NanoFlash Camera Mounts
 

Looking for a sturdy mount to mount a Nano Flash to a Z5 camera. The hotshoe on the camera is already taken up. Is there anyway of mounting it under the camera in something like a JimmyBox or anywhere else? THX

Dear John,

We have designed a new mount for th nanoFlash.

It is designed as an almost universal mount.

We will post some pictures as soon as possible.

Yes, I have had a problem mounting it on my new Sony PMW 350K, so much so that although I have had it for 2 weeks I am yet to record a single nanoflash image, fearing the unit might fall off! These (great) cameras don't come with a hot shoe mount but just a bare "landing pad" at the front with a female screw thread.

My supplier sent a clip-on mount with hot shoe that goes over the handle, I then attached a manfrotto
(something!) mount to screw into the nanoflash, all fine up to there. BUT with the 350 it then obscures 2 assignable buttons on the top of the handle and in any case the manfrotto mount has its own issues. The bottom line is that it really needs to go either in the dedicated female thread I mentioned (maybe with a double male thread adaptor which would keep the profile lower) or at least to a standard hot shoe mount that Sony should have supplied in the first place!

But then I hear rumors around here that nanoflash themselves might have some sort of bracket solution , but does that apply to far-flung places like here in Australia? in other words how hard are they to get hold of if you're not living in downtown New York (or Boulder)?

Dear Chris,

nanoFlash.net has a custom bracket for mounting the nanoFlash on the PMW-350 and other similar cameras.

Go to the Mounting Options page, then scroll down to see the bracket.

While you're waiting to purchase a new mount (IDX makes one too) you could always try some industrial strength velcro on the back of the your brick batteries and nano. Simple, cheap and works well...except in super humid environs where the adhesive on the velcro backing can fail. I've used this method repeatedly and haven't had a nano drop off yet.

Cheers,

nanoFlash.net managed to get a mounting kit over to me here in Southport (the original one) in about three days via Fedex, so Alice should be a doddle !

The basis of the kit is a tripod plate, which screws onto the bottom of the camera, in my case a Canon XLH1. The nanoFlash mounting bar(s) attach to this tripod plate.

nanoFlash.net actually include tripod plates for EX1, EX3 and XLH1 in the kit. You may wish to check that there is a suitable tripod plate for your particular camera,

Ron

Dan, Thanks for that and we all appreciate the extra mile that nanoflash go for their customers with things like this. I've had a look and I'm sure it will be great, but I would really like an image that shows where it actually mounts to the camera body. I can't tell at all from the photo. There are a line of what seem to be female screw holes between the battery and the wireless receiver, is that it? if so, I presume you supply the screws? Also I'm sure you've allowed for all battery brands and sizes, but mine are Swits, all ok on those?

Thanks

Chris

Dear Chris,

I am sorry, but I do not have a picture or other information.

I have emailed Olof, who should be able to answer your questions.

I have been on a long shoot in the south, so I have not kept up with this Forum. I got Dans email.

Here are two photos of my bracket setup for the Z5U, NanoFlash.net has this kit for online ordering. I suggest you also order a 90 degree BNC connector from NanoFlash.net.

I also have a bracket for the 350/320/800 and 900's, shown in the third and fourth photos. They mount behind the wireless mic dropin slot, and allows the mounting of the NanoFlash behind the battery. It can be ordered with the optional wing as well. All mounting screws and thumbscrew that holds the NF are part of the kit.


If you have any further questions, you can contact me.

Thanks Olof.

My main question to you would be are the screws included? (I'm sure they are)
I have now already ordered your mount and I was only thinking this morning about getting a short BNC lead made up for it. I wish I had have known about the right-angle BNC before I ordered the bracket, anyway I might be able to catch it in time to have it included. Thanks for the work you put into these things!

Chris, all the screws, screwdriver and allen wrench for mounting the bracket to your camera are included.

The 90 degree BNC fitting is a very common item. Most electronic stores carry them. Make sure it is 75 ohm (not 50) if you buy one locally.

Dear Friends,

I have spoken with Mr. Rick Kelly of nanoFlash.net.

The mounts for the EX1/EX3/XL H1 and other similar cameras, as shown in the top photos by Olof will now automatically include a 90 degree true 75 Ohm BNC adapter, as recommended by Olof.

This adapter will be included at no additional cost.

Thanks Dan, also Olof and Rick.

I am new to nanoflash but had heard about its outstanding attention to detail and customer support, I think if this keeps up we have to change "outstanding" to "legendary". I haven't even mentioned the private advice Dan has been providing by email as well, for Pro product support I would have to say that so far it is up there with the best I've come across, well done!

Dear Chris,

Thank you very much!

You kind comments made my day!

PMW 350 mount disappointing
 

After my recent post I had to really think hard about whether I should post this here, or contact those who made and supplied this bracket privately. I decided to do so here because ultimately I need to be honest with all forum members and make sure that those considering purchasing the PMW 350 mount have all the facts. I must say it was difficult to judge what the bracket was actually like from the supplied low res picture.

