

Definitely looks interesting.  Do you use it with a tray or anything or does it become a matter of choosing tripod footage vs tray footage? Where do you stick your lights?

[jplaurel 46]

If you have a Nauticam housing, you may be able to forgo the plate and just add some balls.

[hedonist222 3]

This looks promising for $45.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003363954103.html?spm=a2g0n.detail.1000014.2.3766425ackeO2E&gps-id=platformRecommendH5&scm=1007.18499.280016.0&scm_id=1007.18499.280016.0&scm-url=1007.18499.280016.0&pvid=f773ef70-cb41-433f-8476-7d4328acf22b&_t=gps-id:platformRecommendH5,scm-url:1007.18499.280016.0,pvid:f773ef70-cb41-433f-8476-7d4328acf22b,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238110%231995&pdp_npi=2%40dis!AED!177.37!145.45!!!!!%400b015e7016596389912064052e0228!12000025421048710!rec

 

[billmcdavid 1]

I have used an XIT 404 Tripod underwater which you really only need for video. Anyway, the XIT 404 is a great tripod but it is heavy and a bit cumbersome to deal with underwater. You can forget about taking stills when hauling that thing around. The buoyancy just isn't there. 

[WK's Gone Diving 12]

On 5/5/2022 at 9:17 AM, jplaurel said:

If you have a Nauticam housing, you may be able to forgo the plate and just add some balls.

I've never used an underwater tripod before, and have never been on a dive with anyone who was using a tripod. What tripod legs do you recommend using with the Nauticam tripod mounting balls? Do you mount the tripod legs before a dive or during a dive?

[jplaurel 46]

On 10/15/2022 at 8:18 PM, WK's Gone Diving said:

I've never used an underwater tripod before, and have never been on a dive with anyone who was using a tripod. What tripod legs do you recommend using with the Nauticam tripod mounting balls? Do you mount the tripod legs before a dive or during a dive?

I have those xit404 legs that you can just twist to loosen and tighten. They are really heavy, but that's fine for macro. I usually just mount the legs and for them under the camera until I get into shooting mode. I see some people using those Inon carbon fiber legs, which looks like a nice idea, considering the weight.

I leave the balls on my camera all the time because they make a convenient stand to keep the camera upright when resting on the floor, and without putting weight on the port.

Edited February 3 by jplaurel

[nomadadv 5]

inon has a multi directional tripod head and modular leg system that is interesting 

http://www.inon.jp/products/armsystem/uwtripod.html

[Freelio 26]

On 4/17/2023 at 2:18 AM, nomadadv said:

inon has a multi directional tripod head and modular leg system that is interesting 

http://www.inon.jp/products/armsystem/uwtripod.html

I got this a couple months ago and haven't been able to test it put yet.  Can just mount to ball mounts on the bottom of a Nauticam housing.  Getting pretty excited to try it in Anilao or Lembeh!!

[nomadadv 5]

@freelio how did it go ?