Base plate options

Michael Solomon

Michael Solomon

Well-known member
So first off, let me start by saying I'd love a berkey fs100 baseplate and plan on getting one in the future. However, short term, my money and cash flow has been depleted by my FS100 & accessories acquisition.

So I'm looking for a short term cheaper baseplate alternative. Preferably something $200 and under. I was wondering if there were any other alternatives out there. The cheapest alternative I've been able to find so far is the Genus hot plate but that runs $370.

It doesn't need to be the best thing in the world, but I also want to be able to mount my camera for 3-4 gigs and not be worried/paranoid. Should fit on a 15mm set-up and have vertical adjustments to allow for use with a matte box

Would also be interested in top-handle solutions that are $200 and under.
 
Hi Michael,

I'm just over $200 for a top handle still, and it has a mini cheesplate that comes with, (2x 1/4 and 2x 3/8) what I call a cheesebase. The full length Shotgrip comes with 12" of 15mm real estate up top, so you get a lot of attaching area. It rotates so you've also got just general sweetness. it's also got built in handlebars: when you swing it over 90 degrees you have 12" of handlebar running sideways for LED lights & kit. And no other handle attaches in 4 places. it's strong.
OK Pitch over, video below.
 
Yah I saw yours, and am genuinely considering it =)

Depends on how cheep of a baseplate I can find if I buy your handle or not =p

side note: how do you mount the included shotgun mic for the fs100 since it looks like the cheese base eats the hot shoe mount
 
Yes it does "eat it". Well put ;) I find 1/4 20 to hotshoe units at bhphoto for $8. I havn't tested one yet but I think I should because we should re-sell one that is affordable and works well. If you will be the official "shooting machine hot shoe tester" I think we can arrange a special discount on the handle. ;) Email me if you're interested. dp at calebcrosby.com

To answer your question, the sony tube that holds the sony mic is true 15mm (exactly the same spec we mill to in fact) so I just pop it into one of the stub clamps we make and spin it down on the cheesebase. I'll have a video up maybe tomorrow on this actually.
 
plasticam said:
Yes it does "eat it". Well put ;) I find 1/4 20 to hotshoe units at bhphoto for $8. I havn't tested one yet but I think I should because we should re-sell one that is affordable and works well. If you will be the official "shooting machine hot shoe tester" I think we can arrange a special discount on the handle. ;) Email me if you're interested. dp at calebcrosby.com

To answer your question, the sony tube that holds the sony mic is true 15mm (exactly the same spec we mill to in fact) so I just pop it into one of the stub clamps we make and spin it down on the cheesebase. I'll have a video up maybe tomorrow on this actually.
Click to expand...

Ah I was wondering how to rig up the mic clamp onto the handle!
 
Yeah Rob, these clamps are killer. since their 2 piece the can go anywhere, c-stand arms, light stands, anything about the size of a finger. I raised the price to 65 so I can include the insanely expensive ($10) thumbscrews with them - they are that good tho. Finger adjsut anything in seconds. You can buy w/o the screws if you want to save 15. for lock down you don't need them, but anything you will adjust you need em. So as not to hijack here-

Michael- have you seen the 16x9 baseplate? I saw it in person recently and it's the best I've seen. I have contact info but not a price. They are 16x9.com I think. nicely made!
 
Michael, don't be afraid to contact these folks directly and see if they might have some returned units or "seconds". If you can handle using a piece that isn't brand new or perfect, you might be able to save enough to make it affordable. And, since it's a baseplate, nobody's going to see it anyway.
 
The handle attaches at 4 points through the base plate. The shaft itself is a single thread but it's made like the tie rods on a car. It's machined in way that increases mechanical surface area many fold- creating something very strong. The connection there transfers the forces out through the other three points. I'm not an engineer but everyone who uses it comments on the strength.
Don't let the good looks fool ya, she's made to work ; )
 
Hey Michael,

Take a look at our microSupport Baseplate. At $249 it includes a camera quick release, a shim-able rod clamp, and the camera riser block has left right adjustment, so it's pretty universal and future proof. And of course it's all covered by our lifetime warranty so you can buy with confidence. Let me know if you have any questions!

