C300 Rigs to feel like a real camera

J

Jared Manders

New member
I am still looking to find a rig for the C300 that feels and balances like a real video camera (HDX900,Varicam,XDCAM etc). I played with Zacuto, Shape, looking at Tilta, maybe Red rock. The main problem is that I need a Vlock type shoulder mount that can convert from handheld to tripod and back in seconds just like I do with my other camera's. I will need to mount an Alphatron EVF to a side cage of some sort (no zacuto or isreali dangling arm for me) and have an anton bauer power supply on the back for misc stuff like outboard recorder, audio wireless hop, etc. I've seen some rigs that look very nice (guy's in particular) but afraid of the balancing for my personal preference. Really would like a traditional shoulder pad where the weight is distributed evenly on my shoulder and I look through the EVF the traditional way.

Its amazing how much Im struggling with parts and pieces from 82 vendors. Just wish I can walk into a shop (I dont live in LA) and make it happen in one afternoon instead of a billion dollars of Fed ex deliveries just to try stuff out.

Any help? Really struggling here.:(
 
Jim,
Will this also hold good for the 1D C? Any suggestions for a rig to hold long lens (canon 400 f2.8)?
Cheers,
Sabyasachi
 
Jim--that's a cute solution for those who don't have viewfinders but since the Alphatron is in play for the OP, probably not useful. I would also point out that to make this setup really work properly it would take an equal amount of counterweight on the shoulder rods to get the camera to balance, and even then you have created an offset weight distribution that will tend to precess when moving, since ideally the mass should be centered, parallel or perpendicular to the lens plane.
 
Here's our Arri rig with counter weights mounted for a low center of gravity:
C300_Rig.jpg
It's very stable, but pulling focus or zoom makes it less so. No way to use the ocular viewfinder.

We were hired to shoot a BTS of an elaborate spot this past weekend, and the producer wanted to shoot either with 3)C300's or P2 Varicams. Since I was one of the shooters, I pushed for the P2 Varicams--just makes more sense for two-days of hand held.

The two principal cameras on talent were 2)C300's, one on sticks, the other hand held. The C300 had a full shoulder rig, but the DP opted to use an Easy Rig instead, which requires a fair amount of weight to work properly. Meanwhile, I was happy I had the ENG form factor and ENG HD zooms!
 
Try the http://www.cinemecanix.com/ rig. It is the "mother of all rigs". They have a Steadicam type top-stage mount for tripod so you can go from shoulder to stand in seconds. It is perfectly balanced on your shoulders (you can even let go) and you can put the camera off-center in front of your face to use the C300 viewfinder directly as an EVF. I use it that way a lot. A general article on the rig is found here: http://www.bravnicar.blogspot.com/2012/10/cinemecanix-rolls-royce-of-camera.html.
c300.jpg

 
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alphaville said:
Try the http://www.cinemecanix.com/ rig. It is the "mother of all rigs". They have a Steadicam type top-stage mount for tripod so you can go from shoulder to stand in seconds. It is perfectly balanced on your shoulders (you can even let go) and you can put the camera off-center in front of your face to use the C300 viewfinder directly as an EVF. I use it that way a lot. A general article on the rig is found here: http://www.bravnicar.blogspot.com/2012/10/cinemecanix-rolls-royce-of-camera.html.


Click to expand...


Interesting looking rig. Haven't seen this before. I like how it gets the camera down below or level with shoulder height and it doesn't seem to sacrifice comfort to do so.

Might have to look into trying this out with my Blackmagic.

Thanks for sharing
 
tilta is perfect rig for c300! cam sits right on your shoulder and the monitor on top handle can be flipped so that it will be right in front of your eyes - the exactly right spot! - just a perfect rig! (just to clearify i am not talking about their new c300 rig, i am talking about their standart rig)
 
Jim Martin said:
I posted this before.......the Sympla rig, by changing the off-set to go down instead of up, puts the C300/500's rear eye piece in the perfect spot.
http://blog.filmtools.com/2012/07/17/discover-custom-camera-rig-solutions-at-filmtools/

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com
Click to expand...

I would get a bent neck after 1 hr of using this rig and need a 1 hr chiropractor session after a day of shooting like this:)
This: http://www.cinemecanix.com/ looks good, VERY good.
I am very happy with an old Arri SR rig from the 60´s with a hip sustain arm, after having spent too much for all the other ones.
Most important IMO is to check if you can hold a straight posture if you keep whatever camera on your shoulder for days.
 
THe C 300 is not a varicam, if you want a varicam, then get one. its far better than trying to dress up your C 300 as a varicam, which as far as handling goes, it will never be.
 
Not quite sure what you are talking about in regards to the Sympla rig. Why not physically try it with a C300 in a shop in your area...it does put the rear eyepiece in the right spot....no chiropractor needed....unless you are just trying to pitch the other unit......

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com
 
Oh sure, but as pictured the shooter has the rig on their shoulder and both hands on the grips not on the rocker zoom, ( there is none) or the focus ring, which is where hands would be if you we're shooting with a hpx 3000, 3100 pr 3700 Varicam.

i have a c300 and I love it . Best camera I've had in 8 or 9 years as a matter of fact, and I have had more than a few. I don't really care to try to dress it up as a shoulder rig because for almost all of my purposes that route fails . A Panasonic 3100 with a wide angle zoom is a killa doc style cam. First and foremost there are no lens options for the c300 that remotely come close to duplicating the aforementioned combo. Then there is the form factor of the 3100 . Maybe one can kinda sorta approximate that config with a c300 with a bunch of tinker toy add on handles and plates but you're still not close in functionality to the 3100.

Love the c 300 for what it is , and I do , but is sure ain't a decent shoulder mount camera no matter what you do.
p
 
I am going to throw this out there, and I know it is going to generate some Poo-Poos, but I bought a simple, heavy shoulder mount a while back that I really liked, but had put away. I recently pulled it out to shoot with a FS100 and it is great, for me. These modern light weight, but somewhat "Klunky" cameras. are frustrating. While coming up, I shot guerrilla fictional narrative with an Arri SR II, and loved the freedom and expediency of having a stable shoulder mount camera. When I put my FS100 on the CB-105 shoulder mount, linked to below, it felt, moved and operated very much like having an SR on my shoulder. I am not saying that it is the prefect rig, and that it will work for every camera, but no bit of gear I have seen can give that, "I have a real camera on my shoulder" feeling like the CB-105 shoulder mount and I have never shot more stable hand held footage than I did with it. I guess they have made an upgraded versions also.

http://www.dynamicmotionvideo.com/index2.php#/home/


Here is a link to a post I made when I first got the gizmo. I had a good bit of business then shooting events with a handy-cam style DV camcorder (Sony PD-150) and the shoulder mount was a life saver.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?180709-The-Best-70-I-have-Spent-in-a-Long-Time

Hey, just a suggestion.
 
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If you get the Arri grip relocator and it's 15mm rod adapter, remove the right side handle from the Sympla, then you have control...and the eyepiece ends up the the perfect position.

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com
 
C300_Hybrid_Arri_Sympla_Rig.jpg Here's my Arri/Sympla hybrid rig with counterweight. Balance is good until reaching for follow focus. Yeah, definitely prefer a Varicam.
 
Dino said:
View attachment 64247 Here's my Arri/Sympla hybrid rig with counterweight. Balance is good until reaching for follow focus. Yeah, definitely prefer a Varicam.
Click to expand...

Dino as you know I replaced my P2 Varicam with a C300. I recently built a rig it using the Sympla w/Shape shoulder mount + Shape counterweight and handles. It puts the eyepiece right where it needs to be. Unfortunately the weight is all in front, even with the counterweight. I tried adding weight and it just makes it more cumbersome.

So for me it has to be on the shoulder or handheld. Before building the Sympla I used a rig with pricy 21 inch Chroziel carbon rods that weigh nothing, Shape handles and the Zacuto studio plate. The rods rest on the shoulder comfortably - no padding necessary. I used this for running around with the lens wide open only while waiting for the Alphatron to become available this past summer. I later bought the Sympla in hopes I could get by without an EVF, but no cigar.

So next I guess it's time for the Alphatron with the Solid Camera EVF mount attached to a Genus or similar C300 cheeseplate. Wish there was an even better EVF available - Oled or??? Coming from the Varicam we're spoiled with broadcast viewfinders.
 
C300 with Wooden Camera EVF support.jpgC300 with Wooden Camera support 1.jpgC300 with Easy Rig Mini Strong.jpg
I hear you about rigs and viewfinders, as I also come from an EFP background with shoulder mount cameras.

My C300 sits on a Zacuto base with rods and a shoulder mount. I have recently changed the EVF mount to a Wooden Camera EVF Mk2 version support which does work very well. I can turn the angle of the EVF with one hand with no levers to turn.

The other big change for me was in using this rig hand held for several hours really knocked me out as its really front heavy. So I tried out the Easy Rig Mini Strong which to my great surprise has worked exceptionally well. Its very quick to set up and now means I can hand hold this camera effortlessly for a long time and get very still shots.

I know you can counterbalance the camera at the rear to offset the front heaviness of the rig, but I really did not want to add more weight to the camera rig.
 
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