FS7: Another Baseplate/Shoulder pad/Rig thread for FS7 thread

Terry Nixon said:
Here's some pics of the FS7 on the VCT-FS7 Rods using a Panasonic plate:

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My apology to the VCT-FS7 if that is indeed it in the photos. The plate I was commenting on is apparently NOT the VCT-FS7 and is instead the VCT-FSA5. Terry provided a photo of the VCT-FSA5 that he labeled as being the VCT-FS7.

I am still glad that I went with the Chrosziel as it is much thinner and that puts the central mass of the camera lower on your shoulder. It's also costs less than the Sony shoulder plate. Roughly $250 less.

The Sony plate looks like a good plate and some of you will no doubt prefer it. Some will want a Sony shoulder plate to go with their Sony camera. I am sure that Terry can hook you up if you contact him. I had to pay international shipping, something I would not have paid had I purchased from TMS.
 
FlacaProductions said:
In a perfect world - you know...the one where I have my own machine shop - I'd have the first piece directly under the camera in the Wooden Camera pic - where the rods connect along with a VCT mount on the bottom. That's it. Just like this piece pictured below...like I've had on every full-size shoulder mount "betacam" style camera for years....but this is just me. i'm going to put this on the Ronin and use it for a B/C camera in sit-down interviews along with my F5 and F800. It (generally) ain't goin' on my shoulder - but again...that's just me.
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That should be possible. Just keep in mind that the rear of the Fs7 will be "floating". The beta cams had that rear piece for the Sony plates built onto the camera out of the box. And the body did not arch upwards like the body of the Fs7.

Would this work for you?-

http://www.vocas.com/accessories/15mm-base-plate-for-aja-cion
 
Good find JP - and good catch Josh. Yes - that's what i'm talking about and I wonder if you back out one of the screws if it would work and still be solid. The other concern is rod-to-lens distance/height and if it would be correct. Right now I'm using a Triad VPA-10 to get a good solid VCT mount, but it lacks the rod attachment....
 
Well, here you go! The Chrosziel plate arrived today and managed to get my camera back for two seconds to put it on (a friend is hiring it!). He didn't bring the handle with him so I couldn't test it out but here are some pics.

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Its much lighter than the Zacuto and has an (unsurprisingly) perfect fit.
 
That Chrosziel looks great. I'm holding off on baseplate until I actually get my camera (next week, I hope). Still somewhat partial to Zacuto since the plate is universal but really want to wait until the rest of the FS-7 kit is available before making a decision.
 
So now I see it on the camera my only issue with that is the fairly substantial increase in length even if you're not using the extension unit. Looks great though
 
Another Wooden Camera shot from Twitter

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Starting to come round to the way of thinking that their baseplate, plus

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from Zacuto could be a great low weight combination.
 
The Chrosziel shoulder pad can be moved back and forth but yes, I think with any of those style designs you need some weight on the back to be balanced.
 
Just my opinion, but all of those who have opted to "enhance" the FS-7 with a shoulder plate, rod set, and PL lenses - perhaps would have been better served with an F-5?
 
Well, you can take that stuff off for some jobs and have a sub 2.5kg camera shooting 60fps 4k. Plus if an F5 was the same price as an FS7 I'm sure lots would most certainly would have gone for it
 
Ben Scott said:
Well, you can take that stuff off for some jobs and have a sub 2.5kg camera shooting 60fps 4k. Plus if an F5 was the same price as an FS7 I'm sure lots would most certainly would have gone for it
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Exactly my thoughts in response, Ben.

I have been using the Fs7 in it's out of the box form and it allows me to shoot in a casual, even stealthy manner.

If I want a super-light camera that can be operated more like an EX3 I leave the Fs7 in it's stripped down form and run it from BP batteries. ( that BP90 will power the Fs7 for several hours, btw. ). If I want something more beefy for shoulder mounted shooting I use the accessories. This is the Fs7's "jack of all trades" nature. In it's stripped-down form with a small lens like the Sony 10-18 E-mount the camera is quite small. Great for shooting in a car or other small space. Also very lightweight in such a configuration which means you can hold the camera in positions that would be far more difficult with a heavier camera. For example, high over your head with your arms fully extended. Or dangling the camera out of a car window with your arm extended and the camera down low near the front tire of the car.

Now that I am getting more comfortable with the Fs7 I am not so sure that I would have purchased an F5 were an F5 the same price as an Fs7. The Fs7 is just so nimble and the range of glass that it can easily use is great.

I took a break from using the Fs7 to do a day on a reality show that was using the C300. Going back to the C300 was not pleasurable. The C300 felt much more like what we call a "robo cam" or "erector-set camera". Compared to the Fs7 the C300 feels as if it's being forced into a form it was never intended to be and doesn't want to be. The C300 fights you and only reluctantly does what you want it to do. The Fs7 feels more like it's doing what it was purposed for doing. It's more willing and it even suggests things for you- "Oh, control the iris with the right hand so that my left hand can concentrate exclusively on focusing? Why, good idea Fs7. I think I'll try it and...hey, that works out pretty damn well. "

btw- I ordered the Chrosziel plate from CVP in the UK. [ http://cvp.com ] It arrived at my home in the states via DHL in just over 24 hrs. They were really fast.
 
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boghav said:
Just my opinion, but all of those who have opted to "enhance" the FS-7 with a shoulder plate, rod set, and PL lenses - perhaps would have been better served with an F-5?
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Probably not - I "enhanced" my F5 with a shoulder plate, rod set and PL lenses....and got the FS7 primarily as a cheaper alternative B/C cam to the F5 - and was really interested in it due to it's light weight and e-mount lens capability which (among other things) makes it perfect for my Ronin. Horses for courses...
 
FYI- I went cheap on the quick release camera plate and bought one of the knockoffs of the Sony VCT-14 plate. A knockoff plate from Ebay. It doesn't work with the Chrosziel plate. The tolerance is too tight. Likely the cheapo plate is not within actual specs of the Sony original. The rails on the Chrosziel are too tight to fit into the grooves on the Fotga plate.

I am hoping the Chrosziel shoulder plate works with a genuine Sony VCT-14.
 
JPNola said:
FYI- I went cheap on the quick release camera plate and bought one of the knockoffs of the Sony VCT-14 plate. A knockoff plate from Ebay. It doesn't work with the Chrosziel plate. The tolerance is too tight. Likely the cheapo plate is not within actual specs of the Sony original. The rails on the Chrosziel are too tight to fit into the grooves on the Fotga plate.

I am hoping the Chrosziel shoulder plate works with a genuine Sony VCT-14.
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Anyone able to use Chrosziel plate with the Sony VCT 14?

I can't get the Chrosziel Fs7 shoulder plate to work with the Sony VCT 14 knockoff.
 
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