vdschoor 0 #1 July 20, 2004 I just got my Flat Top Pro in, and i was trying to put it together last night. For some reason I can't get the still camera lens (Digital Rebel with Sigma 15mm) out of the video, unless I mount the video all the way forward, which is something I don't want to do. I need some room around the camera to be able to connect the off camera shoe cord for the flash as well. I attached some pictures to show how high the camera is on the helmet, I was wondering if I could just drill another hole in the front L bracket and lower it.. it seems really high. Anybody have any tips? I am mounting a TRV17 on top. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #2 July 20, 2004 I had to lower my L-bracket... drilling another hole is not a big deal. JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 July 20, 2004 You could just move to a narrower wide angle lens on the video camera. In all reality thats sticking out there a lot, you are going to have to move it way down to be out of the way. If you are unable to move the video closer to the front you are going to be limited in your options. Have you considered how are you going to mount the camera in portrait mode yet? That addition might have you changing the design of your helmet.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #4 July 20, 2004 QuoteI had to lower my L-bracket... drilling another hole is not a big deal. J Did you drill another hole in the helmet or in the L bracket? QuoteHave you considered how are you going to mount the camera in portrait mode yet? That addition might have you changing the design of your helmet. For portrait mode, I am going to put the still on top of my helmet using a shark fin instead of in the front Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miami 0 #5 July 20, 2004 Have you tried flipping the bracket for your still camera upside down? Hope this helps...Miami Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #6 July 20, 2004 QuoteYou could just move to a narrower wide angle lens on the video camera. I know, but I am only using a Kenko 0.5, so it's not that wide. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #7 July 20, 2004 Front mount the video (sorry - couldn't resist). I'd re-drill the L bracket so it sits lower as opposed to re-drilling the helmet. A replacement L bracket is much cheaper than a replacement helmet! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #8 July 20, 2004 QuoteFront mount the video SUUUURE.. front mounting a TRV 17? I don't think so. I could mount it in the front, aiming sideways, but that would make for some strange flying, and it would be troublesome with the ring sight. Quote I'd re-drill the L bracket so it sits lower as opposed to re-drilling the helmet. A replacement L bracket is much cheaper than a replacement helmet! That's what I figured too.. I am going to redrill it tonight, I have an extra front L bracket lying around anyways.. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #9 July 20, 2004 I re-drilled the L-bracket... the other option is mounting the still upside-down. JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #10 July 20, 2004 QuoteI re-drilled the L-bracket... the other option is mounting the still upside-down. J That's what I am going to do tonight, re-drilling the L bracket. I am not a big fan of mounting the stills upside down, down is the direction of gravity and it just seems to risky to me to put the still camera upside down, but that might just be a feeling. thanks everyone for your input!! Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #11 July 20, 2004 Don't have the helmet pre-drilled for the L bracket so you can mount it just the way you like. D'oh! The only problem with mounting the hole higher is it will probably make it impossible to rotate the camera 90 degrees for portrait angle without putting the weight off to much to one side. I suggest jus putting the camera all the way forward. If you don't like it, I have another of those aluminum tops like mine, I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #12 July 20, 2004 This was mentioned - but not acknowledged - turn the still camera upside down - in other words - let the camera hang from the bracket. Is there a reason why you wouldn't do this? I was contemplating doing something similar with another video if I ever need to go to nationals.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #13 July 20, 2004 QuoteThat's what I am going to do tonight, re-drilling the L bracket. I am not a big fan of mounting the stills upside down, down is the direction of gravity and it just seems to risky to me to put the still camera upside down, but that might just be a feeling. Granted you have more of an investment on that bracket than most of them but a lot of our camera flyers hang theirs with no losses. Personally, i would rather hang it and have just the pop up flash in my field of view (not video but my view) than the whole bottom of the bracket once it is lowered on the helmet. Let us know what you ended up doing with it. Jeff Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #14 July 20, 2004 QuoteDon't have the helmet pre-drilled for the L bracket so you can mount it just the way you like. Too late Quote The only problem with mounting the hole higher is it will probably make it impossible to rotate the camera 90 degrees for portrait angle without putting the weight off to much to one side. For portrait stuff, I am going to put the still on top probably, and mount it on a shark fin.. