DIY: Ultimate Urbex Tripod

[BenCooper]

My interpretation of it anyway :) The Modo has great legs, but the plastic head is total crap, so I fitted a different head. To make, you will need:

One Manfrotto Modo 785B tripod
One tripod head - I used a Manfrotto 482
A hacksaw
A big hammer or vice
Strong glue - I used Loctite studlock
A clamp plate if you swing that way

Take the plastic crap off the top of the tripod, then cut off the aluminium ball right at the top of the shaft. The stub of shaft left should slide into the threaded hole on the base of the tripod.

To make it a tighter fit, clamp it in a vice or hit it with a hammer to squash it a bit. Then use a decent amount of glue to glue the head onto the stub - it's easier if you partly dismantle the head by unscrewing the thumbscrew all the way.

Let the glue dry, reassemble, and test to make sure it's solid.

Simplez...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3716614701_1b645df238.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/3716614701/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3717430590_0e7352bfbc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/3717430590/)

[Dempsey]

This is great thanks. I was considering doing something similar, just i never used the modo at full height due to its 'flexibility' So i might buy get one of the 712's (i think thats the right number) and try retro fit a 482/488 head to one of those.

:thumb.

[SilentMotion]

I have a similar set up, just unscrewed the short section of the pole with the head on it, and clamped a superclamp with tripod head onto the remaining long section - that way I can use the clamp to hold the camera elsewhere if need be.

[Oxygen Thief]

What's the point, just buy a 718SHB

[BenCooper]

The point for me was that I already had the 785B, and my camera plate won't fit the 718SHB. Plus, it's a bit more compact and lighter.

[Oxygen Thief]

fair enough ;)

[Dempsey]

718 thats the one i was meaning, but the downfall with those again, the head, its a lil too small, the legs are solid, which compared to the modo, they are miles better.

[Brick_Man]

the legs on the 718 are great, I would have bought one in a flash, but I wanted a tripod that would go flat on the ground etc, modo can do this, but legs & head are so weak that it wouldn't hold the camera properly.

20mins on a lathe would produce a proper threaded bit for the top for any head to screw onto, but already got my ultimate 'pod so I wouldn't spend the time, someone else might though.

[DigitalNoise]

Hmmm, this is tempting, I rate the modo, but only for smaller cameras for the above reasons. It still amazes me how light and compact it is. How solid was it in the end? I'm slightly sceptical, but I hate the head on the modo, after all, I lost a D70 and Tokina 12-24 to the sea after the quick release mechanism wanted to release a bit quicker than it should...

[BenCooper]

It's pretty good - I just used it for my latest paper mill visit, and it wasn't at all wobbly with a FF body and wide lens. Plus it's a lot easier to switch to portrait - the plastic head was rubbish at portrait orientation.

[Stoka]

Can only agree with the head being poor on the 785b, been wanting a new tripod for ages and I may just follow what you did as i'd rather have a have a go myself than buy one.

[Dempsey]

They are good for remote camera flash

[Dempsey]

but I wanted a tripod that would go flat on the ground etc, modo can do this, but legs & head are so weak that it wouldn't hold the camera properly.
.

They arnt. I've jut got mine flat to the round and its 50% more stable than the standard stetup at 30cm's, pretty logical if you ask me. Its also clsoer to the ground than the slik/arena. I'm going to use the modo for video photography, it should come in really usefull there, oh an don that note, i spent some time cleaning the whole thing out, after you'd had it, ive never seen so much crap in a tripod! lol

[GoatHarraser]

what do you think my chances are of building one from scratch. i have done some early drawing but im trying to decide on the camera mouting and posisoning what is a must have for camera movement ? il try and tidy up my plans and post em up if anyone elce want to give it a go.