How would you right a 60x60cm mirror on the ceiling at 45° using ceiling mounts only

J

Jeffsteez

Member
I'm trying to set-up an overhead shooting rig for cooking videos. I was to position a 60x60cm mirror against the ceiling, angled down at 45 degrees so I can shoot into it from the ground to gain my 'top down' view. Ideally the tilt of the mirror would be adjustable by +/- 20 degrees. The mirror weighs 4.5kg.

In the past I've seen mirrors rigged with a couple of C-stands with boom arms with the frame of the mirror gripped with Cardellini clamps. This is a domestic house (my house in fact) and for various reasons I don't want to rig this up with floor stands. Ideally I want some sort of ceiling attachment that I can hook or otherwise attach the mirror (and any necessary supports) on to.

I can make attachments to the ceiling/drop-down box above the kitchen island. This is made of reasonably substantial MDF construction so happy it can take a bit of weight.

My key considerations:

  • I want to minimise the extent of/visibility of permanent ceiling attachments.
  • Speed and ease of set-up (including ability to do this with a single person)
  • Adjustability. To be honest, I expect once I've got my mirror/camera position set I'm unlikely to change it; but I can imagine that being able to adjust the mirror would be helpful.

I'd be really grateful for any suggestions/advice on how I might best set this up. I'm somewhat of a beginner - so any and all advice appreciated.

So far I've been thinking about:
  • Attaching metal corner brackets to each of the mirror frame corners. This will reinforce the strength of the mirror and under one of the screws I could attach a chain to each corner. With two short chains (20mm or so) and a longer pair of chains (300mm or so) I'd achieve ~45 degrees hanging this from the ceiling. I could then install four non-intrusive white hooks to the ceiling to 'hang' the mirror. I could use different 'links' of the chain to adjust the angles.
  • Attaching two baby pins (either long ones or with a 300mm extension), a right-angle bracket of some sort, and a pair of cardellini clamps to grip the mirror frame.
  • Some sort of 'quick release' plate screwed to the ceiling, with matching attachment. Basically the same as the above, but a quick release rather than baby-pin set-up.

I'm erring towards option one - with just a few hooks/chains. Using instead of just 'hooks' for security. It feels simple, easy to set-up alone, non-intrustive (given there is just the small ceiling attachments to clip/hook into. And any one of the hooks could fail and I'll still have three points holding the mirror up.

Hopefully the above is understandable. I've attached a couple of pictures of the area and mirror I'm working with.

Many thanks!

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Glue and screw a 6mm mdf/ply panel on the rear and attach to ceiling with a TV wall bracket - or if you wanted minimal issues - screw in some o ring type gizmos to the ceiling joists - which will vanish when you remove it with a dab of white filler. Use 3 of the same rings in the frame two one side, tow the other and with three hanging lines you can adjust the angle of dangle.
 
Why not just have a little cam pointing down?

Ideally on a slider so you can move it from prep area to over cooker or whatever
 
Paulears: Thanks for the TV bracket suggestion. That would be quite a nifty approach, but I definitely woudn't be able to get away with the bracket permanently attached to the ceiling. I wonder if there is any sort of slide-in locking fixing I could use to attach the bracket to the ceiling. Otherwise, I suppose there are those threaded inserts, that could hold the bracked in with thumb screws e.g.: https://www.google.com/search?q=threaded+inserts - on balance though, I think I like the O-ring idea which is a bit like my "hanging" idea set-out above. By O-ring do you mean like this (https://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/...olded-eye-screw-mild-steel-bright-zinc-plated) or maybe this sort of thing: https://www.absoluteindustrial.co.u...Xh3FbxR_rOttsKTw_-oWLGMp8uwn21oRoCiTwQAvD_BwE

Morgan_Moore: I did think about that, but have read people had bad experiences, either because the camera gets misted up, or it becomes hard to monitor/adjust because you've got to climb up steps. I'm doing a 'diagonal' shot from a monopod for the 'over hob' shots. There is a hood over the hob which makes it hard to have a slider of sorts (but I agree that would be ideal!).

Thanks all!
 
We always did it with the tripod on a pedestal. Pluses and minuses with either approach. Hey, if you think a lens is going to steam up when it's off to the side, consider what will happen to the mirror that is directly overhead. :)
 
For sure you end up with a $500 camera with $2000 of accessories .. monitor external battery ball head maybe even external recorder.

I cant comment on the mist (but have done this shot with no significan probalems I can remember)

If you have to hang the mirror Id suggest that you need to consider the CofM

Baically the mirror needs two central spigots either to dropping poles or most ideally to a big U - very similar to how you would manipulate a 4.4 reflector

Like this.. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33444-REG/Matthews_B119069_Reflector_24x24.html - allows tilting and spinning with a single 'pin' (baby plate) placed in the roof

baby plate
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33161-REG/Matthews_429041_Baby_Plate_3.html
 
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Yes - that 'screw eye' is exactly it. Used them in studios to attached acoustic absorbers to ceilings - and they don't wreck the ceiling.
 
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