Superb new shoulder mount. Best yet

[philip bloom]

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Blooms_Blog/Blooms_Blog/Entries/2008/7/3_Superb_new_shoulder_mount_for_EX1_type_cameras.h tml

This is brilliant!!!!

WAY better than El Cheapo

[thxdave]

Phil, those curved rods that hold up the camera look very tiny compared to the weight that they will be carrying. Do they bend or flex at all?

[philip bloom]

no bending. it is very rigid

[RDykmans]

And I just bought the Chinese one . . . . . .

[thxdave]

Yeah, me too.....oh well.

[Buck Forester]

Thanks, Philip! I just blooming ordered one.

Hey Philip, can you recommend a good handheld steadicam-like stabilizer for the EX1? I won't be using a vest or anything, I just want to walk in the woods with one. Gracias for your time... you're THE EX1 resource guy.

[philip bloom]

Hi Buck

I guess if you are going without a vest then it would be the Merlin with the new Gimbal. Using others without a vest would be very heavy

[chriswilson]

Can you actually walk around with this mount and get a steady picture, or is it really for just standing in one spot?

[Zak Forsman]

would you feel safe adding the weight of a 35mm adapter (SGpro, specifically) to the mix?

[philip bloom]

Can you actually walk around with this mount and get a steady picture, or is it really for just standing in one spot?

Well it isn't steadicam so no, but it is as steady as you would be with a full sized camera, maybe steadier due to the adjustments and flexibility of it. So walk around freely!

The weight limit is 7 pounds so I would say don't use a 35mm adaptor with it unless it is a Brevis sans flip as it is very light.

[FrankC]

Not bad... but I really love my Cavision shoulder mount. Very adjustable for different situations...and I can "grow" it as I add a 35mm adapter. I have four contact points for steadiness ( 2hands, shoulder, eye piece)...Best of all, it was only about $250 !

[adamr316]

Does this thing have a problem with the left lean of the EX1? Can the shoulder pad be put on the left shoulder like other devices?

[Postmaster]

Cinecity makes some nice gear - good price too (O.K. the first 35mm adapter was crap - didn´t tried the new version)

I got the "Indicator Magic Arm & Vest + Flycam 6000 " Steady-System, blimp, railsystem andwhatnot. Nice affordable stuff.

Frank

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

Has anyone tried Cinecity's latest version of the 35mm adapter?

[philip bloom]

how good is the arm, vest etc?

[philip bloom]

Does this thing have a problem with the left lean of the EX1? Can the shoulder pad be put on the left shoulder like other devices?

cant see how it can be put on left shoulder unless you use the viewfinder of the ex1...

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

Phillip-

Have you used the DV Rig Pro? If so, how does this Cinecity shoulder support compare? I realize it's a very different price point, but I'm still curious as to how they stack up in your opinion.

Ron

[philip bloom]

Phillip-

Have you used the DV Rig Pro? If so, how does this Cinecity shoulder support compare? I realize it's a very different price point, but I'm still curious as to how they stack up in your opinion.

Ron

The DV rig pro is much more heavy duty and more expensive. It requires you to put on a belt and half a pole. The Cine city one is quick and easy to use and is cheap. It also works really wel

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

The DV rig pro is much more heavy duty and more expensive. It requires you to put on a belt and half a pole. The Cine city one is quick and easy to use and is cheap. It also works really wel


Is there a quick way to go from the Cinecity to a tripod? I haven't figured out an elegant way to do that with the DV Rig Pro.

Thanks in advance. Your information and answers are always top notch.

[philip bloom]

yep. same as with dv rig pro. Get manfrotto plate and base kit, the size used by dv rig, cant remember the model number, am assuming you dont have a manfrotto tripod, attach your tripod plate to the bottom of the manfrotto base. Attach the manfrotto plate to bottom of your camera. this will fit both the dv rig pro and your tripod so it will just slide on and off. If doing with cine city rig, you will need a second manfrotto plate to scew onto the top of it.

[Postmaster]

how good is the arm, vest etc?

I changed the plastic buckles to steel on the vest, the rest is a great value for the money.

Would buy it anytime again.

Frank

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

yep. same as with dv rig pro. Get manfrotto plate and base kit, the size used by dv rig, cant remember the model number, am assuming you dont have a manfrotto tripod, attach your tripod plate to the bottom of the manfrotto base. Attach the manfrotto plate to bottom of your camera. this will fit both the dv rig pro and your tripod so it will just slide on and off. If doing with cine city rig, you will need a second manfrotto plate to scew onto the top of it.

