Affordable Rods and support

Have to say the Shoot35 looks pretty damn good.

CPM, when do you think you'll have something similar to sell?
 
So if one went with the Zacuto universal base plate ($532 and B&H)...

One still needs:
Rods. Does it matter which ones? Does 40cm sound about right?
Lens support. Which one?


What about this one from Shoot35 for $360?


Anyone used this?

Looks decent but that support is made for their SGblade 35mm adaptor.
 
I'm sure it's been said many times, but check out the GENUS Advanced Adapter Bar System. Fully adjustable to fit almost every video camera (the size of the AF-100) on Earth.
 
The more I look at this stuff, the more I want to keep as much money as I possibly can and Frankenstein together a solution that works for me. This bit from these guys, other bits from the next guys, and the sum of their parts creating a greater whole.
 
The more I look at this stuff, the more I want to keep as much money as I possibly can and Frankenstein together a solution that works for me. This bit from these guys, other bits from the next guys, and the sum of their parts creating a greater whole.

Just like the film camera days ;)
 
I think we're forgetting that the key word in the title of this thread is "affordable."

Aloha—

Jeff
 
At the Chicago AF100 show at Abel Cine last night they had several rigs, many with 25 cm rods... a few with 40 cm rods. The AF100 is small. The reps said 25 cm rods will work, with room for FF and MB.

So, my recommendation still stands for an AFFORDABLE rig, the Cavision previously mentioned will work... Unless you plan on using a Zeiss LWZ.2 which is 21 cm long.

All depends on what lenses are in your kit. If you're coming from the DSLR world, with a host of Canon or Nikon lenses, it will be fine.
 
I think we're forgetting that the key word in the title of this thread is "affordable."

Aloha—

Jeff

"Affordable" is a relative idea though. I, personally, can't afford to buy any gear more than once so spending a little more than usual for the right thing once is infinitely smarter.
 
You're right about that, Bob. It will all be more clear early next year. That being said, I think I will stay away from the shoulder mount and keep it simple so will just need a base plate and rails for mounting a follow focus and matte box. Even keeping it simple doesn't feel so simple at this point.
 
CAVISION rods have a dangerous defect

CAVISION rods have a dangerous defect

I shudder whenever I think of someone putting a valuable camera on one of these Cavision rod systems.
They have a SERIOUS design defect that can result in your camera toppling to the ground. I caught mine when the top and bottom halves of the rod system came apart. I hope you are as lucky. In the meantime, consider the repair shown below.

The camera plate on these RSM-series units is held on by ONE allen head screw. ONE. As if that wasn't bad enough, some genius designer put a 3/8 tripod hole through the bottom plate so that it bisects the threaded hole of that ONE critical allen screw.
BEHOLD:
CavisionDefect.jpg

The result is that the allen screw passes through a few millimeters of proper threads, perhaps two full turns of thread. After that, the screw has threads along one side and is completely open on the other. (A shadow in the hole in this photo makes it look like the screw passes through more metal than it really does. The threads are as deep as the distance between the outer edge of the 3/8 hole and the edge of the base plate. A couple millimeters, tops.) A minor amount of torsion will strip those two revolutions of threads, and once they are stripped, your camera plate and camera will tumble off of your rig. ZOIKS!!!!

If you insist on using these rod systems, please make the following repair, or something similar.
I placed a small pellet of lead (available at any hardware store) into the 3/8 hole so that it rests against the exposed allen screw. See below. (sorry for the blurry iPhone photos. Embarassing.)
CavisionRepairing.JPG

Then, I put a 3/8 inch set screw (also available at any hardware store) into the tripod hole and tightened it down so that it presses the lead wafer into the allen screw's threads. My set screw happened to fit perfectly flush. You may need to file it down depending on the length yours is:
CavisionRepaired.JPG

When you need to adjust the ONE allen screw that holds everything together, loosen the 3/8 safety screw first and then re-tighten. This repair cost less than a dollar and has proven very solid so far.
Best of luck if you choose to go with Cavision!
_M
 
Last edited:
Not trying to beat this to death, but what model is that? It looks like one of the older versions... not the RS15MQIIR.

I was referring to the latest model, designed for DSLR and smaller video cameras, such as AF100.

Either way, I've had no problem with mine. I have other rail systems, too--Arri MBP1, Redrock--but those are obviously more expensive. The original inquiry was about "affordable."
 
Back
Top