2010General Discussion forum
Mounting cameras in portrait orientation on steadicam rigs
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Portrait-oriented video has been successfully used in advertising and fashion work, offering a different perspective from standard landscape formats.
- Mounting a camera sideways on a steadicam requires attention to balance, as the counterweight will force the sled further from the operator's body than normal.
- An L-bracket or offset bar mounted to a dovetail and ball mount can help center the camera's center of gravity over the sled.
- RED cameras can be mounted on their side without special brackets, and Transvideo monitors can be mounted sideways using their Spud bracket.
- DSLR cameras need additional mounting points beyond the single tie-down point to prevent rotation, especially when using remote focus motors that create torque.
- Quick-release plate systems designed for L-plate mounting are recommended for rotating cameras into portrait orientation.
- Monitor rotation functions reduce the viewing image size significantly, making it challenging to see detail during operation.
- Professional examples exist of portrait-mode steadicam work using cinema cameras like the Sony F3.
Depends on
- The setup was prepared quickly as a proof of concept without extensive testing.
- Portrait mode monitor viewing requires rotating the display, which reduces the visible image size to approximately 5 inches or smaller.
- Finding specialized mounting equipment can be difficult in some regions.
- The discussion does not resolve all practical aspects of sustained portrait-mode operation.
- Specific camera models mentioned as working well were the RED and Sony F3, not necessarily all cameras.