andrew00
10-28-2009, 05:16 AM
Hey,
I'm looking at getting one or other of these two products for my 5D. I shoot a lot of handheld and need decent stabilsation. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts either way as I can't find somewhere to test the Captain Stubling in time for my next gig.
The tactical shooter I have tried out, it seemed pretty steady and well made, surprisingly heavy and worked very well with the z-finder. However, it is very expensive (about £750) and doesn't come with accessories like a follow focus, unlike the stubling.
It also has its benefit exclusively when you have it all braced in to your shoulder. If you, say, want to move the camera around freely you can't really do this as instantly you'll affect your centre of gravity lugging this heavy rig about. Therefore, whilst it's really strong, I'm wondering if it's usage is limited in that sense.
The Stubling is an opposite force to the Zacuto in that it's designed to be moved about. Like the zacuto it's not tiny and not large, that gangly mid range size and will therefore probably be equally heavy.
It does have the advantage of having a redrock follow focus with it which, judging by the cost of the rr ff individualy, makes up the bulk of the cost. Therefore with the CS you get essentially a follow focus and a handheld rig to support it, with the Zacuto you get the rig and no FF.
The CS is also a lot cheaper than the Zacuto (its's £480, £250-300 less). My concern is that, especially if i want to use it with a Z-finder, I'm going to have trouble holding it for long periods. This is part of the problem with the DSLRs. On my Ex1, if I get tired I can always cradle it and angle the LCD up - here because you can't do that you have to work with the camera, and so rig, held up and in front of you.
One advantage of the CS is Redrock do well both a tripod mount and also a shoulder brace seperately, so in the former's case you get an easy mounting option and some flexibility there. The shoulder brace is also interesting, given that the tactical shooter sells itself on the handle/shoulder brace combo and with the CS you can essentially get this combo, plus the ffocus and tripid mount and it'd still be cheaper than the zacuto.
Generally, people say zacuto gear is high quality, and whilst i've got seen anyone criticise the quality of redrock products, I also have no idea of the build quality of the CS.
One thing that does strike me though, is that, if the bulk of the cost of the redrock CS is coming from the follow focus - maybe I should consider the CS more as an investment - i.e. I get a follow focus and some stabilisation gear out of it. Then, at a later date if I feel I need more, i can get the TS and add the RR follow focus to it. Seems a plan?
Anyway, those are the relative merits of the two pieces of gear, I'm wondering if anyone can offer some thoughts, esp as I need to make the decision soon, before I can try the Captain in person.
Cheers!
I'm looking at getting one or other of these two products for my 5D. I shoot a lot of handheld and need decent stabilsation. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts either way as I can't find somewhere to test the Captain Stubling in time for my next gig.
The tactical shooter I have tried out, it seemed pretty steady and well made, surprisingly heavy and worked very well with the z-finder. However, it is very expensive (about £750) and doesn't come with accessories like a follow focus, unlike the stubling.
It also has its benefit exclusively when you have it all braced in to your shoulder. If you, say, want to move the camera around freely you can't really do this as instantly you'll affect your centre of gravity lugging this heavy rig about. Therefore, whilst it's really strong, I'm wondering if it's usage is limited in that sense.
The Stubling is an opposite force to the Zacuto in that it's designed to be moved about. Like the zacuto it's not tiny and not large, that gangly mid range size and will therefore probably be equally heavy.
It does have the advantage of having a redrock follow focus with it which, judging by the cost of the rr ff individualy, makes up the bulk of the cost. Therefore with the CS you get essentially a follow focus and a handheld rig to support it, with the Zacuto you get the rig and no FF.
The CS is also a lot cheaper than the Zacuto (its's £480, £250-300 less). My concern is that, especially if i want to use it with a Z-finder, I'm going to have trouble holding it for long periods. This is part of the problem with the DSLRs. On my Ex1, if I get tired I can always cradle it and angle the LCD up - here because you can't do that you have to work with the camera, and so rig, held up and in front of you.
One advantage of the CS is Redrock do well both a tripod mount and also a shoulder brace seperately, so in the former's case you get an easy mounting option and some flexibility there. The shoulder brace is also interesting, given that the tactical shooter sells itself on the handle/shoulder brace combo and with the CS you can essentially get this combo, plus the ffocus and tripid mount and it'd still be cheaper than the zacuto.
Generally, people say zacuto gear is high quality, and whilst i've got seen anyone criticise the quality of redrock products, I also have no idea of the build quality of the CS.
One thing that does strike me though, is that, if the bulk of the cost of the redrock CS is coming from the follow focus - maybe I should consider the CS more as an investment - i.e. I get a follow focus and some stabilisation gear out of it. Then, at a later date if I feel I need more, i can get the TS and add the RR follow focus to it. Seems a plan?
Anyway, those are the relative merits of the two pieces of gear, I'm wondering if anyone can offer some thoughts, esp as I need to make the decision soon, before I can try the Captain in person.
Cheers!