Carrying the HVX with a Letus on it...

J

jmarkham

Well-known member
I've got a Letus35mm adapter and a Zacuto rail system for the mount.
The sucker weighs ... and I'm a little concerned about carrying the
unit by the handle. Nothing's moving .. but I'm thinking this is going
to cause a stress crack if I keep carrying it this way.

Is my concern justified?

jeff
 
I believe the Zacuto support fits under the HVX's handle and provides protection against weight pushing down on the handle from the top. It would not provide any support for lifting a greater weight with the handle.

I think there are some threads here expressing concern about lifting too much weight with the HVX handle.
 
It's Definitely not a good idea to carry that much weight by the handle. I had the tripod base plate mount, pop right out of my DVX from too much stress. Although much of it was due to Panasonics cheap plastic build on the cameras tripod screwplate. Apparently they used a compression type fitting to hold the plate onto the underside of the camera instead of screws. I had the camera on a monopod and it tilted forward and snapped right off.
With the type of weight your talking about don't even try to do a hand held shot or you will rip the cheap transport bay door clean off. Also, if a stress point develops the handle could completely separate from your camera. The screws holding it on are super tiny and don't offer much protection against undo stress. The best way is to figure out how you want to use it and make a custom, simple mounting platform if you have to get of the sticks. Cheers! Just my two cents worth!
 
Check out the Zacuto rigs! They are awesome and privide fantastic support. I have the tripd and handheld rig and it is wonderful. Well balanced, You can carry this for days!!!!

http://www.zacuto.com/Letus_04.htm

The customer servide is outstanding!!! Ask for Mandy - she is wonderful!!! Good luck!!
 
jmarkham said:
I've got a Letus35mm adapter and a Zacuto rail system for the mount.
The sucker weighs ... and I'm a little concerned about carrying the
unit by the handle. Nothing's moving .. but I'm thinking this is going
to cause a stress crack if I keep carrying it this way.

Is my concern justified?

jeff
Click to expand...

It's justified. The handle wasn't exactly designed to take that much weight... but... guess what?

I've owned an HVX200, 200A and now an HPX170. For most of my camera's existences they've worn a 35mm Adapter Ritually and the rig has gotten even heavier. I've experienced no handle breakage to this day, and my gear works constantly. Use two hands when possible and be careful, but I've grown confident in the HVX and now the HPX handle. Even though it wasn't designed for the weight it's taking it like a champ.


One thing Panasonic does have are durable cameras. The most I've had break on an HVX200 was the Mic Port. Be careful with that flimsy-ass thing when you're lugging your cam around. I can't say that much about an EX-1, that thing feels like it has the build of a Barbie Doll House.
 
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