First issue is the most important, this mount requires you to unscrew it each time you change battery. Some sort of locking hinge with a flip-up function would have made it much more useable. Secondly none of the 4 screws supplied (which you wiil be juggling a lot) have a function that allows them to be locked in with the bracket when required, in other words all 4 are always separate and loose when the bracket is off the camera, and as you are handling all four each time you change a battery the chances of losing any one of them is high, particularly when doing so in the field. Thirdly, the screws don't even have the same head so you will need to juggle not just the 4 screws, but also an allen key and a phillips head screwdriver as well (supplied) EVERY TIME you change battery. By the way, the two outer screws don't even seem to fit the female thread in the camera anyway. I have tried repeatedly to screw them in but have now given up. Another smaller issue is that if you have the inbuilt wireless receiver it becomes slower and more difficult again as turning the allen key is much more fiddly in that tight area.

I would suggest this on/off procedure will be difficult for those shooting TVCs, documentaries. music videos etc. but if, like me, you are also an ENG Camera person it is just not a viable procedure when you need to quickly get another battery on camera.

I have decided to now use the supplied stick-on velcro pads on the back of a battery pack, but I doubt if the glue on them will even last a single summer here in the desert. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
but it seems, considering the freight costs to Australia, I've bought myself a rather expensive bit of bent metal.

Hi Chris, I am sorry to hear about your problems.

You are the first one to report these problems. Other users and the user who developed this bracket with me can change the battery with the bracket installed.

The use of the wing on top of the bracket makes a very solid non velcro mount for wireless receivers and "hotshoes" can be used as well if velcro is not proper in your location, both of these are available on my website.

What batteries are you using?

Could you send me photos of your setup. I would like to fix this problem for you, and if it does not work refund you for your purchase.

You can contact me directly if you like, email me olof@westsideav.com. Skype works very well for these types of discussions. I hope we can resolve this problem for you quickly.

Thanks Olof, I appreciate that. I'm off to bed now though (11.20pm here)
and up early but hope to send an image through tomorrow. In the meantime do you have a higher res
image of your set up just in case I've missed something? By the way I use Swit batteries.

Hey Chris,

You might be surprised how long some industrial strength velcro can last. I've found humidity to be the real culprit with the adhesive.

Anyhow, here's what I own:
A-MWR | IDX Tek

Despite a couple of gripes (I always have them), I'm happy with it. It has a power tap, weighs very little, and makes batteries changes a breeze.

I still keep the velcro on the batts and nano just in case I run into certain situations where I can't use the IDX mount.

Cheers,

Chris, here is a higher res photo of Paul Cronin's setup on a 350, there is plenty of room to remove the battery.

He is now using the same setup on an 800 w/o problems.

Thanks Eric, I'll look into that.

Olof, Paul's gap between bracket and battery seems to be about an inch, unfortunately mine, as you can see, is more like 1/4" from the d-tap rubber hood, so I cannot remove it. Also the supplied silver screws simply fall loosely all the way into the outer holes, there is no thread contact. Maybe there was a mix-up with other screws? Thanks.

Nanoflash mount
 

Hi, I understand perfectly Chris’s problem. I have the same problem with my battery (Omega,pmw-350,and nanoflash).I do also ENG and I was forced to renounce shooting with nano things like news or other stuff like that( I use nano for other projects, spots and corporate video’s).
The solution is to purchase other new batteries, but I have just bought mine and I have no intentions to buy new batteries anytime soon.
It could be easier if we have the same screw that we use to attach the nano ,it’s easier and faster to un screw
But I have to say that I’m very happy with all new equipment(nanoflash, mount compact flash ecc..) I bought from nanoflash.net, Rick is great.
And nanoflash is one of the best purchase I have done in the last 5 years.
Samer

Chris and Samer, thanks for your post.

I can redesign the 350 bracket so that it clears the larger batteries. I want to fix this problem, it is ridicules to have to remove the bracket to change batteries.

I am just about to make another batch of these brackets anyway so I will do the mod on these.

I can think of 2 ways to do this. One is to add a spacer, how tall would it have to be?

The other is to redesign the bracket with additional bends.

If you would like to be my beta tester I will supply you with a test version first and then with a new production version when they are ready.

Could you contact me by email or phone. A Skype call would be great, email me first to set it up. I want to confirm with some measurements exactly how to modify the bracket.

I think a solid aluminum spacer is the easiest fix, I would then make it available for anyone that has the larger batteries. And it would become part of the kit in the future, to be installed if you have larger batteries, but could be left off for a more compact setup.

olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283
cel 603.387.4921

Thanks

Chris, I would like to find out why your 2mm screws don't fit.

There may be an update to these cameras by Sony.

Could you try the 4mm screw to see if it fits the outer holes as well.

Maybe Sony increased the size to 2.5 or 3mm.

Contact me when you get a chance, we will work this out.

olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283
cel 603.387.4921

Thanks

Olof,

The 4mm screws are far too thick and the supplied screws just touch the sides when in the holes, so
I would suspect you're on the right track, but can't really advise more. My suggestion would be to try and mount a locking hinge very close to where it screws on now. In other words the hinge flips up to allow access to the battery, but then locks back in place with gravity when it's down. But maybe I should just stick to camerawork too!

In terms of upward movement it actually doesn't need much to release the battery, maybe just 12mm, but that's just release, of course you need some manouvering room under the bracket as well, so I think 25mm. Only thing that might vary that is if people are using the d-tap on top of the swit, that adds a bit more. I use the on camera light d-tap on the side of the camera myself. Happy to beta test, but couldn't skype last time I tried (combination mac and satellite broadband issue). I get really cheap calls though through Jajah so can just do that. Probably be tomorrow morning your time though. We are + 9.30 GMT so what time is best for you?