Hand Holding and using tripods..

[morgan_moore]

Hi

I am pretty much a newb to LX and EX1

Im trying to sort out how to keep the thing steady

I will probably be doing very short editorial/advertorial films - mildly directed documentary - I can ask people to do things again but that'll be about it

I need to shoot fast because my 'talent' will be real people doing real things - could be working in a factory or chatting about thier business or maybe a model with clothes - no time for building dolly tracks !

I probably wont have an assistant !

I think I am after a compromise - tripod for some shots and another device for the rest

My options seem to be

-Tripod all the time - Too cumbersome - cant access tight corners

-Mono Pod - cant quickly move to a tripod

-Shoulder mount - cant quickly move to a tripod

-Steadicam - cant afford

So is there some hand held stabilisation system that can move to tripod really quickly - a tripod that adjusts really fast

I have been experimenting with keeping the top bar from an old gitzo on the camera to act as a mini monopod/handle for the camera

This 'mini pod' can then be stuck into the tripod reasonably fast - but too slow

Incedentally I have been experimenting with taping the IR remote to the letus so my left hand can operate focus, aperture and record features while cradling the lens in a traditional still photographer manner leaving my right hand free to provide cradling at any point on the camera/rail/mini pod to keep the CofG good

I know all is a compromise - my solution wont be stable a hurricane but must work in an office/factory etc

Any products..

SMM

 

[hoarp001]

I think most people would say in this run n' gun situation its best to take the adapter off. You need lots of light and wont always have time to pull focus in before your subject starts talking or whatever.

It also makes it much harder to use.

I think the redrock shoulder mount has a screw for putting a nromal tripod shoe on so you can move to tripod quickly....

A bare camera will be easier to handle anyway...

 

[frobozz]

Can't you find a quick release head series that works on both a tripod and monopod, then switch between them by leaving the quick release plate on the camera (or camera/rails/adapter)?

There are also those sandbag tripods (eg Cinesaddle), which you could use with the quick release plate still attached to the camera after removing it from the tripod.

Duncan

 

[morgan_moore]

I think most people would say in this run n' gun situation its best to take the adapter off. You need lots of light and wont always have time to pull focus in before your subject starts talking or whatever.

It also makes it much harder to use.

I think the redrock shoulder mount has a screw for putting a normal tripod shoe on so you can move to tripod quickly....

A bare camera will be easier to handle anyway...

Thanks for answers

Dont use it - indeed an option - and part of the shoot planning - I did a kitesurfer the other day and knew that the LX would have to go - losing me the overcranked hero shot of him walking along the beach shot with a long wide open - binning the LX is going to make the look inconsistent - I have my run 'n' gun method well sorted for naked Ex1 - I also have an SR12 Handycam, maybe the letus could live on that with the EX1 for just hoovering up what needs to be hoovered up - Ill get a situation where all the best shots are on the B camera at a low quality with non synched or no sound !

One method could be to do the tripod shots on the LX and go bare for handheld/mono pod BUT getting the LX off the camera fast is toooo sloooow

Focus and light are of course seperate battles; of course focus does define the position of one hand unless one steps up to one of those puller gizmos with a remote

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The cine saddle looks interesteing but is it any different from a fertiliser sack filled with polystyrene balls or sand some thing already on my to make list !

Im loving the dolly that they make and thier whole philosophy - get shots by grabbing a pushchair, spinning office chair, airport luggage conveyor or whatever is there !

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So

-if I had one of those back focus things can I get the LX off faster leaving the LX on the 'pod?

-What is the absolute best tripod quick release - solid and fast - is there a system where I can buy one top and many bottoms (one bottom for tripod one for monopod one for shoulder mount etc)

- is there a tripod that has a short mono pod as a 'center bar' if you see what I mean (this is how my 60s gitzo is built - im cleaning the sand out of it - maybe its the answer)

SMM