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #15 July 20, 2004 I know it might be a pain in the ass seeing how you just got every thing in but you could just order the longer base plate from bonehead, remove the current plate you have the still mounted to and the mount the still upside down to the new base plate (it sticks out about 4 inches from the front of the helmet) thats what I did with mine and it works great Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #16 July 20, 2004 I see all the feedback on here regarding mounting it upside down. Are you all using Stroboframe quick releases or just a thumbscrew? The reason I am nervous about it is the quick release, I am wondering if it will hold. All the "heavy" still cameras I've seen mounted, were always mounted upright instead of upside down. Everyone I saw jumping the heavy digital gear had theirs mounted upright: McGowan, Jason Peters (if I remember well..) Mark Lichtle, Deuce, etc... It's just a lot of weight to be hanging off that quick release.. I think I am just going to lower the L bracket. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #17 July 20, 2004 That's another reason I don't use quick release units. You can just move the "L" down a little. Or manufacture a riser for the TRV.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pcalandra 0 #18 July 20, 2004 I have my digital rebel mounted upside down using the standard 1/4"x20 threaded mounting hole. I use an allen head and it goes on & off easily. I haven't had a problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #19 July 20, 2004 Quote I know it might be a pain in the ass seeing how you just got every thing in but you could just order the longer base plate from bonehead, remove the current plate you have the still mounted to and the mount the still upside down to the new base plate (it sticks out about 4 inches from the front of the helmet) thats what I did with mine and it works great According to the bonehead website, the larger plate is only two inches larger than the standard one. http://www.boneheadcomposites.com/faq.htm _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #20 July 21, 2004 okay, maybe it is only 2 inches, but its long enough to hang the still camera inverted from. So maybe I can't measure, dont tell my girlfriend I just got her convinced........ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #21 July 21, 2004 QuoteAre you all using Stroboframe quick releases or just a thumbscrew? The reason I am nervous about it is the quick release, I am wondering if it will hold. Do you think a goldmember would work for your requirements then? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #22 July 21, 2004 QuoteThat's another reason I don't use quick release units. You can just move the "L" down a little. Or manufacture a riser for the TRV. That's what I did last night, moved the L bracket down a bit, put the D box for the TRV on top, sighted the ringsight and this baby is ready to fly! Now I only have to put the bracket on there for my flash, but that's not urgent... Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #23 July 21, 2004 QuoteThat's what I did last night, moved the L bracket down a bit, put the D box for the TRV on top, sighted the ringsight and this baby is ready to fly! PICS! After all this talk i went and bought a new lens for my still setup and got all that mounted to my flat-top narrow last night also. I will take some pics of it and post them tomorrow. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #24 July 21, 2004 Quote PICS! After all this talk i went and bought a new lens for my still setup and got all that mounted to my flat-top narrow last night also. I will take some pics of it and post them tomorrow. I'll take some tonite Basically the way it is setup right now is the Digital Rebel with the Sigma 15 in the front, the TRV17 in a D box on top (left from the center) and my 550 EX flash will be mounted on the right top. Although that will not always be on there of course.. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DALAILAMA 0 #25 July 22, 2004 Good choice. I would like to however, clear up some misconceptions about what has been talked about on this subject. 1. Mounting the camera upside down using the L bracket isn't as much of a risk as people think. I saw where someone said that gravity is down and they didn't want to take the chance.(sorry I don"t know how to post actual quotes) If the opening is so hard that something is going to break, it will break easier if the L bracket is right side up. If it is upside down the camera will be reinforced by the back of the camera bracing against the front of the helmet, thus distrubuting the energy evenly and not just on the L bracket at the bend. 2. The Strobo frame camera quick release mount when used correctly makes the camera mounting stronger than if it were mounted using the single bolt. Instead of the camera being bolted with one bolt through a thin piece of fiberglass composite it has 2 different places of attachment, again distributing the force to a greater area. (less stress than on a small area) Again your choice is yours, I just don't want starting out videographers mounting cameras, drilling holes, ruining their expensive equipment and relying on statements that are not exactly all true. Knowledge is our greatest gift. These are not my opinons just simply the facts. Good luck on your video endevors!"Dropzone.com, where uneducated people measuring penises, has become an art form" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
