C100: A good run and gun way to mount an Atomos Ninja
- Thread starter FUBARFilms
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
IMHO, Israeli arms are too long and clunky for such a small light camera like the C100, plus the C100 is already too tall with the handle, why add even more height with an Israeli arm when you really want your monitor recorder down in your face when shoulder mounted? Israeli arms in the era of big film and broadcast cameras made sense, but not so much for small cameras that are barely larger than a DSLR, although they do give a lot of movement and choices on placement. I have had very good results with making my own custom setup using Ultralight Control Systems arms and pieces. They are rugged as hell, can be customized for your exact set up and can be easily used on multiple pieces of gear. They are like Legos for camera people, you are only limited by your imagination. www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Ultralight+Control+Systems+arms Very high quality stuff too. Started out as mounting arms for underwater flashes but the above water cinematographers seem to have glommed onto them pretty well. I clamp on end of the UCS system to my 15mm rods and the other end threads into the top or bottom of the recorder. Can be positioned from above, below or just about anywhere, not limited to mounting to a stud hole or cold shoe.
Why would you buy the outdated Ninja 2 when for a few bucks more you can own the Ninja Blade with a much better screen that can actually be calibrated?
Why would you buy the outdated Ninja 2 when for a few bucks more you can own the Ninja Blade with a much better screen that can actually be calibrated?
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
Doug:
You must not shoot in a lot of tight spaces? From the top of your arm to the bottom of the base plate, you must be well over a foot to eighteen inches high? If you don't shoot in cars, crammed onto crowded trains and subways, trains, in the corner on movie and TV sets like I do, height doesn't matter much, but I often find myself sweating every inch of height of my rig. That's about the only thing I really dislike about the C300 and the C100. Attach the handle and it is too damn tall. Attach some accessories to the stud threads on the handle and you are at ridiculous heights. I also find that an Israeli arm is moving your center of gravity higher since the load bearing is on the camera handle rather than the base plate rods like my setup so when shoulder mounted, having all of that weight up high means I am going to be fighting the rig rolling to the left all day. But hey, different strokes. If it works for you, it works.
You must not shoot in a lot of tight spaces? From the top of your arm to the bottom of the base plate, you must be well over a foot to eighteen inches high? If you don't shoot in cars, crammed onto crowded trains and subways, trains, in the corner on movie and TV sets like I do, height doesn't matter much, but I often find myself sweating every inch of height of my rig. That's about the only thing I really dislike about the C300 and the C100. Attach the handle and it is too damn tall. Attach some accessories to the stud threads on the handle and you are at ridiculous heights. I also find that an Israeli arm is moving your center of gravity higher since the load bearing is on the camera handle rather than the base plate rods like my setup so when shoulder mounted, having all of that weight up high means I am going to be fighting the rig rolling to the left all day. But hey, different strokes. If it works for you, it works.
Doug_EX
Well-known member
You are right, I don't shoot a lot in tight spaces. Almost never to tell the truth. I did a lot of shoot with this configuration and still loving it. When I work with a director it's quite useful to be able to swing the Ninja blade to one side or the other depending on what side the director is or want to be.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Yes, I have used them on other cameras, they are handy. Mounting the Blade to such a relativey small camera like C100 seems like a challenge. Some are happy with the little tiny Cinevate arm off the back but that didn't work at all for me. Good that we all have so many choices in how to rig our setups.
I just slap my Blade onto a Manfrotto ball head mounted on my hotshoe. It's easy to turn/angle it so other people can see when shooting at an awkward angle, and it gives you access to the viewfinder on the rare occasions you need to use it. Yeah, it adds more height to the camera, but dems the brakes.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I always use the camera monitor when shooting with the Blade, I put Zebras on the camera monitor, not on the blade because when clients or a director look over my shoulder at the Blade, they don't like seeing the zebras. I am typically in magnified peak mode with zebras on the camera and the Blade I leave pretty much stock for the client to look at. Thank goodness most of my clients don't require me to haul around a Panasonic 17" LCD anymore like a few years ago. They seem more at ease now just glancing at the Blade and making a tweak, then shooting and letting me get on with my job.
Wow lots of good options here. I do agree that the arm is too tall in those pics. Maybe a much smaller one swung out to the rear or left would be better for me.
I'd love the blade, but since they have the barebones Ninja 2 available at $395 (I already own SSDs and Sony batteries), I can't justify spending double the price just for a better screen since the actual recordings will be the same.
I'd love the blade, but since they have the barebones Ninja 2 available at $395 (I already own SSDs and Sony batteries), I can't justify spending double the price just for a better screen since the actual recordings will be the same.
