Umbrella rig for shooting in the rain

R

rob norton

Veteran
I'm selling my easyrig minimax, but would like to somewhat copy its design, purely for holding an umbrella.

The scenarios are for shooting on the shoulder, or cradling a smaller camera if needed. Rather than go down the rain cover on camera path, I'd like to be able to shoot from under an umbrella - obviously if it's raining enough, it'd be a combination of rig, plus rain cover. This is for corporate shooting, where rain dripping from the umbrella isn't a consideration (vs. say using a prodigy air deflector or similar system, where it's important to keep the lens clear but also not draw attention to a larger cover overheard). This is more like let's keep shooting regardless of weather and rig footprint is no big deal, for example on a farm.

Given the price of the easyrig, I don't think it's worth keeping around just to save for a rainy day. I'm thinking some type of backpack with vertical pole/speed rail on the back, with a 90 degree turn, then another horizontal pole overhead. Then a similar umbrella set up, with the stem cut off. I actually recently rigged an umbrella to the back of the easyrig with 5x straps and it worked quite well, so I believe in the proof of concept test but am wondering how to move forward in making something.

Does anyone know of any backpacks that have a square-ish metal plate on the back? I imagine transitioning from soft fabric to hard plate is the hard part and I don't know why this product would exist but surely there's something sort of close out there? Otherwise I could always look into buying a knock off easyrig (don't like supporting IP "borrowing" but I think an obscure repurpose project should get a hall pass).

See here for product photos https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1445336-REG/easyrig_erig_mm055_umbrella_with_holder_for.html

It doesn't have to be a backpack either, maybe just some straps and a plate https://altoutdoor.en.made-in-china...-Fishing-Back-Sunshade-Backpack-Umbrella.html

A monopod rig could also work but it'd be nice to see if the above is doable too.
 
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cyvideo said:
If you can stop laughing! :D

Chris Young

https://petapixel.com/2021/06/03/canope-umbrella-protects-and-keeps-photographers-hands-free/
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That looks outrageous Chris. Stills photographers have it easy because they can get by holding an umbrella with one hand, shooting with the other.

The funny thing is, if you’re out in the pouring rain, chances are there won’t be many people to laugh at you because it’s raining. Although niche, I’m surprised there’s no industry standard product.

I guess you could do grip head/clamp attached to camera handle or camera rods, but you’d be tethered to the camera.
 
rob norton said:
That looks outrageous Chris. Stills photographers have it easy because they can get by holding an umbrella with one hand, shooting with the other.

The funny thing is, if you’re out in the pouring rain, chances are there won’t be many people to laugh at you because it’s raining. Although niche, I’m surprised there’s no industry standard product.

I guess you could do grip head/clamp attached to camera handle or camera rods, but you’d be tethered to the camera.
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You mentioned Easy Rig. How about an Easy Rig style umbrella? I'm amazed, now I looked, how many variants are out there!

Chris Young

https://www.amazon.com.au/Wearable-Umbrella-Afternoons-Problems-Sunlight/dp/B07W7T9DFX?th=1
 

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A thought. Have someone carry it.

I say this with some thought. I really dont like 'encumberance' as I feel it can become dangerous. the worst would be to catch an easyrig in a low hanging live light fixture.. as nearly happened to me on a no recces doc shoot. Unbrellas, easyrigs skip them all. Steadicam vest.. ? on a controlled set only!
 
morgan_moore said:
A thought. Have someone carry it.
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I did that several times back as an AC on a complex doc. A big chunk of production took place during a very stormy week, and we had to follow some fast-unfolding action (a main character crashed while riding his bike down a hill, the ambulance had to load him in, we wanted good coverage). Since I was holding the umbrella, the camera operator was able to get where he wanted without worrying about the sideways rain...and he could get some close shots without impeding the ambulance EMTs...I just stepped back to stay out of the way and held the umbrella high to provide a little protection to everyone.

Even for less-dramatic stuff, having me hold the umbrella made moving through crowds and following characters into buildings easier since I could raise, lower, close, etc...

But then, it was a shoot with an AC... Let us know what ends up working for you Rob!
 
One of the best items I've ever bought was a PortaBrace rain cover for my HPX250 back in the ancient times.

Man, those things worked so well, but of course more challenging/unusable with cinema rigs and all the attached accessories.

But then...camera, shotgun mic (which could stick out a little and you can put plastic over it), hand in strap, eye to EVF and you were good-to-go.

Rain.jpg
 
cyvideo said:
You mentioned Easy Rig. How about an Easy Rig style umbrella? I'm amazed, now I looked, how many variants are out there!
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I'm convinced you don't actually read many posts! An easyrig style umbrella is the main purpose of the thread 🙂.

morgan_moore said:
A thought. Have someone carry it.

I say this with some thought. I really dont like 'encumberance' as I feel it can become dangerous. the worst would be to catch an easyrig in a low hanging live light fixture..
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I appreciate you looking out for fellow film professionals Sam, but you're adding scenarios with a zero likelihood of happening. I'm talking about walking around on a farm, it doesn't need to be versatile.
El Director said:
I gaff taped an umbrella to the side of my URSA Mini on my last feature. Looked ghetto, but it worked and it stayed with the camera.
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This sounds like a solid plan if the first option doesn't work out.
Jim Feeley said:
But then, it was a shoot with an AC... Let us know what ends up working for you Rob!
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Thanks Jim! But who held the umbrella to keep you dry?
NorBro said:
One of the best items I've ever bought was a PortaBrace rain cover for my HPX250 back in the ancient times.

Man, those things worked so well, but of course more challenging/unusable with cinema rigs and all the attached accessories.

But then...camera, shotgun mic (which could stick out a little and you can put plastic over it), hand in strap, eye to EVF and you were good-to-go.

View attachment 5712578
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That looks like a good product from portabrace. You're right, so much easier having off the shelf covers for camcorder bodies vs. the extremely personal cine rigs.

This is also likely where a mirrorless rig excels, with a cover, eye up to viewfinder if possible.
 
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If you already own the EasyRig and it’s ’bought and paid for’, why sell it? Even if you just use it for that purpose, since that functionality is built-in, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
 
Run&Gun said:
If you already own the EasyRig and it’s ’bought and paid for’, why sell it? Even if you just use it for that purpose, since that functionality is built-in, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
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Assuming the DIY version comes in much cheaper, I'd still rather walk away with the price difference. It'd be a pretty expensive umbrella rig. Also, the easyrig pans (more like swings from side to side), that wouldn't be too much of an issue for umbrella coverage but is still annoying. The arm overhead is probably a bit too long as well.

The actual tubes/rails/pipes could probably just be fairly narrow speedrail with 90 degree connector for the overhead pole.

But if the parts start getting too expensive then who knows?
 
Obviously doesn’t make much sense to buy it just for that sole purpose, but if you already own it, for only $150(US) for a ready made bolt-on solution seems like the easiest and least expensive thing to do. Well, easiest at least. I don’t know what the used market is like for them. But it also seems like it’s a little bulky for your tastes for just that use, which I get. I’ve never been a big fan of the EasyRig. But I did finally break down and buy one before Christmas when B&H had some of them on-sale. Still haven’t used it on a shoot yet, but I know that I’m not getting any younger and I’ve got it if I need it, now.
 
Run&Gun said:
Obviously doesn’t make much sense to buy it just for that sole purpose, but if you already own it, for only $150(US) for a ready made bolt-on solution seems like the easiest and least expensive thing to do. Well, easiest at least. I don’t know what the used market is like for them. But it also seems like it’s a little bulky for your tastes for just that use, which I get. I’ve never been a big fan of the EasyRig. But I did finally break down and buy one before Christmas when B&H had some of them on-sale. Still haven’t used it on a shoot yet, but I know that I’m not getting any younger and I’ve got it if I need it, now.
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There's a time and a place and I'm sure indispensable to some in the narrative/medium plus camera rig spaces. But the minimax probably means you're using it with a small canon/sony/BM cam (like I was), getting cutaways of clocks in someone's living room. Basically, the human tripod mixed with the content, was a constant reminder that you're just collecting garbage. The minimax is an enabler! This is a joke by the way.

You're right, at this stage I'd only have to buy the$150 umbrella attachment. But I just can't see the DIY project (I usually proceed with extreme caution for true DIY projects) costing much or taking too long, so in theory I should have a few hundred left over for a core battery or a few breakfast burritos during these tough times.
 
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