Any ideas for flipping camera to portrait mode?

[Marc Myers]

This new bunch of DSLRs that shoot video are certainly better off mounted to a video head. But presuming you purchased a convergent device, you are probably going to be using it as a still camera as well. Any recommendations for an adapter that allows the camera to be mounted a fluid head and still be quickly switched to portrait mode?

[Dave Blackhurst]

Some tripod heads can do it, but it's touchy setting them to the 90 degree flip... BUT... Stroboframe makes devices designed to do just that - and there are some import knockoffs of the Stroboframe mounts. If you do a search for "flash brackets" you'll find various models - some are designed to rotate a flash, but there are several designed to rotate the camera when tripod mounted. Also you might look for a Newton bracket - pricey, but top quality.

[Marc Myers]

Thanks Dave.
I'm wondering if rather than a fixed bracket that allows the attached camera to flip, might it not be better to have an "L" bracket with two quick releases for your fluid head? The bracket would also provide a surface to attach microphone preamps, a wireless receiver and all the other paraphernalia a videographer might require. One could then still rely on the ball level on one's video head?

[Dave Blackhurst]

Well... while Stroboframe makes a flip only (Versiflip I think it was called), most of the flash brackets by definition will have a bracket that goes up and over the camera where you ought to be able to mount other stuff (usually there's at least a cold shoe, but with a little rework, you could probably mount anything up there).

The problems I see with the "L" bracket and QR is that it takes time to switch, and how do you know the "L" is a clean 90 degree (not to mention wobble)? The idea behind the camera rotator brackets is to allow you to simply rotate the cam on a solid mechanical mechanism that gives you a preset 90 degree rotate from landscape to portrait mode. They still would attach to your tripod head and set your level normally, just rotate the camera when needed to take portrait orientation shots.

[Robert Turchick]

I'm going to have a machinist friend of mine make an L bracket. true 90deg and shake won't be an issue as we're using 1/4" steel...will keep weight down by drilling some lightening holes. Still mulling over the design but I think we're just going to weld a quick release plate to the bottom and the female side to where the camera goes. I'll post it when done.

[Kin Lau]

Really Right Stuff (RRS) makes some very nice high quality L-brackets and QR clamps that you should be able to adapt quite easily.

[Robert Turchick]

contacted them and WOW they are expensive!
So here's the update...machinist friend not needed...Home Depot run today found strapping metal for house framing in 2" wide already bent into a perfect L. It's about an 1/8" thick and even held in my heavy vise I couldn't bend it using all my weight.
Bottom is about 4" and top is about 8". Cut about 2" off the upper and smoothed the edges. Got 1/4-20 nuts and bolts (pair) to mount the QR plate for my Manfrotto and the upper will get a 1/4-20 thumbscrew for the camera and a smaller bolt brazed to the bracket for the stabilizer pin. Once assembled, it'll get a coat of primer and black paint and total cost will be $27 for a pair (friend wants one too) with all hardware and paint!
I'll post link to pics with and without camera as soon as it's done.

[Robert Turchick]

http://www5.snapfish.com/thumbnailsh...NAME=snapfish/






Here's the finished. It's not the prettiest but not too bad (I'm not great at brazing!)
CHEAP and functional! Still allows full use of the tripod and when I need to mount to a teleprompter for greenscreen work, it'll work just fine!

[Robert Turchick]

ahh just learned to use the gallery here!

[Mark Goldberg]

Teh Strobofram company makes some camera flipping mounts for use on their flash brackets.

[Zach Love]

I saw this at NAB last year, Spider Pod Ringo:
RINGO HEAD CAMERA MOUNT

Not really for a quick landscape / portrait change up as the OP was looking for. This thing looks pretty hefty (like Spider Pod's other products), plus it offers support for the "top" of the camera so you're holding up your camera w/o risking extra stress on the tripod screws.

This is a lot more for if you want to record vertical for a vertical mounted flat screen. Or if you're doing green screen of a person standing still & you're loosing lots of resolution on the sides since the person.