Shoulder mount for filming in a classroom

J

JimNastics

Active member
In a couple of weeks I'm going in to a local school to shoot an hour long lesson. The school have asked if I can shoot with minimal disruption, so I need to be mobile at all times, which pretty much rules out going on and off my tripod. The lesson will be split between two types of footage - the teacher at the front leading the lesson, and then pupils working and discussing amongst themselves. For the latter the HMC151 will work a treat, holding and shooting at waist level with the students seated at desks. It's the former I'm worried about, when I need to film the teacher standing at the front, as the HMC151 isn't really geared for lengthy, steady shooting at shoulder height. Can anyone recommend a decent shoulder mount that works well with the HMC151? Cost is a factor here... I'd be happy if I could keep it no more than £150 ($200ish).
 
one comment i have...

i think fig-rig like rigs are great for handheld shots with lots of camera movement, ie replicating short dolly and jib shots, whereas shoulder-mount rigs provide more stability for longer takes and replicating tripod shots (just short pans/tilts).

if you are looking to replace the need for a tripod, try the spiderbrace.
if you are looking to pull off smoother moving handheld shots, then go with the halorig.
 
Is it possible to use 2 tripods, one in the front and one in the back? Either use 2 cameras or shoot on one and then move to the second. Or is that too much disruption?
 
2 cam would be best - I would try to get at least 1 camera on a tripod, the other camera could be your moving shots. For 1 cam, a monopod is always a good option, love my bogen. Once you get planted its pretty steady. If you are going to want to shoot footage while moving you will want a halorig...

In the youtube video they say HMX not HMC boooo :(
 
pjsssss said:
Is it possible to use 2 tripods, one in the front and one in the back? Either use 2 cameras or shoot on one and then move to the second. Or is that too much disruption?
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That would be too much disruption, they're really keen that the flow isn't broken especially as these are primary school children. If say I'm filming the kids working together then the teacher says "ok children, look this way...", I need to look that way straight away too! I won't be able to ask the teacher to wait until I've gone to the back of the class and got back on the tripod. This is why I think a shoulder mount would do the trick.

Unfortunately a 2 camera shoot is out of the question, the budget just isn't there from the client to pay for the hire of another crew... it's a stretch as it is.
 
MadHMC150 said:
2 cam would be best - I would try to get at least 1 camera on a tripod, the other camera could be your moving shots. For 1 cam, a monopod is always a good option, love my bogen. Once you get planted its pretty steady. If you are going to want to shoot footage while moving you will want a halorig...

In the youtube video they say HMX not HMC boooo :(
Click to expand...

In an ideal world 2 cam would be perfect for this, but I'm afraid it won't happen here, so I really need to make the best out of what we have. A monopod sounds like a decent contentder to a shoulder mount... are they quick to extend and secure?

I've emailed the company to see if it's compatible with the HMC, hopefully it is.
 
JimNastics said:
are they quick to extend and secure?
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Any good one is... I use the bogen 681B monopod, its beefy, tall and you can use it like a huge boom poll then get pretty low. Also makes a really good handle to keep the camera stable when its not extended.
 
My top 3 choices:


Monopod
Monopod
Monopod

I wouldn't think of using anything else.

It keeps you from becoming fatigued.
You can get stable shots particularily for extended amounts of time.
Small and portable.
You can get nice high angle shots. You can even mount it on a c stand for ultra high stable shots.
Flexibility-brace it to the ground, on a desk, against your body, etc.

Make sure you get a small tilt head so you can adjust up and down.


Did I mention I really love my monopod.
 
I too have shot a lot on a monopod... but trust me it has its weaknesses...

Like the back of the room shot? Very hard to zoom in on something in the front and keep a completely steady shot. Something I would much rather have a tripod for.
 
Same here. I also have the matching Manfrotto tripod and with the release plate can quickly switch my HMC150 between the two. With the little feet at the bottom of the monopod it isn't too difficult to get a steady shot, even when zoomed. In the classroom, you might also be able to prop the lower portion of the monopod against a desk for even more stability. I also use my monopod for "aerial" views, works great as a sudo boom.

pjsssss said:
I use this monopod and like it a lot. I have one of the heavier duty ones but this one is my choice. Very quick to use and the feet make it much more steady.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Bogen_Imaging_560B_1_Fluid_Video_Monopod.html
Click to expand...
 
VideoMaker said:
...the matching Manfrotto tripod and with the release plate can quickly switch my HMC150 between the two.
Click to expand...


Totally agree here, I can switch between most of my stabilizers and pods by having matching QR plates... very convenient and a must to save time switching.
 
Thanks for all your feedback chaps. Seems as though I went against the grain and bought the Hague Steadymount! It arrived today and I must say I am very impressed... just roaming around the house it provides a great combination of maneuverability and stability, I think it will work well in the classroom. The pretty much instantaneous move from one position to the swung it for me, the constant extending and retracting of a monopod might have posed a problem.

After the first lesson next week, I'll be filming about 5 lesson the following week, so I'll be able to give you a good rundown on how well this worked!
 
If you want to be able to shoot low and high, even walk go with the DV MultiRigPro http://www.dvtec.tv/id33.html

The thing is amazing, i can work 3 days back to back shooting entirely on it... during the reception on weddings i only use my tripod as a docking station when I'm not shooting! Not to cheap, but you'll love it!
 
Superfresa66 said:
If you want to be able to shoot low and high, even walk go with the DV MultiRigPro http://www.dvtec.tv/id33.html

The thing is amazing, i can work 3 days back to back shooting entirely on it... during the reception on weddings i only use my tripod as a docking station when I'm not shooting! Not to cheap, but you'll love it!
Click to expand...

i made my own diy variation of this rig and loved using it on my last wedding shoot.

one word of caution though, you will look odd when holding the camera up high with the support pole extended from your groin area. ;) the photographer on that wedding made a point of taking an incriminating picture of me using it just to poke fun at me!
 
Let us know how well the Steadymount works for you. At some point I will want to get some type of shoulder mount for in-the-field shooting.

JimNastics said:
Thanks for all your feedback chaps. Seems as though I went against the grain and bought the Hague Steadymount! It arrived today and I must say I am very impressed... just roaming around the house it provides a great combination of maneuverability and stability, I think it will work well in the classroom. The pretty much instantaneous move from one position to the swung it for me, the constant extending and retracting of a monopod might have posed a problem.

After the first lesson next week, I'll be filming about 5 lesson the following week, so I'll be able to give you a good rundown on how well this worked!
Click to expand...
 
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