GH2 Halo rig or viable alternative...

HotConductor

HotConductor

Well-known member
Does anyone here use a Halo rig with their GH2? I considered getting one a few years ago, didn't, and I am re-considering the idea. If you have an alternative that you love, please suggest that as well. As far as purpose, lets just say 'multi-purpose'. Commercials, concerts, weddings, doesn't matter. I'm just looking for alternative to holding the cam in-hand.

Thanks!
 
Yes, I use a HaloRig Mini that snaps on to a Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 video monopod. The whole thing works great. ( I also own a Manfrotto FigRig for my HMC-150, but it`s way too big for the GH-2 )

Here's a link to small theatre interview I shot last week using my GH-2 with this HaloRig+Monopod combo, shooting with my Voightlander 25mm at f/2.0 for the interview, and Zeiss 85mm at f/2.8 for the puppets. Because I was traveling extra light ( no monitor or tripod ), I used the GH-2 LCD for focus and composition. Audio for the interview was a Sennheiser UHF hand-held mic fed directly in to my GH-2 camera. ( a little dangerous audio wise, but I know my gear well ) I shot the whole thing in 15 minutes, because I was being kicked out of the room so the Canadian national TV network ( 2 huge old-school ENG cameras on tripods ) could film their interview. Because of my limited time window and that I had to shoot standing one foot from the edge of the stage, I didn`t try any type of movement with the HaloRig.

PositiveLite.Com with Ronnie Burkett
 
Video looks great. Let me ask you this... How do you feel about roaming with the GH2 in the Halo-mini, without the monopod? For me its either Glidecam, tripod or handheld.. So the GH2 would be used in run-n-gun situations (concerts come to mind) where I can't use a tripod/monopod, and do NOT want to hassle with the Glidecam. The Halo mini looks perfect for this, I just can't decide whether a steering wheel with shoe-mounts and a screw is worth the price. Tried to find one used but apparently no one in the world is selling them used! Owners must be very happy!
 
One of the reasons I had to figure out how to bolt on the monopod to the HaloRig was to give it more weight, so I can fold up the monopod and use it's weight to help make the HaloRig more stable. I've shot using the HaloRig by itself in a tracking shot where I used the kit zoom set to 17mm to follow a cooking show host has he wanders through a vegetable market and I was very happy with the footage. I actually used the AF on the GH-2 and it kept up with his and my movement. The footage is not finished ( the host has been away for the past 4 months ), so there's nothing online to show right now.

I think the HaloRig would be fine, but I would consider looking in to a way to add weight to the bottom of the rig. To mount the monopod, I drilled out the camera mounting hole and used a stainless steel 1/4 inch by 1" bolt to bolt on a Manfrotto Quick-release plate to the bottom of the HaloRig, and a Manfrotto Quick-release mount to the top of the HaloRig's aluminum bar. So my camera snaps in to the top QR mount, and the monopod snaps in below using the same type of QR plate that the camera uses. It works really well. ( I'll try to post photos in the next couple of days ) I also have a BeachTek XLR adapter that works the same way with a QR plate on the bottom and a QR camera mount on top, so I can snap this in between the camera and the HaloRig when I want to add XLR audio inputs.

The HaloRig is definitely worth it, though I hate the supplied camera mounting screw, which is why I modified it.
 
Thank you for providing your input on this. It is a weighty (pun intended) decision. I also need to buy a pocket dolly in about a month.. The amount of awesome tools out there is amazing. I remember clients being thrilled with DVX 16:9 footage.
 
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