GH2 GH2 Rig Recommendtion Needed

[CPino]

Hello all. New to this forum and could use your help selecting a rig for my GH2.

I'm a 25-year veteran producer/director; mostly corporate, but some broadcast work. Typically hired a cameraman/DP. After 7 years as an in-house creative & marketing director at a small tech firm, I'm back on the streets freelancing again and due to market realities, see opportunities for gigs as a one-man band producing small, low-budget videos for local businesses.

I've got a GH2, a nice set of lenses, Sachtler tripod, Arri lights, etc. which I bought from a now-retired cameraman I used to hire. Shot a few things on the GH2 and like it enough for now, although the DSLR format takes some getting used to.

What I need is a shoulder mount rig w/ follow focus, one to which I can attach a SmallHD DP4 EVF, LitePanel Chroma, and eventually a mattebox and V-mount battery solution. I also would like a rig which could quickly go from shoulder to tripod. I'd prefer a rig that is lower in cost, (no Zacuto?), one that I can build on for future use, and could accommodate a different camera (BMCC, C100) if I choose to move that way in the future.

I'd sure appreciate the ideas and recommendations of users on this forum. Thanks in advance and I look forward to contributing to the threads as I move forward.

 

[jmw]

I'd take a look at the rig from Photography and Cinema:
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/products/prime-video-rig-kit

I don't own it, but I've bought a few of their other products (Gearbox cage, Pico Dolly) and I've been very satisfied with the build quality - especially at their price points. I don't personally have a need for a larger rig, but this is where I'd start. I especially like the modular capability in configuring the rig to your own needs.

Also, welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your GH2 - it's an addictive little beast!

 

[wgzn]

a shoulder mount rig w/ follow focus,

one thing to consider is if you really are more often than not, a one-man-band. id look for a rig that had the option of a single center mounted grip rather than just a double, left+right setup.

the thing people (especially new adopters) dont consider is if your are shooting with your rig using a two handed grip setup and you want to operate a follow focus. you have to take one hand off the grip (usually left hand) and move it to the follow focus knob. this sucks for two reasons:
1. unless you planned your rig for this and balanced it accordingly right-heavy, the whole rig is going to dip when you let go of the left grip.
2. when operating the focus, you will be to some degree carrying the left side weight of the rig with the focus knob

so when i configure rigs, i tend to have one, center mounted grip for my right hand to support the camera. and my left is free to steady or control focus or whatever else

 

[CPino]

I hadn't thought about a center mounted grip, but I suppose that makes sense. I live right outside Chicago, so I'm going to head up to Zacuto to try a few rigs, although in the end I don't know if I can drop that kind of money. I'll look for a single handle rig there. Thanks.

 

[wgzn]

I hadn't thought about a center mounted grip, but I suppose that makes sense.

think of it like an old shoulder mount news cam. the weight was on your shoulder and right hand. and your left hand was free to operate the camera.

i guess since DSLRs tend to be used in more cinematic situations people choose to rig them like cinema rigs. but unless you have another person operating the follow focus. i find the center grip monumentally more logical

 

[jbklynnyc]

@wgzn, is there a center mount rig that you'd recommend? I've always been more of a handheld or monopod shooter but am curious.

 

[wgzn]

zacuto makes two VERY slick single grip, shoulder rigs. the "fee-n-g" and "fast draw" but they are $1600 and $1500 respectively. and well worth the money. zacuto stuff is a pleasure to simply touch and even better to use! but for a lot of folks, it's cost prohibitive.

i havent done it, but it looks like you could configure a single grip with any of redreock's existing rigs - just put a single grip on a main rod rather than the crossbar.

jag35 has some preconfigured, single grip rigs too. but both redrock and jags setups are based on a single mount on a rod. and id worry about that mount eventually sliding around the rod over time. but maybe im just being neurotic.

but if youre on a budget, you could get something as simple as the following two parts from ikan and attach them to any 15mm rod system:

rod mount:
http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=171
grip:
http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=443

they also make a single piece grip and mount:
http://ikancorp.com/productlisting.php?id=121
thats a really nice grip but as i mentioned earlier, with the single rod mount, i'd worry about it eventually rotating around the rod... i guess it depends on how heavy your rig is...

zacuto makes a similar double rod mount:
http://store.zacuto.com/minimount.html
but its nearly 4x the price of the ikan. worth it? that depends. if youre a career shooter, zacuto stuff will last pretty much forever. so its a buy once and forget about it deal. i dont see any reason the ikan wouldnt last forever as well. but when you use them side by side you can clearly tell where the extra money goes. zacuto's machining and finish is just SO precise and perfect. everything slides together like butter. the cheaper brands like ikan, jag and even redrock tend to need a little wiggling here and there to put together and take apart. again, not dissing any of those guys as they all make very useful stuff. but you DO get value for the added price of zacuto.

if you wanted to get super slick with it. you could get zacutos minimount ($175) 2 of their zrounds ($240) and a small zamerican arm ($120) then add whatever grip you want. but thats going to total up to $600+

or for less than that, ikan has this sort or "erector set" kit that i really like. its called the "elements master collection"
it's $499 and ive built all kinds of single and double grip, off-sets and all kinds of rigs with that kit.
http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=260
i think its one of the best values and most adaptable kits out there. all youd need to add is maybe a shoulder pad of some sort and maybe an articulating arm and you'd be ready for just about anything!

 

[jbklynnyc]

Thanks wgzn. Very helpful. What about mounting a large viewing monitor, like a DP6? Do you think it'd still be practical to use a single grip?

 

[wgzn]

the dp6 isnt particularly heavy. so it wouldnt matter that much. just depends on WHERE you want to put it. i tend to put my monitors right behind the camera when i can, so it doesnt effect the side to side balance of the rig... like this:


(this shows a double-grip rig. image just used to illustrate monitor placement)

BUT a lot of this has to do with what specific gear youre working with and how YOU like to shoot. the primary reason for the centered single grip is to free up a hand to operate other things. as long as the one grip is more or less under the center of gravity of the complete rig - AND you can comfortably support the weight with one hand. it'll work fine.

 

[P13]

one thing to consider is if you really are more often than not, a one-man-band. id look for a rig that had the option of a single center mounted grip rather than just a double, left+right setup.

the thing people (especially new adopters) dont consider is if your are shooting with your rig using a two handed grip setup and you want to operate a follow focus. you have to take one hand off the grip (usually left hand) and move it to the follow focus knob. this sucks for two reasons:
1. unless you planned your rig for this and balanced it accordingly right-heavy, the whole rig is going to dip when you let go of the left grip.
2. when operating the focus, you will be to some degree carrying the left side weight of the rig with the focus knob

so when i configure rigs, i tend to have one, center mounted grip for my right hand to support the camera. and my left is free to steady or control focus or whatever else

I agree with this, I've got a centre grip and also I've used an Edelkrone hand strap, but instead of putting it on the right, I've put it on the left below the follow focus, so I can put my hand through, use the follow focus whilst also supporting the left of the right with my palm.

http://www.edelkrone.com/hand-strap/