Top down rig with a heavy cinema camera setup
Mastering the Top-Down Shot: My C-Stand Rig Setup for Heavy Cinema Cameras
Top-down shots can create striking visuals—whether you're shooting food, products, art, or tutorials. But rigging a heavy cinema camera above your subject? That’s a whole different ballgame. After some trial, error, and a few heart-pounding moments, I’ve locked in a setup using a C-stand that gets the job done safely and cleanly. Here's how I do it, plus a few key tips to keep your gear (and your toes) safe.
The Gear: What I Use
C-Stand with Boom Arm: Solid and reliable, it’s the backbone of the rig.
Cinema Camera (Heavy!): I’m working with a Blackmagic PYXIS 6K rigged up —not exactly lightweight.
Sandbag(s): Essential. Not optional.
Grip Head & Baby Pin: To safely mount and angle the boom arm.
Magic Arm or Ball Head Adapter: For fine-tuning the camera angle.
The Setup
- Base First: Always start by fully spreading the C-stand legs for maximum stability. The largest leg should point in the direction of the boom arm extension—this counteracts the leverage created by the weight.
- Mounting the Boom Arm: Attach the boom arm using a grip head. Make sure it’s locked tight. I prefer having the arm slightly angled (not purely horizontal) to give me a bit more range without overextending.
- Camera Positioning: Attach your camera to the end of the boom. Use a secure quick-release system if possible—no sketchy mounts or clamps.
- Counterweighting with Sandbags: Here’s where it gets critical. Use at least one sandbag on the opposite end of the boom arm, and another on the base of the stand. I place a 15–20 lb bag directly over the high leg, and another 10–15 lb bag near the bottom. If you're working on a slick surface, even more weight may be needed.
- Check Your Balance: Before you let go of the camera, gently test the rig’s balance with your hand. If it feels even slightly unstable, add more counterweight. Better safe than dropping thousands in glass and metal.
- Safety Tips:
Never leave the rig unattended.
Use a safety cable around your camera if you’re working over a hard surface or a person.
Tape down loose wires to avoid tripping hazards.
Shooting Considerations
Use a monitor or tether to frame your shot—you won’t be able to look through the viewfinder.
Use remote focus or pre-focus if your lens isn’t easily accessible.
Light from the sides or from underneath the rig to avoid casting shadows from the C-stand.
Final Thoughts
Top-down shots with a heavy camera rig can look fantastic—but they demand respect for physics and gear safety. With the right setup and a few sandbags in the right place, you can shoot with confidence, knowing your camera’s secure and your shot will be clean.
Camera: Phone cam // Blackmagic PYXIS 6K
Lens:
Filter: none
Location: Switzerland
I'm a freelance Filmmaker in Zurich, looking forward to meeting you here on HIVE and explore visual Art.
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Disclaimer
This is no financial advice. Everything written is my opinion only and you should do your own research. Investing in Bitcoin and other cryptos, lending, DeFi, liquidity mining are high risk investments. You could lose everything, only invest what you can afford.
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How are you liking the Pyxis? I bought the Blackmagic 6k full frame body just before the Pyxis was released.
I am absolutely in love with this cam! the box shape, intuitive buttons and having the possibilities to go light-weight with a "mini-arri" or rig it up to a full production cam is simply amazing.
I mean with the 6k ist similar in tech specs right, i just always struggled with the body and rigging possibilities. how are you rocking with it?
Right, very similiar technically, but man.. I wish I'd waited and got the Pyxis. I haven't gotten to use it much the way I have wanted too because we have been swamped with a bunch of stop motion work. (I Dragonframe with my Canon EOS R and R5 Mark II for that)
But I can't believe how beautiful BRAW looks out of the 6k though. Wow! The color is amazing! We are about to start filming our own project, a kids show that we've been working on using the BMCC 6K which I am really excited about. Now if I can just decide what lens I want to use...
Who Are The Leaders of Hive?
Hive, a blockchain born of rebellion against centralization, now stands at a crossroads. Its ethos—decentralized, community-driven, and free—is shadowed by a corrosive reality: the unchecked power of entities like @themarkymark and @buildawhale, whose coordinated downvotes and acrimonious tactics have driven creators to despair. This is not governance; it is a tyranny of silence.
The Illusion of Leadership
Hive has no crowned sovereign. Its “leaders” are stewards: developers refining code, witnesses securing consensus, and communities shaping culture. Yet power, as history teaches, consolidates in vacuums. When accounts with vast Hive Power (HP) weaponize downvotes to stifle dissent, they erode the very democracy Hive was built to protect. This is not leadership—it is oligarchy masquerading as order.
