Camera At My Church Shakes

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

I currently work for my church and helped set up a camera for them to use. They purchased the SDI camera available from PTZOptics, and we it set up mounted to the wall using a kind of two-piece shelf mount. Then we have it connected wirelessly to something called the SlingStudio and that sorts various video inputs into a single output. The SlingStudio part works great, the issue is that when people walk on the balcony above the camera, or cars drive by on the highway close outside, the whole camera shakes a little. That translates into a rather annoying video to watch later. We also have the feed being sent live to a TV in another room via HDMI. So it's not like we can fix it all in post. I can't seem to find any solution to the shaking problem, I was wondering if you guys had any ideas. I was thinking I could put some rubber or gel padding between the camera and the shelf or something. Or maybe buy an entirely new mount.

 

[Crunchy Dragon]

Mount the camera directly to the wall.

 

-Moved to Photography and Videography-

[HarrisonCassidy]

My guess would be there might be a little too much flex on the stand it is on. Maybe try moving the camera closer to the wall away from the edge if it is possible and or bracing it from the end of the stand to the wall, forming a triangle.

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

2 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Mount the camera directly to the wall.

 

-Moved to Photography and Videography-

The building shakes as well, I think. I don't see any other explanation for it shaking when cars drive by.

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

3 minutes ago, HarrisonCassidy said:

My guess would be there might be a little too much flex on the stand it is on. Maybe try moving the camera closer to the wall away from the edge if it is possible and or bracing it from the end of the stand to the wall, forming a triangle.

I was considering that as well. I just don't know what materials I would use to accomplish that.

[wONKEyeYEs]

9 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

solution to the shaking problem

Suspend with springs like mic.

[shmoochie]

I feel like you need a stand with a support bar under it that connects to where you put it on the wall and the edge of the part the camera sits on

 

but if a car driving by can shake the church maybe they just need to build a better church

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

2 minutes ago, shmoochie said:

I feel like you need a stand with a support bar under it that connects to where you put it on the wall and the edge of the part the camera sits on

 

but if a car driving by can shake the church maybe they just need to build a better church

Haha, it is an old building. A support bar makes the most sense to me. I don't know how to go about doing that without purchasing a new mount entirely though.

[shmoochie]

3 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

Haha, it is an old building. A support bar makes the most sense to me. I don't know how to go about doing that without purchasing a new mount entirely though.

if you can weld it wont be hard, just find a metal bar and weld it on. or see if you know someone who can

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

3 minutes ago, shmoochie said:

if you can weld it wont be hard, just find a metal bar and weld it on. or see if you know someone who can

I have a pretty sturdy pen and some duck tape, I'm sure it'll work fine.

 

Thanks, I'll ask around and consult some people. I do think this is the best way of fixing it.

[cc143]

Try some soft padding under it to absorb vibration maybe?

[SansVarnic]

22 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

<Snip>

3 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

I have a pretty sturdy pen and some duck tape, I'm sure it'll work fine.

 

Thanks, I'll ask around and consult some people. I do think this is the best way of fixing it.

The mount you have is a good one but from your description I you just need to add some vibration absorbing material and brace using a spring piston not a solid brace and make sure to place it as center as you can. If you only weld the solid brace that may help some but it will still translate any of the stronger vibration from the foot traffic above to the camera.

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

12 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

The mount you have is a good one but from your description I you just need to add some vibration absorbing material and brace using a spring piston not a solid brace and make sure to place it as center as you can. If you only weld the solid brace that may help some but it will still translate any of the stronger vibration from the foot traffic above to the camera.

Thanks so much! I will attempt to do this.

[SansVarnic]

3 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

Thanks so much! I will attempt to do this.

If all else fails research for a better mount. Glad I could help.

[HarrisonCassidy]

32 minutes ago, MatthewTheIntern said:

I was considering that as well. I just don't know what materials I would use to accomplish that.

Umm possibly a short piece of 2x2? You could cut it at a 45 degree angel at either end, bore a hole for a screw on the metal plate, wedge the wood in snugly then add two screws. You might need a slightly longer one for the wall (maybe 3inches?) to be sure you get through the drywall, and probably a 1 inch through the plate

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

40 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

If all else fails research for a better mount. Glad I could help.

Haha, I did that before I came here. Thanks so much, your advice is invaluable!

[MatthewTheCollegeStudent]

41 minutes ago, HarrisonCassidy said:

Umm possibly a short piece of 2x2? You could cut it at a 45 degree angel at either end, bore a hole for a screw on the metal plate, wedge the wood in snugly then add two screws. You might need a slightly longer one for the wall (maybe 3inches?) to be sure you get through the drywall, and probably a 1 inch through the plate

Yes, I think that's how I'm going to mount whatever I end up putting in to support it. Thanks so much for the help!