FS7: Another Baseplate/Shoulder pad/Rig thread for FS7 thread
- Thread starter Ben Scott
- Start date
Ben Scott
Veteran
Apologies for crappy pics
So still a touch front heavy as expected although really quite comfy, and when the extension unit comes tomorrow I think it will be really nicely balanced. The shoulder pad can shift a lot further forward but currently my Miller tripod plate is obstructing it. Just need a handle for the left hand side.
So still a touch front heavy as expected although really quite comfy, and when the extension unit comes tomorrow I think it will be really nicely balanced. The shoulder pad can shift a lot further forward but currently my Miller tripod plate is obstructing it. Just need a handle for the left hand side.
JPNola
Veteran
Nice rig, Ben!
Front heavy, yes. But front heavy doesn't bother me as much as it bothers others, going by their posts. I see that your Fs7 has what have become the trademark early wear marks- on the pivot point of the grip arm where the knob wears the paint away, on the arm itself where the two bolts for extending the arm are located, and on the bottom of the control grip where it touches the ground when placing the camera down. Someone suggested "sugru" as protection for the bottom of the control grip. I was even thinking about trying half of a racquetball stretched over the bottom of the grip. ( the control grip wants to slide since it's hard plastic and it needs a surface that is more grippy. )
It appears you also inverted the mic holder.
An aftermarket piece of kit that I would welcome is some sort of quick-release for extension arm adjustment. Something similar to the quick-adjust on the Shape arms where you simply push a button to adjust the position of the arm and don't have to unthread the connector. Another aftermarket piece that I think many would like is some way to mount the control grip on 15mm rods so you can just lose the control arm altogether. Something similar to the Zacuto grip relocator for the C300. That would allow the control grip to be placed high up by the lens like the servo on a B4 zoom. And it would address the issue of not being able to place the camera down in an upright position because of the extension arm. I'm not wild about the shooting position where one hand is much higher than the other. I prefer both of my hands to be at roughly the same height, at lens height.
One last thing- where do you insert the 45 record into the Fs7? Is there a slot someplace that I failed to see??:cheesy:
Front heavy, yes. But front heavy doesn't bother me as much as it bothers others, going by their posts. I see that your Fs7 has what have become the trademark early wear marks- on the pivot point of the grip arm where the knob wears the paint away, on the arm itself where the two bolts for extending the arm are located, and on the bottom of the control grip where it touches the ground when placing the camera down. Someone suggested "sugru" as protection for the bottom of the control grip. I was even thinking about trying half of a racquetball stretched over the bottom of the grip. ( the control grip wants to slide since it's hard plastic and it needs a surface that is more grippy. )
It appears you also inverted the mic holder.
An aftermarket piece of kit that I would welcome is some sort of quick-release for extension arm adjustment. Something similar to the quick-adjust on the Shape arms where you simply push a button to adjust the position of the arm and don't have to unthread the connector. Another aftermarket piece that I think many would like is some way to mount the control grip on 15mm rods so you can just lose the control arm altogether. Something similar to the Zacuto grip relocator for the C300. That would allow the control grip to be placed high up by the lens like the servo on a B4 zoom. And it would address the issue of not being able to place the camera down in an upright position because of the extension arm. I'm not wild about the shooting position where one hand is much higher than the other. I prefer both of my hands to be at roughly the same height, at lens height.
One last thing- where do you insert the 45 record into the Fs7? Is there a slot someplace that I failed to see??:cheesy:
Ben Scott
Veteran
ha, my awesome drinks coasters made it into the pic 
Yes I've inverted the mic. Ultimately I'm thinking about replacing that whole evf mic holder setup with a rod and coldshoe adapter that I can put a decent suspension mount on for the few times where I actually use a shotgun mic on camera. The current holder is way too big for my mic anyway.
I guess the dream solution for the handle is an aftermarket rosette adapter for just the grip so you can lose the arm and replace it with something better. The camera actually came fresh from the box with paint coming off the arm. I'm a firm believer in it being a tool instead of a work of art and I have no problem with the odd battle scar but the paint/anodizing (?) has been pretty poorly done.