The Exodus and the Alternative
Creators flee. Talented voices, weary of punitive curation, migrate to platforms like Blurt, where downvotes are absent and dialogue thrives. Blurt’s rise will be no accident; its simplicity—a sanctuary from Hive’s toxicity—highlights a fatal flaw in our ecosystem. A single change here could tip the scales. Imagine Blurt embraced by investors, listed on centralized exchanges, and fortified by liquidity. It needs only a catalyst.
A Plea for Unity—and Action
We cannot wait. Each downvoted post is a fracture in Hive’s foundation. To stem the exodus, we demand:
Bilpcoin’s Pledge
The Bilpcoin team stands with Hive. We will:
The Hour Is Now
Hive’s promise—a haven for free expression—hangs in the balance. Will we cling to infighting, or rise as a community? The tools for change are ours: blockchain transparency, collective will, and the courage to demand better.
Join us. Audit wallets. Question power. Post fearlessly. Together, we can reclaim Hive’s soul—or watch its light dim as Blurt rises.
The choice is ours. Let it be written in history that we chose wisely.
Hive leadership crisis, decentralized governance reform, Blurt vs Hive, Bilpcoin transparency, blockchain accountability, downvote ethics.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityOverCensorship
@themarkymark @buildawhale & Co
You wield downvotes like a weapon, striking indiscriminately at whoever displeases you, whenever it suits your whim. And why? Why do you call people names as though their humanity is secondary to your ego? Is this how you justify your behavior—to diminish others so they might seem less worthy of fairness? You claim disdain for AI on Hive, yet your inner circle freely employs it without consequence. No downvotes for them, only for those outside your charmed circle. Tell us, why are you so selective in whom you punish and whom you protect?
https://hive.blog/hive/@themarkymark/re-bpcvoter2-swxxng
@themarkymark & Co.,
We are being completely honest here, and you know it. The transactions don’t lie—you cannot escape this, no matter who you bring in to back you up. It won’t work. You’ve already exposed many of those close to you, so let’s be clear: WE ARE NOT TROLLING YOU. WE ARE SIMPLY SHARING THE TRUTH. And the Bilpcoin team is far from stupid. Calling us names changes nothing—it only fuels our determination to work harder.
IT’S OVER.
SPEAK UP. MAKE NOISE. TAKE A STAND.
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices do not just harm individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are not only unethical but outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
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@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
@blockheadgames Wallet:
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The blockchain data tells the story plainly and clearly. We are not fabricating these claims; we are merely presenting what is already visible for all to see. As we’ve repeatedly urged @themarkymark & Co—the solution is simple: STOP.
SO PLEASE STOP. It’s time to do what’s right for Hive and its community. Why cling to practices that harm others? Power down, step away, and let Hive thrive as it was meant to. You bring nothing positive to this ecosystem.
THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING—THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU.
PLEASE STOP.
@themarkymark, Can You Explain Why the Bilpcoin Team’s Accounts Are on Your Blacklist?
@themarkymark We understand you’re a fan of data—so are we. After all, data is king, and when it comes to blockchain, transactions don’t lie and can’t be changed.
@buildawhale’s daily grift
@themarkymark’s 2.4 Hive Power scam farm
For more insights into blockchain transparency and accountability, visit Bilpcoin’s Publish0x page.
https://peakd.com/hive-133987/@bpcvoter3/isn-t-it-funny-how-themarkymark-and-co-are-suddenly-talking-about-ke-levels-on-hive-well-look-what-we-found-some-of-the-accounts
https://hive.blog/hive-158694/@themarkymark/re-justclickindiva-sysbyt
https://peakd.com/hive-178265/@bpcvoter1/how-can-we-take-someone-seriously-when-they-have-been-exposed-through-clear-evidence-blockchain-transactions-and-data-and-then
https://peakd.com/hive-126152/@bpcvoter2/we-agree-it-s-not-a-joke-themarkymark-and-co-your-mental-health-and-the-well-being-of-those-around-you-are-deeply-concerning-to
https://peakd.com/hive-193212/@jin-out/re-jin-out-sykgtp
https://hive.blog/hive-193212/@jin-out/27th-june-2025-farewell-to-hiveio
https://hive.blog/hive/@test.ureka/the-untrending-report-hive-downvote-analysis-2025-06-27-20250627213824
https://blurt.blog/bpc/@themarkymark/sykcpf
https://hive.blog/hive-167922/@bpcvoter1/https-peakd-com-belikechuck-wallet#@splinterboost/https-peakd-com-belikechuck-wallet
#bilpcoin we must stop the #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm on #hive #thedarksideofhive
Nice setup bro!
Imagine coming back and finding that C-stand half out of the open window. 😆
damn, that would probably be an interesting angle as well hahah