C500: C500 MkII / C300 MkIII Monitor Mounts

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digitalinnovations

Well-known member
Alright, so I’ve tried three different monitor mounts and I still cannot seem to find a solution I am happy with on my C500 MkII’s.

On both of my rigs I’ve switched out the original top handle and opted for the Shape cages; each with a different top handle but both have lots of 3/8 anti-twist mounting points.

The Shape monitor mount have a weird issue where you can mount the monitor ONCE. If you remove the monitor from their mount it strips the threads on the rod clamp when you attempt to put it back on. I’ve tried a total of 3 of them and everyone did the same. Obviously, after the first I was sure to be very cautious and gentle in case it was “operator error” but alas they all ended up the same and I can’t just leave everything together all the time due to different setups / loading in cases for travel, etc.

I also tried the Vocus and this one was closer BUT I think the version I got was actually for the C200 because the mount holes do not line up. One does for the C500 but if you notice on the mount it has two mounting points which would be great for stability / securely mounting the touchscreen - which is what originally drew me to that mount. The single point was OK but what ultimately ruined it for me was all the tightening clamps...no such thing as quick adjustments but the Shape had the somewhat the same issue.

As a third solution, I’ve tried stripping the Canon mount down to just the tilting bracket. This works WONDERFULLY for quick adjustments that keeps the tilt position without needing to tighten / loosen things. They nailed the functionality but the issue I am having is where I actually screw the mount onto my handle keeps breaking loose and needs retightening because there is no anti-twist points on the bracket.

Do any of you have the same problem or a solution or a different mount you’ve had good luck with?
 
digitalinnovations said:
As a third solution, I’ve tried stripping the Canon mount down to just the tilting bracket. This works WONDERFULLY for quick adjustments that keeps the tilt position without needing to tighten / loosen things. They nailed the functionality but the issue I am having is where I actually screw the mount onto my handle keeps breaking loose and needs retightening because there is no anti-twist points on the bracket.

Do any of you have the same problem or a solution or a different mount you’ve had good luck with?
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That's what I am using but it's connected to the camera via a Wooden Camera top plate and Wooden Camera's small adapter piece. Photo on Instagram.

I have also added a Bright Tangerine Canon adapter to my WC handle. It gives me the option to mount the monitor to the handle. Photo on Instagram of the BT piece.

Both of these are made for the Canon monitor mount and are anti-twist.

Wooden Camera piece on their site

Bright Tangerine piece at B&H
 
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Any reason you haven't just mounted the screen straight to a Noga arm? That's what I've been doing, really helps when you're changing camera position all the time or going handheld and wanna have the screen close but the camera at your waist or something.

And Jon you're blowing my mind with that shock mount haha. I had no idea it had a hole in the middle there! Adding that to my cage now.
 
owlbot said:
Any reason you haven't just mounted the screen straight to a Noga arm?
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Not especially other than it’s just so handy to be able to adjust the position/tilt singlehanded. I guess I’m just lazy :) Also, I have had those issues with other, cheaper “noga” type arms where they loosen from their attachment points on the camera body / cage all the time so that kind of soured me on it but I’ve also never invested in some of the nicer arms and I know there are a few out there.

That said, I actually have an Ultralight setup that I used on my Amira and that system has been very solid with the 3/8 anti-twist attachment...it’s never loosened on me and holds positioning very well. The only downside to that system is it can get pretty bulky (for a camera the size of the C500 MkII) by the time you attach the Ultralight ball mount and again, doesn’t really allow for the singlehanded operation.

Now I’ve got to go back and look at the shock mount...I missed it.
 
owlbot said:
Any reason you haven't just mounted the screen straight to a Noga arm? That's what I've been doing, really helps when you're changing camera position all the time or going handheld and wanna have the screen close but the camera at your waist or something.

And Jon you're blowing my mind with that shock mount haha. I had no idea it had a hole in the middle there! Adding that to my cage now.
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The shock mount to the top plate is nice and simple. Ideally it needs an anti-twist thingie but all good so far.

