Compact handheld setup!!! Sos!!

T

therussian

Well-known member
Hey,
I revised my concept of shooting my dslr feature film, so I skip a shouldercam approach and go for a tripod way.

So the facts:
-I have a D7000 + SmallHD DP4+EVF.
-I'm going to purchase a 701HDV Manfrotto head for my 294 Manfrotto photo tripod
-Beasides these static shots everything else will be pure handheld (so no shouldermount...).

What should I buy for this purpose? A simple dslr baseplate and attach the camera and EVF on that (and all this would go on the top of the 701HDV for static shots, and for handheld just grab it and run).

I need to adjust focus by myself, so I would appreciate a handheld setup which enables this need....

Please recommend me something!
 
if you're only going to use tripod and "pure handheld", you don't need to buy anything, the tripod head comes with a quick release plate

but "pure handheld" is usually a bad idea, I would use some stabilization, at least something
I use the magicrig, and it's not perfect, but it's cheap and it works: http://www.amazon.com/Aputure-Rig-S...=UTF8&qid=1371815007&sr=8-1&keywords=magicrig
I shot this Batman vs Bane fight with the magicrig, I'd say it's not bad for a 90mm lens on APS-C: http://vimeo.com/66199641

if you go for something like that, you'll need to use the same quick release system in the tripod and the shoulder mount, so you'd have to buy a QR base that's compatible with the 701HDV plate, to put it on top of the magicrig
(unless the QR in the magicrig can hold the 701HDV plate, which may or may not be the case; I think it will be a no)
 
I just wanted to post this:
http://jag35.com/streetrunner.html

when I saw your post. They are basically the same stuff! But I need to use the Smallhd dp4 evf, so for that a rod based baseplate is better I think, right? This comes with a Dfocus version also, for 500usd

If I can get that stability with a rig like this as in your video than it's a no brainer for me! Probably the same steadiness could be maintained with the jag35 equivalent, right?

I checked out some cage designs too, but focusing becomes an issue there...

There are many budget soluitons like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opteka-CXS-...mcorders/dp/B004G9QRBM/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_2

maybe it would be good enough...
 
Watch out for QA issues on budget rigs like the MagicRig. The one I received for testing was basically unusable due to build quality issues like misaligned screw threads on the clamps. The overall quality of the components was also very low.

Budget brands have to make up the difference somewhere and it's often done by cutting corners in QA. Just be aware that you have a good chance of getting a lemon so buy from somewhere with a good return policy.

Also, to give you an appropriate recommendation, could you provide a bit more detail as to why you've decided to shoot without any stabilization when off-tripod? It's not an impossible task but it'll be far from ideal for shots with movement.
 
The fact that the pictures look similar or the design shares some features doesn't tell you much about build quality. The MagicRig works, and for the price I think you can't beat it, but it can't be compared to more serious (and expensive) options. It's not just QA, those 15mm clamps they use are just flimsy by default. Good enough for me, though.

Also, I have to point out that it works much better when your feet are steady than when you're walking. I couldn't possibly shoot with a 90mm on APS-C with this thing while walking, for that you need a properly balanced shoulder mount. Which will cost a lot more $$$.
 
Jive:
Because I want a compact and small setup as possible. Interior I'm going to shoot from a tripod+video head. External scenes, in city and other places, will be run and gun guerilla style, so I need to keep a low profile.... Cost is another factor. Story is another... those handheld parts, with their shakiness will support the story at that part really well I think.

I found this too:
http://jag35.com/glider.html
It's basically a cheaper copy of Redrock's Hurlbut Mancam.... I could put the SmallHD DP4 on it, but focusing is an issue.... For these kind of setups I will need a follow focus, right?
 
therussian said:
I have this photo tripod:
http://www.manfrotto.com/294-aluminum-kit-tripod-3-sections-with-3-way-head-qr

can I use it with a 701HDV head?
Click to expand...

As far as I know, yes, you should be able to. However, I'd say this setup is going to be WAY too flimsy for anything other than a small-ish body and a light-ish lens. I use a 701HDV on a set of the far chunkier 055 legs, and they're only just about on the useable limit with my D800 - that setup is OK with a D800 body and a small/medium prime lens, but it really struggles with my 80-200/2.8. Adding on a rig with rails and monitor etc. might just be pushing things a little bit too far with the setup you're looking at. I'd really start looking to spend a bit of cash and maybe invest in a heavier-duty set of legs and head (and as another note, using a stills tripod without a levelling bowl is a total nightmare to level off, especially on uneven ground outdoors!)
 
