Hanging EX3 upside-down for overhead shot at DVinfo.net

Francois Xavier · November 24th, 2008, 06:45 AM

We need to shoot a chef cutting vegetables in his kitchen from directly overhead. There is a rail system for lights in the kitchen and little trolleys with rods and pantographs (foba.ch/pdf/FOBA_ceiling_rail_system.pdf) used to hang lights that weight more than the Sony EX3, so we want to use this.

Short of making some L-bracket from scratch, is there an existing device or tripod part to screw the camera on and then screw the device to the rod?

Thanks for any help!

Jay Gladwell · November 24th, 2008, 06:49 AM

To get that kind of shot you would use a mirror above the talent/stove.

Francois Xavier · November 24th, 2008, 07:20 AM

Thanks Jay, if I could avoid it, I'd rather not use a mirror. With HD it's really not improving the picture quality to shoot off the reflection of a mirror. Is there no way to just superclamp the camera from its baseplate to one of the trolleys we have hanging from the ceiling, and then secure it with a cable through the handle? What attachment would I need?

Jay Gladwell · November 24th, 2008, 07:30 AM

Sorry I can't be of more help, Francois. Mirrors are how it's done here in the US, and yes, that's in HD. There is no degrading of the image whatsoever.

Chris Li · November 24th, 2008, 08:16 AM

This has worked for me in the past.

Bogen / Manfrotto | 155 Double Ball Joint Head with 2933 Camera

Francois Xavier · November 24th, 2008, 08:41 AM

Thanks Chris, this is exactly what I was looking for!
The camera's weight 7 lb 9 oz is within range and I'll secure it with a cable overhead.
Will try and report back!
Thanks a million.

November 24th, 2008, 06:45 AM	#1
Francois Xavier Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland Posts: 25	Hanging EX3 upside-down for overhead shot We need to shoot a chef cutting vegetables in his kitchen from directly overhead. There is a rail system for lights in the kitchen and little trolleys with rods and pantographs (foba.ch/pdf/FOBA_ceiling_rail_system.pdf) used to hang lights that weight more than the Sony EX3, so we want to use this. Short of making some L-bracket from scratch, is there an existing device or tripod part to screw the camera on and then screw the device to the rod? Thanks for any help!

November 24th, 2008, 07:20 AM	#3
Francois Xavier Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland Posts: 25	Mirror Thanks Jay, if I could avoid it, I'd rather not use a mirror. With HD it's really not improving the picture quality to shoot off the reflection of a mirror. Is there no way to just superclamp the camera from its baseplate to one of the trolleys we have hanging from the ceiling, and then secure it with a cable through the handle? What attachment would I need?

November 24th, 2008, 08:16 AM	#5
Chris Li Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wash. DC area Posts: 154	Manfrotto super clamp w/double ball joint This has worked for me in the past. Bogen / Manfrotto \| 155 Double Ball Joint Head with 2933 Camera Last edited by Chris Li; December 18th, 2008 at 11:37 AM.

November 24th, 2008, 06:49 AM	#2
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	To get that kind of shot you would use a mirror above the talent/stove.

November 24th, 2008, 07:30 AM	#4
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Sorry I can't be of more help, Francois. Mirrors are how it's done here in the US, and yes, that's in HD. There is no degrading of the image whatsoever.

November 24th, 2008, 08:41 AM	#6
Francois Xavier Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland Posts: 25	Thanks Chris, this is exactly what I was looking for! The camera's weight 7 lb 9 oz is within range and I'll secure it with a cable overhead. Will try and report back! Thanks a million.