When I had C300M2s and the LM-V1 touchscreen for them I used small Ultra Arms to mount the monitor. It worked great but it's harder to change on the fly with one hand when working quickly or solo and still keep the monitor level. I find it's not uncommon for me to need a slight tweak to monitor position, tilt up or down, especially when running around. I also find that if that if the monitor is not close to level then my shots suffer from the same.

I have tried EVF adapters and they work, they stay level, but with the C500M2 I thought I'd give Canon's OEM knuckle a go.
 
Ah I see, I will say for situations where I'd be one-handed I've actually got an elastic guitar strap rigged to the cage so I can just let go if I need to and it'll stay where I'm usually shooting from (around chest/waist height). Silly, but it works!
 
I don't think there's a better system out there than the Upgrade Innovations "Rudy Arm", uses 15mm rods, clamps and knuckles to give you complete adjustability, and complete rigidity (even with heavy monitors or accessories.

Beats the pants off any Noga-style arm I've ever tried. And the way they use o-rings to create hard-stops and points of sustained friction, is just brilliant.

Highly recommended.

https://upgradeinnovations.com/product-tag/rudy-arm-system/
 
@ OwlBot that’s not silly at all! I sent up my B-Cam in a helicopter with a not-so-experienced camera op (now THAT is silly) so I had the Canon provided strap cross-bodied on him along with the chest pad setup you suggested and it worked like a champ.

@ Grug Thank you! I will definitely check their system out.

I love this forum! It’s an amazing resource because we’ve all figured out different ways to accomplish similar goals so if something isn’t working...just ask here and chances are someone has a different solution.
 
Grug said:
I don't think there's a better system out there than the Upgrade Innovations "Rudy Arm", uses 15mm rods, clamps and knuckles to give you complete adjustability, and complete rigidity (even with heavy monitors or accessories.

Beats the pants off any Noga-style arm I've ever tried. And the way they use o-rings to create hard-stops and points of sustained friction, is just brilliant.

Highly recommended.

https://upgradeinnovations.com/product-tag/rudy-arm-system/
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Thanks for posting this. I definitely want to check these out.
 
I have a c200 and I HATE the monitor attachment. For a while I used a redrock micro spud on the side of the monitor, attached to a NATO rail via zacuto z-rail z-mount.

This was great for always being level and single handed, tilt only adjustments. Although the monitor didn't "spin" much and I could lock the screen in place, I still wanted something with adjustable friction, not just "off" or "on (locked)". This set up was also too wide for transport so it required adding/removing the monitor each time. Not a big deal to some but I'd rather the camera be built as much as possible rather than assembling before shooting.

Onto my current solution, which could work with the c500ii/c300iii, the smallrig swivel and tilt mount.

I mount this to the side of the LCD, not underneath. From there the arri accessory mount goes into the side of small rig top plate. This could easily go into the side of a top handle with arri holes.

Screen adjustments are great and the monitor always stays on the camera, angled close to the buttons on the side for transport.

This won't work for everyone because it's such a personal thing but I think this is my final form of LCD monitoring for the c200.
 
I use the ULCS arm system It works great, and gives me MUCH more flexibility than the lame Canon monitor arm. I even have the extra weight of the Zacuto Z-Finder
and the ULCS supports it beautifully. I will be up front, you cannot hold the camera with one hand and adjust the ULCS system with one hand, it required you putting the
camera down and using both hands to position it but once you do, it stays put pretty well.

https://ulcs.com/cinematography-camera-accessories/

www.filmtools.com sells 'em
 
Yes, I do really like my Ultra Light setup and it holds really, really well! I’d argue it’s the best out there for what it does. I used it pretty much exclusively (once I found it) when running a 7” monitor on sticks or EasyRig or when you kind of set your monitor position for extended periods. It’s just the one-handed thing that keeps me from running it now and truthfully, I have run it a couple times handheld while experimenting with how to setup my C500 but I’d just love to have ability to make quick adjustments when having to operate reactively to the action.

I sound so spoiled. Haha.
 
I like the Bright Tangerine Titan arm, because it is solid if I need it to be, but adjustable on the fly if I need that too because of it's friction system.

