Cinevate Handgrips?

Look interesting. Any more thought on getting the Ronfords though Tim? Next handheld gig (only have interviews and animation lined up ATM) I think I may be springing for some if nothing else better at that price comes to my attention.
 
See if he'll send you a set to report back on, Tim.

I'm curious as well. I'm using crappy Cavision ones now and they're starting to strip. Already in the market for a new set and was considering the Redrock ones but now with the Cinevate ones, I'm torn, not having seen either in person or hearing back on either.
 
Tim Naylor said:
Amazing price and great design, I just don't know about build or slippage.
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It looks like it's just a couple of the pieces from the proteus rails support with some pegs in them. I'd really be concerned about them rotating around the rods as the weight pressed downward. A crosspiece of some sort, connecting the two proteus-parts to prevent them from slipping would make me feel safer. Those proteus-links are just two pieces of metal with partial circle cutaways that are screwed together. It's just a sandwich of two metal parts around the rails.

But this should be an easy thing to test out for anybody with the proteus rails system. Just take two of the proteus-link-things and put them on the rods like that and see how well they hold up.

Any takers?
 
I know this sounds bad, and not to be rude here people, but, handgrips? Really? You'd PAY for handgrips? They are probably by FAR the single simplest and most inexpensive thing a person could DIY. I know this isn't the DIY forum but really, don't pay $150 or more for something you could EASILY put together for 10 to 40 bucks depending on how elaborate you'd like them to be.
 
The grips and all components are 100% aluminum, CNC machined to an accuracy better than .002". The grips are machine knurled, and the entire collection powder coated. For the shoulder pad itself, a seemingly simple piece, we've done at least a dozen prototypes. We've always worked hard to innovate new products and bring them to our customers at an outstanding value, with an increasingly mature build level.

I'm a huge fan of DIY and encourage anyone with the time, skill and passion to do this. What we've selling is as far removed from a DIY effort as I could imagine...and I started that way :-)
 
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Tim whatever happened to those "blue grips" or whatever they are called made by ronford baker (if i'm correct)? The locking mechanism looks solid on it.
 
Texanite said:
I'd really be concerned about them rotating around the rods as the weight pressed downward. A crosspiece of some sort, connecting the two proteus-parts to prevent them from slipping would make me feel safer.
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Agree.
just can't believe why they never do that.

by the way, Dennis do you have pictures of the shoulder pad? how do they attach to the rods? I might be interested in it.
 
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The shoulder pad is getting a few tweaks now that it's gone to a professional for construction. It is designed to be added/removed from our Proteus base plate system as in these pics. We should have them coming this week.

On the shoulder:

With the EX1:

ex1shoulder1.jpg




Back on the tripod, HV30 rig:

hv20shoulder5.jpg
http://www.cinevate.com/images/hv20shoulder5.jpg
 
Texanite said:
It looks like it's just a couple of the pieces from the proteus rails support with some pegs in them. I'd really be concerned about them rotating around the rods as the weight pressed downward. A crosspiece of some sort, connecting the two proteus-parts to prevent them from slipping would make me feel safer. Those proteus-links are just two pieces of metal with partial circle cutaways that are screwed together. It's just a sandwich of two metal parts around the rails.

But this should be an easy thing to test out for anybody with the proteus rails system. Just take two of the proteus-link-things and put them on the rods like that and see how well they hold up.

Any takers?
Click to expand...

The best part of the design for me is the fact it doesn't have a cross brace. I like to be able to have different positions along the rails. But without the cross brace, I wonder about slippage. I've yet to hear from any first hand reports.

I almost bought the moose bars than saw these.
 
armisiano said:
I know this sounds bad, and not to be rude here people, but, handgrips? Really? You'd PAY for handgrips? They are probably by FAR the single simplest and most inexpensive thing a person could DIY. I know this isn't the DIY forum but really, don't pay $150 or more for something you could EASILY put together for 10 to 40 bucks depending on how elaborate you'd like them to be.
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Actually they aren't. Handgrips have to take an immense amount of torque. Machining a brace that fits securely on 15mm rods and fitting it with rosettes that have to take at least 50-100lbs of torque is not a small order. The difference between 150.00 Cavision and 1500.00 dollar blue handles are night and day. I'm looking for grips that can handle a rig anywhere from 15 - 30lbs. Now add to the equation that one slip and your 30k - 70k plus rig is on the floor makes a DIY project a bit more involved in terms of material and machining.

But if you got some DIY plans that can meet or exceed the specs (vertical, horizontal, along the rails, grip position, 50-100lbs of torque, tool less) - show me the way.
 
dennis the rig looks niice!

how do you guys pull focus on these handheld set ups without a little shake/wobble action going on? any tips? big arms?
 
The lack of cross brace on the Cinevate rods would concern me. Doesn't seem like a sound design. You are at the mercy of the rod support plate system and the torque it could supply to the rods to prevent them from spinning, not sure why they went that way. Tim if your budget is $500 then you should get the ronford grips or element technica rods (not sure if they're available yet), and one of these pads...
http://www.filmtools.com/camera-comfort-cushion-com.html

I hope Cinevate quality and tolerences have improved... I ordered a pair of the 12" carbon fiber rods about six months ago. Was quite disappointed with the quality. Each one was a slightly different thickness (the nice little coating was stripped in the first 5 minutes on one, they were not truly circular and there was torsional flexing under a normal load. They are super light paperweights for me.

I definitely suggest a rosette based hand grip system you won't regret it.
Below is my setup. It is super solid and stiff as can be, no problem whatsoever.
Like a good tripod head, it will far outlast the camera, blue handles come at a price though.
 

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Yeah, you got a point about being one those pieces of gear that last longer than a camera. I'll probably get the Ronfords as I just realized you can play them on 19mm as well. So I can take this from DV to Film jobs. The blue handles will have to wait for now.
 
vcreative said:
I hope Cinevate quality and tolerences have improved... I ordered a pair of the 12" carbon fiber rods about six months ago. Was quite disappointed with the quality.
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I think it's because you ordered 12" anything 18" and above are solid and below that is hollow. The solid rods are exactly that, soild. Trust me those ones are awesome and 15mm the whole way through.
 
Yup, I learned my $66 dollar lesson and got a pair of real solid cf rails from another manufacturer. 18 inch rails were too long for what I needed.
 
Wow, is that lens the Zeiss 85mm f1.2 you have? (limited edition)
if it is, can't believe you have one of those...

by the way vcreative, do you have more pictures of your setup? if you do I would like to see more.
you have a interesting handle on your redrock but what's that for? what monitor are you using?
 
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