Extreme Riser - read this if you have Cavision parts...

[taormina]

I previously used a Cavision system with my HVX when I had my Letus FE. I found today that the Letus Extreme has more depth than the FE, and thus requires a custom riser.

I built my own out of 1/4" aluminum. It provides the height necessary for everything Cavision to work. My Rig consists of a cavision base plate, cavision matte box, and Cavision follow focus. The rails are Redrock 18" stainless units.

In the first picture, you can see the Cavision riser. What I always hated about this riser was the slotted holes. I know they need to sell it that way because many people have many configurations, but I only have one - Letus extreme. Thus I didn't slot the holes. THe whole thing fits together nice and tight - there is no adjustment possible or neccessary. The whole rig is rock solid and more importantly perfectly level.

I have left the riser raw aluminum so everyone could see it. I plan to paint it black at some point. I also made it wider so there is less chance of wobbling. The part where it fits into the lower baseplate has also been lengthened so it actually sits on the lower baseplate. Previously, the Cavision riser was too short even with the FE. I had to jack it up and tighten the screw - the only thing holding it up was screw tension. Now it's a solid mechanical connection.

I think Cavision ought to make this thing and sell it. It took me about 1/2 hr. to make.

 

[davidreimers]

very cool man. this is pretty much what I'd need myself...

 

[Coco Bermudez]

I think Cavision ought to make this thing and sell it. It took me about 1/2 hr. to make.

How about you selling it. I will buy one from you as I have the same exact problem...yet I have no patience to make one of those things. I can appreciate someone putting the time and effort to make one of these things. I even bought Edweirdo curved lens support. What ya think?

 

[PaPa]

i would rather have my camera lower and the adapter perhaps held up by a few inches. is this possible?

 

[LuckyStudio 13]

It's the magic levitating HVX200

 

[Lenilenapi]

Am I the only person who looks at that and gets nervous. I believe you when you say its solid, but it sure looks to me like a lot of weight on a flimsey piece of aluminum. I guess I would want to see a something solid actually under the camera. Is there any flex in that?

Lenny

 

[taormina]

You would be surprised at how rock solid it is. There is no flex - the aluminum is over 1/4" thick. Besides, it's only 25mm or so higher than stock. And there is no practical way to do it any other way without using dual rails. It's the exact same design as cavison - with a little more lift. They'll probably do it this way too for Hien.

 

[taormina]

How about you selling it. I will buy one from you as I have the same exact problem...yet I have no patience to make one of those things. I can appreciate someone putting the time and effort to make one of these things. I even bought Edweirdo curved lens support. What ya think?

Flattered, but I think Hien is going to make something like this. If he doesn't within a week or so, I'll make you one.

 

[LuckyStudio 13]

i think the indifocus rail system is more solid and confidence building for the LEX.

 

[taormina]

Dude - I don't care what you think. This thread is for people that have already purchased and own a bunch of cavision stuff - which, by the way, kicks indifocus ass every day of the week and twice on sunday.

So if you wanna go buy indifocus - go buy it. If you want to use the $1500 worth of cavision stuff you ALREADY have, then tune in. Comprende?

Besides, how would you know it's more solid - by looking at the pictures?

 

[LuckyStudio 13]

How do i know the cavision solution is not solid ? Simple physics and law of gravity. At least the Indifocus has all of its base solidly connected to the rails vs your 2 legged solution.

Again, I dont own the cavision, neither do I
intend to rig up my camera with the LEX like yours. Just the central point of gravity looks like its all messed up.

Currently, the zacuto solution is probably the best choice.

Best luck with your "Levitating HVX".

 

[taormina]

I used my FE for over two months like that - this is barely higher at all than what cavision sells as stock. If they like it, I like it. Go hijack someone else's thread - this one is for cavision owners.

 

[DavidChia]

rogar-BigGrin(DBG) ... for cavision owners only..... Please read the subject title before clicking into the Thread

You can sign me up for a piece before Hien builds one.

Dxmetal, It is just a matter of preference, there is no one is better then the other. I have been a Cavision fan for a long time and it is a solid as anything out there. Thoses of us that are stuck with cavision just need a simple solution. We don't want to sell our rails off and buy a new set.

BTW Cinevate rails are very well thought of too. you can adjust the balance of the whole set up because it has a seperate base plate. and it is high enough to fit the Extreme with matte box on.

Just remember, that we are all winners, (because we made it to the egg first) And we are all different. So that is why, "What is good for one might not be good for the other."

 

[kaimakana]

Feeling like...

Feeling like...

a fight coming on!

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!...

