Ultimate Guide to Rigging Overhead Cameras

[@alex0589]

Sound person: “wtf guys, we were whispering a moment ago...”

[@DarshanGajjarFilms]

LMAO

[@ScottBalkum]

Honestly, it worked so well, I just bought that book. LOL

[@KaiSosceles]

Next clip: how to not clip your levels when you're excitedly screaming into your microphone.

[@gr8danetrucki1]

ted's audio was peaking the whole time...

[@eddiesalvador2373]

I noticed that too, before the first tip even.

[@AronBagel]

Ted's audio is always peaking. I'm pretty sure it's impossible to get clean audio from Ted :p

[@denoise_]

Typical Ted.

[@alex0589]

Them: you peaked in high school Ted:

[@fussanchez2716]

Alex underrated comment ;D

[@TannerGwaltney]

The grip arm triangulation is such a great idea and so simple I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Thanks for that tip!

[@techsavvydaddy5616]

Great solutions guys, love it. I do a lot of cooking videos, for my wife's channel, CookingwithRody. I have one twist on the min 6:02 I raise the C-Stand to where it touches the ceiling and stuff a small rolled-up towel or even a small stuffed animal in a pinch. Stops the wobble and eliminates 3rd leg getting in the shot...

[@cip.p]

when you shoot with iPhone you can connect it to your Mac/iMac with a longer cable and open QuickTime File/NewMovieRecording in that screen, next to the REC button there is an arrow to select source of recording - select your iPhone you will see your phone's camera (back phone or frontal camera, whichever you select) - and now you can see on your monitor (iMac/MacBook) what the phone is shooting without having a giraffe neck and try to see what's in the screen's phone

[@NeekRusher]

THANK YOU! I was about to write in the comments they never showed how to see what you are doing using top down on an iPhone.

[@AidenAidens]

The fx9 setup was just brushed over imo.

[@SeanSecret]

This series is so great!

[@Michael_Galgano]

You're the 1st video production channel 8 have seen put a sandbag on a cstand properly. I will subscribe.

[@bienveqe]

Guys this looks so easy... really, nice result.

[@Grabehn42]

YES! I loved Casey on the last episode and his soul being crushed by the bent foam.

[@Thats_my_Point]

📁😭

[@ogre7699]

Life hack: Glue the camera to the ceiling.

[@indymogul]

Now that's indie! (and potentially unsafe)

[@alanbesedin]

Collecting thumbs up for Casey! 👍

[@hairyguysketches9799]

Ahhh! I was just looking for an overhead video tutorial! Thank you!

[@Newbster312]

This was perfect timing! I have all the stuff for the iPhone already but I'm going to try it with a small mirrorless (Canon M50)

[@DKP3000]

I have watched many of your videos, some interesting, some just ok. But this one was really helpful. Been using a c stand without triangulation. Modified my setup and added triangulation, now it’s a little more stable, still shakes, but not as much. Thanks!

[@CalmBefore6]

Ted you interrupted him. What did you actually use instead of the quarter 20 to rig up the heavier camera?

[@tomsquad1979]

Yes, exactly. Very annoying. For us noobs, what did he use to mount the larger camera?

[@CalmBefore6]

@@tomsquad1979 im assuming it's some kind of middleplate that distributes the weight more evenly. Just like the baseplate of any bigger tripod does. I was just hoping to hear the actual name of the product so that I could go check that out directly.

[@benthatchervideo]

I had this same question

[@iComplainer]

"...wood is a really nice texture because it's got a a good texture." - Ted 2020

[@adedamolamalomo6054]

Got excited with your excitement .. Love the video.

[@mloweFR3SH]

Great pointers here. I’ll be bookmarking this video

[@SpongeBob-xh8ir]

30-40 bucks easy, not counting thousands of dollars of lights easy 😂

[@rsm307studios]

I know this video may be old...but it is still relevant today (2023). Thanks for all your help!!!

[@andrewton9910]

Always learning something new from your channel! Thanks, Ted!

[@rack_focus]

Thanks so much for this episode guys; I wanted to find something like this about a year and a half ago for a project and found almost nothing helpful on the subject. Keep making epic videos!

[@TimStotz1]

For the third setup, you say, "instead of a 1/4-20--" then you cut off, and sort of show the rig, bit then jump to putting on a safety chain. Care to elaborate on how the camera is attached to the actual stand?

