15mm Baseplate recommendations?

Michael Solomon

Michael Solomon

Well-known member
Hey guys,

I was wondering if you had recommendations for a base plate? I currently have a gini one and it works fine except the bottom portion sticks out too low which means I can't use my shoulder pad http://www.ebay.com/itm/26082361854...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_979wt_1292 right underneath the camera which makes the rig either very front or back heavy depending on where I put the pad.

As such, I'm looking for a new baseplate that will allow me to place my shoulder pad directly underneath the camera with enough clearence on the bottom. Do you guys have any recommendations? I know people love Berkey but it's a little outside my price range (would love to have one). Looking to spend $300 or less.

Forgot to add that it would be nice if it had vertical adjustment for pairing with matteboxes. Not required but would be nice. Same thing goes for quick release.
 
Can you mount that baseplate to a tripod? Seems a bit weird since the shoulder pad is part of the baseplate itself.

Is it a quick release plate with horizontal and vertical adjustment?
 
I'm using a baseplate from shoot35 (which i think is here in the UK). It uses a QR plate from Giottos and i bought some more of these so i currently have FS100 -> Tripod Plate -> Shoot35 Baseplate -> Tripodplate -> [Triodisetup is then: Giottos Adapter -> Libec Plate -> Libec] and then i have additional heads for a slider/dolly that have the same Giottos QR system

This means i can easily release the FS100 + Tripod Plate and pop it on sticks, or put the whole rod system on sticks (or whatever). It's pretty compact and by using multiple sets of Giottos QR systems it's quick (they're pretty cheap too)

I will see if i can get some photos over the weekend showing this, i've found it quite flexible

cheers
Paul
 
I would say go with the Tilta, except I haven't been able to order one. Huang sent me a catalog, but I emailed her three times for an invoice of what I wanted to no reply. I'm really getting fed up trying.
 
Michael Solomon said:
Can you mount that baseplate to a tripod? Seems a bit weird since the shoulder pad is part of the baseplate itself.

Is it a quick release plate with horizontal and vertical adjustment?
Click to expand...

It´s a professional V-lock system, not the typical quick plate that comes from the still photography world.
V-lock is an industry standard since donkeys years.

You attach a v-lock tripod base plate, like this Sony VCT-14 : sony_vct-u14.jpg

permanently to the tripod and the Tilta base plate snaps on and off in a second.
Those Sony VCT-14 plates are plenty and cheap on ebay, since everyone with a broadcast camera in the last 20 years, had at least one.
The Tilta Base has normal mounting holes though, but I use that only as emergency, since the v-lock system is so much nicer and solid.

IMG_20120105_113216.jpgIMG_4679.jpg

On Top of the Tilta base plate, there is a typical quickplate, that attaches to your camera. You can move that back and forth only.
But the rods can be moved up and down.

Frank
 
Last edited:
The Tilta is nice but Brian Berkey @ berkeysystems.com makes a nice setup. I have the both the bottom and top plate.
 
Only problem is that v-lock won't work on my sacthler fsb-6 =p

Can you guys get the shoulderpad under the berkey baseplate? Looks like the baseplate hangs down quite a bit from the rails making riser + shoulderpad on seperate rails. not possible.
 
Why not go for the Lanparte baseplate to go with your Lanparte Shoulder Mount?

Height adjustable, comes with quick release plate and balance and very solid for something coming out of HK.
 
Their baseplate rests too low as well. For me, the only way I see to balance my rig is the shoulderpad needs to go directly under the baseplate or as close as possible. My rig includes the heavier gini rig, the novoflex, samyang glass, and a mattebox + filters which makes it very very very front heavy. I would need a **** ton of weight on the back to balance it rather then just changing the center of gravity. I'm not quite ready (and frankly don't need to) switch to a v-mount battery system so I'd just be adding useless pointless weight to the back increasing the total weight of the rig without adding functionality.
 
Michael Solomon said:
Only problem is that v-lock won't work on my sacthler fsb-6 =p

Can you guys get the shoulderpad under the berkey baseplate? Looks like the baseplate hangs down quite a bit from the rails making riser + shoulderpad on seperate rails. not possible.
Click to expand...

Here's my berkey setup. You can get a pad under the camera, just depends on how you set it up.
IMG_1952.jpg
 
Another +1 for Berkey Systems. I don't own a FS-100 but I can vouch for the Berkey System stuff. First of all, it's all here in the US, so if you have any issues or need additional support, it's quick and reliable. I purchased a baseplate for my NEX-5N. Brian is a great guy to work with, real nice guy and he'll work with you if you have any problems. He's very fast at responding to inquiries and he's more than willing to bend his back to accommodate situations. This is coming from a personal experience. Berkey system is rock solid stuff. It aint pretty like Zacuto or some other stuff but it's rock solid.
 
I mean, I'm not saying that Berkey doesn't have great stuff. Everyone who has their hardware loves it. My problem with the Berkey baseplate is that it extends too low vertically and wouldn't allow me to get the shoulderpad under the camera even with a riser.

I don't use a v-mount battery system or external recorder. So if the shoulderpad goes anywhere but underneath the camera, I end up with an extremely front heavy rig.
 
Michael,
Many folks have the same need as you, balance the camera of the shoulder. I have been discussing this with Brian Berkey for the past month as I adapt my system for different shoot styles and requrements. The issue with the shoulder pad he re-sells that can can go under the camera is it requires you to go through a process of sliding it off the rails to get the camera on the tripod head. The Letus system has a shoulder pad that simple velcros onto the base plate and though I am not a fan of Letus gear, I do like that part of the Shane Hurlbut MCS series design. I will be trying the velcro thing with my Berkey base plate but will probably have a shoulder pad made locally. I am doing this in the next week or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top