Box of height you need + phone + weight to put on your phone so it doesn't fall. Put phone on the box so you have your item in frame. Then put the weight on part of the phone which lies on the box. That should work to some extend. It's harder without the tripod, also the anxiety of falling is greater :D if you plan to shoot more videos from bird view, there's bunch of cheaper, smaller tripods out there.
I just picked up this exact boom stand and head based on your video, and couldn't be happier. It's a little more expensive now, but well worth the money. About to shoot my first overhead video tonight, have it all dialed in. Thank you for this video, it helped a lot. Took less than 5 minutes to setup, so awesome.
Couple of other thoughts... if you make sure one tripod leg is parallel to the boom arm you might avoid a counterweight depending on the camera weight. Even of you need the counterweight it's an additional stabilizer. Also, a smart phone or tablet could be used wirelessly as a monitor depending on the camera and available software. I'm using a Sony a6500 and it works really well.
Another great find, Josh. Along with the top down shooting technique, this stand has so many valuable uses for film making. It would be great for one man crews as a boom stand, for one. Thanks a million. This one is a no brainer for low budget film making.
When we shoot overhead on food prep we use a mirror. Doesn't work for everything but the ability to tilt the camera up to get the overhead and then straight at the talent is very handy.
Love this video. I’m just getting into top down filming and am a little overwhelmed on how to start. You made it easy. A friend of mind told me only cops and serial killers drink their coffee black, so I looked back at them and said, “Well I’m not a cop so what does that make me?” Lol
Will the HDMI cable work on a phone to a monitor cuz that's what I'm going to be using as a phone I don't feel like buying a fancy camera just starting
Kindly make a budget lightning setup for UA-cam I am utuber working on home remedies i wants to know what should i do to make my videos more professional
Hi, Im a 65 year old lady who has two youtube channels. One is a vlogging channel where I shoot top down videos of my crochet and planner stuff. Does that mount also work for a cell phone? Cause I cant afford an expensive camera such as you have. And thank you in advance for any help you might offer.
problem I've been having is it's easy to shoot if its one item . i have problems with focus when I'm trying too show stuff and there are others items under what I'm trying to show. kinda surprised there aren't more videos on top down videography. thanks for sharing
Thanks - I've just been looking for over an hour at various tripods , boom arms etc. to try and get this type of shot - your video sorted it in a few minutes. Great work. Thanks!
Now have the stand & ball head - it's now so much quicker to get setup and recording. Also, I used to set up some pretty unstable tripod setups which I'm just not willing to try with an M50.
I have the same exact stand but it feels like it can't handle much weight. I see you have your camera in a cage, doesn't that ads too much for the stand? Also, I neeed to really tight the "braces" because even when very tight, they tend to slip (hope you understand, English is not my first language)
Hi, which camera and which lens would you recommend for a top down setup? I have a Sony Alpha 6400 with Sigma 1.4 lens for the normal direct to face stream.
Great video, thank you. Do you have a solution for recording a top down video while also using a magnifying lamp? I do my crafts using magnifying lamp but cannot figure out a way to be able to shoot a video of that at the same time. Thank you. I am sure a lot of Crafters would appreciate that solution
Hello I am working on starting top down food videos. I have a Canon SX50 HS with an external monitor. I think I may have lighting issues. I've tried everything on auto, I've tried manually setting the aperture, shutter, and iso. And the video is no where anywhere crisp and clear as yours is. Lens is about 29 inches from the surface. It is has a slight grainy look and sort of in focus. The external monitor I have isn't all the great so I cant really tell if it is in focus. and the lighting, I took to aluminum turkey pans, and lined the bottoms with supposedly 6500k daylight led strips covered with a white shower curtain for diffusing. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
Exactly what I was looking for! Many thanks Momentum Productions! I'll be doing a time lapse video sequence of the guitar maker at South Coast Luthier as he crafts a custom guitar.
Hoping to use equipment similar to this when filming X-Wing Miniature Game battle reports. Could it be configured to film a 3ft x 3ft or greater surface area?
Thank you for the video. A question: I am filming drawing tutorials. (for online classes) The paper is completely white and even with all the light, I am using the camera seems to adjust and make it grey and a rather dark ambiance. I guess it has to do with all that white. Any advice how to fix that? Thanks
Thanks mate. Your tip on keeping the table clean is spot on. Such an obvious thing, but I’ve lost count how many shots I’ve binned because of a shinny fingerprint or pieces of dust.
Couldn't I just use a monitor to watch what I'm doing (besides getting the one you mention)? I'm just starting out. I don't want to buy lot of expansive stuff (if it doesn't do well). lol I have been looking for overhead tripod.