[@tvlmedia314]

Looks like they clamped the cameras tophandle into a cardellini clamp

[@JaredRibic]

Agreed. This was the only point of confusion in the whole video. I don't own a big heavy camera like that but I still want to know!

[@CreativeThinking52]

Very informative video. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day. 👍

[@TheSUPERHAPPY1]

The French Whisperer always does these kind of shots

[@MobileFilmmaking]

This was great. You've given me ideas for my next short.

[@TheGalacticWest]

Thanks for making this tut. I don't see a lot of people touch on how they got there gods eye shot.

[@kustoo]

What did you use to rig the FX9?

[@robertfeliciano5723]

It could have been the top handle to a cardellini. Also, the FX9 has 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 holes as well as a removable shoulder pad that takes some screws on the bottom.

[@MrSamwars123]

Yeah bummer that they edited out that info

[@AnandaGarden]

Always fun to watch. Thank you, guys.

[@indymogul]

Glad you like it!

[@georgemichaelofficial]

That c-stand extra support trick was so helpful! Will feel much safer about my setup with that in the mix.

[@Thats_my_Point]

I’m glad you think so! In my early days I’ve been single arm C stand stuff and I just never felt secure in anyway shape or form. When I first brain stormed this idea, it’s just a much safer way to go

[@Thats_my_Point]

R Spivack sometimes I use about that as well. But since this is an Indy Mogul Chow, I wanted to show the first thing that I ever tried which was just a simple baby pen. I think there’s lots of other great options out there, a ball head being one of them

[@JasonParkerMagic]

Why didn't you use a ball head to attach the DSLR camera? I mean you attached the DSLR directly to the baby stud on the grip head... but don't most people use a ball head there to be able to adjust the camera angle more freely? I'm trying to understand this....

[@tombuck]

C-stands: is there anything they can’t do? 🤤

[@powerflex500]

If you mount the camera with the screwed on baby pin to the C- Stand directly, you won't be able to make any adjustments: swivel/ tilt the camera without a ball head of some kind.

[@ashtonhealan]

I have a couple menace arms that I use for every shoot. Rather than having the triangle system, it uses a locking wheel and a couple shot bags. A must have!

[@SamuelRiveraFilms]

I would love to have seen how you guys connected that monitor to the c stand. I got glimpses of it in the video but would love to know the full details.

[@Thats_my_Point]

Standard filmmaking monitor mount. Essentially a VESA to baby pin mount

[@vimalsyama]

great tutorial video! Thanks a lot.

[@tenzinsmith]

The thumbnail made me think it was a watchfinder video! Great vid.

[@boristiosavljevic4672]

As much as I like these videos, I must point out that in each and every video, the audio is clipping when Ted shouts. Audio is an extremely important aspect in vlogging and I should imagine that fixing the issue isn't particularly tricky nor expensive. PLEASE IMPROVE YOUR AUDIO! :)

[@SebasSant87]

I cant belive with the gazillion dlls in freaking gar they don't record a bloody backup track. My freaking zoom H6 has it ffs

[@Rashadmcka]

Thanks for the Video!

[@littleredcurious5044]

i am definately doing this over the weekend

[@GatesRick]

Not clear what you attached the Matthellini clamp to on the heavy camera. Was it attached to the camera body itself, or something else? Thanks!

[@florentdevier]

seems like a clamp on the handle

[@Thats_my_Point]

The clamp is attached to the stand of the stand, and then the additional arm is grabbing onto the babies in from the clamps, and then onto the arm of the C stands. It’s just triangulating the stand to its own arm.

[@tomsquad1979]

Casey McBeath What?

[@Thats_my_Point]

TomSquad feel free to pause the video 🙃

[@JoATTech]

Oh, I learned something new. Haven''t been aware of this triangle method ... even though it's basic mechanical engineering thing 😮😮😮

[@omarknowsphotos]

I just put one together at home to shoot a few videos for work. There are kits that'll let you mount a pipe from your local hardware store to the top of 2 c stands and you can either clamp your mount on or use the one that usually comes with them. Costs you an extra c-stand but it's hella stable and relatively inexpensive if you don't mind the industrial look.

[@offcenterconcepthaus]

You guys kick ass.

[@6r4nd0n]

I got the boom stand & phone clamp you mention in the 1st setup but it won’t hold the weight of the phone. The arm keeps dropping. Then I noticed in ur setup the arm is resting on a c-stand. So it doesn’t really work.

[@vinnyvince23]

Next video: How to Record Audio on Any Budget I think they're using the cheap budget for this video.

