EX1 Stronger base plate NanoFlash Prototype
 

Here is the new NanoFlash prototype. Of course the final shipping version will be black anodized finish.

The Nano will tilt slightly forward and be off to the right side of the EX1. The Nano can easily be removed when not used and the bracket can also easily be removed

It attaches to the standard wing and you can still keep the 2 standard shoes for wireless mics etc.

I am trying to expand this system using current parts. And I think this works really well.

When I make the shoulder brace or the matte box rail adapter for this system that requires additional milling to the wing or plate, I will offer free updated baseplates or wings if you have purchased the earlier model.

If you have any thoughts please comment here or contact me:
olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283

You can order the plate and standard wing here, we ship orders the same day received:
EX1 Stronger Plates

How can I order a prototype? I plan to use the Nanoflash on an EX1 with the Swit
larger image S-8U62 D-tap battery of dimensions 41.5x69.7x93.0mm. Will this battery and its protruding cables interfere with the Nanoflash mounted on your bracket? It looks like the Nanoflash left edge would be aligned with the right side of your plate, but it's hard to judge the depth from your photos. Please confirm.

S-8U62 replacement for Sony BP-U60 Battery/ PMW-EX1/EX3 camera [SWIT S-8U62] - $179.00 : Dolgin Engineering, Camera Power Solutions

http://www.swit-battery.com/swit2006...ductdetail.asp

Hi Gints,

I will be happy to send you a prototype next week.

Give me a call and I will set it up. My # 603.383.9283

I am also sending a prototype to Convergent Designs on Monday.

Can you show a picture of it mounted to the camera? I am having a hard time imagining how that won't interfere with the grip.

Perrone,

Here is a photo that shows the position of the wing pretty clearly, actual wing is black anodized finish with holes and shoe attachements.

And bear in mind that if you place an order, there is a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with my product.

Check out the website:
EX1 Stronger Plates

Or contact me:
olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283

I now have a new design for the NanoFlash Arm.

It comes with 2 arms so that NanoFlash can face the back or to the left.

They can be mounted in different positions to accommodate large batteries.

If you would like to try out these arms, contact me.

If you have any thoughts please comment here or contact me:
olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283

You can order the plate and standard wing here, we ship orders the same day received:
EX1 Stronger Plates

Olof - very much interested in your Nano bracket - are you getting in a Nanoflash? Would love to see some pics of the actual unit mounted on an EX1. My main concern is not having to take it (the Nano) off while getting the camera in and out of the camera bag.

Barry,

I just sent this setup to a beta tester he will send me back photos soon.

And I also sent Convergent design a set today. They will be testing the setup.

I will be getting in a NanoFlash soon, I am also getting the new EX1R soon (they say).

If you are interested in trying this setup out. Give me a call. 603-383-9283. Let me know what dimensions your bag is.

Olof

I am going out of town for Thanksgiving but the present rig I have is shown here:
Shape WLB community/barry-j-weckesser-sept-2009-004 . When I take the camera (and shelf where the battery and Nano are attached) - I can lay the whole unit on it's side and it fits in my Petrol PCTB-3 bag - Untitled Document - it fits into the bag like so: http://www.petrolbags.com/bigPic.htm.../PCTB-3_04.jpg

I have shortened the three compartments on the left of the bag to accomodate for the QRPro2 mounting shelf.

What I am thinking of in the future is investigating the possibility of using the new Sony collapsible shoulder mount that fits on the bottom of the EX1(R) and using your bracket to mount the Nanoflash unit. The big caveat is not having to dismount the Nano everytime I put the camera into the bag. When I get back from vacation, I will take a picture of how the camera rig now fits into this bag and send it to you.

Great looking setup, Barry. I'd like to do something similar. Is this rig airplane-friendly?
dave

Barry,

That is quite the setup you have there. Looks very conformable.

I hope I can help you integrate a Nano solution that is easy to deal with.