So, at current prices: $170 for the monitor + $$98 for the tripod + $30 for the ball head + $220 for the light. You're looking at over $500 without the camera or mic! There are cheaper ways. No beginner should spend this much.
Hey, so I'm using the gear recommended in your description except for my camera I'm using a Canon LEGRIA HFR806 Camcorder and I'm not sure how to connect it to the Ball Head. Any advice? (P.S I'm using the Ball Head located in the top 3 links below the Boom Stand just to clarify.)
Thank you! It was a very good content that you can easily understand just by looking at the video! The point was to hang the weight on the other side of the camera!
Any tips on how to perfectly level the camera when it’s in the top down angle ? Are you leveling your camera with your eye or are you using some tool to do that ?
Very cool, thank you. I have been using a tripod, but I’m wanting to change that, and always looking for ways to improve my shots and methods! Counterweight seems a little tedious, so I think I’m going to try and look for a system that runs off of two stands, one on each side of the desk. You did get me thinking, and kind of confirming that you can’t really just do one arm. I bought an arm off the Internet that’s supposed to clip off of your table, but I wasn’t understanding how the hell that’s supposed to work especially when I upgrade to a full camera. They don’t really explain that one. They just say it’s super durable and everything. But the type of joints that it uses are complex as well. So I don’t think I’m going to be able to use it. It’s just too much involved.
i really wish i could afford a decent camera instead of my phone for my videos xD Thank you for this video, it was a big part of what i was looking for !
![Overhead Video Tutorial: How to Shoot Top Down Video [UPDATED!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zUGnfjIkcYc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Overhead Video Tutorial: How to Shoot Top Down Video [UPDATED!]](/img/tr.png)
What kind of video will YOU use top down shooting for???
Momentum Productions drawing! Nice video btw
I will be using it for creating some new cooking videos!
Momentum Productions I’d use it for drawing and unboxing videos!
Sewing
Art videos
So...how to do it without a fancy tripod? With gear it's easy!
Box of height you need + phone + weight to put on your phone so it doesn't fall. Put phone on the box so you have your item in frame. Then put the weight on part of the phone which lies on the box. That should work to some extend. It's harder without the tripod, also the anxiety of falling is greater :D if you plan to shoot more videos from bird view, there's bunch of cheaper, smaller tripods out there.
Hahahhah
😂😂
Just put a few boxes together then make a hole for your phone
Boxes, Sticks, DuctTape
Love love love short, direct, no non sense, no long gibberish. Forever grateful to you!!🙏🙏💕
Exactly
I just picked up this exact boom stand and head based on your video, and couldn't be happier. It's a little more expensive now, but well worth the money. About to shoot my first overhead video tonight, have it all dialed in. Thank you for this video, it helped a lot. Took less than 5 minutes to setup, so awesome.
I’m glad you enjoy it! :)
@@MomentumProductions1992 👍
x3 price wtf
That joke at 00:20 was funny lol.
Super helpful! I almost forgot I would definitely need a monitor for this setup 😂
Ditto! I finally have a use for the Atomos Ninja I bought on a whim last year lol
Couple of other thoughts... if you make sure one tripod leg is parallel to the boom arm you might avoid a counterweight depending on the camera weight. Even of you need the counterweight it's an additional stabilizer. Also, a smart phone or tablet could be used wirelessly as a monitor depending on the camera and available software. I'm using a Sony a6500 and it works really well.
Is there an app you use for using your phone as a monitor that or you connect the monitor and the phone via bluetooth?
Another great find, Josh. Along with the top down shooting technique, this stand has so many valuable uses for film making. It would be great for one man crews as a boom stand, for one. Thanks a million. This one is a no brainer for low budget film making.
Exactly! This stand can be used in so many ways, it’s unreal! Thank you for your constant support man! :)
When we shoot overhead on food prep we use a mirror. Doesn't work for everything but the ability to tilt the camera up to get the overhead and then straight at the talent is very handy.
Very interesting!!! Send me photos/videos of your setup! I would love to check it out :)
I wish i got to this video when the boom arm was still $35. Thanks for sharing anyways, but i suppose I'll keep looking.
I’m in the same spot, found it for 20% off and it’s STILL 76$
Can we fill the counter weights with water? You said we could fill with anything
Love this video. I’m just getting into top down filming and am a little overwhelmed on how to start. You made it easy. A friend of mind told me only cops and serial killers drink their coffee black, so I looked back at them and said, “Well I’m not a cop so what does that make me?” Lol
Can we use this equipment for point and shoot cameras too?