[@RHStevens1986]

Great video guys! What was the exact solution at 6:34? Didn't get a good look at that camera rig.

[@ShervinShares]

would love direct links to all items used in this video!

[@HDEFMAN1]

This camera wobble when using a single arm on my C-stand was exactly the problem I ran into when using my DSLR to shoot overhead still shots of old newspapers that were laid flat on a table. As soon as I moved anywhere near the camera the arm would wobble. I kept thinking I really need to shoot this on a concrete floor, but your solution is much easier. Just need to buy myself another extension arm and a grip head.

[@geraldsalas3213]

if recording just with an iphone for unboxing video overhead shot, will a rode videomicro ii work? I want to make a unboxing video that can capture those crispy sound but wants to be in a budget side

[@msjennable]

Might be a silly question but do you have to turn your auto rotate off.... And flip your camera around?

[@thericochetreport]

This

[@AllThingsSoul]

I love how easy the setup is for a DSLR. However, the top down shot looks distorted and awkward; the view is as if someone is standing on top of a table and looking down at their feet to see the demonstration. Is there a ball head on the camera that can be rotated outward a bit? That might be a more natural look at what is being done on the table.

[@tech.inspector]

I always try to do some repair videos with over head shots. But I always get so much bookeh that the important things are not in focus. If I go up to F8.0 or more it gets better but then I need like ISO 3200. I really don't know how other youtubers do this but I might need to switch from DLSR to Smartphone because of this. Really annoying.

[@tarotbyfrances]

This was the best top down video training i've seen thank you so so much from my tarot channel!

[@JzJordan]

this is so dope, i might try to recreate this and then tag you, really awesome videos and it helps a lot. thank you 🙏🏼

[@J-Dawg-1]

What was the solution for the heavy camera? That big clamp?

[@MichaelWashingtonAE]

I'm a musician, watching you use the back end of the boom stand (hahaha!!!) That part is there to balance to weight on the other end when you attach a mic or whatever to it with an adapter. Sure a cell phone is light but you get the boom angle between a set of legs and BOOM! Hahahaha!

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

I made my own overhead box using 2x2 wood and some plywood. I like your back lit curtain though. I should add that to my booth.

[@imageiseverything_creative]

Art of the expanse is a great book.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Name tag. "Do Epic Shit" LOL! The Expanse. Epic Shit. Great video. The "shaky" overhead cam - bane of my existence. Time to re-rig. :)

[@carloscast1]

What type of Cardellini did you use for the triangle C-stands? The End or Center Jaw Cardellini.

[@Thats_my_Point]

Either would work but I’d prefer a center as it provides less torque, so more security

[@JimiCanRead]

How do you avoid the reflections/glare on something reflective like the book?

[@kevinmassey5082]

How do you start stop the filming?

[@sparchstudio9005]

ive got a boom stand - added an adapter to match the threads of my camera (sony a6000) - and it works just fine -- some may need a counter weight - but it cost about $30 - dont need professional expensive gear to work with a mirrorless

[@TwlShooter]

Best overhead dslr setup saved me the hazzle of buying a heavy baby boom pole That destroys 2-1/2 grips

[@JacobStoneFilms]

How do you think Storyblocks compares to Artgrid? I know Artgrid has RAW/Log footage, but as you mentioned, Storyblocks has all the footage, plus AE templates.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

Wow! You guys gave me a great idea for selling some of the books I have at my hobby shop!

[@wagonet]

very helpful thank you.

[@ftloc]

How do make sure the camera is even horizontally and vertically to avoid one side of you object looking longer than the other? It takes me forever to get a square /rectangular book to have parallel sides! Any tips?

[@robertfeliciano5723]

You can use an Alvin Mat. You can drill a hole in the absolute center of a lens cap and attach a plumb bob. You can use a zoom lens, as you move through the zoom, check if items are shifting oddly.

[@alex0589]

For the Love of Comics most cameras have levels. Rtfm. Or use something with a grid to fine tune the position

[@robertfeliciano5723]

@@alex0589 That's cute. My camera level doesn't work when it's pointing straight down.

[@Thats_my_Point]

Certain lens as well make that really difficult (white angle lenses when they are close) but there are several options that you can purchase on Amazon like a three-way leveling block that can fit in to the cameras cold shoe

[@ftloc]

@@robertfeliciano5723 thanks! I've used something like an Alvin mat, even the 6*6 grid in the camera, and while they help a bit they still have plenty of room for error for some reason. And as you point out, the camera level doesn't help for the up/down position! I'll research the plumb bomb and use a zoom lens next time, thanks!

