DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

How to repurpose a monitor stand to make a portable overhead camera rig

Jan 25, 2019 by John Aldred 3 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

There are so many ways to set up an overhead camera rig, but many of them involve building some sort of structure, lugging around heavy C-Stands or drilling holes into walls.

When photographer Daniel Shiffer was looking at overhead rigs, none of these solutions worked for him. He needed something portable that he could just throw in the back of the car and set up or break down at a moment’s notice. So, he turned to a desktop computer monitor stand.

Using a TV or monitor mount for an overhead camera rig isn’t a new idea. Typically, however, the mounts often suggested bolt into the wall. So, they’re not very portable. Daniel found one that clamps onto the edge of a desk or table and the monitor mount can actually be removed, revealing a stud to attach a 3/8″-16 adapter onto which you can screw on a ball head.

It’s sold on Amazon US as the WALI Extra Tall monitor stand. And it comes in single ($41.99), dual ($49.99), triple ($45.49) or quad ($49.99) flavours. Daniel uses the single mount version in his video, although the dual mount version could be very handy for attaching lights, a microphone, a monitor or other devices to the second arm.

Daniel uses a small clamp to attach a monitor to his single arm stand, but for larger screens, the dual arm version might work better. Given the strange price disparity between the four versions, it might even be worth getting the quad version. If you’re shooting a tutorial, for example, you could use the extra arms to attach notes and a script.

There are, of course, other monitor stands out there, but this one is really tall, allowing you to get the camera up out of your way and zoom in a little to fill the frame with the surface below. This will help to prevent weird perspective issues caused by having a wider angle closer to the table. It’s also really easy to remove the VESA plate to reveal that stud as well. Other mounts may require the use of drills or other power tools to modify them.

If you’ve been looking for a way to set up a quick and simple portable overhead camera rig, this could be the ideal solution.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Use a light stand with a boom arm to make an easy overhead camera rig Yet another DIY overhead camera rig – but this one’s for big sets This DIY overhead camera rig folds into the wall for easy setup in small spaces This is the most well thought out DIY overhead camera rig I’ve ever seen

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: Daniel Schiffer, overhead, Overhead Camera Rig, overhead rig, Photography

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Sigma adds Canon Lens Aberration Correction and Nikon bug fixes with new firmware updates
How to photograph dangerous animals from up close without approaching them »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Here’s a bullet time video booth you can build yourself
  • Ricoh has discontinued the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited silver lens
  • This “stellar flower” unravels the twilight’s evolution in 360 degrees
  • Strobes vs Continuous LEDs – Which is right for you?
  • Wave goodbye to Apple’s My Photo Stream next month

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy