DSLR Rig: riding the line between cheap and good.

B

BrettR.

Active member
Hello!

I've used my HPX-170 as my primary camera for years now, even though I've owned a 7D for the same amount of time. For the shooting I've been doing, it was the best choice. Now I see myself missing a bit of work because so many people want DSLR footage. I just own a 7D and the stock lens. That isn't going to get the job done for most gigs. There are a million different shoulder rigs and follow focuses, ranging from very cheap, to far too much for me. I know it mostly a case of "you get what you pay for" in most cases, but if you could help me wade through the sea of options, that would be great. I'm pretty much looking for the cheapest option that is still reliable and wont cause me to blow shots or fall apart through no fault of my own. I know I need a better lens(es), but I'll handle that later. Right now I'm looking a shoulder rig and follow focus, and whatever else I might need in that realm that I'm over looking right now.

I also realize that there may have been a topic simular to this before, so if that's the case, link me up please!

Thanks!
 
What style of rig exactly are you looking for? I only use a shoulder stock type, to get an extra point of contact. No rods, no FF, no shoulder pad or counter weight.
But I don´t do long hand held interviews either. I think big rigs for DSLR are either for cinematic set ups, where you have a focus puller who needs his own monitor, you get a viewfinder, the director gets a wireless feed, all this needs big battery packs aso. Or they are for the looks;)
I´d say a monopod with a fluid head is often more practical than a big rig. Yeah, you´ll look like a photographer and yeah you don´t get that "The Office" look. ;)
 
Spartacus said:
What style of rig exactly are you looking for? I only use a shoulder stock type, to get an extra point of contact. No rods, no FF, no shoulder pad or counter weight.
But I don´t do long hand held interviews either. I think big rigs for DSLR are either for cinematic set ups, where you have a focus puller who needs his own monitor, you get a viewfinder, the director gets a wireless feed, all this needs big battery packs aso. Or they are for the looks;)
I´d say a monopod with a fluid head is often more practical than a big rig. Yeah, you´ll look like a photographer and yeah you don´t get that "The Office" look. ;)
Click to expand...

I want a follow focus, which I guess means I need rods too. I think a should pad would be good, as I have a reconstructed collar bone that has 7 pins in it. A viewfinder would be good too.
 
I was researching about follow focuses a month ago. I have narrow down it to Lanparte follow focus or Edelkrone Follow focus one pro. Look them up, both are very good.
 
Pardon me for crashing this thread, but I've always wondered .... how the heck do you use a follow focus and/or adjust camera settings with a wide-spaced 2-handed rig like the CPM in the link above? Wouldn't the rig be unbalanced as soon as you take your left hand off the handle?
 
GrahamH said:
Pardon me for crashing this thread, but I've always wondered .... how the heck do you use a follow focus and/or adjust camera settings with a wide-spaced 2-handed rig like the CPM in the link above? Wouldn't the rig be unbalanced as soon as you take your left hand off the handle?
Click to expand...

haha, yes, it would be unbalance, but normally, you're suppose to have a first AC to help pull focus. I think Zacuto make rigs that have focusing mechanism on the handle so you're not unbalance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top