How unweildy is the Letus, Railos, MB and Camera for Hand-held Shooting?

powervideo

powervideo

Well-known member
Just wondering what this whole combo is like to operate hand-held? Letus Extreme, EX1/3, Mattebox..... is it doable? I know the tripod system works, but is it workable for hand-held drama and music video style clips? Most of the samples on the web are more of a static cinematic style.

Peter
 
if you've got a good shoulder mount system for your rails, it's not bad at all. The added weight makes it more stable, not so much unweildy.

cheno
 
I own the Letus Extreme and in my short experience so far, it is pretty heavy for its size as its built like a german tank.
With a lens on, it weighs almost as much as my camera (canon xh a1).
Combine that with a set of rails or any other attached accessory and you have to be pretty strong to carry it around with your arms alone for any extended period of time.
 
I've had it setup Zacuto style strapped to my shoulder for weeks. Very doable. Not always easy but very doable. You need a good support system with a good Follow Focus, and try to keep the weight down as much as possible. Balance is also crucial as having to support any weight with your arms will make it a very painful day.
 
Zacuto's "news man" setup makes it okay - as long as you take breaks. That 11lb "Lunchbox" along with a battery mount and in some cases a Firestore all mounted behind your head will counter balance the Letus and your average lens.

However, I should say, I don't often try to do shots like that alone for various reasons. I like to keep my full attention on keeping the camera steady and have someone else pull focus... which means, you'll want to add a monitor to the front of that camera, mounted so that you and a second person can safely and comfortably see it. Not always easy, especially if you're moving. =-)
 
To be honest, once you have a shoulder mount setup and a monitor for framing it's easy. In fact, the entire rig is so much more lighter than using a RED (I love the weight of a RED on my shoulder) I could probably go handheld for weeks without caring.

Pulling focus on your own makes things easier if you don't have a remote focus setup, as well. Using RED and now the Redrock Shoulder mount or Zacuto Shoulder mount setups I always have my hand left hand on the Follow Focus and right hand on the right hand grip. Makes life easy.

Really need an external LCD, though.
 
I have mines in along with a Zacuto Newsman setup. I haven't established a preference yet because they're both pretty great. There's some trade-offs with both systems but one thing I immediately like about the RR is the ability to drop the shoulder mount's mounting point right beneath the Letus Ultimate so that the RIG is a LOT more balanced on my shoulder.

It feels dandy and looks accurate.
 
Here are the pics so far. Need to adjust some stuff and no monitor as of yet although the Monitor mount did come in. Waiting on the Carbon Fiber rails which are a little longer, need these for the final bits and pieces of the rig:

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Size Comparison. This is why I don't want the Adapter rig to get any longer. It's already as long as a basic RED cam, adding a battery to the back for "balance" is just asking for it, to me.

Seems to be working fine for everyone else, though. So, I'll try it. Both work very well shoulder mounted, RED being slightly heavier than the HVXUltimate rig.
 
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if batteries on the v-mount for zacuto redplate double mount was turned upside down, and removing the z-mount... a flat base would be present.

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Of note about the Redrock system is to be able to quick release the shoulder pad, the rig looks slightly different.

The Zacuto "newsman set" utilizes the Lunchbox piece where someone doesn't have the need for batteries or what not. Redrock's microPod or Zacuto's Red plate do the same thing the Lunchbox does when batteries are needed. They mount your power supply behind the camera and enable the camera to be directly on your shoulder.

Finding that Center of Balance really enables someone to eliminate the "jitters" of a true handheld setup.


Kholi my friend... you have a very sweet setup there with the Redrock kit as well as the good ol' RED. Where's your EVF? Do you have one of those things?
 
Using 9" Panasonic and Carrion off and on, but do not own a monitor of my own.

The Newsman setup rocks hard. The thing is, with the Redrock, I don't need the battery in the back. The shoulder pad is right beneath the center weight or very close so I don't have to further extend the rig just to get balance. They're both just as comfortable as far as the pad goes.

I like both setups.
 
Willis...
I'm digging your setup. Of course you and Kholi both know I love Zacuto gear. *cough* 10% off until August 15th *cough*

Do you not worry about having that monitor on the camera handle like that?

And what's with that extra Zamerican arm just chilling on the Z-grip?
 
well, my setup isn't usually like, this, the battery plate is usually pointed down, while the Zamerican arm comes from behind to the side to hold the monitor. do i worry about my monitor being mounted like that? i guess i do... but those pix are just demos to show how life is w/ zacuto & a flat base.

Also, there's usually a rented 2nd monitor to put on that Zamerican arm that's on the grips.
 
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