laptop mounted on camera tripod

genie wrote on 4/12/2006, 4:04 AM

Hi,

Has anybody come across a good way of side mounting a laptop off a camera tripod, underneath the video camera?

I have an FX1 plus I love working with DV rack while I film so I would like to find a way of mounting the laptop off the same tripod.

Another way of course is to have two tripods, one for the camera and one for the laptop so is there a simple table that screws onto the universal tripod head and mounts a laptop? Actually thinking about it I'm surprised laptops haven't got a 3/8 thread underneath except I suppose engineering wise it would do some horrible tortional things to the frame.

I have a pistol grip monopod that slides down the centre of my tripod so if I had an attachment that was mounted sideways off the monopod that would give me the best of all worlds.

thanks Genie

Comments

farss wrote on 4/12/2006, 6:07 AM

I have seen such things that go on the big sticks that the 35mm mob use, probably cost more than your laptop though.
Probably something like a Magic or Israeli arm that could connect to the tripod would be a start. On the other end fit the plate from a music stand. Come to think of it a music stand might be all you need.

Bob.

Bob Greaves wrote on 4/12/2006, 6:13 AM

Seems you can get tripods for either but have not seen one for both.

http://www.laptoptravel.com/Product.aspx?ID=2114
http://www.instand.com/CR1/cr1.html
http://www.accusport.com/products/accessories/tripod.htm

rextilleon wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:13 AM

You could always buy one of the Panasonic tough books so that when the laptop falls, it bounces back up to you.

johnmeyer wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:24 AM

If your laptop can be opened up flat, or if you have a laptop that doubles as a pen-based computer (where the screen can be swiveled), you might consider hanging the computer rather than mounting it. It would be a lot easier.

BrianStanding wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:29 AM

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I picked up one of these recently. I use it with an old gear-cranked Bogen tripod. A bit heavy, but works great.

Bogen / Manfrotto 3290 Monitor / Projector Platform

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:31 AM

We have one of these and don't use it much. Even with a strong arm made for this that we bought from Elite video, it's too flimsy to not only trust the laptop to, it bounces like crazy when you type.
As Bob mentioned, I don't think there is a cheap solution; if there is, please let us know. Anything less than 200-300 would be great. I use a laptop a lot with DV Rack, and anything that makes it easier would help.

BrianStanding wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:49 AM

Doug, check out the item I linked to in the above post. It's really a solid piece of metal. The stability of the platform depends on your tripod. If you've got a spare camera tripod hanging around, it's a good deal.

jeff-beardall wrote on 4/12/2006, 8:05 AM

Manfrotto/Bogen makes a small metal table that screws into the top of a tripod...centre column or head. I have one and use it for teleprompting, etc.. Perfect for my 15.4 laptop. I mount it on a tiny and light Bogen Digisomething or other tripod. It does the trick for me.
see it here:
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/3221

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/12/2006, 8:14 AM

Brian, mounting it on the tripod head isn't what I'm after. I want an arm that comes off the center post, so my cam is on the tripod and so is my laptop, just like a monitor arm. The set up we have is flimsy, but if there is a better way...I'm all ears. (or eyes?)

BrianStanding wrote on 4/12/2006, 8:29 AM

Sure, I understand the appeal of having an arm connected to your camera tripod, but I haven't found anything suitable either. Plus, if you've got a lightweight tripod, the whole rig seems somewhat unstable.

No, what I do, is have the camera on my Miller sticks, and bring a second old Bogen tripod with a crank-up center shaft and this table mounted on the head. The laptop goes on the Bogen, next to the camera. Some extra gear to slog around, but the nice thing about this setup is that you can raise and lower the platform to your liking, and it's extremely stable. Much more stable than your Elite laptop stand.

Maybe not ideal, but best solution I've found.

baysidebas wrote on 4/12/2006, 1:49 PM

You can attach a second tripod column to a tripod by using something like this column clamp:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=188069&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

you can then mount a platform or holder to the second column.

Trick is in looking in the grip and lighting hardware section of the B&H listings. There are many other ways that this same result can be achieved with standard lighting hardware. Truss clamps come to mind.

genie wrote on 4/12/2006, 5:46 PM

Good to see there is some interest in this thread - I thought I might of been just a little eccentric!
Seems there is no easy answer but I'm continuing to look around. There is something as simple as this bag that suspends beneath the tripod http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=4&itemid=360
or this simple bracket that could perhaps be used to mount the laptop opened up and suspended in a vertical position http://db.manfrotto.com/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=4&itemid=881
.
I'm trying to put together a 'guerrilla' film making kit that I could travel around with on a bicycle - for the more official filming I can stick with my 25 kilo trolley, my three boxes, tripods, etc, so the idea of another tripod just for the laptop is not particularly appealing.

Thanks for the input,
genie.

genie wrote on 4/12/2006, 6:29 PM

There is this concept as well which might work okay on a tripod http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LAPTOP-NOTEBOOK-MOUNT-DESK-ADD-TO-LUGGAGE-TRAVEL_W0QQitemZ6620057935QQcategoryZ16082QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would only work if you weren't moving the tripod around much as I assume you would have to remove it to move the tripod.

Genie

Serena wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:11 PM

I would have thought that DVrack and bicycle were incompatible items.

MichaelS wrote on 4/12/2006, 7:48 PM

I bought one of these a year ago and have been amazed at how often we use it.

http://www.pssl.com/bitemdetail.tpl~waGroup1datarq~Monitor%20stand&eqint_KeyIDdata=10420&UID=2006041219433128&newproduct=T&itemNumber=AST-420%2001

Yeah...I know it's karaoke, but it work works great! Take away the mic and cup holder and you've got a lightweight, adjustable but sturdy utility stand. The legs fold in for storage and transport. The side rails are adjustable to hug or cradle whatever its holding. Put a few strips of velcro on the laptop and you're all set. I use it to support monitors, laptops...just about anything in the studio and on the road.

Chanimal wrote on 8/14/2006, 11:49 AM

I use a music stand that tightens. Works great to hold the laptop a a teleprompter.

I use this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Conductor-Stand?sku=450253