Which light should i use for top down video or overhead video.... ring light or soft light?
Always wanted to record these type of shots. Thanks for sharing. The boom stand is good but I don't have a monitor.
That coffee skit had me dying🤣🤣
Will the HDMI cable work on a phone to a monitor cuz that's what I'm going to be using as a phone I don't feel like buying a fancy camera just starting
Thanks! What about a boom system the claps to the desk top? Could you post a link! Floor space is prime real estate for me! Thanks//
Does the boom stand come with the ball head?
Sir which camcorder is best for top down videography?
What kind of monitor do you recommend?
Is there one suitable for smartphones?
I was looking at Joby tripods and monopods for Black Friday but that’s not as useful as a dedicated boom arm
Kindly make a budget lightning setup for UA-cam
I am utuber working on home remedies i wants to know what should i do to make my videos more professional
Yes! Will do :)
Thanks so much! New UA-camr here, I've been wanting to do top down videos for future content but didn't know how to go about it!
You're so welcome!
Finally, a video tells me what I need. Awesome video!
Can you use a tablet as a monitor?
Where did you purchase the small soft box?
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been constantly wondering how to get these top down shots because tripods are usually vertical. Appreciate that!!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi, Im a 65 year old lady who has two youtube channels. One is a vlogging channel where I shoot top down videos of my crochet and planner stuff. Does that mount also work for a cell phone? Cause I cant afford an expensive camera such as you have. And thank you in advance for any help you might offer.
wil any ballhead fit on a boompole?
Would that work with phones
Will this work for Sony a6400 dslr camera?
Hi, can you tell me what you would suggest for mounting an Iphone 11 pro max instead of a camera?
is this good for cell phone mount?
Hi! Is there a way to have this setup with a phone or an IPad instead of a camera ?
The stand is 135 dollars on amazon, how'd you get it for a 100$ less?
problem I've been having is it's easy to shoot if its one item . i have problems with focus when I'm trying too show stuff and there are others items under what I'm trying to show. kinda surprised there aren't more videos on top down videography. thanks for sharing
Thanks - I've just been looking for over an hour at various tripods , boom arms etc. to try and get this type of shot - your video sorted it in a few minutes. Great work. Thanks!
Now have the stand & ball head - it's now so much quicker to get setup and recording. Also, I used to set up some pretty unstable tripod setups which I'm just not willing to try with an M50.
Right on, a fellow black coffee drinker. And a Star Wars fan to boot! Viva La Dark Side!
Hahah you know it! :)
I have the same exact stand but it feels like it can't handle much weight. I see you have your camera in a cage, doesn't that ads too much for the stand? Also, I neeed to really tight the "braces" because even when very tight, they tend to slip (hope you understand, English is not my first language)
Hi ! What lens would be best for this kind of videos ? I have a sony a6300 and sigma 30mm . Would that be good ?
Do you need to buy the cage?
Thank you so much ❤ for sharing this and for your time.
Approximately how much "counter weight" would you "guess'timate" for the bag? 1#?2#?
The moment he spit out his coffee I got a minor heart attack for some reason
Can u use for phone?
This is so useful. Thank you!
Great video man
Glad you enjoyed
Very useful tutorial 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻THANKS FOR SHARING !!!😎😎😎
Thanks for the great video!
I want to do live unboxing of certain trading cards, any suggestions for a webcam that would be compatible with this?
What lens do you use?
Hi, which camera and which lens would you recommend for a top down setup? I have a Sony Alpha 6400 with Sigma 1.4 lens for the normal direct to face stream.
What would I do if I have an iPhone 11Pro with a DJI Gimbal rather than a camera?
Can I use my laptop as a monitor if I don’t have one of the one you have?
wow..thank you for sharing this. I love this tripod because of dual-purpose
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day. 👌
Can an iPhone attach to this boom arm?
Bruhhh...... thats some dank ass black coffee
yeah bruhh, I like my coffee like I like my...
Is there a way that I ca; simply do it with an iPad?
how can i shoot top-down but in portrait not landscape? I haven't been able to get it right!!
Great video, thank you. Do you have a solution for recording a top down video while also using a magnifying lamp? I do my crafts using magnifying lamp but cannot figure out a way to be able to shoot a video of that at the same time. Thank you. I am sure a lot of Crafters would appreciate that solution
how much does such a setup cost
Hello I am working on starting top down food videos. I have a Canon SX50 HS with an external monitor. I think I may have lighting issues. I've tried everything on auto, I've tried manually setting the aperture, shutter, and iso. And the video is no where anywhere crisp and clear as yours is. Lens is about 29 inches from the surface. It is has a slight grainy look and sort of in focus. The external monitor I have isn't all the great so I cant really tell if it is in focus. and the lighting, I took to aluminum turkey pans, and lined the bottoms with supposedly 6500k daylight led strips covered with a white shower curtain for diffusing. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
Exactly what I was looking for!