I've recently built up a similar rig with my D7100, specifically to shoot handheld with an EVF. My objectives were to achieve a relatively low lens position - since I'm quite tall and the project I'm on is using a short presenter, lens height with a full shoulder rig would be an issue - and to go on/off a tripod and slider quickly. After a bunch of research I eventually opted for:

  • Zacuto Target Shooter, which is their simplest 'Gorilla' baseplate with a gunstock brace.
  • Zacuto EVF mount, which bolts to the Gorilla plate and provides an adjustable position for the DP4-EVF. The DP4 is just narrow enough to work on this setup.
  • Zacuto pincher, a horribly costly but beautifully-made piece of aluminium which locks the HDMI plug into position on the camera. I got fed up of losing takes when the cable got nudged with my older rig, and this sorts it.
I initially strapped a JuicedLink box under the Gorilla plate, but the resulting stack of shoe plate adaptors gives just a little flex when tripod-mounted. Annoying. There are also very few orientations which work where a Manfrotto-style shoe can be bolted to the JuiceLink, and the JuicedLink doesn't foul the mounting hole for the gunstock part of the Target Shooter rig. So I've ended up mounting the JuicedLink to the camera hotshoe. Then you have to mount it with the XLR inputs forward so the cables don't foul the EVF.

The resulting rig looks like an explosion in a cable factory and not at all like a stills or video camera. It's also quite heavy, though it handles quite well. The main issues I have are the way the EVF arm rests against your wrist when focussing - a sports wrist strap or padding is useful for longer shoots. Secondly, operating the D7100 requires two hands to adjust the ISO setting, which makes it all a bit fiddly in uncontrolled/run&gun situations. I love the D7100's pictures, but Nikon's firmware is awful.

For longer handheld shoots I also add a cruddy handle from a cheap rig I bought years ago, to the front of the shoulder brace arm. It helps considerably, and allows the rig to rest on the ground without tipping onto the lens hood.
 
If I was you, I think the first investment would be to sell the D7000 and buy a D7100. If someone is vested in Nikon gear, from now on if you are serious about your videography the D7100 or even D5200 will bring you at another level completely. In photography it is incremental, but in video it is another level up (except for FPN).
 
Danielvilliers said:
If I was you, I think the first investment would be to sell the D7000 and buy a D7100. If someone is vested in Nikon gear, from now on if you are serious about your videography the D7100 or even D5200 will bring you at another level completely. In photography it is incremental, but in video it is another level up (except for FPN).
Click to expand...

If I want to shoot in 1080/24p I don't think there's a lot of difference which would justify of selling my 3 month old D7000 and paying extra cash for the 7100... I've seen really great examples of the video capabilities of the D7000. If I have the talent I can create quality with a D7000, if not, then neither an Alexa would make a difference :D
 
By the way... I went with a cheap Kamerar rig.... http://www.kamerar.com/products/socom-video-shoulder-rig

Do I regret it? Not for a second! Really sturdy, full metal and feels really durable too! You can customize it for different setups as you like, there's a lot of possibility. I wanted a compact run-and-gun guerilla style low-profile rig and I think I found the best!

Just for a small test I set it up as a "Mancam" with my SmallHD monitor. I like this setup better than the shoulderrig, or target shooter setup... I will use this a lot I think!

Only complain... I purchased a Lanparte monitor arm which fits the two rods system and it's really tight to push it on the Kamerar rods. I think this is why Kamerar costs less, because of the quality control... (their quality is amazing, but in terms of compatibility with industry standards is not immaculate...). But maybe I should just buy seperate Lanparte rods and use that with my rig...

Anyway, I would buy this rig again without a thought! Great price, great quality, really customizable, sturdy, compact and perfect for my needs!
 
therussian said:
If I want to shoot in 1080/24p I don't think there's a lot of difference which would justify of selling my 3 month old D7000 and paying extra cash for the 7100... I've seen really great examples of the video capabilities of the D7000. If I have the talent I can create quality with a D7000, if not, then neither an Alexa would make a difference :D
Click to expand...

I am all for knowledge and not camera lust like we see now, with everyone clamouring for RAW as if you can't shoot with less. But in video the D7100 is a real benefit compared to the D7000. I have a D800 and had the opportunity to buy a d600 as back-up but chose the D7100 because of the absence of moire/aliasing. To go back to moire and aliasing when you have work with a gh2 is a big minus. Now when you add the possibility to shoot higher bitrate with external recorder and big surprise about the same resolution of the gh2 (the highest dslr until now).
 
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