best item to use to mount under dolly?

[Fred Potts]

Shooting on the Red Epic Dragon 6k - using the Dana Dolly. the shot is coming upon a body from over head shot. I don't want to do an angle shot from the dolly or use a drone straight down. I need to mount the camera to the tripod which is flip from top to the bottom of the Dolly. Using the quick release plate from the tripod head is a bit small and only one screw will match up but need to have both screws matching up. any thoughts what would work?

 

[M Harvey]

I have done this type of shot before on a Dana dolly with a Sachtler fluid head mounted normally on top of the dolly platform. I tilted the head all the way forward (almost to 90 degrees), and got a little extra reach by tilting the 100mm ball mount forward in the same direction (instead of leveling it)—this helped the lens clear the dolly platform.
There are lots of ways to do it underslung (below platform) as well, but I find they can be a little more complicated and require some additional steps to make sure the camera/lens is safe—as well as keeping safe anyone below the dolly! Think safety chain through a secure top handle, etc.
In addition to underslinging fluid head and then just tilting down 90 degrees, you can mount the camera on an L plate so that it’s pointing down when tripod head is level. (One step more minimal: mount an L plate directly to a half-ball or Mitchell plate.) And if your head doesn’t give enough clearance from bottom of dolly (e.g. battery back strikes platform), you can get the 6” Dana dolly riser (or use one from proaim or others).