The shoulder bracket I am working on would attach to the "wing" and come off with one thumb screw while the Nano would stay on the camera and the whole rig will click onto a tripod head, with or without the shoulder bracket attached.

I am also working on a rail system in the front of the plate that would be quick to attach/remove for matte box handles and focus rigs.

My thought is that you can quickly change from sticks to shoulder to bag. I like the Sony VCT-14 system for mounting on the sticks. I am integrating that possibility in my system.

Olof, I'm also interested in your work on the shoulder mount. Are you thinking of adding a counterweight on the back side? I have the Vortex shoulder mount, but it's made of flexible steel. For an EX, a lot of counterweight in the rear "cage" box makes for a very bouncy shoulder mount. I understand that they chose thin steel for weight concerns, but I've added my own aluminum reinforcement bars at significant cost. There is not enough room for my wrist for the EX1 rotating grip. It's ok when held at shoulder height, but for other shoudler mount positions, it's too tight.

I made my first prototype shoulder brace out of 1/8" 6011 aluminum and I did not like the lack of stiffness.

So I have ordered 3/16" 6061, it will be here next week. 1/4" 6061 is nice and stiff, but I would like to keep weight down, so I want to try the 3/16".

As far as counter balance goes, yes I will either provide a battery mount and/or a box or possible a stud with a wing nut for a weight. Any thoughts?

I see the shoulder brace as a quick release that can be quickly mounted/removed while on your tripod, so it is still easy to keep your mic and or NanoFlash attached when on your tripod or put in your run-bag. But it can also be left on while on sticks or put away in a larger bag.

Yes it is airplane friendly but not on commuter jets -of course I stow the shoulder mount in a separate backpack. I walked around "Dizzyworld" yesterday for over 4 hours and had no problems - the rig all together weighs about 16 pounds and is evenly distributed between shoulder and waist with the telescopic arm. I was able to get some great shots on full telephoto with no wobble.

Looks similar to the one I moded for my wireless mic but with stronger base plate. Olof I am ordering one to try out.

Olof

With your new Nanoflash bracket design (Nanoflash facing back) how far back is the Nano from the back of the camera (measured from the back of the camera to the front of the Nano) and how far to the side of the camera is the Nano located - does part of the Nano overlap the right hand portion of the back of the camera? Just trying to get an idea of how far out to the right side of the camera that the Nano would protrude.

Barry,

I have just ordered the "Swit" battery and I will have a new EX1R as well as a NanoFlash unit here to work with this week. I will then finalize the design and publish exact drawings and photos here.

The current Beta models of brackets are being used by beta testers and Convergent design has a kit.

We are trying to come up with the best balance and convenient way to mount the NanoFlash. I want the whole system to be easy to use rugged and light and small differences in positions make a big difference.

I expect to have the finalized design in about 10 days. I will keep you posted on progress.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions they would be appreciated.
Contact me, or post here:
olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283

You can order the plate and standard wing here, we ship orders the same day received:
EX1 Stronger Plates

Eagerly looking forward to seeing your final design for the back-facing Nanoflash mount. I may be able to go back to using the Hoodman Wristshot for brief shoots with this type of arrangement and use the Shoulder mount for longer shoots. I am glad to see someone is trying their best to come up with a more portable solution to mounting the Nanoflash.

Hello Olof,

I'm glad you're making these baseplates. After realizing the dangers I was putting on my EX1's baseplate by holding it by the handle with a Letus rig attached to it, I've become *slightly* paranoid about ripping out the tripod plate. So these replacement bases are heaven-sent. I have two questions about them:

1) About how much do they weigh (you probably answered this in another thread, so I'm sorry that I'm asking again)?

2) Would it be possible to buy the baseplate and wing separately? I'm thinking that it would be nice to "upgrade" later on by adding the wing to an already-owned baseplate.

Thanks for all your hard work!

Barry I am using the bracket Olof built with the Nano facing backwards. I also use the Swit battery to power the camera and Nano. There is enough room to change batteries with the bracket and Nano with wires installed. I discussed this with Olof when we set up the distance back for the Nano.

