Anyone re-purpose Zacuto DOF kit for a 5D?

[benhuddleston]

I spent several thousand on the Zacuto DOF filmmaker kit last year. I'd love to find the best configuration for using it with the 5D now.

I just got off the phone with Zacuto to ask about configuring it for the 5DMk2 and she told me, "No, you'll have to buy a ton of new parts; do you want me to give you a quote for the Gunstock Maniac Slayer kit?"

"No," I says, "I'll just try to tinker-toy around with this 4 grand worth of parts you slung me last year and see what I come up with."

Needless to say, all the boys out there with wives understand the challenge you face convincing one of yet another several thousand dollar purchase that does not involve them in Tahiti for a month.

So, I'm off to start fiddling. If anyone out there has done this, I'd love to have a look.

Ben

 

[Starshine Video]

I guess I don't really see what the problem is. It looks to me that if you take off the Z-riser you have a pretty standard baseplate and rail system, is this not the case?

This is the unit you have correct?
http://store.zacuto.com/dof-filmmaker-baseplate-kit.html

 

[spectrumfilms]

Are you trying to do a studio tripod type set up or handheld? I would think it would be fairly easy to retool most of your existing stuff for a studio type set up. The stuff is designed to be modular.
This may help.

http://store.zacuto.com/DSLR-Cine-Baseplate-Kit.html

 

[ethansigmanproductions]

i have a bunch of zacuto stuff on one of my small cams, and scooped a 5d recently. Don't have the wife, but i do have a girlfriend that is less than tickled with many of my recent purchases so i am looking to re-purpose soon also. the zacuto dslr base is smaller and lighter and we might yet need to raise the cam if we want to add a ff. they have a riser piece at zacuto we could add, and we need the stubby arms too.... it is all modular, but many of their pieces are purposed also, im going to investigate some too but i fear by the time we get it where we want it, the rig might weigh in at punishing weight that defeats some of the purpose of the endeavor- steady shots.

 

[benhuddleston]

Well, I did throw something together that works pretty well. It's offset to put the 5D closer to the middle of your face, and counterweighted in the back with 2 big IDX v-mounts. A matte box would make this front heavy, but not too bad. The whole rig is a little large and cumbersome, but it works in cases where that doesn't matter. You can always yank the camera off easily thanks to a cheapo (but nice!) quick release plate I got from Amazon for $10 (search "Sima" brand).