Halo Rig HD vs The Fig Rig - Whats your take on them or a better solution

C

CameronMcC

Well-known member
Was thinking of grabbing a Fig Rig used, and commented on that via twitter. I was then messaged by the Halo Rig Hd crew about checking out there product.

Financially the Halo Rig makes more sense, but wondering if there are any pros or cons with either that people that use them daily might attest to.

Do you have reviews or footage of either?
 
Well, I don't use my Fig daily, but I use it quite often. Used it Saturday in fact. I cannot make any intelligent comment on the quality of the Halo rig(s), but the Fig does have some features the Halo is missing and that I find useful and important.

I had a discussion with the maker of the Halo rig about this last year.
 
I use the little handle at the bottom of the fig more than the actual hoop. The halo rig doesn't have this so I probably would prefer the fig for now.
 
PerroneFord said:
Well, I don't use my Fig daily, but I use it quite often. Used it Saturday in fact. I cannot make any intelligent comment on the quality of the Halo rig(s), but the Fig does have some features the Halo is missing and that I find useful and important.

I had a discussion with the maker of the Halo rig about this last year.
Click to expand...

Could you expand on what those features are and how they help your workflow?
 
Hey all,

I would like to start by saying I am affiliated with Halo Rig, so assume accordingly. At the same time I will always give my honest opinions from my experiences.

Maybe other owners could chime in on the value and quality the of the Halo Rig.

Also, the Halo Rig HD has a 1/4 mount on the bottom which you can mount a handle, monopod or even plop it on a tripod. This would give you the grip similar to the figrig, with increased flexibility. I don't know why you would use that all the time, I find its much more comfortable holding 2 hands on the outside circle. One of my main problems with rigs is they are 1 handed (glidecam, merlin) and you get tired after only a minute of shooting.

check out this pic

halorig-hd-kit-onmonopod.jpg
 
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MadHMC150 said:
I don't know why you would use that all the time, I find its much more comfortable holding 2 hands on the outside circle. One of my main problems with rigs is they are 1 handed (glidecam, merlin) and you get tired after only a minute of shooting.
Click to expand...

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I find I use that handle when I need to:

1. Change Focus
2. Change iris
3. Change ND filtration
4. Adjust audio levels
5. Replace a recording card
7. Adjust my LCD panel
8. Turn Zebras or peaking on/off
9. Start/Stop recording
10. Do clip review

When I used my fig rig on Saturday, I did every one of these things, and I used that handle for each of them.
 
CameronMcC said:
Could you expand on what those features are and how they help your workflow?
Click to expand...

I've now commented on the small handle. As for the rest of the features, the bar on the Fig Rig is drilled and braced. On that bar, I mount my wireless mic receivers, my external recorder, or anything else I need mounted.

The round bottom on the fig rig lets me use my legs as a pivot brace. On saturday, while filming a car show, I wanted a smooth pan of the parking area. I sat on a picnic bench, put my legs together, and put my fig rig on my legs. The smooth, rounded bottom let me pivot the unit smoothly.

For someone else, the Halo Rig might be a better tool. I don't know. I just know for my own needs, the Fig Rig does what I want, the way I want it done, at a reasonable price. It's light and very strong. I've never held a Halo Rig so I cannot comment on it's quality. I am sure it's well built.

These are just my opinions. Take them for what they are worth.

[I attached some images of me with my Fig from a commercial shoot last year]
 

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PerroneFord said:
1. Change Focus
2. Change iris
3. Change ND filtration
4. Adjust audio levels
5. Replace a recording card
7. Adjust my LCD panel
8. Turn Zebras or peaking on/off
9. Start/Stop recording
10. Do clip review
Click to expand...


Most definitely need to access those features (and zoom).

But with the savings of the Halo Rig - one can afford a verizoom controller to do most of those things right at your fingertips. And, when you must take your hand off the wheel - you can slide your hand in the normal hand held mode or grab more to the top of the halo or even grab your monopod that you had attached anyways to go from set down to roaming around just by lifting and going!

The vision of the Halo Rig HD is the ability to set your rig down, without expensive stands and brackets. Also you can go from tripod/monopod mounted to a free rig by popping the quick release... and then coming back at any time. We are still looking at this small handle feature with the Halo Rig Original (full halo). But as far as the Halo Rig HD, it would loose one of its most popular features.
 
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MadHMC150 said:
The vision of the Halo Rig HD is the ability to set your rig down, without expensive stands and brackets.
Click to expand...

There is no way on God's Earth, that I am about to sit my $7k camera on the ground with the lens inches from the dirt or concrete, with nothing to support it but a halo rig. Your customers may choose to do this, but my camera is either in my hands, on the tripod, or in the bag. Period.
 
MadHMC150 said:
But with the savings of the Halo Rig - one can afford a verizoom controller to do most of those things right at your fingertips.
Click to expand...

The Varizoom controller allows me control of 2 of those 10 functions. The remote focus controller would cost me the price of 3-4 Fig Rigs.
 
Halo Rig HD Kit $149.99

  • Halo Rig HD
  • Quick Release
  • Top Shoe Mount
  • Free shipping
  • Free customization (more holes, mounts, etc - no problem)

FigRig $299.99 +sh

  • Figrig
  • Quick Release
$359.98 + shipping if you want it with a top shoe mount that is $60...
 
PerroneFord said:
There is no way on God's Earth, that I am about to sit my $7k camera on the ground with the lens inches from the dirt or concrete, with nothing to support it but a halo rig. Your customers may choose to do this, but my camera is either in my hands, on the tripod, or in the bag. Period.
Click to expand...


Lol, You can set it on a table, etc... Thats just a little ridiculous :)
 
PerroneFord said:
The Varizoom controller allows me control of 2 of those 10 functions. The remote focus controller would cost me the price of 3-4 Fig Rigs.
Click to expand...


Hrm... one I got does zoom, recording, irus, and focus.... 4 things I do all the time. All for less than 1 figrig.

Keep in mind, you can set this rig down (on a table, tripod, stand, etc) and do the rest of the items. I also commented how you can accomplish this handle feature, which covers everything else.
 
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MadHMC150 said:
Hrm... one I got does zoom, recording, irus, and focus.... 4 things I do all the time. All for less than 1 figrig.
Click to expand...

You don't have the same camera I do. The features aren't consistent across all models. Believe me, I looked. I came from a DVX100 which had lots of features.

This is what I have to get for the EX1:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._EX_VZ_Rock_EX_PMW_EX1_Rocker_Controller.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._EFC_U_VZ_EFC_U_Electronic_Focus_Control.html

And the focus controller requires a rod setup...
 
Very true, each has their own investment levels when it comes to equipment. With a $7k kit, $150 or $300 is not really any different anyways.

For budget videographers like myself, I think the Halo Rig is a great value for the money. Allowing you to get a few other essentials with the savings.
 
Maybe get something like this:

I haven't tried it yet, but the owner of atlas has - he was very happy with the results.

atlas-and-halorig-flyer.jpg
 
everything you can do i can do better,
i can do everything better than you,
no you can... yes i can...

they both look great to me, but I still prefer my DVMultiRig Pro by DVTEC
http://www.dvtec.tv/id33.html

I have work with that unit 3 full days nonstop and i could still keep on going... I love the fact i don't have to carry the weight of my camera and extras on my arms, I only use y arms to frame the camera. The weight goes to the shock mount that rest on my waist. And I have a great amount of mobility as well!
 
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