Paul - Thanks for the response - would love to see a picture of the entire unit on the camera. I really like the idea of this type of mount compared with my present setup with the QRPro 2 shelf and am researching around for a different type of camera bag so I can just slip it in and out of the bag without any dismounting (need a wider bag where the camera can sit upright as opposed to being on it's side as with my present PTCB-3 from Petrol.) I think the Petrol PDRB-3 would probably fit the bill nicely.

I use this setup in my Think Tank bag. Will post pictures when I have a chance today.

Thanks Paul - would also like to see it in the Think Tank bag - does your bag have wheels?

Yes it has wheels and a whole lot more.

Check out this thread on EX1 bags.
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...e-bag-ex1.html

Those were good pics of your Think Tank bag - I noticed that the Nano was wrapped in bubble wrap and disassembled from the mount - are you now able to put the camera and Nano (assembled- facing back) into the bag? I also notice that you have taken off the mic mount (and you mention that in a later post) - I use the mic mount with my AT835ST microphone - is there enough headroom for that in the bag?

I took the mic mount off because they break and I don't like to put my shot gun in the stock mount.

I always take off the Nano. With HD-SDI and power cable coming out the bottom and a screen that can scratch I remove it. Only takes seconds to remove and pack properly.

Here are some picture of the stronger bottom plate with back mount and side mount for the Nano. Side mount is great when on shoulder brace to still use the viewfinder and the back plate is great on our helicopter.

I was quick with the wires on the side mount so they are not that neat.

Paul

Thank you very much for the very good pictures and the comments above. I like the side mounted (facing back) for my purposes and I don't think I would have a problem with the power cables extending too far down to "crimp" themselves in the bag. I had a custom HD-SDI cable (9") made by CD but without the boots (unlike the red one in yours) so the wire can bend quicker. In placing my Nano at the location in your pictures I would need a camera bag at least 10" in width if I were to keep the unit on and not disassemble it. I still could cover it with plastic bubble wrap to protect the screen. I really like this system and eagerly await Olof's final design.

It looks like the compartments in the Think Tank bag are very easily configured - do you see any problem in configuring one that would fit the EX1 with the Nano mounted on the side facing back. My wires do not extend down below the camera so I don't think there would be a problem with crimping.

Barry,

You probably know this but you can make BNC cables that cable comes out at 90º, no crimp problem.

I make custom BNC and XLR cables, and I will add custom made lengths to my order page soon.

If you need a custom cable made get in touch with me:
olof@westsideav.com
603.383.9283

Paul,

I really like the look of the Think Tank bag. It is out of stock at the moment, but I will get one when they are back.

Olof

Funny you should mention about the right angle - I looked on CD accessory website (Indiegrip) and there were the right angle connectors. In fact, I emailed Rick Kelly of Indigrip with a copy to Dan Keaton and they both thought the right angle cable would be the way to go. Do you also do D-Tap - Hirose 4 pin custom cables also? I like the idea of keeping the unit attached to the camera more or less permanently (in addition to convenience, I am also concerned about metal fatigue in the cables over time if you are constantly taking them on and off) and getting a bag like the Think Tank (very wide) and setup the dividers to properly protect the camera (and put bubble wrap over the Nano for transport - like Paul does). That bag is so large I might even be able to get my Shape shoulder mount into it - the dimensions are right.

I know Paul has a prototype of the Nano mount (side wing that faces backward) but is his just about the same as the final product will be?

Look up dealers on the Think Tank webpage and there is one in New York (begins with A - not sure whether they are a sponsor or not) that has the bag in stock for the same price + free shipping.

Barry you can adjust the bag to fit the side mount easily. There are velcro dividers that work great. I also have extra that I use from my LowPro Dry Zone bags and Storm cases. So lots of options here but you should be fine with what comes with the bag. Just make sure you use the two long stiff ones to keep the bag stable.