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Matt Turner
Well-known member
I use the Zacuto C100 Z-Finder bracket with Axis mount, it stays on my C100 pretty much all the time now,
For non-Ninja run & gun I can clip on the Z-Finder in seconds, or I can pop the Ninja onto the Axis Mount with a 15mm rod, or an arm.
The rigidity is great, I always had problems with fixing arms to the rear handle mount. It does add a bit of weight to the camera though.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._c1fb_c100_z_finder_bracket.html/prm/alsVwDtl
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1093245-REG/zacuto_z_cam_axis_mount_for_c100.html
The only problem I had was the screw for the bracket that attaches to the C100 handle is double ended so it's 50/50 which end unscrews, often I end up unscrewing the knob not the bracket. I replaced it with a normal screw since the bracket hardly ever leaves my C100 (unless I put it on my gimbal).
For non-Ninja run & gun I can clip on the Z-Finder in seconds, or I can pop the Ninja onto the Axis Mount with a 15mm rod, or an arm.
The rigidity is great, I always had problems with fixing arms to the rear handle mount. It does add a bit of weight to the camera though.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._c1fb_c100_z_finder_bracket.html/prm/alsVwDtl
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1093245-REG/zacuto_z_cam_axis_mount_for_c100.html
The only problem I had was the screw for the bracket that attaches to the C100 handle is double ended so it's 50/50 which end unscrews, often I end up unscrewing the knob not the bracket. I replaced it with a normal screw since the bracket hardly ever leaves my C100 (unless I put it on my gimbal).
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
That is a very good price, but I am spoiled now that I have had the Blade for almost a year. Regardless of which one you have, the Atomos products are top notch. I love how light, simple and useful the Ninja recorders are. I occasionally shoot press junkets for Lionsgate and the journalists all HAVE to take the media we just shot with them. I bring three drives for the Blade and the producer is right next to me with her laptop and an Atomos dock. I rotate the drive to her after each interview and five to ten minutes later, she has transferred each interview to a thumb drive for the journalist to take with them. Works like a charm, we have all of the footage backed up and I am shooting the next interview while she is transferring the last one. My clients LOVE the Blade, it has made life so much easier and quicker than when we were shooting with P2 cards. Since the C100 and C300 both natively shoot inconvenient formats for journalists who want to put this on their website or on the air quickly, giving them a Prores Quicktime allows them to post the footage very quickly, just open it up and output an H264 for the web or their editors can begin cutting the Prores right away. The Blade has made me a lot of money, it was so worth the investment. It's been rare these days for me to invest in a piece of equipment that is paid off so quickly that clients love so much.
ryanhargrave
Member
I use the Edlekrone EVF
https://www.edelkrone.com/us/p/115/monitor-holder
It mounts to the hot shoe which isn't too obtrusive. But since I've been using a shoulder mont with rails, I changed the mount to use a rails mounting. I love the friction movement on the arm.. it's perfect.
https://www.edelkrone.com/us/p/115/monitor-holder
It mounts to the hot shoe which isn't too obtrusive. But since I've been using a shoulder mont with rails, I changed the mount to use a rails mounting. I love the friction movement on the arm.. it's perfect.
Doug_EX
Well-known member
If I had to buy another arm, it would still be the one you see on the photo. With a longer arm (in fact, mine is 11"), you can place the monitor lower...about the same height as the camera lcd. Maybe on my photo, the arm seems way too long in that position (usually, my monitor is way lower) but believe me, it's worth it.
Thanks, man, I just ordered one. BTW puredrifting, I did decide to go with the Blade after all. I'm going to trade in my Cineroid EVF for it (which I hardly ever use).
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
Guarantee you will love the Blade. Let us know how it works out for you.
I own one too. Sometimes would need BNC Inputs,
and also SSDs are still a bit expensive.
What do you think about the upcoming Blackmagic Video Assist ?
HDMI & SDI (micro SDI, I know...but still) and cheap SD cards ...for $500 !
ddixon
Well-known member
And it also is claimed to do 1080p60...
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I am out of the loop on this but the specs on the BMD VA look pretty tantilizing. SD cards would make the whole thing smaller and lighter than the Blade, built in SDI is sweet. But I am a bit suspect of BMD's track record with their cameras as far as reliability, wonder how that will translate over into this product? The price is certainly right. Are there any good tests/reviews out on it yet?
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Definitely was considered on my end, but it's heavier, 40% more expensive (but not overpriced), doesn't do start/stop yet, uses media I don't already have 5 of laying around (adding to my initial expense) and it's signature feature (4k) can't be used by the C100.