Upgrade Innovations is just around the corner from me, and the owners are great people. The Rudy arm with it's ball loc system is rock solid
 
digitalinnovations said:
Yes, I do really like my Ultra Light setup and it holds really, really well! I’d argue it’s the best out there for what it does. I used it pretty much exclusively (once I found it) when running a 7” monitor on sticks or EasyRig or when you kind of set your monitor position for extended periods. It’s just the one-handed thing that keeps me from running it now and truthfully, I have run it a couple times handheld while experimenting with how to setup my C500 but I’d just love to have ability to make quick adjustments when having to operate reactively to the action.

I sound so spoiled. Haha.
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That sounds like you need to spend the money for the Zacuto Axis Mini to me. I already had the ULCS from years ago and I am too cheap to spend the money for the full setup so I live with it and for most things, it's fine.
But yeah, if you need run & gun one handed adjustment, I'd go the full Zacuto system.
 
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puredrifting said:
That sounds like you need to spemd the money for the Zacuto Axis Mini to me. I already had the ULCS from years ago and I am too cheap to spend the money for the full setup so I live with it and for most things, it's fine.
But yeah, if you need run & gun one handed adjustment, I'd go the full Zacuto system.
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I haven’t looked at that one. I’ll have to check it out Thanks!
 
digitalinnovations said:
I haven’t looked at that one. I’ll have to check it out Thanks!
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It has a more controlled amount of movement but I believe that one of the selling points is you can move the screen/evf with one hand and leave it a bit loose and it stays and is workable.
But you then need all of their little brackets and adapters to make it all work. Not a cheap system but a good one.
 
I have a Gratical HD on an Axis Mini... and I have to say, it's pretty damn cool. I tried to cheap out for a while and was never super happy, then one day I snagged an Axis Mini on eBay from Zacuto's scratch and dent account and wondered why I held out for so long. It's a very nicely designed system.

I already had the Zacuto top handle, so I didn't need any additional fiddly bits.

It's completely one-hand adjustable and you can set the tension wherever's comfortable and works for your specific gear that's hanging off of it. It's effortless.

I used to make a lot of fun of Zacuto stuff for the pricing... and I still think some of their stuff is stupidly overpriced... but some of their engineering work is top notch.

My monitor (on the C200, and soon the C300 Mark III) is mounted with a combination of part of the Canon arm and the Zacuto adapter that lets it mount into one of the cold shoes on the Recoil top handle. I'm less happy with that solution, to be honest.

I'm tempted to sell off the Gratical and just get a Z-Finder for the touchscreen... but that Gratical is so so so so so nice.
 
jbregar said:
I have a Gratical HD on an Axis Mini... and I have to say, it's pretty damn cool. I tried to cheap out for a while and was never super happy, then one day I snagged an Axis Mini on eBay from Zacuto's scratch and dent account and wondered why I held out for so long. It's a very nicely designed system.

I already had the Zacuto top handle, so I didn't need any additional fiddly bits.

It's completely one-hand adjustable and you can set the tension wherever's comfortable and works for your specific gear that's hanging off of it. It's effortless.

I used to make a lot of fun of Zacuto stuff for the pricing... and I still think some of their stuff is stupidly overpriced... but some of their engineering work is top notch.

My monitor (on the C200, and soon the C300 Mark III) is mounted with a combination of part of the Canon arm and the Zacuto adapter that lets it mount into one of the cold shoes on the Recoil top handle. I'm less happy with that solution, to be honest.

I'm tempted to sell off the Gratical and just get a Z-Finder for the touchscreen... but that Gratical is so so so so so nice.
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I did my first handheld C200 shoot yesterday in a long while and utilized the EVF Pro. I just use the joystick to select things and move the focus box and don't really care about touch screen most of the time.
The Graticals are nice, very nice, but I'm too cheap and need too many other pieces.
 
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puredrifting said:
I did my first handheld C200 shoot yesterday in a long while and utilized the EVF Pro. I just the joystick to selct things and move the focus box and don't really care about touchscreen most of the time.
The Graticals are nice, very nice, but I'm too cheap and need too many other pieces.
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I guess I'm just stuck in my ways and having shot so much sports over my career, I place a lot of emphasis on the EVF. A good one is worth its weight in gold(fortunately they're not priced like that, anymore).
 
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