Steve, I’ve used Zacuto rigs and had them work very well with my tripod. I’d contact the company directly – their sales associates are very responsive and eager to answer questions. They should be able to tell you which model will most suit your needs: https://www.zacuto.com/zacuto-contacts
When I was shopping for inexpensive mics, my three choices were the Audio-Technica AT-897, the Sennheiser ME66, and the Rode NTG 3. There are countless shootouts on the web between these three mics, and after a lot of thought (and listening) I decided on the Rode for its fuller sound over the Sennheiser and AT.
Do a search on the Google for “NTG 3” “me66” AT897 comparison. You’ll find a ton of blog posts, forum posts, and shootout videos to help you make your decision. Here’s one good link to get you started: