FS5: Camera Rosette for FS5 - New product announcement

Mitch Gross said:
the right to try something new to discover if I might like it.
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I'm not knocking trying something new. Just don't declare a manner of supporting the camera to be "the natural" technique and assert that any technique but that technique is inferior and improper because it will cause neck strain, fatigue, less steady shots, etc. Don't make it out as if anyone not using that style of supporting the camera is someone who doesn't know better and needs to wise up.


I get that in his posts Caleb is selling and as a result using the language of a salesman.

But elbow in ribs...sorry, it doesn't work for a lot of shots. In some situations, walking shots for instance, it can make the shot less steady, not more steady. It limits your movement and inhibits your ability to follow the action. It can introduce camera movement resulting from expansion and contraction of your diaphragm as you breathe.

I called bs and I'm still calling it. Take that s*%t to QVC. :grin:
 
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JP, the wheels are coming off the train now. Hard pass.

Others have read my thoughts and comments here. They can judge for themselves.
Clearly you think I'm a snake oil salesman selling crummy goods. That is well established now.

1. you stitched comments I made months apart -out of context. Kinda uncool. [EDIT: I see you edited your remarks and removed those quotes. kudos]
2. it's comical to suggest because I have a stance I like for interviews or long straight takes that I am some "doctrinaire" who shoots everything that way. That's a bizarre take away.
3 "The language of a salesman." My father was a salesman for many years. I don't sneer at sales, it's part of working on the railroad.
 
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A few operators on this forum prob know that NFL films runs a minicamp for prospective shooters every year at the superdome in New Orleans - 2 full days, paid with travel.
All the ops are given free range to shoot however they are most comfortable but then there are important mandatory drills that are graded objectively and a big part of the hire because they
want people who can shoot under duress. I was one of the shooters that was asked to help create what is basically a cameraman stress test. My inclusion is a drill called the 'velcro elbow'.
While following players (The Tulane practice squad) the shooters follow running and passing long yardage gains with their elbow lightly velcro'd to a special vest that makes audible
beep counts for every time the elbow leaves the rib cage. the velcro is passively wired to a 9 volt battery which lights up 5 amperage dissipated red LED lights. Operators who get lit 5 times never shoot for NFL Films. because they could not keep that elbow where they were told to.

Reason? The best camera guys can adjust to anything you throw at them.

Obviously none of the above is true but it was really fun to write!
 
Ben Scott said:
You say that now, but see what happens when you take your beloved Zenit through customs

fs122.jpg
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OK, true story time (at the risk of the shunning corner).

Back in 1984 (the actual calendar year, not an Orwell reference), I was sent as a photographer to cover a reelection campaign rally for Ronald Reagan. The Press Corp. had a designated platform from which we could cover the rally. About 1/2 an hour before the rally we had to leave our gear on the platform and step off to the side while the Secret Service brought dogs through to sniff for weapons. Standard precautions, no sweat.

Then a six-foot-something wall of suit with an earpiece presents himself in front of me and I'm pulled off to the side. Unbeknownst to me, my girlfriend had given me a gunstock shoulder mount for my camera very similar to the one pictured above. It was REAL FUN explaining that it was just a hunk of wood and look, here's a note from my girlfriend, etc., etc. Amazingly, I was allowed to stay and take photos with the rest of the Press Corp. (sans shoulder stock). Remember, Reagan took a bullet only a few years prior.

I'm sure there's still a file on me somewhere.


My girlfriend later explained that it was a gift because I was so important to get to be photographing the President and the salesman told her this would help me take better pictures from far away. Hey, she was pretty...

Now back to your regular programming, arguing if a handgrip on a camera is a good thing or not. I'm curious, do you also like to eat your soup with a fork?

:-D
 
good one Mitch and the more so that it runs well after a tall tale. my only presidential tale was 3 years earlier spring of 82 I think, I was on a class trip to the White House to meet the Vice - Bush 1. My teacher knew him But REAGAN was in the hospital after Hinkley and Bush was busy running America, the White House was empty - no one in the place. My buds and me (a remarkably motley crew) were let in anyway but w/o a minder! So Bush's "legislative aid' a smart, sharp looking lady ushered us into the Oval Office apologetically "this is realy all I can do" and left 10 of us by ourselves to just hang out. We opened drawers, stole cool matches and laughed our asses off about this and that, mostly where the hell the red phone was stashed. The White House matchbook was a favorite for a couple months but we did smoke back then - and other habits. I remember arguing that stealing ashtrays was uncool. Only match books and napkins. true.
 
Well yeah, but it was driven off the road - it didn't just "happen" JPNola

"External rotation of the shoulder puts unnatural stress on the rotator cuff as opposed to carriage in a more neutral or internally rotated position" according to my MD friend, a real doctor standing in the room at this moment.

