Does everyone shoot shoulder mount?

Rick,

Have you considered something like the Zacuto Striker (or a nearly identical product for 1/10th of the price)?

I have the Polaroid "nearly identical product" listed above, and put a Manfrotto quick release plate on it.

If you held this at chest height or lower, and stuck a small external monitor on top of the camera, it might work out pretty well. It says the Polaroid mount will hold up to 20 pounds. It's all made out of aluminum rods anyway.

Filmtools.com was also selling a "Magic Rig" that looks 100% identical to the Polaroid unit, but for twice the price.

Good luck!
 
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First, I don't mind the off-topic on this. Me and my wife were talking about the other day how we cannot stand how much *shaky* cam is being used. It's really distracting. One of my two complaints with Inception (which I really liked) was the use of *shaky* cam during the fight scenes, and, how tight the shots were you couldn't see anything. I like when fight scenes are really well done. I love the beginning of Daniel Craig's Casino Royale and how the cinematography was there.

robotsound, you might be on to something. I've been thinking about the pistol grip style. I have actually used a monopod before fully retracted and placed in my pocket to hold the cam up. With a chest rest like that, with a telescoping pole, I might really be able to do a lot of different things, and, with hands on the top and side, probably cover the rest. Time to order parts! :)

The only way I will really know is start building.

Frank, smallHD has started carrying their products and they are local to me so I might see about bringing the FS100 over and see how they work on it. Might be too long to make any sense to use.

I have used something similar to the fig rig. It does work well, but it's also limited in articulation of holding for me. that style works GREAT when I am two handing the camera just for holding. Like mentioned, for any sort of focusing, I really need one hand free for manipulation.

A lot to ponder this weekend.

Thanks for all the ideas!
 
im 6'3" and have this same problem. The E-Z rig has solved this for me for the most part. If there is a lot of motion it can get a bit bouncy but for most shots it works great.
 
Rick- I'm 6-4 too, and I know where you're coming from/shooting from, too (ha ha).

Have you looked into the rig (I forget its name) that has a belt around your waist and a boom coming over your shoulder with the camera on a cable? Not the India version, but the original.

I scoffed when I saw them originally, but a friend of mine had an HGTV crew shoot his place with a shoulder mount camera (F900?).
I think it was for a combination of the shooter having a bad back, and quick shot setups. But it looked great, just the slightest (very slight) sense that it wasn't on a tripod, and probably steadier than a monopod. He had the camera on his shoulder, but with the rig taking nearly all the stress.
I think you can set them up so the camera is at eye, chest or whatever level.
I just wish I remembered what they're called...

Noel- awesome piece on Chris Doyle- what a cool cat, with a great sense of motivated movement in his style!!!
 
That's the one. Can hang a red on me all day and not have back problems at the end of the day. Very easy to get the camera to the height you want and have it stay there.
 
I can't believe I didn't think of that - and I was just talking to an operator friend about trying one out.

I know a few people, Rick, who swear by easyrigs. A friend of mine just directed a feature, and his DP shot everything handheld with an easyrig - fully kitted Red One MX. It was the only way to pull off 90 pages in 3 weeks, get the right look, and not die in the process.

Looks like a carrot on a stick, though, so the jokes are endless...
 
One thing I've always wondered about the EasyRig is...

Sure it takes the weight of the camera off your arms, but does it actually help to steady the camera ?

I keep imagining the camera bobbing around because it's not braced against anything. ( just hanging in mid-air ) Is this the case when using an EasyRig ?
 
We'll find out! I am working on getting one. It can't be any worse than shoulder mount for me so I am intrigued enough to try it.
 
From the same company - looks goofy, but may be a great alternative to a steadicam.

....and yeah, the accent is priceless ;-)

 
TheDingo said:
One thing I've always wondered about the EasyRig is...

Sure it takes the weight of the camera off your arms, but does it actually help to steady the camera ?

I keep imagining the camera bobbing around because it's not braced against anything. ( just hanging in mid-air ) Is this the case when using an EasyRig ?
Click to expand...

From what I've been told - I haven't had to use one yet - it does not stabilize the camera. Because the weight is taken off, it is essentially like a DSLR floating in your hands. What I've heard is that you have to push up or pull down on the rig when holding it to use some of the camera weight as inertia.

Posting this before I watch Frank's video.
 
I noticed one of those on a reality show the other day - a "cops" or something like it.

I finally did a 3-hour shoulder mount gig, a celebrity event. I used a DSLR with a follow focus; but I held the left grip with my left hand, and sort of cradled my right under the rails beneath the camera mount, and rested a finger on the focus gear. Focusing was really easy, never got tired. Having the FF attached seemed to damp the focus a bit, the feel was good. Totally stopped thinking about focus and just focused 2nd nature. The gear extended the focus ring out (essentially made it much wider so it was an easy reach), and the teeth helped just a fingertip get some "grab".

I did gaff tape a 2 lb. weight plate to the shoulder piece; had a matte box on the front and it balanced things nicely.
 
I'm a firm believer in on the shoulder, or under the arm. With a shoulder style camera, I find the fit snuggly under my arm, with the camera resting on my belt line/hip bone, right hand under the right hand side, left hand across the top of the lens, working the zoom rocker from above, left little finger on focus. This is quite comfy. First introduced to it on 60 minute 'your' TV with all seated presenters, but no camera supports - so we needed to be able to move quickly as the presenters went from area to area in the studio. Shoulders were just too high. with a bit of practice you could stay steady for decent lengths of time. The only tricky bit was panning from the waist and the knees, keeping your back upright.
 
Rick Burnett said:
I actually wrote them about the Turtle-X. I want to know if anyone has flown a FS100 on it.
Click to expand...

The $64 question is what top handle would you put on the FS100 to work with that gizmo? I like it... not so much the camera bag system, but that support my be your ticket with your height. Very interesting.

As far as the handheld in general. I really hate the way it has "Devolved" into the overused "Shakey Cam" stuff that we are seeing today. I have done a lot of hand held work and I can assure you that doing a long shoot, hand held is not done out of laziness, but, in my instance, out of budget considerations. I actually take great pride in my hand held operating. I have shoot long form projects, including fictional narratives with a lot of hand held work with cameras from a Canon 1014 XLS Super 8mm camera, a Arriflex SRII 16mm camera, a Sony DSR-PD-150, A Canon T2i and now a Sony FS100. I have taken great care and effort to be as smooth, steady and fluid as I can. With the smaller cameras, because of my build, I have been able to bring my arms in tight across my chest and could hold shots relatively steady for pretty long takes. I do have to say that the FS100 is a different beast. The balance, and the supplied handle, just don't make hand held shooting easy, especially with some of the heavier vintage lenses that I have. I have a shoulder mount system, an inexpensive Cine-City rail mount, handle and shoulder pad extension system, but the build quality sucks on it and I know that I am going to have to find a better solution soon. I love the suggestions offered here. Thanks.
 
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