Camera on shoulder or front of it?

wgzn and others,

In another topic I was advised to look at the new Lilliput 663 monitor. It's a 7" monitor and according to the specs 1400gram so almost 1,5 kg... VS. my fav Marshall V-LCD51 which is almost 1/5 of its weight, but only 5". And in this price range there's also the Ikan VK5 or maybe the VK7, but that's also 7".

My question: isn't a 7" monitor too big for a shoulder/cage setup? I understand that on a bigger image its easier to focus wbut isn't it uncomfortable big and front heavy to use it?
 
I was the one that suggested the http://www.ebay.com/itm/370779101392?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649


Yes it is heavier than that Marshall, but it features a 7" screen as opposed to the Marshall's 5" screen, and the body is made of metal.

Specs of the Marshall you pointed to is Resolution 800x480, Brightness 300 cd/m2, Contrast Ratio 600:1, a single HDMI Input with no pass through, and eats AA batteries like they are going out of style, so a different battery power adapter is a must.

While the specs on the Lilliput 663 O/P IPS is Resolution 1280x800, Brightness 400 cd/m2, Contrast Ratio 800:1, features HDMI pass through, and variable battery mount options.

In your other thread you stated that you didn't want to use a loupe, and were looking for a monitor, so I suggested this one, as I ordered it while waiting on the new Odyssey 7 to ship, and I was so impressed with it I ordered a second unit with SDI in & out.

As to your question: Isn't a 7" monitor too big for shoulder/cage setup?

Not for me, but your mileage may vary.
 
in my experience 7" is about the max id put on a rig. but that depends on the rig itself and there is no "best" answer. it all comes down to the features that are important to you.

size VS weight VS durability, resolution VS features, I/O and power options... the list goes on.

personally, if i were building a new rig from scratch id want a 5"-6" monitor (or as mentioned previously, a loupe/evf)
 
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wgzn, david,

Thanks both of you the help! As I can't try these products out prior to purchase your comments are invaluable!

I love Lilliput's pricing and price-value ratio, but somehow I think a monitor that big would be cumbersome for me. I'd like to keep my setup compact and mobile as possible.

So this is why I thought about the Marshall LCD50/LCD51. However with the D7000 as I see the picture size on the monitor during recording is reduced, so not really the best solution maybe for focusing.... Maybe a SmallHD DP4 would be better. I'm really thinking about going to get a SmallHD DP4 with EVF as it would be the most versatile solution. If only the pricing in Europe would be lower.....

Although I read somewhere that someone wrote that he didn't like the EVF solution, so he just stick to his DP6 or AC7 SmallHD and puts on a sunhood which he says can work great even outdoor..... So maybe going for a monitor and a good sunhood? DP4 + sunhood? Or shell out more mone for a DP6 (which is now AC7)??? But then again I'll have a 7" monitor....

It's tricky.... Although right now I'm shopping to shoot my no budget film, I'd happy to buy things that I could use effectively later on, so somehow future-proof. Marshall LCD51 isn't that futureproof..... DP4 maybe, but that was released a 1-2 years ago too....

Please guide me through the jungle... :D I already decided on the rig, monitor + lens is the next two big questions...
 
yeah. this is a tough one to choose if you dont have hands on access to them before purchase.

one thing that comes to mind is something ive told people for years "if you have to ask. you probably wont know the difference"
all along my career, ive pretty much loved what i bought at the time because it met my need i had. as i got more experience i learned more and saw other needs and i would sell what i had to finance the next level of product. and you'll do the same thing. so there is no need to kill yourself cross referencing a ton of specs that you may not need and probably cant afford.

here is my experience with monitors. ive owned and used ikan, panasonic, marshall and smallhd. and they were all fine for what i needed them to do. as of right now if i were going to suggest two id look at a variety of the ikan stuff and anything from smallhd. i have no experience with the lilliput products. so i cant be of any help there
 
After long hesitation, I placed an order for SmallHD DP4 + EVF. It's a substantial amount, but I hope it will be a useful tool, not just with my current, but future cameras as well!
 
And now convince me that Arri doesn't know how to build a rig....
Click to expand...
as long as what you mount on that rear plate is heavy enough and can be positioned effectively to counterbalance what's in front.

but no. as it is in that photo. it's not necessarily better.
i'm checking out of this discussion. you've been given more than enough information to figure out a rig that suits you.
 
wgzn said:
as long as what you mount on that rear plate is heavy enough and can be positioned effectively to counterbalance what's in front.

but no. as it is in that photo. it's not necessarily better.
i'm checking out of this discussion. you've been given more than enough information to figure out a rig that suits you.
Click to expand...

Yes, and thanks for the infos, however I'd like to consider other options before purchasing..... If I've used several rigs already then I could choose without asking believe me, but this is not the case, so all I can do is guess and question while exploring different options.

I really like the option of a Trusmt cage (or CGPro... they're the same) + shoulder pad, handles + counterweight if necessary
but still like the idea of a rig with a C-shaped "cage" and top handle like the lanpartes... But I've considered simple straight rigs like the redrock, jag35 and even a cheap camtree.... And I'd like to find the best solution for me as I don't have the money to experiment with several purchase...

By the way, thanks so far.
 
Does the LETUS TALON CAGE work well with the Nikon D7000? Can I open the battery and SD card door while attached in the cage? I really can't find anything concerning this question... not even a blog post...
 
WGZN,

What you think of this config:
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/...-Matt-Box-Safety-case-V-mount-Anton-Mount.jpg
http://www.soonwell.com/ebay_file/new_pic/Tilta-Kit_02.jpg

-mattebox
-FF
-batteries
+camera pushed back on the shoulder as possible....

I would really like to get something smaller than this type of cage, but:
1, I still didn't get any kind of definitive yes in any case of Trusmt like cages, that they will work with my D7000......
2, All of the cheaper cages seem bulkier than this one. This one seems to be sturdy at least...
3, the top handle is also rosette based and can be rotated....
 
ok. im back in briefly. only because you may buy something you'll regret.

YOU do NOT need a rig this elaborate.
YOU can get by with screw-on filters and sunshades. until you learn more and get more hands on experience.

IF you think you need a follow focus. the tilta is BY far my favorite (in fact, its the ONLY) sub $750 unit id even consider. next ones up are shoot35 and zacuto, then up into the uber-pricey stuff like arri.
TILTA makes good stuff. but their big rigs like this have a noticeable bit of flex to them. which may or may not be a problem for you. but as a zcuto owner, i'm a little biased ; )

if you have questions about whether or not your camera will work with something. i'd ask the manufacturers directly.
 
Thanks wgzn!

But.... What should I buy then? Don't buy this, don't buy that, that's not good, that's neither... What would you recommend for me?

The problem is that I didn't find any other feasible solution where the camera is on shoulder... only the lanparte baseplate/shoulderplate combo which is similar to Tilta, but seems bulkier and higher.

Price-wise I found that a cheaper Kamerar rig costs around 500 usd in Europe, while getting this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tilta-III-C...051?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8024d69b

....isn't that much more. But in the later case I can upgrade it, while the previous is a pretty basic stuff...

Plus.. Today I have the opportunity to check out a Fancierstudio rig in a photo shop.... Well, it goes for a little bit more then 500 USD, and although I only saw Tilta on the web, I think there's a huge difference between the two... I mean more than the price difference... For the money the Fancierstudio is a robbery...

I made several music videos and some shorts previously as a writer,director,editor, producer... so maybe I didn't do my own cinematography previously I have a pretty good idea what I want and how I want it. This time as I'll operate the camera and possibly the sound recorder as well, I'd like to get a pretty compact and practical setup, this is where a cage design comes in handy...

And... I would rather buy very good stuff for 900 bucks, than buying a piece of crap for 500 ;D
 
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i've mentioned several brands to you already. pretty much all of them; genus, gini, jag, redrock, lanparte, tilta, ikan, zacuto, shoot35, kamerar, they all make some good stuff (and some not as good stuff). and NONE of them are perfect AT ANY PRICE. you just want to get something that covers as many of YOUR needs and does it as comfortably as possible.

the problem with pretty much EVERYTHING youve presented is that they have been poorly configured.

the tilta stuff is really nice. i do like their cage setup as well as their shoulder pad, which is based on a large-format ENG camera shoulder pad. but it may be a bit bulky for YOUR needs.

as far as counterbalance is concerned, id personally prefer something that allowed rods to extend (or add) behind me that i can add weight to, rather than just having some kind of weight apparatus on the back of the pad itself.

ikan and kamerar both have a couple rigs i think might be interesting. neither has a top handle. but that can always be added.
http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=630

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kamerar-Vid...046?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3cd03f295e

check out the two videos on kamerars page:
http://kamerar.com/products/swiss-rod-15mm-rail-1pc

ive not used that specific ikan rig. but ive used several of their others. and they are really good for their price.
both ikan and kamerar are based here in houston so im going to go into their shops early this next week and check those rigs out.
 
WGZN,
Thanks again. Kamerar rig is an active player for me still... It's question of budgeting after this I think. If I have the money to buy better then I'm going with the Tilta stuff, if not I'm going with a Kamerar + swiss rods...

My problem with these are basically: 1, they are not cage design, there's no top handle... 2, camera is far from shoulder.

Thanks again. Only One question left:
I have this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NHDG7PAY5EBR03YP8KY

What I would need to attach for example the Tilta quickrelease shoulder pad baseplate rig to this tripod? The tilta is a v mount, but as I saw on photos maybe I could put onto it the Manfrotto baseplate for my tripod.
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/168/652/511/511652168_436.jpg

What you think?
 
well for one. thats NOT a video head. its a photo head. youre not going to get good moves with it. its design to stay in one position. not to move

but i have that head. and you can attach it's quick release plate to the bottom of anything with a 1/4-20 thread. in fact i think it even has an option for a locating pin.
but a "rig" will overload that head. and probably the sticks as well. id be looking into a new, budget video tripod+head.
 
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