DSLR Rig Question/Advice

K

klh121560

Active member
I am not a high-end video DP/cinematographer, I just do local film projects. I am looking for, and need to buy, a DSLR Rig, preferably with a Matte Box for my Canon 5D Mark III. The lenses I have are: 24-105mm L, 28mm, 50mm, 85mm, 70-300mm. I have a follow focus, but if it came with one, I wouldn't object!

My question: I need to buy a DSLR rig and can only spend $200.00 or less. I know it is not going to get me a high-end rig, but I don't need a high-end rig. Just a good one that is not cheap and will break easily. What is the best brand quality DSLR rig you know of, or even better, have had direct experience with, that is not cheap crap, but still works well for the amount and kind of use I will need it for? Any advice, suggestions on one would really help. Thank You!!!

Ken
 
Any rig that you find for $200 with a matte box and follow focus is likely to be garbage, unless you find a really good deal on something better that's used.

Things to think about:

- Cheap parts are cheap. Tightening levers may be plastic and may lack durability. You might be able to tighten the rig down for the first few weeks, but after that you may find it loosens itself up through a shooting day.
- Counterweight is crucial. Most cheap rigs are not going to be counterweighted, and likely won't have an easy/inexpensive way to add weight to the back. But once you add a large lens, matte box with filters, and a follow focus, that's a pretty front-heavy contraption. Without counterweight behind the shoulder pad, your forearms are doing all the work of supporting the rig and will have little energy to focus on operating. Fatigue comes quick.
- Any follow focus and matte box packaged with a $200 shoulder rig will likely be next to useless. Expect tons of backlash on the follow focus, and flimsy construction on the matte box.
- Rigs based on 15mm rods are modular, so you could start with a base kit with camera block, rails, handles, and shoulder pad, then add other parts over time. You'll end up with a frankenrig, but it'll be exactly what you want/need since you'll be able to customize it piece by piece.
 
Try to look here.

Cowboy studio here in Dallas.

Some stuff is good, some not so good. But this store has a show room and warehouse a couple of blocks where I live and have actually seen and held the stuff they sell.
 
what kind of rig are you looking for or need? Tripod rig, shoulder rig, handheld rig, basic stabilization?
 
I've been checking around on many different DSLR rigs, what they come with, prices, reviews, etc ... Just wanted to say Than You for your recommendation. I like this one. It does come with a matte box, even a follow focus (although I have a Fotga Follow focus anyway), and does not seem cheap.

It looks like it has a section in the back for counterweights, but I am wondering if you knew for sure if it does, or if you have used counterweights with it and what your experience has been like?

Thanks
Ken


16mman said:
I do video work for these guys, and I've used their WonderRig for DSLR shooting, and it really does the trick. It doesn't have a matte box, but it does include a sunshade.

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Prof...1390324340&sr=8-1&keywords=fotodiox+wonderrig
Click to expand...
 
Looking at the Fotodiox rig, I cannot see where counterweights would attach except on top of the shoulder pad (if at all). That's not a good place for counterweight; it really needs to be hanging off the back of the rig to be at all effective. The end of that shoulder pad rests right on top of the shoulder.

Look for a shoulder pad with a mounting plate that hangs off the back, or with offset rails that mount the shoulder pad and extend a little way beyond.
 
I like the Kamerar Tank and just bought their Matte Box. They are robust, flexible for building onto with components. Check their specials as they have them almost every month. I also have a used Jag35 that I think I can combine elements of both rigs.
 
klh121560: There's a quarter twenty socket on the shoulder pad, but it's more for mounting accessories like an extra battery. The shoulder pad does screw off, so you could mod it for counterweights if you wanted.
 
Bang for the buck:

The "fotga" rails on Amazon are really pretty decent. About $75.

The Cavision shoulder mount (about $100) feels hard and plasticky, but it's adjustable and stronger than it looks. I still have one and use it often.

Cavision front handles are about $60 - with front handles, if you need enough width to be able to get the rig on and off a tripod head, you need something wider... I have a set of chinese handles with wide arms, about $30 from eBay and they're dynamite. They have room to mount remote gear for video cams, too.

I still have an Indian matte box - I had to grind the tabs for the side flags so they'd seat better - but I rarely use side flags. It's still kicking. Amazon's got matte boxes for under $200 of the same style now. people diss 'em, but they're better than no matte box at all. I still keep the indian one around, it's worked really well.

The new Fotga DP follow focus with damping and dual stops - that's a remarkable piece of gear for the price. Freaking amazing how good it feels for well under $200. No, it's not an Arri but sheesh, for the money, it's great. At this point, it's the play in a DSLR lens that'll screw you up. A focus whip helps tame that though.

I've used counterweights every now and then, but even with an big video cam on rods with a matte box, I generally don't like the added weight. Counterweights have never seemed necessary for me, go figure.

The Kamerer loupe is a killer loupe for sixty bucks, too, No sticky magnets, and you can touch all the buttons on the camera.

So, there's a bottom-dollar rig that'll give you 2 rotating 4x4's, a loupe, and shoulder work for around $700 if you shop around. I've shot projects for some national brands and regional brands, music videos and corporate stuff with the above gear, on DVX100's, HMC's and AC130's... and plenty of DSLRs. No, it's not as good as the same stuff totaling $8k. Almost every bit of it I bought to mess with (or for my film school kid0 and ended up keeping it. Get out and shoot.
 
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