how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot at DVinfo.net

Tim Palmer-Benson · August 24th, 2013, 07:49 AM

Anyone tried to mount a gh3 with a battery grip on a Steadicam pilot? As you know the attachment screw on the battery grip is way off center. Have been looking for a plate to correct this, but in lieu of this was thinking of mounting the battery grip more or less permanently on the sled's mounting plate using the one screw on the slide and some light, screws tapped into the plastic housing of the grip....Yes, I know ,...goodbye grip for resale, but there is a lot of convenience in this. One can take the camera off very quickly and use it without the grip and while on the grip, the battery is very easy to change because it comes out from the side. Thoughts anyone?

William Hohauser · August 24th, 2013, 07:55 AM

Not to question your use of the battery grip but how long do you envision using the GH3 on the Stedicam at a time? The internal GH3 battery lasts a really long time for me, in fact I have done 2 hour sessions of filming non stop and the battery seems like it has enough for another hour. I have never run out of power while I've had to keep at least two batteries ready with my GH2 for similar filming sessions.

Tim Palmer-Benson · August 24th, 2013, 08:05 AM

Yes, I know the battery is pretty good, but I had a situation where I had to change it in the middle of a wedding. I had the gh3 mounted in a cage which in turn was mounted on a 501 quick release mounted to the sled's plate. Because of the position of the 501's release lever, I could not get the battery out to change it and had to unmount the camera while still flying. There was no one to help me. I vowed that it was not going to happen again and that I would have long battery life and a very easy one hand change of battery if necessary.
My main question is how to securely mount the battery grip to the sled's cheeseplate.

William Hohauser · August 24th, 2013, 04:23 PM

Look into this: JOBY UltraPlate Quick Release Plate for DLSRs

I have never used one but it seems to have a way to offset the screw.

Tim Palmer-Benson · August 25th, 2013, 05:25 AM

Thanks, I have ordered one. Price seems reasonable. I sure others will appreciate this information.

August 24th, 2013, 07:49 AM	#1
Tim Palmer-Benson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Morgan, Vermont Posts: 130	how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot Anyone tried to mount a gh3 with a battery grip on a Steadicam pilot? As you know the attachment screw on the battery grip is way off center. Have been looking for a plate to correct this, but in lieu of this was thinking of mounting the battery grip more or less permanently on the sled's mounting plate using the one screw on the slide and some light, screws tapped into the plastic housing of the grip....Yes, I know ,...goodbye grip for resale, but there is a lot of convenience in this. One can take the camera off very quickly and use it without the grip and while on the grip, the battery is very easy to change because it comes out from the side. Thoughts anyone? __________________ Wedding and Events Videography www.video-vermont.com

August 24th, 2013, 07:55 AM	#2
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot Not to question your use of the battery grip but how long do you envision using the GH3 on the Stedicam at a time? The internal GH3 battery lasts a really long time for me, in fact I have done 2 hour sessions of filming non stop and the battery seems like it has enough for another hour. I have never run out of power while I've had to keep at least two batteries ready with my GH2 for similar filming sessions. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

August 24th, 2013, 08:05 AM	#3
Tim Palmer-Benson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Morgan, Vermont Posts: 130	Re: how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot Yes, I know the battery is pretty good, but I had a situation where I had to change it in the middle of a wedding. I had the gh3 mounted in a cage which in turn was mounted on a 501 quick release mounted to the sled's plate. Because of the position of the 501's release lever, I could not get the battery out to change it and had to unmount the camera while still flying. There was no one to help me. I vowed that it was not going to happen again and that I would have long battery life and a very easy one hand change of battery if necessary. My main question is how to securely mount the battery grip to the sled's cheeseplate. __________________ Wedding and Events Videography www.video-vermont.com

August 24th, 2013, 04:23 PM	#4
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot Look into this: JOBY UltraPlate Quick Release Plate for DLSRs I have never used one but it seems to have a way to offset the screw. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

August 25th, 2013, 05:25 AM	#5
Tim Palmer-Benson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Morgan, Vermont Posts: 130	Re: how to mount gh3/battery grip on steadicam pilot Thanks, I have ordered one. Price seems reasonable. I sure others will appreciate this information. __________________ Wedding and Events Videography www.video-vermont.com