Custom FS100 Top Handle update- taking orders in a couple days.

"....rubberized expandable clamp..."

I loved that. Sort of like a "C47", isn't it? ;)

Thanks for a good laugh, plasticam!
 
Hey, I added some product shots of the handle and clamps to the first post in this thread.
The production units will be black oxided, so will look cooler. Which of course none of us here are
concerned with, but the oxiding will help with stray reflections on set too ;)

Caleb
 
Some ECU's of Stub Clamps

Some ECU's of Stub Clamps

product detail clamps 2 1078.jpgproduct detail clamps 5 1081.jpgproduct detail clamps 1077.jpg

These things are better than I expected and I'm the one who sketched them on a napkin over a beer.
They are camera dept. lego blocks. Everything I have snaps together now. and it's adjustable. A 3/8 female clamp on the top handle even permits underslinging from a Weaver Steadman arm or jib.

We are sourcing knurled allen screws in addition to the ones pictured. The knurled screws will finger tighty for monitors and wireless receivers. The regular screws will lock it down for hand grips and EVF's.

Caleb Crosby
http://calebcrosby.com/page10/
 
I love it! My only issue with the design is the rails extending back past the top knob. What's the point of this? it just seems like these will get in the way. Perhaps you can offer a version with shorter rails?
 
Thanks Steve, just finished a long day in Providence RI in a factory today and this handle was great to have. I already emailed the shop and asked to make up some 9" rods. Does this sound more to your spec? I measured and at 9, the rods just slightly block the monitor in full swing back position. but, if the 1/4" of block bothers you, just slide the handle forward a dite. Maybe a good plan is to order standard or short rods.

POLL QUESTION
12 inch or 9? Or shorter still? Would love to hear from y'all.

My reason for making them 12" was that when you rotate the rear of the rods clockwise you can hang a monitor or EVF off the handle rods from a 1/4 clamp- saving the expense of a french arm ($100 plus) AND the top handle is really better than an articulated arm because it is so much stronger. That's why I went 12". (I have some Scotsman in me and Itend towards efficiency of kit and wallet.) HOWEVER if you use the built in Sony monitor- I would go shorty style/ No question.

Other than that, using the handle on several long days now- I don't have a complaint with them long. I don't use the rotation clamp as much as I expected but when you need it - there is just nothing like it. Also I like the full camera protection it offers from anything above falling, but I don't even know if irrational fears "count" in engineering. I think they do.

Steve - I have 9" for you if you want them. If you need less, just tell me. Any one else prefer short? I got engineers with cutting blades in their hands looking at me like I'm stupid ;)

Figured I'd ask the shooters what they like,

Caleb Crosby
The FS100 Hoist Handle (?)
http://calebcrosby.com/page10/
 
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POLL QUESTION
Engineer just emailed asking how many clamps should he make for the first run. So far everyone who has bought a handle as also bought at least 1 clamp and some are ordering clamps only. So I just wondered if you do need clamps - what's a best guess on how many of which type. It will help me make enough so you get them 2-3 weeks earlier. The first run is underway now.

I use currently:
1 3/8 female to fasten Sony hand grip to lower iris rod.
1 3/8 female around riser post on handle to connect-
1 3/8 male to hold a 5" rod that goes outboard to the left and the Sony mic holding rod to the right. they share one clamp inserted half way each. it works.
1 1/4 male for monitor
1 1/4 male for G2 wirless


They are 40 and 45 each - Check with me, I'm getting shipping to be $15 for orders of up to 12. If you get dinged in the meantime - let me know and I'll refund you within 48 hrs.

Thanks

Caleb Crosby
http://calebcrosby.com/page10/
 
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I'm interested in one, but just like steve, I don't understand why the rods come back over the LCD, I would like to be able to run the LCDVF that comes with the camera, but I don't see how I would be able to with this handle? is there a model without any rods going over the LCD?
 
Liam R,

Yes if you don't want 12 rods - 9 inch or 7 are both good options. At 7" you have a half inch of rod in the front and the rear for additional attaching via a clamp and stud. I'd reccomend 9" as a good starting point. remember, if you loosen the large top clamping knob the rods can be moved quickly forward. I'd go with 9" and later for precision tuning - cut an inch off them, aluminum cuts easily. Any hardware store will do this for nothing or next to it.


This is what I liked about using 15mm rods originally- it makes the handle user modified. 15mm rods are our building blocks. They are strong, light and standard. Let's just say you bought a 12 inch (long model) and decided it was too long for your style. You can pop them out in 30 seconds, slap them in a vice and cut to length. Or you have some old short rods from an old Letus Extreme rig. Take my rods out and put yours in. We went to pains and expense to custom turn these rods to an industry standard .589 OD. A 9 inch pair leaves a 2 inch overhang in the rear which allows some area for mounting but doesn't get in the way of the monitor.

I think we will make more 9" sets than I originally planned- it makes sense. I want to try a pair myself now. On Paypal ordering there should be a place to specify stuff like this - or shoot me an email.

Really appreciate the comments, it's a big help.

Caleb Crosby
The HOIST Handle
http://calebcrosby.com/page10/
 
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Ohk, that sounds much better, will definitely give the handle a look and see how it goes!!
 
I forgot to mention, in seconds this handle swings over and locks down so the handle bar goes across camera left to right. This is great for tricky hand held shooting- because you have the handle on both sides of cam. Also with lots of stuff attached there is always room for a clean hand hold. Also in swingover mode - no worries with rear monitor.

I don't have a dog in this fight :) We can cut them any length you direct. You might want to try this handle in 12" mode first tho. The rotation function might grow on you quickly. It has with me. It's pretty cool.

If not there is always ACE hardware or Home Depot for a custom chop.

My .02 cents,

Caleb Crosby
The HOIST Handle
http://calebcrosby.com/page10/
 
I updated the order page and added 15mm rods either finished or raw in many lengths.
I named it the PistolGrip cause of the walnut, but everyone says it looks like a gun anyway.
It reminds me of one of Q's weapons that pop up from the rear of 007's Astin Martin and starts
peppering away.

I'm now leaning towards asking the shop to cut handles rods at 7" for the short version which
leaves almost no aft overhang, or just enough for a clamp. That way you can just get the 12" version
if you want to experiment and cut to your own length after you inspect. If you go 12" we make extra walnut handles so you can have dual grips, both forward and aft. Don't have a price on add'l walnut grips yet but I'd guess around 50. These are very difficult to make.

Love any thoughts on this.
Thanks,
 
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Hi Caleb, Great idea! I was myself talking with a machine shop and an engineer a few weeks ago about the possibility of doing something similar, inspired by the Berkey plate. I might stop my research and simply buy your product.

I have some questions. Could you please tell me how the mounting work for the top plate? Judging by the pictures, your plate seem to be attached only by the two rear tapped holes of the FS100, and juste slided in the cold shoe. You seem to not take any advantage of the taped hole bellow the cold shoe plate. I see this as a design flaw, since the force of the weight will be more present at this point (I have difficulties explaining correctly what I mean since english is not my first language, but I hope you understand).

I also think that a top handle plate for the FS100 that prevent the use of the standard handle / mic holder should come standard with a way of attaching the standard mic holder. It's so easy to do since the micholder is on a 15mm rod. I know we can do it with after marke clamp, or even your own low profile clamps, but I really thing that this should come standard.

Another design flaw I see is the inhability to quickly assemble/disassemble the handle. From what I can see, the plate is secured with allen screws, and the vertical rod is soldered to the plate. So it will be difficult to store the FS100 in say, a pelican case, without the use of some tools. If you could come with a way to quickly attach the vertical rod to the plate, toolless, we could permanently attach the plate to the camera and attach the rest of the handle when needed.

You seems to be close to the perfect product, but not yet from my point of view. Do you plan to make some improvements?
 
Jeane Phillipe,

Great questions, thanks. The mounting is more ingenious than you can see in the pics. I'm holding details back while we apply for our patent which is underway now. It is 3 point threaded mounting, it also has precision fins that slide into the hot shoe for a 4th structural fastening. What you don't see is the threaded shaft coming down from the top clamping knob that goes thru our riser post and threads into the chasis in the forward 1/4 socket on cam. It's robust. Yet everything disconnects in seconds.

The handle disconnects in about 15 seconds for casing. only the base plate requires a driver. Just break the top clamp and all the super structure comes away fast.

I actually use the Sony 15mm mic holder rod on my cam. you can see it in some of the pics on the ordering page below. It's the same diameter as our rods and they can actually share a single clamp the tolerances are so close. We can add a cold shoe for the whole sony handle - but removing the 15mm rod from their handle, exactly as you say - seems the better route. Their handle really is a turkey ;)

Does this answer your question? Do you like the length at 12"?
thx,
 
Jeane-Philippe,

The problem with mounting the Sony handle is that there is no real use for it other than the 15mm mic rod which you can remove from their handle and mount with a clamp. Our shipping version will have 1/4 sockets tapped into our base plate so a single male clamp will provide attachment for a rod. However 2 clamps attached to the riser is more elegant some uses I think. I can't tap the riser to make this work as a single clamp solution because of the shaft explained in above post.

So I'm afraid a clamp is required. A female 1/4 will re-mount the whole Sony handle pretty much anywhere you like on the top of handle. A male will connect the sony 15mm mic rod on the baseplate of the shipping models.

Hey your english sounds fine to me!

Caleb
 
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Yes, that answer my questions pretty well. So the vertical rod is not soldered to the plate, but there is some kind of system to attache it fast on the plate that we can,t see in the pictures? Sounds great. Before to order, I would really like to see a video that show exactly how the assembly work.

About the lenght of the handle, I think 12'' is way too much. I would most likelly go with the 7'' one.
 
So yes - it is locked down solid on 3 axis points plus the dual fin engagement on the shoe.

I may post a video online today. I have shot one. It's very preliminary. My son just shot it at the table at his apt. but I'll put up something on vimeo with a link here later. It's ruggedly designed, you'll see. There are a couple parts I really can't show because they are the heart of a secure lock down. We went thru 3 prototype stages to figure this stuff out. This is ready for prime time.

I've used the handle on several long shoot days now - it's steady as a church.
(in the timeless words of one J.Conrad).

OK you asked for it- preliminary video flying up today. A real video coming in a couple weeks.

Caleb
 
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Jean-Philippe;2438619 About the lenght of the handle said:
Yes it works out to 7.5 inches for the short model with no aft overhang except enough to land a couple clamps. I have asked the shop for 15 long models and 5 7.5 inch on our first run. Anyone else want the 'sawed off' version of the PistolGrip?
Click to expand...
 
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