Mounting Accessories Securely

[Rob Hess]

Hi everyone,

 

This might sound like a super-newbie question, but I haven't been able to find any information on it on these forums.

 

What are some of the best ways to securely mount accessories to the camera body/cage/rods? I've noticed a lot of accessories aren't built (by default) with mounting options—essentially a plain box. So how do you mount them so that they are both secure and easily balanced?

 

Thanks!

 

Rob

[Evrim KAYA]

Other than obvious Velcro, Dual lock by 3M is a very good solution; Sturdy, vibration free and cheap.

http://www.3m.com/product/information/Dual-Lock-Reclosable-Fastener.html

 

edit: white version's adhesive is better than black ones

Edited April 14, 2013 by Evrim KAYA

[Rob Hess]

Other than obvious Velcro, Dual lock by 3M is a very good solution; Sturdy, vibration free and cheap.

http://www.3m.com/product/information/Dual-Lock-Reclosable-Fastener.html

 

edit: white version's adhesive is better than black ones

 

Thanks! Great to know.

 

Where do you generally put the "rig side" adhesive, particularly in cases where a camera itself may be too small (DSLR, for example)?

[Victor Lazaro]

For DSLR, get a cheese plate to attach on your rods, then velcro or Dual Lock it on the cheese plate

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/842244-REG/SHAPE_cp33_Multi_Purpose_Mounting_Cheese_Plate.html

Also great to mount a real battery on the top of the rig for added weight and balance.

 

The other solution is to get a weight/training plate and attach all the camera to it. DSLR are so light that a little added weight won't hurt...

[Carl Wiedemann]

Seconding Victor: if you're using a DSLR, or other small cameras, then rods and a cheese plate can be helpful. I have a Zacuto base-plate with a nearly identical cheese plate (the Shape CP33 looks like a mimic of the Zacuto Zwiss Plate) that I use with small cameras to mount accessories as well as add, and redistribute, weight. I also have some horizontal plates (Z-balance) that mount between rods that are ideal for attaching accessories (Bartech, signal converters, video transmitter) with adhesive velcro and velcro straps, and bit of gaffers tape, if necessary.

http://store.zacuto.com/Z-Balance.html

http://store.zacuto.com/Zwiss-Plate.html

[Evrim KAYA]

I put the “rig side” adhesive under the nose box of the top stage and behind the lower electronics housing. I use Tiffen Ultra2 sled. Yours might not have the same flat surfaces. A little tip; try to mount the accessories as close to center post as possible and in a manner that their CG sits at the same axis as the center post as well. This way achieving the static/dynamic balance will be easier.

 

Other than that if you have enough weight range when you fly DSLRs, it might be a good idea to put all your accessories as well as some additional weight up on the camera plate mimicking the pan inertia of longer layout cinema cameras.

 

I know that two paragraphs seem contradictory but they aren't It’s all about the feel of the rig, weight and volume of your rig and your payload, the convenience of the cabling and physics.

 

Can you tell us what rig you are flying?

[Rob Hess]

Thank you all for the responses! Very, very helpful.

 

For DSLR, get a cheese plate to attach on your rods, then velcro or Dual Lock it on the cheese plate

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/842244-REG/SHAPE_cp33_Multi_Purpose_Mounting_Cheese_Plate.html

Also great to mount a real battery on the top of the rig for added weight and balance.

 

The other solution is to get a weight/training plate and attach all the camera to it. DSLR are so light that a little added weight won't hurt...

 

The cheese plate was exactly what I was wondering about...I figured there was some type of mounting option, but didn't know what it was called. Thanks again!

 

Seconding Victor: if you're using a DSLR, or other small cameras, then rods and a cheese plate can be helpful. I have a Zacuto base-plate with a nearly identical cheese plate (the Shape CP33 looks like a mimic of the Zacuto Zwiss Plate) that I use with small cameras to mount accessories as well as add, and redistribute, weight. I also have some horizontal plates (Z-balance) that mount between rods that are ideal for attaching accessories (Bartech, signal converters, video transmitter) with adhesive velcro and velcro straps, and bit of gaffers tape, if necessary.

 

http://store.zacuto.com/Z-Balance.html

http://store.zacuto.com/Zwiss-Plate.html

 

How do you mount accessories within a horizontal plate? Is the accessory itself (like a converter box or transmitter) typically secured vertically?

 

I put the “rig side” adhesive under the nose box of the top stage and behind the lower electronics housing. I use Tiffen Ultra2 sled. Yours might not have the same flat surfaces. A little tip; try to mount the accessories as close to center post as possible and in a manner that their CG sits at the same axis as the center post as well. This way achieving the static/dynamic balance will be easier.

 

Other than that if you have enough weight range when you fly DSLRs, it might be a good idea to put all your accessories as well as some additional weight up on the camera plate mimicking the pan inertia of longer layout cinema cameras.

 

I know that two paragraphs seem contradictory but they aren't It’s all about the feel of the rig, weight and volume of your rig and your payload, the convenience of the cabling and physics.

 

Can you tell us what rig you are flying?

 

Can you describe more about the "CG sitting at the same axis as the center post"? Are you referring to positioning the CG of the accessories to ensure there's a good side-to-side balance? Sorry, I'm such a newbie. :)

 

Here's my long answer to your short question about the rig: I currently don't own a rig, and I'm looking at getting back into Steadicam work again (temporarily borrowed an SK some time ago...did a workshop and a couple projects with pretty basic camera setups, no accessories). For the future, I'm seriously considering the Zephyr (or Zephyr V for convenience, since I'd like to pick up some live work eventually). Most of my current work would be DSLR, but I want the flexibility for some heavier setups. I don't expect to be doing any setups that would require a big rig anytime soon.

[Evrim KAYA]

Can you describe more about the "CG sitting at the same axis as the center post"? Are you referring to positioning the CG of the accessories to ensure there's a good side-to-side balance?

 

 

yes. that's what I meant.

[Sam Morgan Moore]

I make 'cheese plates' with slots for Arno straps - I designed them to mount my 'unmountable' lav receiver but the solution could be appropriate to other small objects too..

 

http://halfinchrails.com/your-accesories/lavalier-mic-receiver

[Alan Rencher]

Berkey System and Wooden Camera are two accessory manufacturers that I use, and I highly recommend checking their sites for all the different gear they make.

[Matthias Biber]

I have a nice accessories mounting bracket in the for sale section.

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=17644&hl=

It was designed for a focus receiver, but takes everything else with a female thread.

[Rob Hess]

Thanks for all the advice and links, everyone. These are super helpful.