We spent 5 mins in the kitchen just now with a heavy jug of water talking about muscle groups and how it all works. It's not the first time he and I have talked about this.
I actually just won $5 bucks off him on a music bet. But I digress (hoping to force him to comment on this first hand. Ahh he'd have to join us!)

So unnessessary physical loading is maybe a way to describe it - manufacturers create this stupid situation which results in us stressing our body in flat dumb unnesessary ways.

You called me arrogant for suggesting a simple test that lets people see for themselves what their body is saying. Why attack me?
I'm working on handheld shooting ergonomics for years now, a little guy, a shooter no less! I'm in there with all the big makers trying to show
them better ways. Know what? All they do is steal and copy, they don't care. That's the truth. or darn near it. There a couple good guys high up
that I admire but I wish there were more.

I'm working on products people do admire. I actually do care. So go pick on someone else.

And while I'm pissed off, who are you? People know my name, whats yours? I dislike anonymous internet twitting.
I'm 54 and my SON is now a local 600 AC. We didn't talk to old dog DP's like you do, anonymously on the web. Not in the
Camera Dept. where I served - and loaded, and clapped and watched how you keep a constant T-stop quickly by
effectively forming trust with your gaffer.
 
broughton,

My rosette is my own - a friendly reader sent me that same photo earlier today. First time I saw it. We are getting to the same place but with different approaches.
Their price will be low I know that. Vocas and I both offer options that work now. Same price but my rosette is stainless steel - theirs is aluminum. Mine is 3/4 inch
wide - theirs I can't say for certain but I estimate twice the width from a look online. I'd like to know if anyone has one and cares to measure.

My FS5 rosette is simple, strong and fits like a glove. Made, tested ready to ship. Small Rig is a product projection -still in development - in China.
I'm not disparaging the People's Republic but I am suggesting shipping is a longer, especially on products that exist only as photo mock ups ;-)

The Sony FS5 bayo lock is slightly annoying with the Non lock way it jiggles. My rosette totally eliminates that slight 'play'.
SmallRig, if it follows thru with the design shown, may indeed perpetuate that flaw in the bayo design ?

it matters very little if you need it now - mine is ready. The rosette is minor - the arm is the thing.
 
I should add that the slight FS5 grip jiggle or play inherent to the Sony bayo design is only mildly annoying with grip directly attached to camera.
When that jiggle is exended over an arc that is 10 or 12 inches long it's going to increase - a lot.
I ran a quick circel arc equation based on 1 degree of "jiggle" and it doubles every inch. So that slight jiggle in the FS5 is not bad
as IS. But add a 10" grip relocator that incorporates the bayo mount

Well it might be a consideration. the question becomes have Shape and Zacuto improved on the Sony mount so as to eliminate that jiggle or
possiibly have they not spent time focusing on that detail? Is it possible it's even worse? If so, recalculate that circle arc equation at 2 degrees.

I will say that Bayo mount is quick change but it has more slop than you'd like. Add a couple after market mounts and the possibility exists for
concern.

Now "JPNola" I'm doing people a favor by making an informed observation ok? I hear you're howls about my QVC evil sales talk swelling up form across town!

No, $350 is a fair sum of money for an arm - I'm doing everyone a favor by pointing out an area to check for weakness.
 
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No one said anything about "evil" or even suggested it. You make products and you post product updates on the forum. When you make a product that interests me I will consider it.
 
Fairly said JP, I get the sense that I have trespassed a little on an ethic of keeping sales stuff minimal here. I'll work on that. but pls remember, I'm a shooter first, I love this stuff and I plain get excited after several weeks in the shop. When I finally get something ready for showing - I go a little apeshit ;-)

I announced my first product here and DVX helped make it a success so this place is like friendly territory to me. I'm just part of the gang here - made a lot of friends and good discoveries. So fair enough, you keep reading and I'll make selling you a gizmo a company policy ;-)
 
About price on these Camera rosettes- I use the same rosette as on my Cinegrips, they are US made and expensive, costing me just under $40 apiece. The screw holes are
perfectly alligned with FS5. They are the chief component of the $77 price. I can use less expensive rosettes as well so if price is a concern I can give you the same function for
about $20 less - or a $55 total. I'll look into this on request. I like the US made but they do add price.
 
Good question for a pretty short answer. The US ones have an integral M6 socket and are a little heftier.

IMG_6711.jpg IMG_6712.jpg

For the Un American - I mean NON American! version I add a brass backing socket I turn on the lathe.
The $77 US made is ready to ship.


- Posting from Downeaster train Norhtbound from Boston, nice Wifi
 
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