Thanks, the issue I have is my Manfrotto is the weight of a small child - even by car, it's heavy to take places, . . . I can "forget" I have it!
.....
to the extent for a hall-based Xmas jaunt, I used the partly broken/repaired Velbon. wishing it was slightly taller, to avoid walk-by folks wrecking a video-shot.
I may have to make this extender . . . something about 14" with its own tilting arrangement, so I can adjust it without a long stretch. I plan to give it a 90deg fitting, so it can be used as an "overhang" ( over a table/flowerbed/pond ). Of course this will increase instability . . . so my list of "suitable" will be those with braces; although spreaders seem to be what Pro's use. (& like my Manfrotto.).
It's taken over my thoughts for a new
Car and Camcorder, one with decent Stills ability.(10-20Mpx), which rules out real Pro-gear . . . Also I want built-in ND filter(s) for shallow DoF - which appears to be a must-have pro-feature!
However, I've considered buying a Lens, for my NEX5 ( OK no audio jacks, but the mic is very good -and- I have a Palmtrack( Zoom Equiv.) for real audio.
There's a nice Sony E f/4 9-blade zoom-lens for about £400 - but whilst it has
real focus/zoom scales ( !) it lacks ND, so clearly it's from the Stills-designer department, despite raving about the silent focus/zoom.... Yes, I know I can add ND . . .
.....and it will need a good tripod.
. . the advantage of this route is that as a new design it should be good for 4K when I buy the next body.
Yet there are good 4K camcorders with ND filters and all the Audio features....
2017 is going to be a difficult year.