FS7: backheavy on Sachtler

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
Anybody else consistently troubled by the FS7 being back heavy on a Sachtler tripod?

A lot of Sachtler heads ( certainly my Sachtler 18 ) has the the quick release plate way back as if expecting a very front heavy camera.
Even with the sliding plate pushed all the way forward I'm usually nowhere near balanced, and often have to add a weight to my rails or tilt the head forward to compensate.

I'm using a Westside AV shoulder rig and an additional Cinevate Simplis quick release on the Sachtler plate so I can switch to other mounting options quickly . This even gives me a second sliding plate to push the camera forward, but its still not enough.

Anyone else annoyed by this and esp anyone with a solution. I'm thinking of having a plate made with threaded holes on one side to mate with the Sachtler plate, and unthreaded beveled holes for screws to grab the camera a couple of inches forward. I scoured the web looking for a cheese plate like this but didn't see anything.

Lenny
 
Actually I can't even tell what the heck that plate is supposed to do. I'm thinking 2 threaded holes like on the bottom of a camera , and 2 belveled holes a few inches up for screws to fix onto the camera - just an offset plate. The problem with a simple plate like that is whether the beveled holes will always line up with the camera screws or whatever you want to place there. In my case I want it to link up to a Simplis quick release hose threaded holes don't look standard. Instead of the beveled holes it would be even better to have a slot like you see on a typical Manfrotto type camera plate so it could fit various cameras.

So how about a manfrotto type slotted plate on one end and a cheese plate with threaded holes on the other -i.e. a camera offset plate. I think I'm dreaming though .
 
I don't like Sachtler heads(one of the reasons is the way they balance), but I'd check and see if they have extended length wedge plates. I have extended plates on all of my Vinten heads. They are the full length of my VCT plates and I am able to balance all of my cameras(VariCam's, C300 and F55) in all of their rigging permutations(different lenses, matte boxes, on-board monitors, etc.).
 
One thing you can do with many Sachtler head is reverse the way the sliding plate sits on top of the head - you need to remove the allen bolt that keep the sliding top plate from sliding all the way off, then slide it off the back end, and just slide it on from the front and stick the bolt back in.
Steve
 
They wouldn't suggest it because it's a modification. You can do it with heads that have the slide lock on the side. With those that have the slide lock at the front, under the plate, it won't work, but with these you may be able to remove the whole top assembly (6 allen bolts, easy, no-destructive) and put it in backwards. Worth fiddling about with.
Steve
 
Thanks I have the side lock, though I just realized what could for me be a simpler solution if it holds well enough. The Cinevate simplis quick release works well but the bottom doesn't have alternate scree holes to mount fore and aft - bad design IMHO. However if I just use one screw I can get it about an inch forward on the Sachtler plate , which is all I need. I'd rather have 2 screws , but if one will stay tight it would be fine. I think I'll try that before reversing the plate.

Neil- Do you understand how that C.O.G plate works ? It sounds like its designed to compensate for center of gravity balance, but how. Am I missing something obvious?
 
Last edited:
The problem with having only 1 bolt is it's liable to twist and come loose. If you have the side lock (Video 18 mki I guess?) Then it's easy to do, although just remembered you also have to remove the retainer at the front of the plate (1 allen bolt). It really is easy though - I'm hopeless and I can do it!Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top