A balanced rig for EX1 + 35mm adater + lens + mattebox

[Lor]

I'm not shopping for one at the moment but curious about what shoulder support rig would be best priced and yet still balanced. I have seen many setup in this thread but many doesn't seem balanced or way too pricey for me. I'm guessing that Zacuto is one brand that "perhaps" is fully balanced but way too pricey for me at the current time.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

 

[david_p]

I'm not shopping for one at the moment but curious about what shoulder support rig would be best priced and yet still balanced. I have seen many setup in this thread but many doesn't seem balanced or way too pricey for me. I'm guessing that Zacuto is one brand that "perhaps" is fully balanced but way too pricey for me at the current time.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

hi Lor,

i currently use a MultiRig for handheld with the EX1 or 5DmkII. although there is much that i like about it im in the market for a more full blown shoulder rig myself.

from everything i have looked at, i will probably go with the Red Rock "eye spy" rig with FF for my (5DmkII DSLR). i also will get an additional adaptor for some of my large canon lenses like 300mm 2.8 & 200mm 1.8 which support off of a collar on the lens itself.

i think Zacuto is crazy overpriced for what they offer in comparison to RR. my hunch is that RR is very similar/equal quality for a fair amount less money. plus RR offers lots of customizing options just like Zacuto. no problems growing with the system.

i do believe that there is a cutoff of quality though. some of the really economical stuff you see for under 1,000 looks unrefined and probably gives you what you pay for in a flimsy feel and non accurate response. anyway that just a hunch from the research i have done.

good luck
david
www.davidprobst.com

 

[DEPTH OF PHIL]

Hey guys, as some DVX users know i have been working with a lot of options for handheld rigs with 35mm adapters lately. So sorry for any repeats to familiar DVX users. Pag, Multi or Media Rig, DV rig, Zero Gravity, etc... can not handle the front weight of a dof adapter system, they also put most of the weight on your arms unless they have a support pole as some do. The are weighted for about 8-9lbs payload. As long as you can get the main weight on your shoulder, you are in business. Zacuto is very pricey but there is one thing that i swear by from them, their Universal baseplates and rods, it can adjust side to side as well as front to back allowing counter balance when on a hand held rig. Also their rods are threaded, this means you can add more or less length as needed. You will eventually want to add a monitor up front & wireless and batteries for the rig as well as use these units for counter balance so you need to put these on the back end . With REDROCK or other manufacturers you can not add more length in rails, if you can get a threaded rails option then you are halfway there !
You can put together a solid rig inexpensively but you have to get a solid baseplate and rods and then a good adapter lens mount that won't tweak . Then you can add whatever handles and shoulder mount that fits your budget. Cavision, Cinevate, Zacuto, Redrock, etc...

We put together one that we can slide quickly from tripod to handheld and then without the adapter at all. The shoulder pad slides all the way underneath the weight of the adapter and lens where it is needed. And it seats on the ground perfectly for low angles.

Here is also a new exciting concept the HR1 , i have been working with Constantine on getting one late August http://www.the-running-rig.com/

Good Luck when you are ready to get one, it is a big decision if you plan to do a significant amount of handheld work. Cheers

 

[Lor]

Many thanks for both of your responses. I'll check the RR set. As for Zacuto, I do like their stuff but it's just way to pricey for me at the moment. Without using the front pole or having some weight at the back, I don't see how the EX1 + adapter + lens + matte box can be easily balance on the shoulder.

 

[Joseph Stunzi]

Philip, your rig is so bulky dude. Why the double rods and what not? That's a lot of extra weight.

Lor, if you're looking for a discount on Zacuto stuff... shoot me a PM and I'll hook you up.

I will say that depending on your setup, your rig could get very front/back heavy. For instance, the Redrock mattebox adds a significant amount of weight to the front of your rig. That means the center of gravity for your rig will move. So I'd suggest at least picking up a Z-Balance from Zacuto. It enables you to offset your tripod plate so you can achieve better balance easier. http://store.zacuto.com/Z-Balance.html

There are some other solutions to this balancing problems... one being weights (which Redrock and Zacuto both offer as solutions)... but I find adding to a rig doesn't accomplish the same as adjusting in my book.

PPC,
Stunzi

 

[DEPTH OF PHIL]

Joe, got the Z balance and Z release, they' re great. As far as the design, we wanted a rod system that was self contained for tripod use. Then slide it off for handheld use. If we were shooting all day on hand held then we can always strip it down and add the handles and shoulder mount to the top rods. I found when attaching the handles to the top rods I got slight movement with the follow focus and Nikon lenses, hence a dedicated rod system seperate from the one with the follow focus. The more solid the rig is , the smoother the movement, I personally am used to F900s and Varicams. So 22 lbs is standard on the shoulder for me. I dig Zacuto gear but am not fond of having super long rails at the back and adding lunch boxes or work out weights. What we add on the system should be a working tool such as wireless and batteries, etc.
As long as the weight is counter balanced, and shoulder pad is centered it feels and responds like the real deal, an onset film camera.
Cheers

 

[Constantinos]

To those who are interested in balanced shoulder mounts and not the new concept of the HR-1 I will be releasing a new shoulder mount the HH-1.It will be 2 models one with a for and aft stage and quick release plate but also with traditional sahtler mounting plate of your choice under it. This way when you go on stiks you dont have to mount all the shoulder mount and camera on the tripod for rapid changes, all you ll have to do is quick releasing the camera together with the camera plates and snap it on the tripod head and of you go in 5-10 seconds. the other model will be one designed for the DSLR Canon 5dmk2 and it will be similar . Both will have brackets at the back to support any kind of add ons and will be fully balance able at the CG of the camera set up with or with out goods .
Both will be fully adjustable for the shoulder angle as well.
A ruff estimate is around the end of September and estimate prices will be around $1600 usd for the universal rig, and around 1200 for the DSLR. Both Carbon fiber and aircraft aluminium anodised in 3 coloures black , red, or blue.
HR-1 is travelling to LA for the new Booth Bros show. Stay tuned
BR Constantine