Where’s everyone putting all the extra stuff – mics, XLR adaptors, FS-4, external batteries – looks like I’m going to need a bigger tripod…….

Any suggestions??

While I’m at it are the on camera lights worth the cost?

thanks

Not sure about the FS and extra batteries but I made a mount that fits between the tripod plate and the cam. It provides a place to mount my XLR adapter, wireless receiver and a ME66 w cover. There are several aftermarket handles/mounts available that have been mentioned in previous posts.

I have the Beachtek box on top of the tripod and a Manfrotto sliding plate between it and the camera. The microphone is connected to one of the threaded holes in the side of the sliding plate via a Rycote mount and hot shoe adaptor

Ah! Alan! This is exactly the point I've got to. I too have these intriguing Frotti holes and thinking about HOW to employ them as mic/monitor/light fixings.

You got a pic of your setup? Please?

Grazie

Graham,

No - but I'll see what I can do - it is not a problem getting the picture. The problem is I have no means of uploading it for the world to see. I will have to send you it either by post or by email?

You can buy from Keene, and other places, an adaptor that screws in to the 1/4" or 3/8" threaded hole and has a hot shoe foot on the other end - I somehow have got ones of both size.

I bought a flash bracket which had two shoes on the end - intended to be one vertical the other horizontal. I sawed off this right angle bit and slot one shoe onto the foot in the Manfrotto and the Rycote mount in the other.

It places the mic alongside the camera - useful to me as it spends a lot of time poking through letterbox shaped slots in hides. I have fitted a second shoe on the bracket further out from the bend, and a spacer between the foot and the Manfrotto so my long ME67 does not appear in shot even at wide angle - I have no wide extender, I aleays work at the other extreme.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

Alan

In the next couple of days I should receive my Beachtek unit. At that time I will start planning some type of mounting. I have seen the Beachtek mounted under the camera (seems to be the norm) but I wonder how effective this is? Is it easy to make adjustments or change out microphone connectors in this position? I will also be mounting a FS-4 with external battery pack and possibly the CH-910 with dual BP-945 batteries. All of this is weight that is starting to add up, so I’m guessing I will be looking for a “heavy” duty tripod also.

I will most probably use ME-67/64 combination. I am planning to use ¼” thick aluminum which should allow for a lot of threads. Currently I am thinking of putting the FS-4 behind and below the camera in a vertical position. The ME-67 will be mounted to the left (LCD side) and above the camera. I’m hoping this will be far enough away so that I do not pick up any tape or fan noise. So as to the Beachtek unit I have not decided yet – possibly to the right and below the camera or under the camera like I usually see.
This is all starting to sound a little bulky so I will have to wait and see.

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

Don,

I'm not sure which Beachtek you are getting, mine is the DXA-8, because I need the limiters. My box has controls at one end and XLRs at the other. I have the controls facing me - I need to see the limiter LEDs - and the sockets at the lens end, with a R angle Neutrik XLR, which makes it much less vulnerable.

I have the microphone at the cassette side because for various reasons I need to be to the L of the camera. I have never been aware of any motor noise pick up, but the arrangement has the active part of the mike several inches away from the motor. I agree though, in an ideal world I would put it at the LCD side. The components I have would allow that.

Graham has suggested a way of posting images on this board, so I will give that a go - it would be better to make them widely available I suppose.

Alan

As it happens the DXA-8 is what I purchased. As I’m setting here thinking about it putting the microphone on the left may be troublesome. Since the majority of the controls are on the left side as well as opening the LCD.

I have a little concern because the tripod head is only 2” wide and 3 ¼” long. It sounds to me that all this might make stability an issue so I will have to keep options in mind.

Posting the pictures here I think is a good idea but I’m not sure of the “rules” so possibly a link to the pictures might be better. Hmmm…….

I figure it will take me a week or so to iron out a prototype then I’ll post. Until then thanks for the help.

Don

Don,

Stability won't be a problem, your head is only the same size as mine. I thought of using 1/4" aluminium, but as I already had the Manfrotto sliding plate, I went with that, and I am very pleased with it.

I have tried to post the photos in the gallery here, but I am barred at the moment - you apparently have to get an account activated, but I cannot find how to do this.