Yes I've inverted the mic. Ultimately I'm thinking about replacing that whole evf mic holder setup with a rod and coldshoe adapter that I can put a decent suspension mount on for the few times where I actually use a shotgun mic on camera. The current holder is way too big for my mic anyway.
I guess the dream solution for the handle is an aftermarket rosette adapter for just the grip so you can lose the arm and replace it with something better. The camera actually came fresh from the box with paint coming off the arm. I'm a firm believer in it being a tool instead of a work of art and I have no problem with the odd battle scar but the paint/anodizing (?) has been pretty poorly done.
Andrew Stone
Veteran
If you are going to go with a shoulder pad it should be movable or quickly removeable. I like the Zacuto solution that Ben's camera is sporting. The only down side is it will probably want to topple over unless you lean it against something. Having an easy way to rest the camera between shots or takes is essential, in my view. Still think this Zacuto solution shown on Ben's rig, given the trade offs, is one of the better ones out there...
ARRI reps have been murmuring for a few days now on other lists about their FS7 camera accessories (baseplate, mattebox and other AKS). They have got the stuff live on their corporate website now. You will have to dig and click to get decent photos of the various bits. As ususal ARRI goods are expensive but extremely well designed and user tested with real operators during the design phase so the solutions are generallybetter than most other manufacturers.
http://www.arri.com/camera/pro_camera_accessories/products/suggested_kits/sony/sony_pxw_fs7/
ARRI reps have been murmuring for a few days now on other lists about their FS7 camera accessories (baseplate, mattebox and other AKS). They have got the stuff live on their corporate website now. You will have to dig and click to get decent photos of the various bits. As ususal ARRI goods are expensive but extremely well designed and user tested with real operators during the design phase so the solutions are generallybetter than most other manufacturers.
http://www.arri.com/camera/pro_camera_accessories/products/suggested_kits/sony/sony_pxw_fs7/
Jim Anderson
Well-known member
Nice rig. I decided to go with two separate plate systems. For a light rig, just the Zacuto QR Shoulder Pad with the Kessler Kwik Mount and for when I need more on the back (XDCA back, Dionic 90 and/or a few Lectrosonic 411 receivers), then a Vocas VCT bottom plate with 3-4 inch rails in the back for mounting a verticle plate. For a left grip onto the rosette, maybe a 6 or 7 inch Chrosziel or arri extension with a wood or black leather grip. I guess in reality the double grips just help when shooting POV full wide or for resting the rig without having to lay it down since your left hand would usually be either holding the lens barrel or FF. Just had my FS7 delivered yesterday so probably will experiment to see what works best.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Does that Zacuto shoulder pad slope down with your shoulder ? Most of them don't look like they do or not enough anyway.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Ben, from looking at the WC base plate and your photos I can't figure out how you got the rails supported in the back- looked like just a front rails system to me.
There are only two rails, going all the way through the baseplate. Not front/back rails.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
OK, actually from the base plate pics it didn't even look possible to me but I'll look again. So far I like Ben's rig but very intrigued by Olof's if the plate is comfortable & in the right place since it eliminates another set of rods . Seems like it might be the lightest and very simple. but you never know till you try these things. My own el cheapo rig isn't too bad actually and I'm working on slimming it down but both of these are a little simpler. One way or the other I will include a monopod with quick release on mine. That solves the weight imbalance - can go no hands.
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Ah he's using the fixed base not the quick base which is shown in the FS7 rig photos.
JPNola
Veteran
Pacific Coast has addressed this with the release of their new Sony PXW-Fs7 XDCAM Super 35 Camera Support Rest System I:
http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aaor_prd/on/demandware.static/Sites-SleepTrain-Site/Sites-master/default/v1396656323053/28312-1.jpg
That's the demo model in the photo but company reps say the final product should be nearly identical!
:cheesy:
Merry Christmas, everyone.
epicdream
Well-known member
