Question on Sachtler accessory mount

Well, on my EARLY FSB8 there are a couple holes tapped above the pan drag adjust ring (opposite the pan lock) that LOOKS like where the radius-ed adapter thingy block COULD screw into. It currently has broken bolts in those holes so SOMETHING was mounted there prior to me getting it and I always assumed it was that accessory block. I have to look at my newer FSB8 to see if it has those holes as well - not sure it does but never paid it any attention... The the block thingy with all the holes screws into THAT radius-ed adapter thingy which allows you to screw stuff into IT. Don't think it's one of their better accessories; not quite sure what they were thinking on this one.... For lights, monitors, etc. I either have them all on the camera rig OR I use a threaded adapter insert I got at ace hardware (for about $2) inside the one unused pan bar attachment bosses that allows me to screw in a "magic arm" into THAT hole to hold stuff. I've also hung stuff from the 1/4-20 and 3/8 spare screw holder holes at the front under the slider, but that limits your extreme tilt down (usually not a problem) and more recently found some hardware store type pipe clamp things that I put on the pan bar for my monitor. Not a usual place, but one rig is really front heavy with a matte box so it balances it out. BTW... I CRIED :crybaby: when I had to write the check for my FSB8 & tripod, but absolutely love the thing now. It's a quality piece and a good investment!

Edit... took a pic of my new FSB8... the accessory mount looks like it could screw in here...
Edit again: BUT this unit seems to have some kind of blind end plug screw in those holes so now I'm not so sure if taking them out would cause it to spill its guts or something!

IMG_3118.jpg

Edit, edit, edit... pic of mount on a video head.... bet it's the same as for the FSB8's...
1910-Fluid-head-Cine-77-HD1.jpg
 
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MichaelA said:
Well, on my EARLY FSB8 there are a couple holes tapped above the pan drag adjust ring (opposite the pan lock) that LOOKS like where the radius-ed adapter thingy block COULD screw into. It currently has broken bolts in those holes so SOMETHING was mounted there prior to me getting it and I always assumed it was that accessory block. I have to look at my newer FSB8 to see if it has those holes as well - not sure it does but never paid it any attention... The the block thingy with all the holes screws into THAT radius-ed adapter thingy which allows you to screw stuff into IT. Don't think it's one of their better accessories; not quite sure what they were thinking on this one.... For lights, monitors, etc. I either have them all on the camera rig OR I use a threaded adapter insert I got at ace hardware (for about $2) inside the one unused pan bar attachment bosses that allows me to screw in a "magic arm" into THAT hole to hold stuff. I've also hung stuff from the 1/4-20 and 3/8 spare screw holder holes at the front under the slider, but that limits your extreme tilt down (usually not a problem) and more recently found some hardware store type pipe clamp things that I put on the pan bar for my monitor. Not a usual place, but one rig is really front heavy with a matte box so it balances it out. BTW... I CRIED :crybaby: when I had to write the check for my FSB8 & tripod, but absolutely love the thing now. It's a quality piece and a good investment!

Edit... took a pic of my new FSB8... the accessory mount looks like it could screw in here...
Edit again: BUT this unit seems to have some kind of blind end plug screw in those holes so now I'm not so sure if taking them out would cause it to spill its guts or something!

View attachment 129057

Edit, edit, edit... pic of mount on a video head.... bet it's the same as for the FSB8's...
View attachment 129058
Click to expand...

Damn, so I got wrong accessory then? But it was saying for FSB8... WTF. There's clearly something missing in the puzzle. I'll ask Sachtler, damn it.
 
You may not have got the wrong one! Sachtler DOES make one for the FSB6 and 8; I just couldn't find a pic of one to confirm the location. Closest I could get was the Cine head pic, but they all look like the mount and function the same with minor variations (presumably) in that radiusd adapter block thing. If you get the word from Sachtler, post it up... I'd like to know more about this. The good side is if you hang accessories from that location, it shouldn't impact balance. Maybe that's what they were after...
 
MichaelA said:
The good side is if you hang accessories from that location, it shouldn't impact balance. Maybe that's what they were after...
Click to expand...

When I went looking for a tripod, I thought I wanted an accessory mount as well. I wound up valuing portability more, bought a tripod without one, and used an arm attached to one of my tripod legs instead. The payload wound up sitting squarely in the center of the tripod and was far more stable than if I had gone with a side mount. I never regretted what I had originally considered as a tradeoff. YMMV -- it all depends on what you intend to put there, and how far "out" it's likely to sit, but in my case arranging for accessories to be mounted in the tripod frame wound up working better for stability :shrug:
 
ok, Sachtler gave me an email of their manager, so I wrote to her and got OOF reply. But she's going to be back on Monday.
 
I think the idea behind the mounting position was to support a VF extension, as seen on film cameras. Such extensions require a mounting point that does not move with tilting of the tripod head and in that way the VF remains at a position that is usable for the operator...and doesn't tilt along with tilting of the tripod head. It appears that Sachtler sought to use that same VF support point for a "block" that allowed for mounting of a monitor, on an israeli arm, and likewise would not tilt with tilting of the camera. The thing about mounting a small monitor to the camera is that the monitor tilts along with the tilting of the camera. That is less than ideal. Better that the monitor remain at the same angle relative to the operator as the camera tilts. This "fixes" ( causes to be at a fixed position ) the viewing angle. That is, the viewing angle remains the same regardless of the camera movement.

Here are some examples of cameras with a VF extender that is affixed to a point on the tripod below the tilting portion of the tripod head:




gen2.jpg

pana1.jpg



I own a Sachtler DV12 and a Sachtler Video 20. Been using their tripods for going on 20-some years now. For me, Sachtler and O'Connor are the only two choices when it comes to professional-level tripods.
 
Thanks for posting that up and sharing JP!
It's always cool to learn something from guys who have been in this game so much longer than I!
:thumbsup:
 
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