Graham sent me his email address and I have sent him a set of pictures. No problem if you have broadband - I would have to reduce quality a bit more otherwise. I'll send you a set if you could use them.

The DXA-8 is a very nice piece of equipment. I assume you have read Fred Retread's post of his tests of the Canon with the Beachtek?

Alan

As it happens I have read Fred’s post and that is why I went do the DXA-8 instead of a lesser model.

Yes I would be interested in seeing your photos. I’m always interested in the way others do things. Do not worry about file size it should not be a problem. I have sent you my e-mail address.

Don

Allan,

I have been following this thread and am ver interested in it could you email me the pics, I'm on broad band. dale.g@sasltel.net.


dale

Where’s everyone putting all the extra stuff – mics, XLR adaptors, FS-4, external batteries – looks like I’m going to need a bigger tripod…….

Any suggestions??

While I’m at it are the on camera lights worth the cost?

thanks

The Scorpion Support bracket does a nice job of laying out all the accessories and keeps the weight off the shoulder with the monopod system.
www.scorpionsupport.com

The Scorpion Support bracket does a nice job of laying out all the accessories and keeps the weight off the shoulder with the monopod system.
www.scorpionsupport.com

Sorry Eric, but that is just too . . . . !

Eric

Scorpion support – not bad but I’m not really interested in a portable mount. I’m thinking tripod. However I do think that some parts of this bracket could be used on a tripod.

I have not really started cutting metal yet but I have drawn up some plans and made a prototype out of poster paper. Unfortunately I am not able to upload a picture here. The “bracket” holds the following: FS-4, Li-poly battery for the FS-4, CH-910 w/BP-945’s and some room for expansion. This will mount between the DXA-8 and the tripod.

Thanks

Don

Not getting around to it very quickly but.....

http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Camera-1.jpg
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Batteries.bmp
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/CameraMount.bmp
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/FS-4.bmp

This will be made from 1/8" thick alu.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

thanks
Don

The Scorpion looks ugly. :o(

Why don't you invent another stabilizer, and instead of using weights, you can you some of the other stuff (FS-4, battery packs, etc.) as the counter balance? Obviously, you would not be using your lights and mics down there for counter balance support.

I mean, the weights on a stabilizer seems like "dead weight" to me, especially if you have to still wear your FS-4 or spare batteries around a belt pack. I would "borrow" one of the plans from a current model of a stabilizer, and attempt to use your "extras" instead of the weights for your "new" design. ;o)

DON!?!? What have you DONE to that CAT!!? I wanna see the front side and get its expression!! I can hear the MEeeeaoaaooooww all the way to here in London!

Don't you love animals - or what?

Grazie




Best larf I've had Fuuurr A long time .. . ouch!

Well I guess it sort of does look like it went through the microwave or something.
I chose a “natural” color when I purchased them. They are made by a chap in Montana.
Here’s another look.

http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Cat.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/FUR-WINDSCREEN-for-SHURE-SM89-Microphone-SM-89_W0QQitemZ7402169459QQcategoryZ41466QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This person makes custom "Cats" also.

Don

The Scorpion looks ugly. :o(

Why don't you invent another stabilizer, and instead of using weights, you can you some of the other stuff (FS-4, battery packs, etc.) as the counter balance? Obviously, you would not be using your lights and mics down there for counter balance support.

I mean, the weights on a stabilizer seems like "dead weight" to me, especially if you have to still wear your FS-4 or spare batteries around a belt pack. I would "borrow" one of the plans from a current model of a stabilizer, and attempt to use your "extras" instead of the weights for your "new" design. ;o)


Tom

I am strictly an amateur at this and have no intention of anything besides a hobby. Since I only use a tripod I have never considered something like you are suggesting. I did take some time today to look on e-bay and found some pictures of one product called “Glidecam”. This one seems to use bolt on weights and should be fairly simple to change in the method you have suggested. The only part I can see that you would have to work on is balancing the two weights at the bottom. I also think that for the most part that the battery pack would need to be sold with such a product. Otherwise there are too many variables.

