Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? at DVinfo.net

Ned Soltz · March 14th, 2012, 09:11 AM

For research on an article I'm writing, I am interesting in knowing who uses a top mounted cheeseplate on their F3, whether you have mod-ed your F3 (e.g. Hot Rod mod), whether you use another plate or no plate at all.

Don't see any poll-creating options here, otherwise would have just posted a poll.

Thanks for any responses.

Ned Soltz

Doug Jensen · March 14th, 2012, 09:16 AM

I use Berkey plates on my F3 and FS100.

Sony F3 Top Mount Accessory Cheese Plate | | Berkey System

Chuck Fishbein · March 14th, 2012, 12:27 PM

Currently using the Berkey plate on my F3. Also using some Berkey accessories to mount my Atomos on to the cheeseplate.

Bruce Schultz · March 14th, 2012, 01:48 PM

The Berkey plate is perfect for my 3D mirror rig as it's impossible to mount FIZ motors on the lower rails with the configuration of the rig in the way. Top mounting the motors has worked great and these plates are a perfect way to do that.

Alister Chapman · March 14th, 2012, 04:25 PM

I made my own plates similar to the Berkley plates for the same reasons as Bruce. But I also have an adapter that gives good solid and level mounting points for an external EVF.

Duke Marsh · March 16th, 2012, 07:22 AM

Berkey plate. I don't think the top mounting holes are strong enough otherwise.

Aaron Newsome · March 21st, 2012, 08:19 PM

When I need one, it'll be the Berkey.

Nigel Akam · March 24th, 2012, 10:01 AM

Should have bought the Berkey a long time ago, since I've now stripped one of those top threaded holes with mounts for my monitors. Buying it now.

Duke Marsh · March 30th, 2012, 09:02 AM

I'll yank your chain a little bit Nigel because you KNOW better. LOL

The damn sockets flex with an arm screwed into them.

Douglas Villalba · March 30th, 2012, 12:42 PM

I like the build of the Berkey System accessories. I have their camera plate, but the top mount has only one more bolt holding it together. I think that the way to secure heavy accessories is to the rail system.

Duke Marsh · March 31st, 2012, 07:34 AM

Thinking of it as two bolts instead of one bolt way underestimates what the Berkey plate does.

The biggest problem with the regular screw holes is that socket bears all the stress and torque. Eventually the plastic torques to one side and deforms.

The Berkey plate places the weight over a large surface area of the entire top of the camera. What was pounds per square inch of pressure due to torque becomes a fraction of an ounce per square inch. On top of that the screws stay perpendicular to the camera. There is no 'hot spot' to speak of against the threads.

I don't think I'd want a KiProMini permanently mounted to the top plate, but a couple of wireless lav receivers and a monitor on the end of an arm. No problem at all.

Paul Ream · March 31st, 2012, 07:50 AM

There could be a problem with mounting too much heavy stuff to a rail system alone. If you pick the camera up by the standard handle, everything is hanging through the camera body from just two baseplate screws. It's not been unknown for these to be pulled out of the base of some Sony camera's? Just something to watch when you're lifting a heavy lens, recorder, v/f, monitor etc - it's still two screws!

Douglas Villalba · March 31st, 2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ream

There could be a problem with mounting too much heavy stuff to a rail system alone. If you pick the camera up by the standard handle, everything is hanging through the camera body from just two baseplate screws. It's not been unknown for these to be pulled out of the base of some Sony camera's? Just something to watch when you're lifting a heavy lens, recorder, v/f, monitor etc - it's still two screws!

I agree that if you lift the camera from it's handle wether you have a top plate or rail mounted heavy accessories it could eventually give way. What I was suggesting was a full rail system with both bottom & top where you can add a handle.

Nigel Akam · March 31st, 2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke Marsh

I'll yank your chain a little bit Nigel because you KNOW better. LOL

The damn sockets flex with an arm screwed into them.

You are correct sir! You get busy, get side tracked, forget about it and then...

Berkey top plate ordered (finally)

David Peterson · July 2nd, 2015, 11:46 AM

Old thread, but stumbled across it in my research and I thought I'd just chime in and say I too am ordering that Berkey top plate, as it looks soooo good!