Correct, I'm not using a Bogen/Manfrotto tripod. I have a Cartoni Focus. One thing I'm not clear on...I don't think the DVRig Pro has a Manfrotto plate. It's a silver lightweight aluminum plate that looks proprietary. It's slotted on one side for balancing the camera.

[philip bloom]

it is the same size. i own the dv rig pro.

this is what you need, two if you go for the cine city. one if you stick with your dv rig pro
http://www.h1photo.com/357.html

[Lenilenapi]

I've been doing the same thing as Philip with a few giotto quick releases for years with my monopod.

I also use it as an extra "triangulation" support with 2/3" shoulder mounted cams and I can often get the quick release mounted up in the 1/4" screw that you'll find at the front many full sized camera base plates. It often doesn't interfere with the tripod plate and I can go back & forth from tripod to handheld + monopod with ease.

Its hard to remember to bring all the right parts though and it can get a bit odd as I've found myself using a sony camera on my shoulder with the flat base plate on my shoulder.

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

it is the same size. i own the dv rig pro.

this is what you need, two if you go for the cine city. one if you stick with your dv rig pro
http://www.h1photo.com/357.html

Thanks, Phillip! What DON'T you own? LOL

Again, you are a wealth of information and I enjoy your blog very much.

I have the DVRig Pro at work but may get the Cinecity for personal use.

Ron

[philip bloom]

cheers Ron! It's worth it. So cheap really for the quality and the ease of use.

[Buck Forester]

Wow, I ordered mine and it came already... they really get on it! It's very simple and light with lots of adjustments... I put it together but haven't gone out and shot with my EX1 yet... dang 115 degree heat and smoke filled skies from these wildfires is taking it's toll on me. Cough... cough...

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

I put an order in to The Cine City a week ago and didn't hear a word outside of a prompt email that said it would "dispatch tomorrow". Yesterday, I emailed to check status and I received a reply that they only had my P.O. Box (billing address) and needed a street address. The fact that it took a week --and my email prompting them-- to request this was a bit galling.

Also, the email he sent included their original correpondence, which included the invoice. My street address was clearly listed in the Shipping section. Argghhhh!

Based on everyone else's experiences, I'm going to assume this is a rare glitch.

Ron

[Buck Forester]

Ron, sorry to hear that. I don't know anything about the company or their usual practices so I can't say. For me I ordered it and it arrived within 3 or 4 days and I didn't even use an express shipping method. And I think it came from India or someplace far far away. I still haven't used the product yet other than putting it together. It seems durable enough but it's also obviously not precision made, but at this price I wasn't expecting it to be.

[jaw]

I ordered one direct from CineCity and I swear it got here to the midwest in about 36 hours. I was floored as to how fast they got it to me. As Philip said, it is strong, well built and inexpensive. I'd change a couple of minor things, personally (longer extension, slotted nuts, larger knurls on knobs), but a very good value!
I DO have a slight issue with mine: I cannot get the main hinge point to tighten up enough. No matter how tight I turn the large knob, I cannot get the brace to "lock" into position -- it moves with weight on it (which of course it does, with camera). Any bright ideas on how I can fix this without sending it back?

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

After the initial flub, Cine City shipped the shoulder support, and it arrived in the states very quickly. Then FedEx had some issue with it at customs, and I played phone tag with them for a few days before it was mysteriously resolved. Sometimes everything just goes exactly wrong.

As far as the shoulder support goes, I generally agree with previous assessments in this thread: It's well designed and decently constructed for a piece of equipment at this price point. I also can't get the big nut to tighten fully, and the whole thing sometimes pivots slightly when I move. But it's not terrible or a deal killer. I also wish the "belly" rod would extend a little more. The thing that concerns me the most about Gliders (that's the actual name...very goofy!) is the tiny thumbscrew that supports the vertical slider under the camera plate. It just looks like something that will be stripped out in a week. I hope not. The shoulder mount is a little bit uncomfortable in the back, but I haven't tried to bend it yet. Has anyone done this? Finally, I was pleasantly suprised that it comes with rail mounts. Very nice detail. I may have to get a rail system/matte box from them. Has anyone tried the matte box from Cine City?

The main point is that I predict we will use this support a LOT.

Ron