Have you ever needed to shoot a top-down video, but didn’t know where to start? Thankfully, Dragon Image can help. We’ve received a lot of inquiries regarding how to shoot top-down video for photography for food, products, tutorials etc., and so we’ve devised this easy-to-assemble kit to help you get started!

LightPro K1 C-Stand with Arm, two Clamps and Fixed Feet

https://dragonimage.com.au/products/lightpro-k1-c-stand-with-arm-two-clamps-and-removable-feet

The first thing you’ll need to get started is the versatile C-Stand. With the arm and two clamp mechanism, you get 360 degrees of control over where the arm goes, making it ideal for overhead camera shooting. It has a minimum height of 1.45m and a maximum height of 3.28m, meaning you aren’t limited to a small amount of workable height. The arm also has a maximum weight load of 10kg, making it ideal for top-down shooting with DSLR cameras.

 Manfrotto 208HEX Hexagonal Head Mounting Plate

 https://www.dragonimage.com.au/manfrotto-208hex-head-mounting-plate-with-hex-stud-3-8-thread.html

 The Manfrotto 208HEX Hexagonal Head Mounting Plate allows you to mount the ball head onto a flat and secure base when attached to the C-Stand. With a spigot mount on the bottom, the plate can easily be attached to the C-Stand, and with a ⅜” thread it allows the ball head for the camera to be attached. 

Manfrotto Mini Ball Head with Quick Release Plate

https://dragonimage.com.au/products/manfrotto-494-head-ball-mini-w-qr-pro-plate-friction-control-8kg-payload

The last piece of the puzzle is the Manfrotto Mini Ball Head. With a ⅜” thread at the bottom, meaning it will easily screw onto the mounting plate. The ball head allows 360 degrees of rotation, giving you flexibility to adjust the camera’s angle without needing to move the whole stand. The head also has an 8kg payload, meaning it is extremely sturdy for it’s size and will hold most cameras.

Lightpro 10kg Shot Bag

https://dragonimage.com.au/products/lightpro-10kg-shot-bag

The shot bag is the perfect way to provide stability and support to the C-Stand in this setup. With the arm outstretched and the camera mounted, it has the potential to be off-balance, and by putting this shot bag on one of the legs to counterbalance the weight of the camera, you can rest assured knowing that this is a safe and secure setup for all involved.