Mount blimp on handle?

D

Darinb

New member
Hello,

I'm considering buying an HMC-150. One thing that caught my attention recently was the screw mount toward the rear of the handle, on the top (apparently under some sort of cover). I saw on the web a video of a guy using a Bogen flash mount there and then mounting two accessories on the handle.

Has anyone used the rear screw? I'm thinking about using a Rode Blimp in the rear position--I know, it will look silly but I get a lot of wind here (California coast) and I need a solution.

Rode says it will work fine from there but they are worried about the strength of the screw mount on the handle--the blimp weighs 1.6 lbs without mic.

Any thoughts? Any better way to mount the blimp?

Thanks,

--Darin
 
Superfresa66 said:
Hello Darin, i think the screw mount is strong enough for a blimp... I use it to mount a plate for my light battery, and also to mount my Wireless receiver and the unit i have is big and uses 6AA batteries http://www.wwbroadcast.com/Azden_500_UDR_p/azden 500 udr.htm

In my opinion you should be OK!
Click to expand...

Hey there,

Looks like your unit is a tad over a pound. The blimp will be about twice that...hmmmm. Is there any wobble at all--is it rock solid? Just trying to get a sense here :)

--Darin
 
Hey there,

Looks like your unit is a tad over a pound. The blimp will be about twice that...hmmmm. Is there any wobble at all--is it rock solid? Just trying to get a sense here

--Darin
Click to expand...

I have also used the tread to mount a monopod... it works great when you want to get some ground tracking shots!... so how much does the camera weight? and it didn't wobble!!!

I doubt you would base your purchase decision on this thread mount, if it works great, if not just mount it on a boom pole =) ...Is a dead cat wind muff mounted on the mic an option? or the blimp is a must? :)
 
Hey there,

Very interesting info--good idea about the monopod, too.

Not the key buying decision for me but an important point in general if I'm going to invest ina new system--needs to solve a few important problems. Using a VideoMic with deadcat (dead kitten?) now but it is just not enough.

--Darin
 
You could shed some weight by leaving the pistol grip out of the equation. I'm trying to do this on top of my dvx via the shoe mount. (Yes, it will look silly. However, I too, live in a very windy location and I only have two hands. Like they say, fashion goes out the window...)

The only problem is that I had thought the screw from the bottom of the blimp was 1/4 and I was going to use a spigot to connect it to a shoe-1/4 thread adapter; however the screw is smaller than that. I haven't checked its size yet and kind of doubt if a bushing can be found.

Alternative method to bypass the pistol grip?
 
jordandov said:
You could shed some weight by leaving the pistol grip out of the equation.
Click to expand...

Good idea. Yah, who cares how it looks :)

Is your unit a Rode Blimp? If so I can respond to the Rode guy who just e-mailed me and ask him about the thread sizes, etc.

--Darin
 
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Yeah, it's a Rode.

Bypassing the pistol grip entails finding a bushing to a standard size for the screw coming from the bottom of the blimp or replacing that screw, whose odd-shaped head gets locked into the blimp when it's tightened.
 
jordandov said:
Yeah, it's a Rode.

Bypassing the pistol grip entails finding a bushing to a standard size for the screw coming from the bottom of the blimp or replacing that screw, whose odd-shaped head gets locked into the blimp when it's tightened.
Click to expand...


O.K., great. i sent a note over to Rode to see if they have any ideas.

--Darin
 
Let me know how this setup works for you! I'm interested on the results... I also live in a very windy place, hence the nick name "The Windy City" Chicago!
 
Rode says:

The handle is removable, but once that's done there isn't anything else to
securely mount to without attempting to create a VERY custom and one-off
adapter. The top of the handle pivots by means of a locking quick-release
clamp. There are no other threaded holes on the bottom of the body of the
Blimp to securely attach to. I do hope my explanation is helpful to your
decision.


--Darin
 
VERY custom? Please...

It entails replacing the non-standard sized screw (with the odd-shaped head) with a 1/4 or 3/8 screw OR adapting it to a standard size.

edit: My hardware gauge indicates that it's a size 10, 24/32 bolt. A quick search for a bushing to fit this revealed nothing but I sent an email to the guys who posted this.

Yes, without the handle, it will not be possible to pivot; however, if camera-mounted, pivoting is usually not desired.
 
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