21-066-0006_med.jpgmicroSupport_baseplate_lowriser_lg.jpg
 
Loren, That's a good price and I like the QR. Nice touch. Wish my Zacuto had that.

What about the rod holders - only one is different for me. How long are they? The part that the
rod mates against? Thx
 
Michael Solomon said:
So first off, let me start by saying I'd love a berkey fs100 baseplate and plan on getting one in the future. However, short term, my money and cash flow has been depleted by my FS100 & accessories acquisition.

So I'm looking for a short term cheaper baseplate alternative. Preferably something $200 and under. I was wondering if there were any other alternatives out there. The cheapest alternative I've been able to find so far is the Genus hot plate but that runs $370.

It doesn't need to be the best thing in the world, but I also want to be able to mount my camera for 3-4 gigs and not be worried/paranoid. Should fit on a 15mm set-up and have vertical adjustments to allow for use with a matte box

Would also be interested in top-handle solutions that are $200 and under.
Click to expand...

I don't know of any baseplates under $200 that is of trustworthy quality and that will give you easy immediate height and other adjustments which might be necessary for you in the future. Instead of paying twice by getting a cheap baseplate now go with the Berkeysystems. Its top notch equipment that will be useful way into the future and if the fs100 baseplate is too expensive for you try their dslr baseplates which are cheaper. I use their dslr baseplate with my fs100 and its just fine.
 
Thank you so much guys for the very informative and detailed posts! I'll definitely be reaching out to you soon Caleb. I should be responsible and pay off this month's credit card bill before I put any more purchases on it =)

Loren, thank you for recommending the RR baseplate. Is there an option for the rods to extend beyond the rear of the baseplate? It looks like they can only go from the front out (sorry for the horrible articulation, rather tired today)
 
Michael,

I read ya' and you can totally send the rods all the way through the baseplate, as shown in a fellow DVXuser's rig:
rig2.jpg
Hope Bubble won't mind me plugging his great looking rig:happy:
 
not at all Loren. ;)

@Michael, microSupport baseplate, 15mm low riser is the one i use. You can have it extend as long as you can to the back (attach some counter weight to it too. ;) )

Here is how it looks:

IMG_1562.jpg
 
Loren,

Your welcome. Thanks for clarifying my muddy description. Yes I mean the length of the "clamp". Exactly. Correct me if I'm wrong, but to clarify for the poster here. bubble looks to be supporting the rear of the iris rods from his side cage. W/o this support it would be dubious to extend rods more than a few inches with only one inch of clamped surface. Yes? My base plate has two clamps on each side to support each rod. I think of this as a standard for strength, altho one of my Aaton's had a system more like yours and I never worried at all. Just to be clear though would you agree that this is essentially a lightweight plate? For smaller lenses and minimal build outs unless it's supported from another "structure" ala bubbles mean looking rig.

I don't say lightweight as a bad thing, a 200 plate with QR and full adjust is killer. I'm just thinking don't extend rods very far. Just guessing here but I'd think maybe 8" would be as far as I'd want to go. Thats 8:1 ratio.

Help me out here Loren!
 
caleb, you don't really have to use bracket for the rear iris rod. The reason i have the bracket there so that i can mount other stuff on the side and give more support for the handle.

rig6.jpg


it is naked it from the back. Is that what you're talking about?
 
Plasticam,

True, you wouldn't want to hang anything too heavy too far off the back without the additional support you gain from the cage setup that is common. But I've had an AJA with an Anton Hytron 140 hanging about 4 Inches away from the back of the camera and it was fine (without the cage support as well). That's a pretty beefy setup, and not sure what else I would even consider throwing on the back that would add enough weight to make me nervous. Note this was with stainless steel rods, my choice for tripod work.

Also do note that the system does grab onto both rods individually. So you can loosen one rod and the other one will remained locked.

And Thanks Bubble for your additional shot, I think he's worried about when you start packing on the pounds in the back of the system. But I'm always happy to see more user photos:2vrolijk_08:
 
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