mounting firestore to hvx

J

jeeyof

Member
hey guys,

im trying to mount my firestore drive to my hvx. what would be the safest and most reasonable setup in mounting the drive? thanks
 
After I lost the belt clip on a production I went super bootleg style.

I cut off the back pocket of a pair of jeans (leaving the two belt loops). And then cut a "window" to be able to hit the FS buttons. I made sure to reenforce all seams with duct tape. I wore it on a belt and also attatched it to the camera.

It held up well for five days.
 
I bought a $3 elbow bracket from Home Depot that has screw holes on both ends. Stand the bracket on the top HVX handle with one side running parallel, on top of the handle so that one side is standing upright. Then line up and screw into the hole on the top HVX handle and then the FS belt clip bracket screws onto the other hole so the display and button are right in front of your face on top of the camera.

I would advise using some additional rubber washers and a locking plastic tie wrap around the bracket and HVX handle so it doesn't swivel.

Best $3 I ever spent.
 
ProjX v2.0 said:
I bought a $3 elbow bracket from Home Depot that has screw holes on both ends. Stand the bracket on the top HVX handle with one side running parallel, on top of the handle so that one side is standing upright. Then line up and screw into the hole on the top HVX handle and then the FS belt clip bracket screws onto the other hole so the display and button are right in front of your face on top of the camera.

I would advise using some additional rubber washers and a locking plastic tie wrap around the bracket and HVX handle so it doesn't swivel.

Best $3 I ever spent.
Click to expand...

Any chance you could post some photos of this? I'd be very interested. What size screws do you use for this?
 
I used an 'L' bracket and mounted the Firestore vertically on it - which was very handy bc that way I could see the LCD at all times (I can't stand the 'under the camera' type mounts that don't allow you to see the LCD screen). The bracket mounting worked great for me, and it made for a very short run from the Firestore to the Firewire port - the cable never felt in the way or in danger at all.

Unfortunately I couldn't use that L bracket with my Letus rails and still configure the rails the way I wanted - so now I got extensions on the rails and just strap the Firestore to those - so it's laying down just behind the camera wiht the LCD still visable all the time (unless I"m shooting handhelf of course).
 
johnlabonney said:
Any chance you could post some photos of this? I'd be very interested. What size screws do you use for this?
Click to expand...

The screws I used were 1/4-20 X 1/2 Machine Screws which I got from Home Depot.

Here are some pics with lots of velcro:

- HVX200
- FS-100
- Letus Extreme
- Cinevate Rails
- Lensbaby
- Spiderbrace

DSC_1750.jpg


DSC_1751.jpg


DSC_1759.jpg


DSC_1763.jpg
 
i do the clip to the pocket as well. do you ever find the screw holding the round thingy(that the clip attaches to) coming loose?
 
Thanks for posting those photos; nice looking rig, BTW. So you've found this setup to be stable and not too dangerous for the HVX handle?

It would seem that the major problem with it would be the fact that it takes a little effort to install/remove: no real quick-release function. But as a low-cost solution, it looks pretty good.

I took a look at some hotshoe attachments that would connect the mount in the rear of the stock firestore holder to the shoe, and even though they have a ball joint design they don't appear to be tall enough to allow the firestore to stand upright, so the firestore screen isn't as accessible, plus it puts it closer to the microphone, so when the fan kicks in the noise *might* be too much, I don't know.
 
johnlabonney said:
So you've found this setup to be stable and not too dangerous for the HVX handle?
Click to expand...

Yep, it's fine. I originally had another elbow bracket mounted to the original elbow bracket which made an S-handle that I used to get some nice low level shots without too much effort and the HVX handle held up fine.

johnlabonney said:
It would seem that the major problem with it would be the fact that it takes a little effort to install/remove: no real quick-release function. But as a low-cost solution, it looks pretty good.
Click to expand...

You can remove the FS beltclip in about 10 seconds with a screwdriver, then you just have the bracket sitting on top but that also would only take a few seconds to remove if you only used velcro instead of a plastic tie wrap.

johnlabonney said:
when the fan kicks in the noise *might* be too much
Click to expand...

Yeah, I definitely get fan noise with the built in mic. I wish Focus would come out with a fan-less FS-100 like they just did with the FS-5.
 
Well I'm going to take a shot at doing this. I made a trip to Lowe's but came home with a 4 inch angle bracket instead of a 3 incher, so I'm already going to have to go back. I did pick up the correct machine screws, a couple of retaining clips to keep the screws on the bracket after removal from the FS (I don't know if this will work at all), and some velcro. But I want to find some knurled thumbscrews to use so I have a tool-free mount/dismount process. I couldn't find the right type of knurled screws at Lowe's, but tonight I asked around at work and may have found a specialty fastener store in town that might have them.

Using a Rode NTG-2 shotgun mic, do you think that you would get as much fan noise as with the built-in mic? I imagine probably not.
 
As a ZACUTO FANATIC... I would suggest a Zamerican Small arm or a Zamerican II small articulating arm setup using a zicromount to hold the Firestore holster.

However, a little bit of news on the Firestore FS-5. The thing is tiny! I'd say about half the depth of the FS-100 and a little less in terms of height and width. However, it is light! So light that at the NAB Booth they had them mounted straight to the camera handle.

What's the downside? It only works with HDV! Leaving us HVXusers in the dust.
 
jstunzi said:
As a ZACUTO FANATIC... I would suggest a Zamerican Small arm or a Zamerican II small articulating arm setup using a zicromount to hold the Firestore holster.
Click to expand...

Nice products, indeed, but at over $200 with the mounting adapters, they're not really a cost-effective solution.
 
You really have to rate cost effectiveness with quality of build. Noga arms have held a lot for a lot of people, but they're not quick release for instance. I can snap together my Zacuto rig with multiple arms in a matter of seconds and flicks of levers. It really depends on your personal needs I guess.

I can say that Zacuto's lifetime guarantee and the stellar customer service was worth my own personal investment!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top