Has anyone come up with a wild and wonderful (oh, and easy. And cheap. And safe. Oh yeah, and cool looking) way of carting the old laptop around while on location?

I did a shoot last week in a busy warehouse (using the demo version of DV Rack - full version arrived today!). To be honest, I was very reluctant to put my laptop on the floor next to a bunch of insane fork lift drivers!

OK, before anyone says "what about a 30m firewire cable" please check out my other post on this forum on that very subject!

I was thinking about brackets on the tripod, or shelves, or trolleys, or, I dunno, whatever - something that would allow the laptop to be within easy reach of the camera - surely a must have for a one or two person crew?

Ian, couple ideas.

First, I thought I'd get some sort of shelf that would mount on a second tripod. Then, I saw this little laptop table that folds up small enough to fit in a computer bag. (?)

Finally, I purchased an older model of this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=125207&is=REG&addedTroughType=search which I found in the dvinfo classifieds.

Haven't used it yet, but it looks real good.

Other ideas:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5575&is=REG&addedTroughType=search Actually, this is the platform that's on my new (old) superclamp and ball double ball joint. Looks like this could mount directly to a tripod.

Try a search at bhphotovideo.com for bogen platform - that will turn up a lot of the various bits and pieces.

http://www.skymall.com/webapp/skystore?process=prodDisplay&action=&pid=50137219&catId=14200 (but I'd never order direct from skymall again, was very dissapointed on another purchase a few years ago. I'd try to find the item from another supplier).

Hi Seth, thanks for the reply.

Now that looks real interesting! I've even managed to track down a UK supplier (makes a change!).

The Skymall thing doesn't convince me, but either of the Manfrotto jobs look just the thing. Any idea how they mount on a tripod?

I would really love to keep laptop and camera on the same tripod if possible but I'm a bit worried that my laptop is going to be too heavy (it's an Alienware desktop replacement weighing in at around 6kg).

Anyone got any photos of these things in action?

Ian . . .

Well, this thing http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5575&is=REG&addedTroughType=search will accept a 1/4"x20 or a 3/8" tripod screw directly, so, yes, if you want to use a tripod just for the laptop it's all you would need.

Thanks again Seth.

I used DV Rack on a shoot yesterday and it really drove home the need to have the laptop and camera on the SAME tripod if at all possible.

I hear the ominous creaking of plastic making its way into the light of day after so long in my wallet . . .

http://www.deskspaceanyplace.com/

You can check camping supply store or hardware shop. I have checking the Coleman compact table. It folds for storage. I am not sure if Coleman is readily available in the UK.

Delfino

Thanks again Seth.

I used DV Rack on a shoot yesterday and it really drove home the need to have the laptop and camera on the SAME tripod if at all possible.

I hear the ominous creaking of plastic making its way into the light of day after so long in my wallet . . .


Hmmm... somehow, i'd try to sling the laptop low, between the three legs (more room lower you get, plus it keeps the center of gravity lower, less chance of tipover)

I thought about making a plywood platform that would clip between the three legs, with velcro to secure the 'top. I do a fair amount of event videography and I think I would put a tripod dolly on the legs with swivel wheels, a laptop slung low.. and the whole thing on one multi-use powerstrip, just in case I needed to run a cord for both (now that your tape is only limited to the HD space, power might be more of an issue).

I'll post something if I get it built.

J

I took some barstock aluminum and shaped it into a v. Then I curled the ends so that they would wrap around the tripod legs in such a way that the v will stick out horizontally from the tripod legs. To that I screwed a flat piece of aluminum to the top of a the v which created the table support for the tripod. I then wrapped tape on the part of the barstock that wrapped around the tripod legs so they wouldn't scratch the tripod. I now have a nice removable table which attaches to my tripod, dolly, crane for my laptop. Works great. Funny thing, it works with both my tripods.

I took some barstock aluminum and shaped it into a v. Then I curled the ends so that they would wrap around the tripod legs in such a way that the v will stick out horizontally from the tripod legs. To that I screwed a flat piece of aluminum to the top of a the v which created the table support for the tripod. I then wrapped tape on the part of the barstock that wrapped around the tripod legs so they wouldn't scratch the tripod. I now have a nice removable table which attaches to my tripod, dolly, crane for my laptop. Works great. Funny thing, it works with both my tripods.

Do you have pics you can post so that we can see exactly what you did? That sounds like an interesting idea.

Sure, I'll do it when I get home and post it somewhere.

Hey Dave,

Just wondering if you've gotten a chance to take photos of your mount setup.

Oops. Sorry. I've been busy and now I'm going out of town for 10 days. I'll try to remember when I return.

Thanks, Dave. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've done.

Here's another option, but its a second tripod

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=2139

Cyberguys is a good company to do business with, I haven't had any probelms with them

James

If you're not as mechanically savy as Dave and don't want to buy another tripod you can always employ a milk crate:
http://www.adorama.com/ADMC.html

If set on its side you can weigh down the base and reduce the potential of it falling over. I can't imagine a laptop could survive too many tripod spills.

2 options I"ve found are folding tables (where table top folds in half and has a carrying handle) that have polycarbonate tops instead of the usual particle board. Relatively light (under 10 pounds) and you can put all sorts of stuff on them.
You can find them at several outdoor stores . Target here in the US has them on sale. I just bought one for a shoot last weekend and it worked out great.

I forgot the second one...those camping tables that roll up and pack into a long narrow carry bag similar to those folding chairs. Not as stable, but much easier to haul around. I have one sitting next to my outdoor grill.

Here is an example from Cabelas outdoor store...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075-cat20148&id=0025014516330a&navCount=1&podId=0025014&parentId=cat20148&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20148&hasJS=true

Had a similar need and came up with this simple solution that works great
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=102306