Mount Street, Aussiemorph

One of the most challenging aspects of using an anamorphic lens is how you choose to mount it. I've seen many variations, not all of them pretty.

My requirements meant that I needed something with maximum flexibility that wasn't an eyesore in the room. So I commissioned my own design to be constructed by my wife's cousin who is a boilermaker. Anyway..... one year later, it is complete!!

I also invested in a Chief RPA Elite universal mounting kit.... the Rolls Royce Citroën DS of projector ceiling mounts. It has adjustment for pitch, yaw, and roll (as well as separate micro adjustments too) and is built like a Samoan Scaffolder, actually it's could well be a recycled coupling from an Abrams tank.

Here's a few preliminary shots of the bits & pieces, but it's all going to change again soon when my new projector arrives.




Here is a copy of the review for the Chief Mount that I posted posted on the DTVforum:

My Chief Elite mount with universal mounting kit arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I've spent some time on the last couple of weekends remounting my projector & Aussiemorphic Lens using the Chief mount and my new custom made CIH mounting rails.

Anyway, as promised here's a quick rundown of my thoughts on the Chief mount as I know some of you are very interested.

Build Quality
As you would expect from an American made product, this thing is built like an Abrams Tank. Forget the 10kg or 20kg limits that other mounts restrict you to, this thing could probably be used to mount a CRT projector!

The main unit is made of steel and has a top notch powder coated black finish. THe adjusting screws are all also black, and the micro-adjustment screws are recessed inside holes.

The universal mounting bracket is made from cast iron, so doesn't bend & flex like the arms of the cheaper mounts.

I'm sure that the bracket to attach the mount to the ceiling is directly from the HumVee parts catalog, It's also cast iron, and bears a sticker saying that the maximum load is 227kg! I got the 300mm extension pipe, which is ostensibly a 1.5" gal pipe that has been sprayed a nice shiny black. I really only wanted thebracket, and not the extension pipe, so I went to the local plumbing supply store and picked up a 1.5" black Nylon Hex Nipple for about $3 to connect the ceiling bracket to the mount.

The instructions were very well written with plenty of diagrams, a big change from the usual dodgy instructions received with the cheaper mounts. There were several bags full of screws, bolts, washers and everything you could possibly need to mount it with your projector.

Flexibility & Adjustment
The Chief Mount offers considerable and easy pitch and yaw adjustment, as well as a very handy horizontal shift slider. You do a rough adjustment by using a screwdriver and tightening the large screws once the approximate position is set. Then you can do micro adjustments by turning the internal grub screws with a no. 2 screwdriver.

A very handy feature is a lever that disconnects the mount from the universal mounting plate. This lever can be protected using the key provided. The principle behind this is that you can take the projector down for maintenance without having to re-position it.... very useful if you like to do regular cleaning of your dust filters.

The mount also offers some cable management by running the cables through the centre (and through the extension pipe if attached).

General
I bought mine direct from the importer DS Agencies (Trading as universalmounts.com.au), and they made a mistake in forgetting to send me the ceiling bracket and extension pipe. I called them, and they immediately apologised and sent out the missing parts (in 2 separate shipments since the extension pipes were on backorder at the time). So a big thumbs up for customer service from DS Agencies.

In conclusion, whilst it's not for everyone, I would recommend this mounting solution for those who like to tinker and adjust ad-infinitum to achieve the best possible result. If you just want to "slap it up and forget about it" then go for a cheaper mount, they will happily do the job. However, if you want to exercise precision and have your projector aligned perfectly perpendicular to your screen, then you should consider spending the extra dollars on this mount to save yourself some time later on.