Basic GH1 rig with accessories

Guess what rig Chase Jarvis was using for one of his shoots recently? His cameraman has the strap connected also and the camera is mounted directly on the main platform and not the additional riser.

ChaseJarvis_RigPic_NikonD3s.jpg



He shot with a bunch of different rigs, here's the "behind the scenes" video.

Randy


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I AGREE
 
Caveman so whats the name of the actual shoulder rig.. chase jarvis and the chinese guy are using, any idea where u get hold of them..
They look that I can get more stable shots, mo suitable for run n gun style then the "indisystem ultracompact" that I was gonna get.. don't they?
 
Cheers buddy! After watching the video I wonder if there is any point adding a rod system to it?
They show it in like a " film rig configuration"
I'll be shooting video but I prefer not to use the rod system... and obviously not the risky wobbly raiser either =D... it gotta b more Chase Jarvy style ;)...
Would I be fine without the rod system?
 
Im not concerned about the weight, dont think its going to break =D

Just wonder what the "rod system" is for, purpose, any advantage?
Why wud u assemble the rod system together with the cowboy studio rig? when you can mount your dslr straight to the cowboys base plate!
 
Perrona said:
Im not concerned about the weight, dont think its going to break =D

Just wonder what the "rod system" is for, purpose, any advantage?
Why wud u assemble the rod system together with the cowboy studio rig? when you can mount your dslr straight to the cowboys base plate!
Click to expand...

You need rods for a follow focus and accessory mounting. I use this rig with rods setup.
 
what is the simplest way of getting a couple of extra hot shoe mounts on the GH1 if I dont need to worry about being hand held? I'm only going to tripod mount it and then take it off to go on the glidecam but ideally would like to add a mic, zoom h4n, wireless receiver and maybe light so 4 in total.
 
xenogears said:
Look at Amazon for CowboyStudio Shoulder Support Pad 30$, for a nice review look here: http://dslrvideoshooter.com/cheap-20-dollar-rig-works-well-for-hdslr-work/

Cheers
Click to expand...

the one thing i'm concerned about is the position of the camera on that rig.
it seems too high for a proper head and eye positioning (i will use an eye piece, not the lcd).
i don't think it can be adjusted to a lower height.
i DID find this mount:
http://cgi.ebay.com/P32-DSLR-Video-...761?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0e82c5c1
that looks more height friendly (and also controls the horizontal positioning of the camera..)
what say you?
 
tikigod19 said:
what is the simplest way of getting a couple of extra hot shoe mounts on the GH1 if I dont need to worry about being hand held? I'm only going to tripod mount it and then take it off to go on the glidecam but ideally would like to add a mic, zoom h4n, wireless receiver and maybe light so 4 in total.
Click to expand...

You can use a large hot shoe extender like this (maybe too much weight on the GH1)
http://www.amazon.com/Rycote-Extens...FCKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298983995&sr=8-1

Or use this CPM Film tools uni-strunt (Nice semi cage, light and cheap)
http://www.cpmfilmtools.com/DSLR_Cage_p/021_uni-2 - 21.htm

Cheers
 
thanks xenogears, i already have the first thing and find it very flimsy and wobbly but the 2nd item looks interesting. Do you just buy the screw in female hot shoe mounts to attach them wherever you like? I had a nightmare finding the female screw thread hotshoe mounts on their own lately (in the UK anyway) do you have any suggestions?
 
tikigod19 said:
thanks xenogears, i already have the first thing and find it very flimsy and wobbly but the 2nd item looks interesting. Do you just buy the screw in female hot shoe mounts to attach them wherever you like? I had a nightmare finding the female screw thread hotshoe mounts on their own lately (in the UK anyway) do you have any suggestions?
Click to expand...

i prefer a flash bracket handle like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Adorama-Heavy-L-bracket-Standard-Mounts/dp/B002A92OVM/ref=pd_cp_e_3
mount it to the camera, then the tripod plate under the bracket attachment.

put one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Cool-lux-Bracket-Camcorder-Lights-Microphones/dp/B00009R7VN/ref=pd_cp_e_2
on top of the camera shoe and you've got 4 shoes AND a bit of a support rig for better handheld.

that's my setup and i've found it to work very well for me. its also insanely cheaper than any rig and breaks down very compact.
 
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averan said:
i prefer a flash bracket handle like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Adorama-Heavy-L-bracket-Standard-Mounts/dp/B002A92OVM/ref=pd_cp_e_3
mount it to the camera, then the tripod plate under the bracket attachment.

put one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Cool-lux-Bracket-Camcorder-Lights-Microphones/dp/B00009R7VN/ref=pd_cp_e_2
on top of the camera shoe and you've got 4 shoes AND a bit of a support rig for better handheld.

that's my setup and i've found it to work very well for me. its also insanely cheaper than any rig and breaks down very compact.
Click to expand...

that looks like a nice solution as I can remove the cool-lux light and sound bracket when I only need 2 shoes. The only thing is with the first item you linked to (flash bracket) it seems to screw into the bottom of the camera but I can't see how you'd then attach a tripod plate to the bottom of that, but I assume thats possible?
 
tikigod19 said:
...The only thing is with the first item you linked to (flash bracket) it seems to screw into the bottom of the camera but I can't see how you'd then attach a tripod plate to the bottom of that, but I assume thats possible?
Click to expand...

The knob is actually threaded on the bottom. (I've had a couple of those brackets.) I don't suggest using them. In my experience, it puts a massive amount of stress on the mount, twists easily, and messes with the balance of the camera. I tried using one for a wedding reception several years ago, and it was the worst night of shooting ever! :D

I once bolted a tripod plate to the bottom of one, (the actual bracket...not the plastic knob) and it made the setup rock solid, and even made changing the battery on the GH1 doable without taking the camera off the tripod. I don't really like the setup, and don't need it for my paid work, but it was WAY better than attaching the plate to the knob...and gave you two off-camera cold shoes for about $15....much cheaper than a huge $400 "cage".

I also picked up some aluminum flat bar, and some L-brackets from eBay and Home Depot, and am going to make a redneck "cage" just for the heck of it. I've got all sorts of those eBay hot shoe adapters, swivel adapters, etc, that could be bolted to it...along with an LCD monitor+battery, shotgun mic, digital recorder, light, wireless shutter release receiver, quick release, etc, and still have room to keep a hot-shoe flash mounted on the camera. All in a compact setup...way more compact than those big "cages", all for dirt cheap. I don't really have a need for rails/follow focus, so that will help keep it more compact.


Here's one of those cheap flash brackets, with the tripod plate screwed into the knob:
(I attached it to my P&S just as a joke.)



Here's the bracket modified, with the plate bolted directly to it:
(I wouldn't use this either...the whole giant bracket thing is just plain silly.)





 
thanks for your replies guys. The cage looks versitle if I can add a hot shoe wherever I like byt my god is it ugly.

swyzlstyx your set up looks a bit more complicated but as the man who suggested the manfrotto quick release system (which i now use and love) I trust you..!

I'd be releasing my DSLR from the tripod regularly to put it onto a glidetrack. Do you think its best to try to work the accessories so I can leave behind certains things (eg a light and wireless receiver - unplugging it first of course) and just take with me the shotgun and zoom? I'm a bit worried about the balance of cam when its on the glidetrack or even glidecam. I would imagine that these are virtually unuseable on a glidecam with all of these off center accessories?
 
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