[@adamleeca]

What are some C-Stand brands/models that are good quality but won't break the bank? Also any sandbag recommendations?

[@8mac22]

So what did you all actually do to mount the fx9?

[@MICKYSTATEN]

Hey Ted & Casey : My question is you guys just pinched the FX9 handle with the cardellini clamp? Couldn’t quite make out how you guys actually rigged it , seemed like Casey was going into it...“ instead of using a quarter 20 screw...” but then it just cuts to broll and the broll doesn’t quite show you guys putting it together in a way we can mirror and implement ourselves. Would have been super dope to show it just like how you guys did the DSLR rig, even though it’s much simpler and easy to grasp. The FX9 rigging piece needed a little more attention lol. Please help guys. Also would like to see a video of how DPs/Gaffers/Grips rig quasars , and astera tubes. All accessories involved to rig those types of lights overhead and such. Please and thanks!

[@Thats_my_Point]

I think we’ve gone over it a few times here in the comments. But it’s only one of many ways you could tackle this. We did it the easiest way we could think of

[@MICKYSTATEN]

@@Thats_my_Point You and I communicated on IG, this comment was made before that, lol. Thanks again bro!

[@thursdaysproduction3290]

Hey what’s a good budget iMac that can edit 4K? Need help!

[@pamelaarmstrong3612]

WHat about using a mirror?

[@alex0589]

Pamela Armstrong would you rather rig a camera or...a big dangerous piece of glass in the air? Plus it’ll be reversed.

[@Thats_my_Point]

Beckett honestly be a bit tricky but could totally work. Sometimes you need to play around with things and post to make it look normal. But a clean near, room two rigs things in line things up properly, and a way to get the mirror up high are the only problem is you need to overcome with something like that

[@pamelaarmstrong3612]

I believe this is how it used to be done when the cameras were a lot bigger and heavier. Just a different idea. Love to see and hear the different ideas.

[@CMessineo]

I see your lighting setup from the side - can I also assume you are leaving on the overhead room lights?

[@Thats_my_Point]

No. They caused too much reflection on the book pages

[@ralphgeronilla]

So Helpful!!

[@geekdomo]

I want that Expanse book

[@OGtalks]

I know this a dumb question but why doesn’t anyone ever talk about the best lenses for top down video ??

[@petewilterson]

hey long time subscriber.... i dont know if you did one in the pass.... but can you do a video on "setup" ....look at the table u shoot this video on, the setup (background) is awesome...

[@internationalicon]

Uh huh, and how do you hook the iPhone cam into a live zoom call?

[@taajproduction2749]

Great option

[@SandCrabNews]

I build camera and lighting rigs using 1-inch SCH 40 PVC White Pipe. No glue, just dry fit.

[@steffynandhini7365]

How do I hide the legs of tripod ?

[@mattesteron3059]

Yo when are you guys gonna review the A7sIII??

[@indymogul]

soon : )

[@stevegeorge7773]

It would be constructive to list all the assets used.

[@imeantry8006]

My man cut him off right as he was going to explain the mounting option

[@HowToADU]

"Happy accidents"... is that a Bob Ross reference?!

[@olyaoborina7688]

Thanks!

[@HeavySpiral]

Ted: We are going to show you how to do this with an iPhone *grabs a mirrorless camera* Ted: and a DSLR

[@stevenkralovec]

Well he ended up using a 6d mark ii which is a dslr

[@ronaldfiel932]

Hi guys I hope you can also have a tutorial using a cellphone thanks

[@tomsquad1979]

Since the host so rudely interrupted Casey before he could tell us the name of the clamp he used to secure the larger camera, is there any chance you could add the name of the clamp to the description below the video?

[@Thats_my_Point]

It’s a Matthellini or Cardellini

[@yashmannofficial]

Sir please make any video on the technical review on "PARASITE" Film. I am waiting sir Thanks

[@zivshanmugam]

Am I the only one who is thinking,... what the fuck is in that coffee?

[@veryamazingandcreativename]

Thank you!

[@JanineMKartist]

I keep getting shadows front the lights and the phone as I film my art

[@JaimeIA]

That is really unfair... the more important part is the light... and in my country is super difficult find good lighting. And I have a glass table... but like always is good advice!!!

[@mesasavage]

Coof-19 note? Man, some people sure were crazy back then! ALL is normal now though, right? Riiiight?