Blackmagic Forum

Hi guys! I'd like to know the distance between the top mounting points of the BMCC. I want to implement a top handle using ebay parts, instead of buying a customized one.
Hope you can help me with this as I wait for the camera to ship.
Regards from Mexico!

The distance between me and the the top mounting holes on my BMCC is apparently several thousand miles, unfortunately.

See:
viewtopic.php?p=9768&sid=5001b6dd980f2f9223de4cc0e23bebfd#p9768

Peter J. DeCrescenzo wrote:The distance between me and the the top mounting holes on my BMCC is apparently several thousand miles, unfortunately.

Meanwhile, the attached diagram was posted by someone in another forum a while back, but I don't know if it's accurate. Perhaps someone can confirm/correct?

Cheers.

BMC top mounting points spacing.jpg

Thanks a lot Peter! I believe the distance between me and my BMCC is not only measured in kilometers but also in days, weeks, months???

Would you say that the distance between side mounting points would comply to a standard 60mm? Image measures add to 65mm. Why would BMD NOT comply to rod accessory standards? To get an edge on customized (and pricey) add-ons?

I'm planning on screwing two 1/4 rod clamp holders and attach a top handle.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280740290244?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170773539417?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Regards!

This seems like it would be the kind of answerable question BMD could reply to here, if they were so inclined. Best of luck.

Vitchub wrote:Hi guys! I'd like to know the distance between the top mounting points of the BMCC. I want to implement a top handle using ebay parts, instead of buying a customized one.
Hope you can help me with this as I wait for the camera to ship.
Regards from Mexico!

Hi Vitchub, here is the exact measurements for the top posts, please disregard my older post, it was based on a picture, I was 1 mm off, not bad.

rawCAM35 wrote:

Vitchub wrote:Hi guys! I'd like to know the distance between the top mounting points of the BMCC. I want to implement a top handle using ebay parts, instead of buying a customized one.
Hope you can help me with this as I wait for the camera to ship.
Regards from Mexico!

Hi Vitchub, here is the exact measurements for the top posts, please disregard my older post, it was based on a picture, I was 1 mm off, not bad.

Mounting posts.jpg

Thanks a lot!
So I guess my little DIY handle is not feasible since the distance between farthest mounting points would not meet the 60mm standard.
I was planning on screwing two 1/4 rod clamp holders and attach a top handle.
My reasoning is that if BMCC top mounting points are 33.5mm apart, there is a 67mm distance between the farthest points, so if I screw the rod clamps, the space would be 7mm wider than the standard 60mm for rod systems, so an Ebay rod handle would not fit the rods attached to the rod clamps (they'd be 7mm wider than the standard rod support).
Am I making sense?

rawCAM35 wrote:Thanks a lot!
So I guess my little DIY handle is not feasible since the distance between farthest mounting points would not meet the 60mm standard.
I was planning on screwing two 1/4 rod clamp holders and attach a top handle.
My reasoning is that if BMCC top mounting points are 33.5mm apart, there is a 67mm distance between the farthest points, so if I screw the rod clamps, the space would be 7mm wider than the standard 60mm for rod systems, so an Ebay rod handle would not fit the rods attached to the rod clamps (they'd be 7mm wider than the standard rod support).
Am I making sense?

I've seen on Ebay some offset rod clamps, so it would be possible that if you mount them on the camera you could get the standarized 60 mm between rods. Just a guess...

Hi Vitchub, you can make your own offset plate, take 1/4" or 3/8" aluminum plate, drill and thread countersink holes to match the BMD camera mounting holes, drill and thread another set of holes 60mm apart and holes for the handle, screw the plate to the camera with a countersink flat head 1/4" screws, then screw your clamps and the handle, put your rods on and you are set.

Vitchub wrote:Hi guys! I'd like to know the distance between the top mounting points of the BMCC. I want to implement a top handle using ebay parts, instead of buying a customized one.
Hope you can help me with this as I wait for the camera to ship.
Regards from Mexico!

Hi,

The distance between each mounting point is 33.5mm.

The distance between the the 2 farthest mounting holes is 67mm.

jtorrents wrote:

rawCAM35 wrote:Thanks a lot!
So I guess my little DIY handle is not feasible since the distance between farthest mounting points would not meet the 60mm standard.
I was planning on screwing two 1/4 rod clamp holders and attach a top handle.
My reasoning is that if BMCC top mounting points are 33.5mm apart, there is a 67mm distance between the farthest points, so if I screw the rod clamps, the space would be 7mm wider than the standard 60mm for rod systems, so an Ebay rod handle would not fit the rods attached to the rod clamps (they'd be 7mm wider than the standard rod support).
Am I making sense?

I've seen on Ebay some offset rod clamps, so it would be possible that if you mount them on the camera you could get the standarized 60 mm between rods. Just a guess...

Thanks a lot! I'll look into that...

Kristian Lam wrote:

Vitchub wrote:Hi guys! I'd like to know the distance between the top mounting points of the BMCC. I want to implement a top handle using ebay parts, instead of buying a customized one.
Hope you can help me with this as I wait for the camera to ship.
Regards from Mexico!

Hi,

The distance between each mounting point is 33.5mm.

The distance between the the 2 farthest mounting holes is 67mm.

Thanks for the info Kristian!

rawCAM35 wrote:Hi Vitchub, you can make your own offset plate, take 1/4" or 3/8" aluminum plate, drill and thread countersink holes to match the BMD camera mounting holes, drill and thread another set of holes 60mm apart and holes for the handle, screw the plate to the camera with a countersink flat head 1/4" screws, then screw your clamps and the handle, put your rods on and you are set.

That is a good solution!
I have found a cheeseplate that might work as you describe. 1/4" holes are 33mm apart, so they might fit to the BMCC top.
But for what I see in the cheeseplate picture, the holes are threaded. Do you think I would need to smear the holes to get rid of the thread so that the screws are tight to the camera mounting points?

Yes, just use a hair larger drill bit to remove the tread from the hole, then use a countersink bit to create a seating for the 1/4" countersunk head screw so that it is flush with the cheeseplate surface, not just to look nice but will not interfere with anything that you mount on the top.
Before you tighten the screw all the way in ( say the head is above the cheeseplate by 2-3 mm ) just drop two drops of threadlock or nail polish and tight the screw down, that will keep it from getting loose

Hi.

I wonder if it would be possible to get more detailed info on corner curvature also.

I may have idea for some battery solution for hand held but i wonder if i could make it to fit also on
curved corners.

I see on picture also some neck line holders that peak out a bit but i do not see what
could be they'r exact distance and length from body.

I have ordered the following pieces to add a top handle: Macro focusing rail under $20 delivered: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fotomate-LP-02- ... 1397490%26
Top handle grip for DSLR cage under $20 delivered: http://www.ebay.com/itm/270928936923?ss ... 1439.l2649

Flip the focusing rail upside-down and screw the two 1/4 bolts into the two outboard top holes of the camera. Unscrew the bottom block of the handle and mount that to the geared mounting plate of the macro focusing rail. Presto, $40 micro adjustable balancing top handle. The ends will stick out a bit or you can cut them off, which I am planning to do. They do make a smaller version that is about the size of the camera and would work, but one of the holes for the 1/4" bolt is fixed and it would not center perfectly on top.