Onward:
Added a couple of shelves to help support batteries/FS-4
Added accessory shoe area

What else?

http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/New-Mount-1.jpg

Hmmm? I used my new set up yesterday in some very quiet surroundings and I find that I can detect some noise pick-up from the transport.

I tried it out at home in the early hours when there was virtually no background noise and yes the transport is audible.

So I am either going to have to move the mike further from the camera (very ungainly) or switch it to the other side, and consequently have to learn to work in a different way. Again the mike will have to be well out from the camera to enable access to the LCD and various controls.

The Beachtek is first rate though. I have much more control over levels and no clipping on the occasional burst of extra loud sound.

Alan

Any progress?

So far I have modified the bracket so that I can adjust the distance of the Mic from the camera. I removed the two shoes from the right angle bracket and drilled and tapped a 1/4" hole. I have fixed an old straight flash bracket with a long slot to this with a standard 1/4 Whitworth clamping screw, so I can slide the new part with the shoe in and out.

In the end I have switched the microphone to the LH side of the camera and this has killed the noise pick up from the transport.

The cable I am using is pretty low quality, so I have ordered some Tinsel starquad, which I am told is the best for noise rejection. I have also ordered one of these, which will make a neater job:

http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/productdetails.aspx?productid=53-289

I will have to get used to the new way of working now. The downside of the LH side position is that the bracket does impede access to the controls on that side, plus the mike has to be further way from the camera to clear the LCD. This makes the rig rather more cumbersome.

DON!?!? What have you DONE to that CAT!!? I wanna see the front side and get its expression!! I can hear the MEeeeaoaaooooww all the way to here in London!

Don't you love animals - or what?

Grazie




Best larf I've had Fuuurr A long time .. . ouch!

My cat helps me when I'm on the Web and when he saw that picture, he raced out of the house and I haven't seen him since. I'll bet the guy who makes those things is on the local SPCA most-wanted list.

J. -- Hope your cat has returned by now.
Graham -- did you know the term "raining cat's and dog's" orginated in London?

Alan - Any more test?
Have you considered putting a LCD screen on it? I should have my “holder” done in the next week. I will post some pictures then. I will also run some “test” with it to see if I get any cassette noise. Also ordered one of these (NRG5911) from B&H incase I have to move the mic.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=114982&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I ended up going with Rode Videomic and Sennheiser ME64/K6 for a hand held. Still looking at the Sennheiser ME67 or Rode NTG-1/2 for a boom.


Don

Little more work to do then paint.
Still have to drill and mount the CH-910 Battery pack……
Mounting hole on end is for FS-4…..
Both units sit on Aluminum angle …….

http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-09.jpg

Mounting studs
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-010.jpg
CH-910
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-011.jpg
Battery for FS-4
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-012.jpg
Access to all functions
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-013.jpg

Next I will be adding a 8” LCD Monitor……
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-014.jpg

I decided a while back that I wanted a portable monitor for my GL-2. After looking around I found that most of the monitors were in excess of $250.00 so I thought about using one of the current LCD TFT monitor / TV sets. After some searching I found this unit on e-bay. The picture is as I received it.
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-015.jpg
At $89.95 plus $17.95 for shipping.
There are 2 ways to mount this monitor.
1. The square nut that you see on top of the mount fits into a channel on the back of the monitor.
2. The bottom of the monitor is tapped for ¼ - 20 threads.
The mount that comes with the monitor is ¼-20 screw. But can only be screwed in about 3 turns.

So I removed the bracket by extracting 5 screws shown here.
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-017.jpg

Next I tapped out the threads on the bottom of the bracket shown here.
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-018.jpg
This allows me to insert 3/8" or so into the threads. HOWEVER use caution it is possible to go too far and press against the plastic of the case.

I ordered a shoe mount, which has not arrived yet that will allow me to mount the monitor on top of my GL-2. $19.95 + $ 4.95 shipping. (Nothing available locally).

Is the picture as good as the more expensive – no, will it do 16:9 – no just 4:3.
But the offset is that I have paid a total of $132.80 for a non-pro monitor – which is just fine with me.
http://www.sonic.net/kd6hq/images/Firestore-016.jpg

The End....... well maybe

Enjoy