FS7: Best Stabiliser For FS7
- Thread starter Liam Hall
- Start date
Viddovation
Veteran
I definitely know people use the FS7 with a Ronin unit. Not sure which one. They tend to take off the top handle, then flip the camera upside down I think. They just flip the footage right side up in post. Without the top handle, and not using the loupe on the viewfinder, the camera gets significantly more compact, and somewhat lighter I believe.
Adam_Levins
Active member
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Adam_Levins
Active member
Wow, the iPad is not great for posting on dvxuser! It auto rotates the pics.
Adam_Levins
Active member
Not sure why you would flip the camera? I attached a small waterproof iPhone case to the top cheese plate so I could put lead in, as the whole rig tends to be front heavy. Or you can buy the extenstion arms.
benjaminreece
Active member
You definitely don't want the Ronin M as the fs7 barely balances without extension arms. Without you need a light lens as its front heavy even the most backloaded config. Or you can use awkward weights which increase setup time.
my recommendation? Extension arms from cinemilled or the cheaper cnc ones.
with the extension arms you can balance with the top handle attached + a variety of lenses. Beware it's as heavy as an epic rig, so just take that into consideration. If you've never "flown" either, basically it means you can do takes 2-3 short or 1 long with breaks or switching operators. Otherwise you need some easy rig or vest support system.
also I don't have any pics but I run the VF to the ronin handles just fine. It's a fine small extra screen for the operator to have as reference.
my recommendation? Extension arms from cinemilled or the cheaper cnc ones.
with the extension arms you can balance with the top handle attached + a variety of lenses. Beware it's as heavy as an epic rig, so just take that into consideration. If you've never "flown" either, basically it means you can do takes 2-3 short or 1 long with breaks or switching operators. Otherwise you need some easy rig or vest support system.
also I don't have any pics but I run the VF to the ronin handles just fine. It's a fine small extra screen for the operator to have as reference.
Liam Hall
Veteran
@Adam have you got any footage using that set-up? And yeah, iPad/iPhone sucks with the forum software!
I'm only considering the Ronin M with an AS7, but looking for possible solutions with other set-ups using the FS7. I need something that is not going to give me a detached clavicle after two takes though!
I'm only considering the Ronin M with an AS7, but looking for possible solutions with other set-ups using the FS7. I need something that is not going to give me a detached clavicle after two takes though!
Adam_Levins
Active member
Sorry Liam, It was a commercial shot I just did last week so I can't share the footage (I don't actually have the footage anyway).
I have had the Ronin for about 9 months and I would say it actually functions better with a FS7 than a A7s. I am going to pick up the M version for my A7S as this bigger rig really requires a easyrig which is not always ideal.
I have had the Ronin for about 9 months and I would say it actually functions better with a FS7 than a A7s. I am going to pick up the M version for my A7S as this bigger rig really requires a easyrig which is not always ideal.
benjaminreece
Active member
One more thought on that
if you do a lot of run and gun/docu style shooting/long takes/event, the weight of ronin + a7s is even too much. (Ronin m + a7s, would need to use for a while like I have with the ronin to weigh in on difference)
but with all that said, we have had 4-5 medium/small budget commercial shoots (Polaris, Nike, etc) where the shots were boarded out and takes had a healthy "reset to your 1" w/ feedback on blocking from director.
in those scenarios, the ronin with epic was just fine without easy rig/vest. In fact, the vest/rig would have gotten in the way of a lot of the shots planned in the boards.
arms free with a ronin can do a lot of motion/movement that would have required a lot of custom grip/cam department work in the past. Vests, while we have used them with the ronin, def come with a trade off of mobility and setup times between shots.
One more thought on that
if you do a lot of run and gun/docu style shooting/long takes/event, the weight of ronin + a7s is even too much. (Ronin m + a7s, would need to use for a while like I have with the ronin to weigh in on difference)
but with all that said, we have had 4-5 medium/small budget commercial shoots (Polaris, Nike, etc) where the shots were boarded out and takes had a healthy "reset to your 1" w/ feedback on blocking from director.
in those scenarios, the ronin with epic was just fine without easy rig/vest. In fact, the vest/rig would have gotten in the way of a lot of the shots planned in the boards.
arms free with a ronin can do a lot of motion/movement that would have required a lot of custom grip/cam department work in the past. Vests, while we have used them with the ronin, def come with a trade off of mobility and setup times between shots.
Isn't it true that one cannot hold anything with one's arms out in front of one for very long? As mentioned earlier in this thread one cannot do very long takes or very many short takes before one's arms are done for at least several hours, can one?
The vendors of course do not say this and few proponents mention it. A rig for the rig and/or vest enables one to do more.
Although useful, some might see this use of such rigs as another fad like lens flares and shakey cam.
Y'all be cool,
Robert
benjaminreece
Active member
We have gone through several 12 hour day shoots with ronin only/no vest or easy rig just fine. A revolution compared to laying down dolly tracks etc for some shots
Liam Hall
Veteran
One more thought on that
if you do a lot of run and gun/docu style shooting/long takes/event, the weight of ronin + a7s is even too much. (Ronin m + a7s, would need to use for a while like I have with the ronin to weigh in on difference)
Luckily, I'm a short takes merchant.
Thanks for your feedback Benjamin.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Steadicam zephyr?
Ronin works well, but while you technically can not have a vest, but it helps tremendously with any Gimbal because it frees up one hand to adjust focus, hit the record button, change camera perimeters, etcs... Without the vest, you can only hold the camera for a few minutes before it's exhausting and no free hands. I have the cheap-ish Atlas Camera vest and I can have two free hands as the rig suspends from the vest and can hold the thing for much longer. Well worth it for any type of serious / paid work.
starcentral
Veteran
I second a steadicam.
For the FS7 I would suggest either a used Flyer or Zephyr. The Zephyr is a bit pricey as its the current model. I have the Flyer 24LE and its great for camera setups 4-20lbs. On the heavier side I've used it with my Sony F55 fully rigged and on the lighter side, well today in fact, I used it with a beta version of the Logmar super 8mm camera with nice Schneider 6-66mm zoom with a total weight at just under 5lbs and it flew great.
Here's a pic from today;
For the FS7 I would suggest either a used Flyer or Zephyr. The Zephyr is a bit pricey as its the current model. I have the Flyer 24LE and its great for camera setups 4-20lbs. On the heavier side I've used it with my Sony F55 fully rigged and on the lighter side, well today in fact, I used it with a beta version of the Logmar super 8mm camera with nice Schneider 6-66mm zoom with a total weight at just under 5lbs and it flew great.
Here's a pic from today;
starcentral
Veteran
That's an antenna, the camera has wifi support apparently but I didn't bother messing around with it.
Here is a more detailed post on the Logmar that I wrote but it's not a review by any means.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?337076-Shot-with-the-Logmar-super8mm-camera-today
The Steadicam pilot is well built but might max out the rating once you add other bits and pieces but if you keep it light I'm sure it would work great.
Here is a more detailed post on the Logmar that I wrote but it's not a review by any means.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?337076-Shot-with-the-Logmar-super8mm-camera-today
The Steadicam pilot is well built but might max out the rating once you add other bits and pieces but if you keep it light I'm sure it would work great.