Camera Clamp for B-Ball Goal...

jrazz wrote on 6/5/2007, 8:20 PM
Anybody have any ideas on clamping a camera (HC1) to a backboard of a basketball goal? I need something quick, cheap and easy (get your heads out of the gutters!).

Any ideas on this? I am filming a dodgeball tournament that a local talk radio station is putting on for charity. I filmed some tonight and thought that the overhead angle would be a nice one. The radio station has challenged the sherrif's dept., police dept., a local abc tv station, the city council, the county commission, etc. They beat the sherrif's dept. tonight. Pretty entertaining.

Anyways, if anybody has any ideas that would be great.

j razz

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/5/2007, 8:40 PM
Manfrotto has a monster clamp that will mount anything to anything. I've used em' on aircraft in 120 knot winds on a 1.5 pipe.
http://www.adorama.com/BG2900.html
farss wrote on 6/5/2007, 8:42 PM
Manfrotto have heaps of clampy things, some are lower cost knock offs of others designs.

Try their 043 Sky Hook and a 143RC or 143A Magic Arm. That should fit the need nicely. There's many other combinations of clamps and arms to be had.
Don't know though how you're going to avoid the possibility of the camera getting smashed by a ball.

Bob.
rs170a wrote on 6/5/2007, 8:42 PM
How about something like Manfrotto's Super Clamp?
If not, browse through their site as they have an amazing amount of camera accessories you always wished someone would invent :-)
Check B&H for pricing.

Mike

edit: I'm really slow tonight. In the time it took me to find the info, Spot & Bob already beat me to it :-)
And Adorama's price is better than B&H too.
rs170a wrote on 6/5/2007, 8:50 PM
Don't know though how you're going to avoid the possibility of the camera getting smashed by a ball.

Surround it with heavy-duty wire mesh (similar to wire fencing) or a thick plexi-glass (or similar) cage?

Mike
farss wrote on 6/6/2007, 3:18 AM
Just one thought on this. With the camera mounted on the back board doesn't that board vibrate a lot when the ball hits it?

If so the camera and it's HDV encoder are likely to loose the plot completely right when you need the next few seconds of video. I think mounting it on its own pole or something might be a wise move. I mean I've seen BBs hit a glass backboard hard enough to shatter the glass, pity help the camera under those kinds of G forces.
jrazz wrote on 6/6/2007, 5:26 AM
Thanks for the information. I think the monfrotto clamp will work fine.

As for the possibility of damaging the camera... well, the official dodgeballs are rubber-coated foam. The game last night went for a full 45 minutes and none hit either backboard. They are light and airy, not like a kickball that we used to play with while we were younger- (air filled rubber). Someone could throw it as hard as they wanted to and I seriously doubt it would not a camera over that was mounted on my sticks. Anyways, thanks again guys.

j razz
farss wrote on 6/6/2007, 7:18 AM
Ah, THOSE balls!

Funny thing I've just finished a DVD on how to play a variety of ball games and we made extensive use of those vinyl covered foam balls, pretty expensive I heard but fantastic for games where you throw the ball at someone.
richard-courtney wrote on 6/6/2007, 1:34 PM
I have used this clamp also for mounting shutgun mics. Get a couple of these.
There are also 1/4" and 3/8 studs for this clamp.

EDIT: This is the correct part number that comes with the 1/4" brass stud.