RE top-reading level. Would a selfie stick + cellphone (or small mirror like a camping mirror) solve this for you? You could even build a jig to hold the mirror if you feel industrious.
I've been doing a Very Bad Thing to accommodate: I've mounted an Arca plate to the bottom of each add-on camera holder I use. That includes my very functional DIY multi-row pano fixture and PMG Katana JR gimbal. The VBT is that I then clamp the "attachment" to the ball head. Some people, possibly rightly, raise the point that this is less rigid than directly mounting the add-on to the tripod. However I've never found it to be an issue for the camera gear I've used. And it lets me freely move my attachments among my tripods (I don't have as many as you do, though!). I even did this with the Katana on my 1545T and it worked fine with a R5 and RF 100-500 (solid ground, still air). The only "attachment" I don't do this with is my iOptron SkyGuider Pro, which is really heaving and is used for applications that require absolute stability; it's always mounted on my Systematic tripod.
For balancing: are you talking about something like hanging a weight from a column hook (which neither Traveler comes with by default). If that's the case, either buy the Gitzo one or make one yourself. FYI, it turns out that the same hook fits on the Series 1 and 2 Travelers and the Series 3 Mountaineer, so you only need one if you're OK moving it among your tripods.
Hi Abbott,
The "weight" I'm referring to, is the center-of-gravity of my camera with a longish and heavier lens such as my Nikkor f/2.8 70-200mm G ED VR II. I'd like a plate to slide the load fore and aft to balance the load and reduce torque and possible droop. I'm looking to use the Kirk solely on my 2-series Traveller and 1 and 3-series Mountaineers,,, not the Monopod. I may try the Jobu gimbal on the 2-series Mountaineer, but my gut tells me to stick with the Systematics when using a gimbal.