Even though my second hand F3 already came with a top plate added/designed by Panavision NZ, the Berkey one just looks vastly superior!

March 14th, 2012, 09:11 AM	#1
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? For research on an article I'm writing, I am interesting in knowing who uses a top mounted cheeseplate on their F3, whether you have mod-ed your F3 (e.g. Hot Rod mod), whether you use another plate or no plate at all. Don't see any poll-creating options here, otherwise would have just posted a poll. Thanks for any responses. Ned Soltz

March 14th, 2012, 09:16 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,442	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? I use Berkey plates on my F3 and FS100. Sony F3 Top Mount Accessory Cheese Plate \| \| Berkey System __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

March 14th, 2012, 12:27 PM	#3
Chuck Fishbein Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Weehawken New Jersey Posts: 210	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? Currently using the Berkey plate on my F3. Also using some Berkey accessories to mount my Atomos on to the cheeseplate.

March 14th, 2012, 01:48 PM	#4
Bruce Schultz Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Malibu, CA Posts: 480	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? The Berkey plate is perfect for my 3D mirror rig as it's impossible to mount FIZ motors on the lower rails with the configuration of the rig in the way. Top mounting the motors has worked great and these plates are a perfect way to do that.

March 14th, 2012, 04:25 PM	#5
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? I made my own plates similar to the Berkley plates for the same reasons as Bruce. But I also have an adapter that gives good solid and level mounting points for an external EVF. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 16th, 2012, 07:22 AM	#6
Duke Marsh Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OC, CA Posts: 65	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? Berkey plate. I don't think the top mounting holes are strong enough otherwise.

March 21st, 2012, 08:19 PM	#7
Aaron Newsome Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 590	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? When I need one, it'll be the Berkey.

March 24th, 2012, 10:01 AM	#8
Nigel Akam Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 70	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? Should have bought the Berkey a long time ago, since I've now stripped one of those top threaded holes with mounts for my monitors. Buying it now.

March 30th, 2012, 09:02 AM	#9
Duke Marsh Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OC, CA Posts: 65	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? I'll yank your chain a little bit Nigel because you KNOW better. LOL The damn sockets flex with an arm screwed into them.

March 30th, 2012, 12:42 PM	#10
Douglas Villalba Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida, USA Posts: 479	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? I like the build of the Berkey System accessories. I have their camera plate, but the top mount has only one more bolt holding it together. I think that the way to secure heavy accessories is to the rail system. __________________ Douglas Villalba - director/cinematographer/editor Miami, Florida, USA - www.DVtvPRODUCTIONS.com

March 31st, 2012, 07:34 AM	#11
Duke Marsh Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OC, CA Posts: 65	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? Thinking of it as two bolts instead of one bolt way underestimates what the Berkey plate does. The biggest problem with the regular screw holes is that socket bears all the stress and torque. Eventually the plastic torques to one side and deforms. The Berkey plate places the weight over a large surface area of the entire top of the camera. What was pounds per square inch of pressure due to torque becomes a fraction of an ounce per square inch. On top of that the screws stay perpendicular to the camera. There is no 'hot spot' to speak of against the threads. I don't think I'd want a KiProMini permanently mounted to the top plate, but a couple of wireless lav receivers and a monitor on the end of an arm. No problem at all.

March 31st, 2012, 07:50 AM	#12
Paul Ream Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 65	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? There could be a problem with mounting too much heavy stuff to a rail system alone. If you pick the camera up by the standard handle, everything is hanging through the camera body from just two baseplate screws. It's not been unknown for these to be pulled out of the base of some Sony camera's? Just something to watch when you're lifting a heavy lens, recorder, v/f, monitor etc - it's still two screws!

July 2nd, 2015, 11:46 AM	#15
David Peterson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 361	Re: Who Uses Top Mount Cheeseplate on their F3? Old thread, but stumbled across it in my research and I thought I'd just chime in and say I too am ordering that Berkey top plate, as it looks soooo good! Even though my second hand F3 already came with a top plate added/designed by Panavision NZ, the Berkey one just looks vastly superior!