FS7: Balancing an FS7 - a year down the line
- Thread starter bengiles
- Start date
traviswears
Well-known member
Link?
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Some more info in this link.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?341065-Best-option-for-Sony-BP-U60-U90-Batteries
Dolgin is a SWIT dealer & DVXuser Sponsor. I've bought batteries from them & transaction went smoothly. They're also very responsive to emails.
http://dolgin.net/zen_dolgin/index....facturers_id=&pfrom=&pto=&dfrom=&dto=&x=0&y=0
For OP Ben... my set up is very similar to Ben Scott's... with minor differences. No small rig handles on mine. I use the Shape Remote Extension handle w/ the Sony grip - which allows for quicker changes to length and position of the grip via button & quick release (quicker than just the Sony arm).
I have the Shape Lightweight plate w/ v-lock adapter on bottom - which is a bit thicker (and probably a bit heavier) than the WC baseplate on his. But then I use Small Rig 10" threaded rails for lens support in front - and Small Rig shoulder pad to slide onto 4" rails in back. After taking off tripod - the should pad can be slid on back rails quickly for hh work and adjusted fore/aft depending on balance/comfort. My heaviest lenses at the moment are the Canon 70-200mm or the Tokina Cinema 16-28. For the best balance for long hh work (which I haven't had to do much of) ... I also use either a BP-90 battery in back (as the light weight option) - or put on the Tilta V-Mount plate adapter that goes on where the raw unit is supposed to - and add Dracast Vlock battery - which can then also power camera and external monitor.
Not perfect - since there's nothing grasping the tail end of the sony tripod plate when on a tripod - but does allow for a lot of fairly quick options / changes to try and balance weight...
I have the Shape Lightweight plate w/ v-lock adapter on bottom - which is a bit thicker (and probably a bit heavier) than the WC baseplate on his. But then I use Small Rig 10" threaded rails for lens support in front - and Small Rig shoulder pad to slide onto 4" rails in back. After taking off tripod - the should pad can be slid on back rails quickly for hh work and adjusted fore/aft depending on balance/comfort. My heaviest lenses at the moment are the Canon 70-200mm or the Tokina Cinema 16-28. For the best balance for long hh work (which I haven't had to do much of) ... I also use either a BP-90 battery in back (as the light weight option) - or put on the Tilta V-Mount plate adapter that goes on where the raw unit is supposed to - and add Dracast Vlock battery - which can then also power camera and external monitor.
Not perfect - since there's nothing grasping the tail end of the sony tripod plate when on a tripod - but does allow for a lot of fairly quick options / changes to try and balance weight...
Bern Caughey
Veteran
I too fall into the camp of minimal rigging
Typically I'll dress the FS7 with a Shape Arm, Vocas Viewfinder Bracket, FS7 Z-Finder, Shape Lightweight (Rods) Plate, Wooden Camera Top Plate, OP/TECH "Super Classic" shoulder strap, & BP batteries.
Much of my operating is handheld, but only a portion on the shoulder, so prefer to keep the camera as compact, & lightweight, as practical. Also most my work involves air travel, & the less to transport the better.
To compensate for the lack of balance I often employ Image Stabilized lenses, & the shoulder strap is sometimes used to help support the camera between chest, & waist, height.
Typically I'll dress the FS7 with a Shape Arm, Vocas Viewfinder Bracket, FS7 Z-Finder, Shape Lightweight (Rods) Plate, Wooden Camera Top Plate, OP/TECH "Super Classic" shoulder strap, & BP batteries.
Much of my operating is handheld, but only a portion on the shoulder, so prefer to keep the camera as compact, & lightweight, as practical. Also most my work involves air travel, & the less to transport the better.
To compensate for the lack of balance I often employ Image Stabilized lenses, & the shoulder strap is sometimes used to help support the camera between chest, & waist, height.
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allenfacemire
Well-known member
I have found The Shape shoulder mount very well balanced. And they have a retrofit arm that allows you to mount the Sony grip on a spring loaded rosette for easy adjustment. Then you use the left arm pistol grip that also rosette mounted. Now you are pretty stable.
But getting the VF in the right position is critical for balance. Getting the finder in the sweet spot where you are taking full advantage of the shoulder mount is important to over all balance. The the inalienable piece of this ba lancing act is I use Zoom Sticks on all my lenses. Now I have finger access to my working zoom which is a Nikon 24/70.
With an Anton Bsttery on my extension, an Odyssey for monitoring/recording and a Zaxcom for my audio hop, I some in at about 21lbs. But that's 21 lbs well balanced. Noe it's like using an Aaron. 1 can shoot for hours in this config. and I'm betting I'm older than most of you out there. I cut my teeth shooting new sin the 60's.
