Intro #

We are demonstrating here, on the ground at the Zürcher Silvesterlauf event, how to setup your tripods and mount your cameras.

Equipment Recommendations #

We usually recommend using tripods, or stands, to mount the cameras in a higher position to get the best shot. However, you can use any type of tripod that works for standard cameras as well as standard light stands.

But of course, each tripod comes with different heights that they can reach, workload weights supported, and format. It’s all up to what you need, based on your event.

You will find more precise recommendations and information on the equipment we most frequently use in our PDF document available about “Equipment and Accessories“, which you can download by clicking the Tutorials Tab in the Dashboard Menu. 

Tripod Set-up #

Now let’s start with a basic Tripod setup.

Preparing the 3D Case #

First off, here we are using a tripod stand and for that, we need this Manfrotto ballhead or a similar type of ball head from another supplier to mount the camera on the tripod.

Connect the ballhead to the bottom part of your 3D-Case and make sure it is well-fixed and not loose. Don’t worry, if you’re using another type of tripod or head, there’s a universal screw under the 3D-Case where you can mount any type of plate to accommodate different types of ballheads or tripod endings. 

If you want to reverse the grip, you just need to attach the metal plate on the other side of the 3D case. There is a universal screw on both the bottom and the top of the iRewind ONE 3D-Case, to offer maximum flexibility.

Positioning the 3D Case on the tripod #

At the beginning of the process you define roughly the position and height you estimate to be correct for your shot. But don’t raise it too high yet, as it makes it harder to fix the camera. 

Now that we have a rough position and height at which we can work, you can mount the camera on the tripod by fixing the ballhead and 3D-Case to the tripod with this pin – the so-called spigot. 

Based on the video image you see on the screen or in your Dashboard, you can then slightly adjust the height and angle of the camera, by adjusting directly the tripod and the ballhead.

Adjusting the 3D case position from the ballhead #

Most of the Ball Heads used have two knobs or a similar mechanism to adjust the 3-axis positioning. Just like here, on this Manfrotto ballhead we use most of the time. 

One knob is used to loosen the ballhead, so you can freely move your camera around.

The other one, called friction, is also very handy, allowing you to adjust how easily you can move the camera on the ballhead.

If you loosen it, you can see that you can very easily move the camera around. But if you tighten it, the Camera stays fixed in position and you will need more force to move it around. We recommend not to loosen it too much, to keep control of the camera and avoid any shock movements.2113

These knob adjustments allow you to check the camera positioning or do slight adjustments.

Now you just need to find that ideal camera position and you’re ready to go. But, what is the ideal camera position, you might ask yourself?

For that, we have a separate Tutorial on “Camera Placement”, where you can see how to get that perfect shot.

Advanced Tripod Setup #

There will be many situations where you want a more centralized position for your camera. Especially at finish lines or for events with wider roads.

For this you can use a Tripod on which you can mount a “boom arm”. Let me show you what we use, but as we said before, there are many different models out there that you can use.

Combo Tripods #

One of the types of tripods we use is this one, where the boom-arm is already integrated in the Tripod. And it’s a great fit for some events, because it’s very versatile, allowing you to do the set-up with only one piece of equipment. 

Just set up the Tripod in the desired position, pull out the last part of the arm and set the boom-arm in the desired position. You can get as far out as possible or however far you need it to be. 

Depending on the tripod type, you will be able to use it in cases where you don’t need a lot of height – like this tripod here – or use a sturdier one of the same type if you need more height and length of the arm. But you can also use a different tripod with a separate boom arm fixing mechanism 

These distinctions and choosing the right equipment is important in all situations.

For some events, you may want to have more arm length, more height or more sturdiness, so it can’t be so easily moved by the crowd or harsh weather conditions. But the principles of operating and mounting the camera on the tripod or boom arm remain the same. 

Using boom-arms #

In case you’re using a tripod stand that doesn’t include an arm, you can use a separate boom arm as the one I have here in my hands. As for the other equipment choices, there is again a variety of boom arm types you’ll be able to find with slightly different mounting systems. But overall the process and usage is very similar to one another. Ours here is from manfrotto and is made from smaller parts, which you can easily put together by loosening the screws here, sliding it together and tighting the screws back. By the way, we don’t always use the whole length of the boom arm, you can use just one piece, two pieces or all three pieces. 

Fixing the boom arm on the tripod #

The standard method for fixing these separate boom arms to the tripods, is using what we call a pivot clamp. Simply mount the pivot clamp on the tripod, slide in the boom arm we just mounted, go as far out as you need it, fix the angle of the pivot clamp and finally tighten the screws.

Once done, slide the boom arm into the Pivot Clamp and go as far out as you need to be.

Securing your equipment #

You should always use a counterweight to counterbalance the small weight of the camera when using a boom arm, whether it’s an integrated one, like shown before, or a standalone boom arm. A 3 kilogram fixed counterweight or a sandbag is enough to keep you boom arm balanced. Please make sure to attach the Counterweight before you mount the 3D-Case. This is very important. If you don’t do that, the Tripod will flip over because of the weight imbalance!

For this particular boom arm, the Pivot clamp and the Counterweight is usually included in the package when you rent or buy it, but you can also get them separately if you want to use another model. 

Make sure to always fixate your tripod to the ground, for safety reasons, with a 5KG or 8KG Sandbag, positioned on the basis of the Tripod, to make it as secure as possible. And if you’re using a boom arm, in our experience, for improved stability, you should consider aligning one of the tripod’s legs parallel to the boom arm, under the boom arm.

Camera safety #

Once done, as mentioned before, you can now mount the camera on the Boom arm, the principle being similar to mounting it on the tripod directly.  

Then just raise the Tripod at the desired height. Make sure to raise it at least 2.20, if not even more, so no one can accidentally hit it.

Take into consideration that there may be races where there are pacemakers with Flags on their backs, people from the organisation on bikes or timing cars, which can all interfere with your position as they could reach the camera. Please make sure to check that with the event organiser beforehand, so you can set the camera at the right height.

Setting up camera in final position #

Now the next step is setting the camera in its final position.

We recommend first-time users to use a ladder to set up the final positioning of the camera. Once you have more experience, you don’t really need a ladder anymore, as you will know how the height and camera position influences the actual shot. And as explained in another tutorial video, you don’t actually need access to the smartphone screen to position your angle of view, as you can see the live image via the “Live Cam” function.

Additional grip elements: Elbow arm #

There are various accessories out there that you can use to mount your camera differently. For example, for moments where we need a more flexible installation or we are working with fixed elements instead of a tripod, we sometimes use grip elements such as various types of universal clamps or flexible arms, like this one here. 

This flexible arm allows you to move the camera in more diverse positions, while also keeping it well fixated. We’ve used these types of grip equipment in the past to mount our cameras on poles, and fences or suspend them over scaffolding or truss constructions. 

Overhead camera positioning #

And if you do have the possibility to use such fixed constructions on your track or at the finish line, like the Finish Gate, take this option into account. You can great some great overhead, central or uncommon angle shots of the participants this way.

Check out the next Tutorial, where we show you exactly how you could place the camera to get the best shots for your event.

Thanks for taking the time to watch this tutorial!