I am only a little guy but I have two xl2's which I use primarily to film live music. I would like to know what other people do to get that extra height so I'm not getting the backs of the audience's head. At the moment I am currently putting the tripod on a table - it's worked out ok so far but I know it isn't a long term option. Does anyone know of any portable height adjustable stage system which they use. One which is basically for a tripod and a camera operative. I am based in the UK. Any help appreciated. thanks

Take a look at the link below:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=137162&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I have not used one but a frind of mine has it and loves it.

here is an other one

cost 1/3

http://www.valiantmusic.com/stages.htm


ps:

at a sfo theater, they had a 4x6 riser, casters mounted on the side, to roll around. hight 24". a lot of weight, big...but

Very timely post you guys. I was just contemplating this issue for a local school play. The first idea gave me the plan for a simple cheap Home depot resolution. I'll let you know how it works out.

I remember many years ago I placed a much lighter camera on a folded tripod to get the effect of a mono-pod. It gave me a height of about 10 feet and it worked out very well. I was able to angle the screen down so I could still view it and since the footage was slowed, any movement was not noticed.

Hi Ian,

How much height do you need, 7', 8', 9' 10' ??

A taller TriPod, an extendable control handle(s) (2' to 4'), an articulating head-to-Cam mount, and using a wired remote or an Infrared Remote/ fiberoptic cable set-up and a small LCD monitor, can get you over the crowd without you being on top of tables and such.

This is the system I've made up, and it works great.

Can send you pics of all these Mods if interested.

Harold

I use viagra.... works every time =)

Brian, you naughty boy... :) hehe

Anyways, yeah I would just build a small, portable stand from wood, rather than spending thousands of dollars on a metal one. I'm sure it will work... But tell us how effectively it works Chris.

~Colin Worley

Yeah that drink your milk when your a kid crap was a lie. I have had the same issue. I use an aluminum frame stand I had made for about 40 bucks or so. It works in a pinch.

You can get a six foot ladder and put a High Hat on top and ratchet strap it down. The only thing to be careful of is jostling/vibration from the operator and the crowd, especially when at the tele end of the zoom. Use two ladders, one taller for the camera and a shorter one to sit on. The ladder with the camera would be perpendicular to the ladder you sit on, so the legs straddle the operator's ladder, going the "wrong" way. But for two cams, that's four ladders.

The staging could be good, but the sections are too big and the operator has to be isolated from the camera so that the camera doesn't shake. That's why the Spider is a two parter.

There are also Ladderpods, not sure what they rent for, but they are quite tall and take at least two people to set up, but they do the trick.

The idea of adding stilts to your present tripod could work, but you'll need a spreader to prevent the legs from getting kicked out and a solid way of connecting to the tripod without killing the legs.

In all cases a few sandbags would be helpful, even with the table.

Cheers fellas....