Advice for a first time Rigger

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dominichicks

Active member
One and all
Am constructing a rig, and am quite new to things - so wanted to start a thread to ask for some advice along the way, and hopefully avoid the pitfalls.

I want a counter-balanced (preferably tapped) shoulder mount, with a follow focus and a 1/4" mount for a 7" LCD screen. If possible I'd like to be able to keep my camera on it's tripod plate (Manfrotto 701HDV head), or make swapping as simple as possible. I don't need a mattebox (at least not yet).

I'm considering the DFocus FF and gears, the IndiRAILSpro DSLRsm and a Redrock 'Micromount' to attach the monitor.

Does anybody have any alternatives or suggestions without stretching my budget too much?

My thanks
Dom
 
dominichicks said:
One and all
Am constructing a rig, and am quite new to things - so wanted to start a thread to ask for some advice along the way, and hopefully avoid the pitfalls.

I want a counter-balanced (preferably tapped) shoulder mount, with a follow focus and a 1/4" mount for a 7" LCD screen. If possible I'd like to be able to keep my camera on it's tripod plate (Manfrotto 701HDV head), or make swapping as simple as possible. I don't need a mattebox (at least not yet).

I'm considering the DFocus FF and gears, the IndiRAILSpro DSLRsm and a Redrock 'Micromount' to attach the monitor.

Does anybody have any alternatives or suggestions without stretching my budget too much?

My thanks
Dom
Click to expand...

I almost never use the shoulder and handle extension arms of my DSLR SM...I would suggest mixing and matching some indifocus and redrock parts for the same price.
 
Isn't the camera going to be on the baseplate? I thought I'd have to mount the screen directly onto the rail?

The only reason I wanted the DSLRsm is the counterweights and the fact that it's carbon fibre.... thinking now that maybe the Redrock Microshoulder deluxe with a Micromount and Dfocus might be better? Could just velcro some weights to the back?

Or do you have any more specific recommendations?

And does anybody know where I can buy an actual LCD arm instead of just a clamp with a 1/4" screw on it?
 
dominichicks said:
Isn't the camera going to be on the baseplate? I thought I'd have to mount the screen directly onto the rail?

The only reason I wanted the DSLRsm is the counterweights and the fact that it's carbon fibre.... thinking now that maybe the Redrock Microshoulder deluxe with a Micromount and Dfocus might be better? Could just velcro some weights to the back?

Or do you have any more specific recommendations?

And does anybody know where I can buy an actual LCD arm instead of just a clamp with a 1/4" screw on it?
Click to expand...
4402855092_e63fc581e4_b.jpg

you can see where i screwed it into the plate
 
Redrock sells articulating arms to mount monitors on:

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.472981/sc.2/category.4290/.f

What kind of stuff do you plan on shooting?



dominichicks said:
Isn't the camera going to be on the baseplate? I thought I'd have to mount the screen directly onto the rail?

The only reason I wanted the DSLRsm is the counterweights and the fact that it's carbon fibre.... thinking now that maybe the Redrock Microshoulder deluxe with a Micromount and Dfocus might be better? Could just velcro some weights to the back?

Or do you have any more specific recommendations?

And does anybody know where I can buy an actual LCD arm instead of just a clamp with a 1/4" screw on it?
Click to expand...
 
Sorry Yokotas but I can't really see where you screwed it in or what with - there's a lot going on in that image! Are you using an articulated arm from redrock?

Evan, would you recommend going with a redrock microshoulder mount and adding weights yourself, or just buying the dslr sm?

Also, I'm concerned by how easy it is to actually use the follow focus on these sorts of rigs... Do you have to let go of one handle completely? Doesn't that throw the balance off, or make it very hard to hold (particularly if you focus with your right hand)?
 
Natxbrotha... I'm shooting narrative short films, but feel like I could get more use from a shoulder mount than a glidecam for handheld stuff.
 
When shooting with a DSLR, using a shoulder or gunstock type rig will result in "handheld" looking footage when compared to actually hand holding a video camera. If you use lenses with IS that will help a lot. So it will be a little bourne identity-ish.

When shooting narrative stuff my first thing that needs to be working for me well is my follow focus. I used the redrock v1 follow focus for years and I just upgraded to the v2 (which has vast improvements) and I love it. Like others, I cannot really afford an Arri follow focus because I have to purchase other things like batteries, lights, tripods, etc... Redrock has really good modular rigs and compenents with middle of the road pricing. Their rediculously good designs are what throw me for a loop... I don't understand how they could be charging so little for such great designs (here's to hoping for no price increases!). One thing to always keep in mind is that your support gear/hardware will far outlast any digital stuff like a camera... so get something that is going to be upgrade friendly (I still use the existing rods, clamps, and the other support gear from my redrock M2 adapter with my DSLR!).

With the eyespy rig, it can be offset (if you aren't using an external monitor) so you have direct view of the DSLR's LCD or it can be configured to work as a normal shouldermount without using the offset (when you do plan on using the external monitor). You can use one hand grip as well so you can pull focus with the other. If you choose to get the traditional microShouldermount instead of the eyepsy you can still use it with one grip and reposition the grip anywhere since it uses all 15mm rods and that is what the grip is designed for. Later on you could always add a microlink4 riser (if you have the traditional shoulder mount) and a short set of rods if you want to raise up and offset your DSLR to eye level (for shooting without monitor).

I actually figured out a way to configure theEvent with 1 rod and 1 grip for a super light weight gunstock rig similar to the zacuto rapid fire or cinevate uno. Pretty neat.

Either way, no matter what company you go with, make sure you will be able to re-use and reconfigure your rig when future cameras come out... or you just wasted your money (IMO).
 
Yeah, I didnt go for the weights option because I was going to mount a battery and plate for radio mic myself on the rig. I do think of all the shoulder mounts the RedRock is the best built and nicest for sitting on your shoulder for hours at a time. As far as follow focus goes, I am also one of those weirdos who prefer the focurs on the right hand side. with the addition of the springed support it is a very simple affair to let go of one of the supports to adjust focus, the spring is really holding most of the weight so your left hand is really there for stability.
 
Natx... I have IS on my run and gun lens... I also have an lcd monitor so no need to offset the camera. Good advice - thank you.

Evan, how did you go about mounting a battery/mic without paying for redrock mounting gear? Do you find it easy enough to let go of one handle and rack up focus without the spring support?

Thinking Redrock microshoulder mount with the DFocus follow focus and a redrock monitor clamp... plus some DIY weighting at the back. Any thoughts?
 
I could save a fair bit of cash by going with the indifocus dsrlsm system and Dfocus ff... and that way I get counterweighting too...

DSLRSM + DFOCUS = $500 (with counterweight)
REDROCK SHOULDER MOUNT + DFOCUS = $600 (without counterweight)
 
dominichicks said:
Also, I'm concerned by how easy it is to actually use the follow focus on these sorts of rigs... Do you have to let go of one handle completely? Doesn't that throw the balance off, or make it very hard to hold (particularly if you focus with your right hand)?
Click to expand...

I've placed my handles on level with the camera and the one on the follow focus side outside the wheel so I can rest the weight into my palm and use thumb and fingers for focusing. And I use a chest brace instead of a shoulder pad, rig is light enough to not warrant shoulder support.

attachment.php
 
Martti that's a great looking rig.... I've got a screen and a Zoom H4N so I'll need a shoulder mount/counter weight... Can I adjust the handle similarly on the microshouldermount?

And if I can... will I have enough space on that crossbar at the front to mount one handle on my right, a follow focus on my left, a handle next to it (pointing upwards as in the photo above) AND a 7" LCD screen?
 
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Well, as you can see I have a Redrock 8" Grip rod that sits on the right rail and goes beneath the rails which placed the handle at right distance outside the follow focus. The 4" inch is too short to have on the left side and go outside the follow focus, a 6" inch would have been perfect but I like how the grip rod now protects the rails when I put down the rig on a table or the floor. I think you could use the Redrock handle bar in similar fashion. BTW I describe that set up in detail here with one more pic.
 
OK! I've drawn my final plan for the rig.... Please advise me what parts I'll need! My main concern is that the front handlebar rods have to be long enough.

Martti- maybe I need to use an 8" grip rod for my left hand/follow focus, and a standard 8" (or 4"?) handlebar rod for my right hand/lcd monitor?
rigjpeg.jpg


I have more hair than that! ;)
 
You'll might need a 8" rod on both sides of the handle bar. Or get a microArm for the monitor. As you are located in UK I suggest you get in touch with Production Gear who are selling Redrock in both UK and EU. They can probably help out with the finer details. Patrick Wheeler there was very helpful to me.

http://www.redrockmicro.co.uk/
 
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