Nothing like a good bar fight to settle things.

 

[Erik Olson]

That riser plate is a good start for Cavision users. I'm working on something that'll effectively give you a Cavision-brand solution like this:

...but taller. Any other feature concerns?

Discussions about other brands aside, the Cavision system is robust, servicable and expandable. At the center of each system is the hefty R15B80 rods plate. It features a much larger contact to iris rod surface area (3.25" per rod) than most other systems (which usually have less than 1" at each point of contact).

For anyone who has attempted to build an iris rod system, they'll tell you that you need a serious machining capability to build components as refined as the Cavision rods plate.

e

 

[DavidChia]

I presume that the 2 brackets would be longer so that You can replace the existing Cavision brackets. If so That is what I need, I wanted to be able to use the both of my support not just one. Do you just sell the riser brackets only?

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

I previously used a Cavision system with my HVX when I had my Letus FE. I found today that the Letus Extreme has more depth than the FE, and thus requires a custom riser.

I thought that you said the Extreme does not need a riser, and it would mount just fine with out any additional work? LOL Now I guess you see what I was saying before...

Anyway, this looks like a good alternative solution. Nice job on making that yourself. My only concern would be the lack of a support under the camera. With a monitor on the camera the unit starts to get pretty heavy. It may hold up now, but will it start to bend after lots of use? When I went to my double rail system I got the back support for the rails just for that reason. Now if a double riser solution could be built, then you would be set.

So it would look like your solution only have the front and back supports:

That riser plate is a good start for Cavision users. I'm working on something that'll effectively give you a Cavision-brand solution like this:

 

[taormina]

Good points, Ryan and Erik. Possibly a double riser system would be ideal, but hear me out a moment.

I was a structural steel draftsman in another career and I spent alot of time designing steel platforms and structures for oilfield equipment. I know a bit about design.

First, the structure as it stands is composed of two "Zs" . The Z is an incredibly rigid design pattern that is very difficult to impart deflection into. You have two on my setup: The first is right under the LEX - it is the bracket that comes with the Letus. It clamps to the rail and completes the Z. The second is under the camera riser, composed of the rods plate, the riser, and the camera plate.

The uprights of the Zs are almost 100% in compression. They are pillars, support structures. The horizontal legs of the Zs prevent the uprights from deflecting. On either ends of the camera, you have two very simple cantilevers that do not need support. You don't support the lens forward of the LEX - you also don't need to support the camera aft of the base plate - there's simply no weight there. Do the math.

It is the exact same principle as a suspension bridge like the Golden Gate. The uprights bear all the weight in compression. The road surface is the rails. The camera and LEX wind up acting like the tubes that connect each tower - almost purely in tension.

All that aside, the simplest solution is usually the best. And you'll note I have a monitor on the camera as well. It is very strong with NO FLEX whatsoever. I don't expect that to decrease in it's service life - the lack of slotted holes prevents future movement - loctite red those screws and it may as well be welded.

If I make these things, I will even drill a 1" lightening hole in the middle of the plate. It really is overbuilt, and very suitably strong.

Ryan - You were right, my apologies. The FE worked fine without any modification - the LEX was simply too deep.

 

[taormina]

I presume that the 2 brackets would be longer so that You can replace the existing Cavision brackets. If so That is what I need, I wanted to be able to use the both of my support not just one. Do you just sell the riser brackets only?

You would also need to go to 24" rails to add the aft most bracket. Look at my pics: mine are 18" and do not extend to the back of the camera.

I like Erik's solution, and would probably be a candidate for it, but you would need to pop for 24" rails.

 

[Erik Olson]

I'll arrange a group buy of the iris rod bracket and rear t-riser and longer socket-cap bolts. Conversely, because the difference is roughly 3/8" of an inch, you could simply add another RPMD90 bracket to the top your existing RPMD90 bracket for an instant workaround. This lists for $35, but we'll help anyone who wants one if they want to jump in on a group buy. Email me or phone for the DVXUser discount.

The left riser is taormina's custom-built piece. The center is a Photoshop lengthened version of the
stock Cavision riser part on the right. Approximate difference is 3/8" in length.

Separately, once we have the L35Extreme in our hands, I'll configure a (more expensive, more versatile) dual 15mm x 60mm to 15mm x 60mm system that utilizes the RS15IIm and other parts to give you something that looks more like this as a global answer for the DOF crowd. It's a more professional solution that will accommodate more lenses with less stress both on the camera to DOF connection and the imaging lenses alike.

19mm to 15mm rods set-up. Note that the L35Extreme could be
overslung, leaving the camera at the desirable lower position.

e