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

I contacted Tilta the day I got the plate, but have not yet heard back from them any sort of response.

Maybe I'll also contact B&H and let them know there is a problem with the top plate's dimensions.
 
Gidday all,

I have been reading this thread with interest, and discover to my surprise that I'm a bit more of a fringe-dweller than I thought... it'd be a godsend if some of you could comment on my situation and preliminary assessment of how to rig our new FS7?

So, I shoot observational documentary primarily, largely off the shoulder with some tripod work (a Miller Compass 20 with a Euro head). Because I am carrying the damned thing around all day, every extra gram is regrettable, and I need to keep things as light as I can. I work alone and generally fly to where I'm shooting, so packing weight and bulk is also at an absolute premium. I don't use a matt box or follow focus. I'm very happy with BP batteries, and don't need the expansion module. I've already got a VF arm upgrade in progress to avoid the dreaded Shooter Droop.

So, while I'm fairly convinced by Zacuto's theory of moving the centre of gravity backwards to the shoulder (with reservations; operating the lens back there seems a bit awkward), I sure as hell don't want to cart about an extra kilogram, and since I don't need rails all I really gain is a better-positioned shoulder pad.

Therefore I have tentatively concluded that the best plan may instead be to simply use a Smallrig shoulder pad like this:-

http://www.amazon.com/SMALLRIG®-Shoulder-Camcorder-Support-Railblock/dp/B00N4OZUPO

...but with a QR receiver (to match my tripod) instead of the railblock.

The only obvious downsides I see are that the shoulderpad has to detach for the camera to be packed and to go on the sticks, which seems a bit messy but I can't see it really adding up to a problem. Second issue is that the camera with the shoulder pad on it will likely no longer sit balanced on the ground (always marginal with this camera!) which I guess will require it to be removed to put the thing down... a regrettable extra step, but I guess only a couple of seconds.

On the plus side I get a decent shoulder pad in the correct place, very little extra weight, and full functionality.

Does this seem a solid plan? Anyone tried it already?

Thanks!

Tony
 
I have the Zacuto QR plate with 15mm rail attachment. In front of that I have my Miller Air baseplate on the bottom of the camera permanently.

The fact of the matter is, unless you use a V mount battery plate or the Sony extension unit or SOMETHING to shift weight behind you, the camera is always going to be front heavy and feel a lot less balanced - especially if you have a decent lens on there. That extra 1kg, if placed at the back, makes the whole thing feel lighter and is a lot easier to handle.
 
I added a mattebox today. The plate came in last week, as did the quick release.

FS7 Matt Box Front.jpgFS7 Matt Box Side.jpg

Still working on a source for the handles. Since the FS7 lacks a 3-point support that can allow the camera to be set down on a surface without laying it on it's side, the handles serve both shoulder use and as a support for it when it's set down for a lens change or operator on break.
Some counter weight off the back will help with the heavy front end. Eventually the Extention back and a V-lock battery will be added, making for better balance, hopefully.
 
Ben Scott said:
The fact of the matter is, unless you use a V mount battery plate or the Sony extension unit or SOMETHING to shift weight behind you, the camera is always going to be front heavy and feel a lot less balanced - especially if you have a decent lens on there. That extra 1kg, if placed at the back, makes the whole thing feel lighter and is a lot easier to handle.
Click to expand...

This is not true. One does not need to add rear mass to make a balanced configuration. Any system of masses has a CofM and that can be positioned over a chosen point.

However I would observe that..

-One cannot balance the rig using the stock viewfinder/chimney - mainly due to the short cable - the must be replaced with an EVF or monitor with cabling of the appropriate length.
-It is most likely that with shorter lenses (basically anything shorter than Cabrio/Cn17-135) one will need to focus with the right hand when on the shoulder as the lens will be so far back as to be inaccessible to the left hand.

Personally I feel all of the commercially available rigs to be unworkable apart from zacuto. I of course built my own modelled on the geometry of the Amera at a fraction of the cost and mass of the commercial offerings which are clearly not designed by shooters.

Without rear mass I have comfortably shot 60mins of content for 'Auntie'

S
 
Yep so have I. Didn't mean it didn't need improving though. Rear mass is the simplest and quickest way to balance the FS7, unless you have construction/fabrication skills which I know you do.

I use the zacuto qr shoulder pad with rail attachment and am able to have a follow focus on the operator side.
 
Indeed rear mass is simple and works :)

Personally I want the lightest camera I can to keep fatigue low.

The Vlock trade off is a hard one. My cam uses 2 sonybatts one for cam and one for 502. - Not that much ligher than a 70w/h vlock.

The upside of vlock is I could power cam, monitor, gopro and phone off one batt.

I do use gopro and its phone app quite often on the rig!

S
 
I have a bunch of 90wh 'plane safe' batts and one beast 160wh V-lock battery for when do extended stuff or using the 7Q. Getting well over 3hrs out of them, including them powering the 7Q, and at least 5hrs from the big one. If it's only going to be an hour out of the day hand held then I'll usually put up with the front heavyness for the sake of not having to transport an extra bag of gear :)
 
Im only 50 50 on it.

Luts in all modes and 1080 image is a game changer for the FS7
Canon batts are not a solution
Reflective until I built a big hood
Toy build really

Also with the rig balanced you risk seeing the thing with wider than a (boosted)28mm

Ideally Id have one on top and a evf (zacuto golf ball?) on for actual shoulder work.

S
 
It fixes the FS7 - if there were other options to fix the FS7 then I would consider them too.

It is hard in the UK as we cant really get hands on - the VideoDevices offering may be better.. ? when available ??

Is it an upgrade from the stock monitor? 500% bettter shooting experience.

S
 
Thing is, I already have a 7Q and now they have proper working LUTs it seems crazy to buy something else. But smaller would be nice :)
 
Does it feed LUTs out? Could work well on the back of the rig and take a feed to a EVF?

But an EVF is not much cheaper than a 502, but does save you a bit of space.

S
 
After reading through this whole thread, it seems most of the reviews are based on the stock body without the extension unit. For handheld, I'll typically be running the FS7 with a follow focus (left hand), XDCA extension with Anton Bauer dionic, and behind that an O7Q (powered by either another AB battery or D-tap). Since counterweight will most likely not be an issue, I'm looking for a balanced, comfortable rig that still allows access to lens and camera controls with left hand, and uses a VCT-14 or similar tripod plate. Thoughts?
 
Not a fan of the VCT-14 plate for such a small camera but aside from that I use the extension unit loads, use left hand focus/follow focus, use a 7Q and use the Wooden Camera baseplate with rosettes plus Zacuto QR should er paid with rail attachment.

And finally ditched the grip for a set of in expensive Smallrig rosette handles and dogbones.
 
I've done some research, but can't find a good riser for my Chrosziel matte box. It sits too low on the rails of the Zacuto Recoil Rig. Any sources for this? Checked SmallRig, but doesn't seem like they have anything. Thanks!
 
Hawk115 said:
I've done some research, but can't find a good riser for my Chrosziel matte box. It sits too low on the rails of the Zacuto Recoil Rig. Any sources for this? Checked SmallRig, but doesn't seem like they have anything. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Have you tried adjusting the rods' height? Don't own the Zacuto VCT but looks like the rails' height is adjustable.

Wouldn't want a baseplate that didn't conform to standard spacing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top