Nanoflash mounting solutions?

[Duke M.]

I bit the bullet and picked up a Nanoflash, swit battery and Main Concept plug in. Now I'm looking at mounting solutions.

I had a ball head already like this:

It has a quick release plate and I added a hot shoe adapter, and for now that's okay.

However, I've never liked stacking things up on a camera. When you get weight up high the weight on the end of a lever arm tends to introduce vibration. Plus on the hot shoe it makes the camera front heavy. The EX1 has enough ergonomic issues already. Hand held I want to shift the weight back.

The problem with mounting on the side is you have to clear the SDI port, so any mount has to stick out further on the side. On the back you need to clear the battery. Swit batteries stick out quite a bit. When you clear all those you can't fit it in the bag "as is."

I've looked at Olof's mounting plate, but I'm hesitating on it.

I'm hesitant to spend $200 more when I already I have a mounting plate and I'm not absolutely sure about the product, due to the mounting location and disassembling for transportation. (ie. fitting in the camera bag without tearing everything apart over and over again.)

Has anyone else seen any other solutions or has recommendations?

 

[moldcad]

Go for Olof's solution - you will not regret it!

I did, and once I mounted everything I never had to take it off. The nanoFlash and mic receiver are always on the camera, ready to be used.

Plus, the position of the nano is the very best from any point of view - it makes the rig well balanced and compact, with all the cables being very short and neat.

On itself, I can use the rig supported on my shoulder (I'm using the small shoulder pad from Olof, permanently attached to the bracket), with the Hoodman loupe presses against my eye, my left hand on the camera's hand grip, and my left hand free for camera control (supporting it from underside ) - 4 points of support altogether!

When I want to add the mattebox and external monitor but still be mobile, I put the rig as a whole onto my RedRock micro shoulder mount.

And for tripod shooting, I just snap it onto my tripod head - again, without a need of even a slightest modification!

 

[Duke M.]

How wobbly is the wing once its screwed onto the base plate?

How is it at clearing the battery?

 

[moldcad]

Of course it's not wobbly at all - Olof uses very high grade (stiff yet lightweight) material.

Of course it's clearing the battery - and not just the BP-U60, but also those 96Wh monster Switronix ones..

Any other obvious "doubts"?

 

[ZumaDog]

Moldcad is right, Olof's plate is the ideal solution for not just the NanoFlash but for secure tripod mounting with more than one screw. I've not taken mine off of the EX1 since I mounted it over 2 months ago - no reason to.

I had used the hot shoe holder previously and it works but makes the camera too top heavy with an unbalanced center of gravity.

 

[Duke M.]

I went with the design by Curtis (JDFilms). I'm sure they are both fine products, but chose it because I like the form fitting baseplate and it gives a little more surface area, seems to have a more secure arm attachment and more mounting holes on the arm. I'll do a review soon.

 

[Sonyuser]

I can't say enough in a positive way about Olaf's support for the nanoFlash! Its made from substantially thick, inflexible, but lightweight aluminium, with precision machining - everything fits, and fits beautifully (and I AM qualified to say so, since I was a well qualified machinist in an earlier life, though only Machinist, Second Class, but I was also a Tinsmith, First Class, and worked extensively with the kind of jigs, fixtures, cutters, and press brakes that Olaf is using).

As indicated by others above, I haven't had the nano off my camera since it was mounted four months ago with a base support and arm custom built for me by Olaf to my exact and precise specifications. Everything fits nicely into my Kata airline overhead qualified carry on.

The custom support Olaf built for me has the standard base plate, but the side arm bend is at a 90 degree bend, instead of leaning out a bit at an angle - and the SDI connection and everything else is adequately cleared, with the nano not sticking out further from the back of the camera than the Swit battery - all nice and compact, and very solid - I just love it. While this may not appeal to you, and his standard design may be more to your liking, if you're interested, ask Olaf for the unit he built for Bill Urschel, that's me - I'll bet he still has the specs on hand.

I can't claim credit for my design (which is such a minor exception to Olaf's), since I saw a photo of unit similar to what I wanted on the camera of a highly respected videographer who also posts here!

 

[pietro jona]

Sonyuser it would be nice to see a picture of your custom made rig.

 

[Sonyuser]

Pietro - Excuse me, I took some nice shots, but need to reduce them before they'll be accepted here!

 

[Sonyuser]

Pietro and all you others who are bothered by this and the preceding unnecessary post - excuse me, I have done everything I can to post the attachments, 800x600 JPEG, and the reason for editing below says it all, I will not ever bother anyone here again with any attempt to post any attachments. I apologize for the totally unnecessary bother.

 

[moldcad]

Can't you just provide us with an external link to some server?

 

[Duke M.]

Pietro and all you others who are bothered by this and the preceding unnecessary post - excuse me, I have done everything I can to post the attachments, 800x600 JPEG, and the reason for editing below says it all, I will not ever bother anyone here again with any attempt to post any attachments. I apologize for the totally unnecessary bother.

Attaching photos isn't hard, but if you want I can PM my email to you, you can email them to me and I can post them for you. Olof always does a good job.

I've been experimenting with other attachments too. I'll post mine when I finalize it. We can all learn from these experiments.

 

[Duke M.]

Will's photos based on Alister Chapman's rig.