d-bracket for low mode

[Jon Beattie]

Trying to figure out what if any d (j,f) bracket may be right for me. I was told by the manufacturer of my rig to just flip my post and tighten a small screw on my gimbal when working in lowmode.

 

I just don't feel comfortable in putting my faith in a small screw to hold my sled safely. Especially when the rig is heavier. I've tried it once on a hvx job and the post just felt funny right on the arm.

 

The post is a 5/8" it is held on the arm by a bolt from the bottom. My regular post is about 2 1/3". The bolt comes up about half way up the center of the post.

 

Any ideas would be great.

[Jon Beattie]

a few other photos.

[Mike Germond SOC]

Mmm ActionCam..

 

I'm wondering the same question for the same equipment..

 

Is there a chance on earth that the Steadicam Mini Low Mode Kit would work with this?

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...2878&is=REG

[Gus Trivino]

Hi Jon

 

maybe a solution is using collars like that...

Edited August 15, 2008 by Gus Triviño

[Jon Beattie]

Gus,

 

That could work.

 

Your photo is of an old school j bracket used with efp's and IIIa's?

 

I'm also working with Tom over at cinewidgets to see if his dbrack will work.

[Jon Beattie]

Mmm ActionCam..

 

I'm wondering the same question for the same equipment..

 

Is there a chance on earth that the Steadicam Mini Low Mode Kit would work with this?

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...2878&is=REG

 

 

Mike,

 

The Steadicam mini kit would not work for the actioncam. They have different posts sizes, so the f bracket that comes with the kit would not work with the arm to offset it.

 

As for the universal lowmode bracket, that handle grabbling style. You could use a bracket like that to flip a camera into low mode. It works at the risk of how well the plastic handle on the camera is.

 

For video camera's your almost always better off just flipping the rig. For eng style camera bodies that you need the lense height and extra few inches lower. Brant Fagan makes what most consider to be the strongest, easy to use bracket.

 

For film work you should be able to get the propper lowmode bracket from the camera rental house. But if your going you buy them check out Jerry Hill.

[Jess Haas SOC]

I would think that you just need to drill a hole in your gimbal handle where there is currently a set screw in order for you to be able to put the pin from the D or F bracket in. Of course depending on the design of the gimbal handle that may be easier said than done. Got any pictures of it you could send our way? I actually have an older actioncam rig and am thinking of getting one of those gimbal handles for it but that was my biggest concern.

 

One thing I found with my older actioncam rig was that while the specs say it can handle heavier cameras it doesn't really seem like it was built for cameras near the top end of its range. Too much flex and play in various pieces when you get up there in weight. Has this improved with their new model? It seems like this may be one area where that is still the case.

 

~Jess

[Jon Beattie]

actioncam zero-g gimbal

[Jon Beattie]

As for the set screw the way it works is this. The gimbal basically has a L cut in the bottom of it so when you tighten then screw down more surface area pinches around the post.

 

 

You'll notice in one photo with the post flipped the gimbal only goes about halfway up the post. Thats with the arm fully boomed up. When you put weight on the arm you can sneak it up more.

 

As for drilling a hole through the gimbal I can do that to secure a dbracket on it. Its just a matter of whether or not the dbracket will have clearance on the arm. That IIIa style jbracket looks good. I would just put an aircraft pin through it for peace of mind.

 

 

My arm is rated for 76lbs. I have not flown that much yet. But I've not noticed any flexing of the sled with 50lbs. And I'm sure the arm will handle the 76lbs. And the arm won't flex its bullet proof.

 

 

I like the backmounted vest Brian designed. It takes a bit at first to dial it on. Once its there its there. I've seen other users with it way bellow the hip pretty much on their butt. You can see Ramone on the behind the scenes of Good Eats like that. I'm 6'4'' and have had mine just bellow my hip.

 

But after using the Ultra2 vest I fell in love with it and would trade my Backmounted for the new Ultra Vest or a Pro Vest in a heartbeat.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Looks like a d bracket would give you the clearance you need. I don't think I would be comfortable just using the clamping action but then again lots of parts of the rig are probably held together in a similar style. I know my top and bottom stages are connected to the post like that.

 

~Jess