Gini Rig+AF100, having difficulty balancing!

I just got this Gini Franken-rig to finally work. I felt I had it figured out but then I added a matte box and the whole thing changed. The Red Rock matte box sits low on the rails so I had to add a Berkey double block to lower the rails and then attach the hand grips. Swapped out the Bogen QR system for the Genus Sony ENG plate adapter and Quick release.
To go into handheld mode I have the PortaBrace shoulder pad. It has a Velcro flap that goes around the bottom of baseplate and rails. Its not super fast to put the shoulder pad into place but no bad.
I had to use a counter weight with the matte box attached, It was front heavy. I would like to get a cheese plate with gold mount adapter so I can power everything with one battery.
This is the best I've been able to get it since I started on this project a few weeks ago. I'm still working on it but at least I can say that I can go from tripod to handheld in just a few seconds now.

Gini Rig
Zacuto Base Plate
Genus GL GAP adapter
Berkey Blocks
Red Rock Matte Box
DP4 EVF
[h=2]PortaBrace SP-3G Universal Shoulder Pad -not in picture.[/h]
 

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You might try this http://www.berkeysystem.com/store/shoulder-pads/sony-pmw-f3-shoulder-pad-frame/ instead of the velco mount for the shoulder pad. I have a Sacthler quick release on the camera plate and the Berky shoulder mount slides quickly out of the way on the rail system so I can mount the quick release to the tripod. I like the idea of the Berky cheese plate on rear of rail system for mounting batteries and wireless sound hop.

Erik Naso said:
I just got this Gini Franken-rig to finally work. I felt I had it figured out but then I added a matte box and the whole thing changed. The Red Rock matte box sits low on the rails so I had to add a Berkey double block to lower the rails and then attach the hand grips. Swapped out the Bogen QR system for the Genus Sony ENG plate adapter and Quick release.
To go into handheld mode I have the PortaBrace shoulder pad. It has a Velcro flap that goes around the bottom of baseplate and rails. Its not super fast to put the shoulder pad into place but no bad.
I had to use a counter weight with the matte box attached, It was front heavy. I would like to get a cheese plate with gold mount adapter so I can power everything with one battery.
This is the best I've been able to get it since I started on this project a few weeks ago. I'm still working on it but at least I can say that I can go from tripod to handheld in just a few seconds now.
Click to expand...
 
I did try that in another attempt and it makes the camera sit high on the shoulder. Now I'm using the double block to drop the hand grips down. I did try screwing the Berkey shoulder pad directly to the base plate but then I have no where to mount the quick release plate. I don't want to order another double block since those are not inexpensive.
P1040916 Jake with AF100.jpg
With pad attached to plate.

I do like the EVF attached from the top. In order to do that the EVF image has to be flipped.
 
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Erik Naso said:
I just got this Gini Franken-rig to finally work. I felt I had it figured out but then I added a matte box and the whole thing changed. The Red Rock matte box sits low on the rails so I had to add a Berkey double block to lower the rails and then attach the hand grips. Swapped out the Bogen QR system for the Genus Sony ENG plate adapter and Quick release.
To go into handheld mode I have the PortaBrace shoulder pad. It has a Velcro flap that goes around the bottom of baseplate and rails. Its not super fast to put the shoulder pad into place but no bad.
I had to use a counter weight with the matte box attached, It was front heavy. I would like to get a cheese plate with gold mount adapter so I can power everything with one battery.
This is the best I've been able to get it since I started on this project a few weeks ago. I'm still working on it but at least I can say that I can go from tripod to handheld in just a few seconds now.

Gini Rig
Zacuto Base Plate
Genus GL GAP adapter
Berkey Blocks
Red Rock Matte Box
DP4 EVF
PortaBrace SP-3G Universal Shoulder Pad -not in picture.
Click to expand...

Can you post a pic of your rig with the shoulder pad?
 
P1040947 Jake with AF100 PortaBrace.jpg

Here is the same setup but with the PortaBrace Shoulder Pad on. Its a tad tight since I also have a larger Genus Sony plate QR adapter and also had to raise the baseplate up to align the lens for the matte box, but works fairly quickly. This is pretty balanced now on both my shoulder and the tripod fully rigged. Its heavy but I have lots of stuff on the rig. I'm liking the EVF position on the hand grip rails but on the tripod not so much. Maybe attach a Noga with a stud on the viewfinder end so I can move it for tripod use.
 
Erik Naso said:
View attachment 42210

Here is the same setup but with the PortaBrace Shoulder Pad on. Its a tad tight since I also have a larger Genus Sony plate QR adapter and also had to raise the baseplate up to align the lens for the matte box, but works fairly quickly. This is pretty balanced now on both my shoulder and the tripod fully rigged. Its heavy but I have lots of stuff on the rig. I'm liking the EVF position on the hand grip rails but on the tripod not so much. Maybe attach a Noga with a stud on the viewfinder end so I can move it for tripod use.
Click to expand...

Looks great. Where did you purchase that balance weight in the back? Would you say you need the Sony tripod plate with the Genus adapter? I was thinking of just getting a cheep manfroto plate, attaching that to my sactler and the plate to the bottom of the Zacuto plate, (Or withever one I get. I'm leaning toward the Indian copy).
 
I've noticed that all the weight kits are SUPER expensive. Are there any decent DIY solutions that anyone has done to balance their rigs out?[/QUOTE]

I did mine the cheap and easy way. Went to a fishing store, bought $10 worth of 1lb lead sinkers and gaff taped them into a brick. I then tape that bring to my rails, I could probably have found a better way to attach it...but tape is cheap.
 
Jon Furtado said:
Looks great. Where did you purchase that balance weight in the back? Would you say you need the Sony tripod plate with the Genus adapter? I was thinking of just getting a cheep manfroto plate, attaching that to my sactler and the plate to the bottom of the Zacuto plate, (Or withever one I get. I'm leaning toward the Indian copy).
Click to expand...
The counter weight came with the Gini rig. Google Gini Rig or email them from the his Ebay store. He might give you a good price on one since you purchased a rig from them.
You don't need to use the Genus Sony QR. I have it because I use broadcast cameras as well so it integrates easier with other tripods. I really don't like those Bogen QR systems. Canon makes a nice QR system for XL1 and XHA1. Don't recall the model but its like a mini broadcast plate.
 
robmneilson said:
I've noticed that all the weight kits are SUPER expensive. Are there any decent DIY solutions that anyone has done to balance their rigs out?
Click to expand...

I did mine the cheap and easy way. Went to a fishing store, bought $10 worth of 1lb lead sinkers and gaff taped them into a brick. I then tape that bring to my rails, I could probably have found a better way to attach it...but tape is cheap.


But then your stuck with only one position for counter weight. If you take a matte box off or hand grips then the counter balance will have to move. Heck If it works it works.
 
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Erik Naso said:
The counter weight came with the Gini rig. Google Gini Rig or email them from the his Ebay store. He might give you a good price on one since you purchased a rig from them.
You don't need to use the Genus Sony QR. I have it because I use broadcast cameras as well so it integrates easier with other tripods. I really don't like those Bogen QR systems. Canon makes a nice QR system for XL1 and XHA1. Don't recall the model but its like a mini broadcast plate.
Click to expand...

I have one of the Canon plates from my XL2 days. But I can't find an appropriate mount for my AF100 to mate too it. The one that works on the XL2 is incompatible.
 
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