But getting the VF in the right position is critical for balance. Getting the finder in the sweet spot where you are taking full advantage of the shoulder mount is important to over all balance. The the inalienable piece of this ba lancing act is I use Zoom Sticks on all my lenses. Now I have finger access to my working zoom which is a Nikon 24/70.
With an Anton Bsttery on my extension, an Odyssey for monitoring/recording and a Zaxcom for my audio hop, I some in at about 21lbs. But that's 21 lbs well balanced. Noe it's like using an Aaron. 1 can shoot for hours in this config. and I'm betting I'm older than most of you out there. I cut my teeth shooting new sin the 60's.
JPNola
Veteran
My lightweight HH rig
Ben, what happens when you let go of the left grip to ride focus? Doesn't that upset everything and cause the camera to want to tilt to the left? Or do you negate that by having the side of your head against the camera body? I do like the route you have taken. Although it obviously prohibits some shots such as camera low on ground or a handheld move where the camera is held by the top handle and the lens just clears an object ( a type of move that is a fav of mine ).
Ben Scott
Veteran
The arms are on rosettes that you can move/configure however you like in secs so a low handle-held move is easy peasy. Focusing isn't an issue at all. The shoulder pad is usually more forward than the pic sit the cam sits further back and is more balanced that it may appear. Either hand on lens or with an FF there isn't and issue of losing balance. Right hand takes the weight of the cam and left and provides balance and stability.
JPNola
Veteran
relativity
relativity
I hope Bern doesn't mind, but this is unintentionally humorous:
"I too fall into the camp of minimal rigging.
Typically I'll dress the FS7 with a Shape Arm, Vocas Viewfinder Bracket, FS7 Z-Finder, Shape Lightweight (Rods) Plate, Wooden Camera Top Plate, OP/TECH "Super Classic" shoulder strap, & BP batteries."
I suppose it is a statement upon the nature of cameras today when 5-item laundry list of aftermarket accessories is "minimal" rigging.
relativity
I hope Bern doesn't mind, but this is unintentionally humorous:
"I too fall into the camp of minimal rigging.
Typically I'll dress the FS7 with a Shape Arm, Vocas Viewfinder Bracket, FS7 Z-Finder, Shape Lightweight (Rods) Plate, Wooden Camera Top Plate, OP/TECH "Super Classic" shoulder strap, & BP batteries."
I suppose it is a statement upon the nature of cameras today when 5-item laundry list of aftermarket accessories is "minimal" rigging.
JPNola
Veteran
got funny bone?
got funny bone?
Okay, I'll bite- what sphere of production was MORE accessorized in the past than today?? :happy:
Thanks for the info on your rig. The black & white pic makes it look even more bada**.
got funny bone?
Okay, I'll bite- what sphere of production was MORE accessorized in the past than today?? :happy:
Thanks for the info on your rig. The black & white pic makes it look even more bada**.
JPNola
Veteran
I was used to Panavision, Arri, and Moviecam 35mm film cameras as well as Betacams of yesteryear that had few to no accoutrements. My comment was temporal based..."nature of cameras TODAY". As opposed to in the past. Both 35mm film cameras and broadcast video cameras were less accessorized in the past. I've been around long enough to recall when attaching wireless audio receivers to a camera was a novelty! DSLR video was also less accessorized in the past. Early on it was camera body and lens. That's it. Today it is often robo-cam rigs with a horde of add-ons. Even DSLR rigs that are two-man operated!
Jesus C. I found it humorous that he used "minimal" and then went on to list a host of accessories, that's all. Akin to saying you have a small family and then proceeding to name your 2 sisters and 3 brothers!
As far as modern gack attached to cameras there is also the huge RF transmitter we employ on many reality shows and live sports productions. Then there is the metal french flag you gotta position between your head and the transmitter to feebly attempt to block the brain-cancer causing radiation! Oh, the things we do for love.
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Besides the Top Plate, & Baseplate, the items on my list simply replace the OEM parts that came in the box. A casual observer be pressed to notice the difference between my build, & a stock FS7, especially without the diminutive baseplate (that's rarely mounted).
In my book that qualifies as "minimal rigging".
http://youtu.be/Supji8wGVyc
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Liam Hall
Veteran
Generally, I hate VST plates, but the new Sony VCT-U14 plate is surprisingly sturdy. I bought it because I have a job which requires a lot of handheld on a rig that usually has lots of gunk attached. I've paired it with the Tilta baseplate which works pretty well. Here's a shot of it in a fairly stripped down mode.