Many thanks Momentum Productions!
I'll be doing a time lapse video sequence of the guitar maker at South Coast Luthier as he crafts a custom guitar.
Maple color desk? Looks like walnut. Maple is very light.
Im looking for a camera that can zoom in and out with out me having to touch it, maybe with a controller
As the inputs is HDMI for the monitor would this not work with a computer monitor?
Which pc monitor do you Uwe :)
Awesome, just what I was looking for. Thank you
Extremely helpful video! Thank you so much for video!
Hoping to use equipment similar to this when filming X-Wing Miniature Game battle reports. Could it be configured to film a 3ft x 3ft or greater surface area?
Thank you for the video. A question: I am filming drawing tutorials. (for online classes) The paper is completely white and even with all the light, I am using the camera seems to adjust and make it grey and a rather dark ambiance. I guess it has to do with all that white. Any advice how to fix that? Thanks
Where the link?
This was the best and most helpful video ever! Thank you so much 💕
Glad it was helpful!
thanks for the help man
Happy to help
The boom stand you use in the video looks a lot more sturdy than the one in the link in the description.
it's the same.
Thanks mate. Your tip on keeping the table clean is spot on. Such an obvious thing, but I’ve lost count how many shots I’ve binned because of a shinny fingerprint or pieces of dust.
Nice video!
I just wonder... what softbox are you using?
It seems pretty compact and versatile, i like it.
Awesome video. Never thought about using a boom arm. Is it possible to get an attachment to shoot using your iPhone?
Yup! You can use a standard phone mount like this to attach to the boom arm: amzn.to/3Dr9nQC
Which lense you had mounted in the camera for the top down setup ?
But how is this diy😭
This was informative thanks 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Couldn't I just use a monitor to watch what I'm doing (besides getting the one you mention)? I'm just starting out. I don't want to buy lot of expansive stuff (if it doesn't do well). lol I have been looking for overhead tripod.
I wanna use my iPhone XS Max as a camera
What stand do I use ?
Wanna film Pokémon pack openings
So, at current prices: $170 for the monitor + $$98 for the tripod + $30 for the ball head + $220 for the light. You're looking at over $500 without the camera or mic! There are cheaper ways. No beginner should spend this much.
Hey, so I'm using the gear recommended in your description except for my camera I'm using a Canon LEGRIA HFR806 Camcorder and I'm not sure how to connect it to the Ball Head. Any advice?
(P.S I'm using the Ball Head located in the top 3 links below the Boom Stand just to clarify.)
Thank you!
It was a very good content that you can easily understand just by looking at the video!
The point was to hang the weight on the other side of the camera!
How can I do this on a phone
Any tips on how to perfectly level the camera when it’s in the top down angle ? Are you leveling your camera with your eye or are you using some tool to do that ?
The coffee part 🤣
Thanks for the video, it was helpful
Very helpful, thanks!
Very cool, thank you. I have been using a tripod, but I’m wanting to change that, and always looking for ways to improve my shots and methods! Counterweight seems a little tedious, so I think I’m going to try and look for a system that runs off of two stands, one on each side of the desk. You did get me thinking, and kind of confirming that you can’t really just do one arm. I bought an arm off the Internet that’s supposed to clip off of your table, but I wasn’t understanding how the hell that’s supposed to work especially when I upgrade to a full camera. They don’t really explain that one. They just say it’s super durable and everything. But the type of joints that it uses are complex as well. So I don’t think I’m going to be able to use it. It’s just too much involved.
thanks for sharing this video i was looking for exactly this
Most welcome 😊
Thanks dude! I was filming a top down shot with a tripod and it hit me in the head.. then I watched your video.. and slapped myself in the face.
This video and you are great! Thank you for sharing xx
Thank you so much!
awesome video keep up the amazing work
i really wish i could afford a decent camera instead of my phone for my videos xD
Thank you for this video, it was a big part of what i was looking for !
you forgot to tell us how you got the smooth movmet downwords with constant speed???
Thanks, hey what's the size of that softbox on the SL60W? Will check the link for the Boom Stand now
It’s actually the Light Dome Mini from Aputure :)
@@MomentumProductions1992 Thank you :-)
@@cashino Of course! :)