High Quality Rig

Where did you see rig's for $3k from CPMFilmTools? Their shoulder mount with cage is $999.

That said, I do have the sidewinder but I am using it underslung myself since I am 6'4" I want the camera lower! :) I just like that their rigs are light and sturdy. And, if you write to them, Steve DEFINITELY answers questions. But you said you didn't like their design, so probably a moot point.
 
I don't like the CPM design, look very heavy duty to me.

The 3K$ I talked about Zacuto for example :)
 
Ahhhh!!

Actually, the CPM stuff is really light. It's some sort of hard plastic and carbon fiber rods. I've used a few different rigs and this was DEFINITELY on the lighter side. It's funny because when I first saw their stuff, I worried about the same thing. Now that I have one, I think their pictures do not do their systems justice AT ALL.
 
Thanks Rick.

I am thinking more and more about the Z Finder + Target Shooter combination, I think I will leave the FF + shoulder mount for now...
I will contact Zacuto to ask them about GH2 compatibility.
 
I look for three main requirements when buying a shoulder rig:

1- Is it flexible, yet still solid ? ( i.e. when it's locked down, it stays locked down )

2- Is it properly counter-balanced so that my arms have to support very little weight and I can shoot all day without getting tired ?

3- Does it keep it's resale value ?

...Out of all the rigs I've tried so far, Zacuto has been the one I've liked the best. Yes it's bloody expensive, but it definitely does the job.
 
Well I must say I am totally lost.

BTW Brian, I tried to contact Berkey Systems but the contact us page is not working, the submit button is not responding on chrome or in IE.
 
adys said:
Well I must say I am totally lost.

BTW Brian, I tried to contact Berkey Systems but the contact us page is not working, the submit button is not responding on chrome or in IE.
Click to expand...

Adys, thank you for letting us know, we found out that we were having an intermittent problem yesterday and the web guy assures us it is fixed. Were you having the problem just yesterday or was it this morning?

Dan
 
i've been very happy with RedRock Micro's products so far. Great build quality and availability at a good price and everything just works like it should in my experience.
 
Techguy said:
Adys, thank you for letting us know, we found out that we were having an intermittent problem yesterday and the web guy assures us it is fixed. Were you having the problem just yesterday or was it this morning?

Dan
Click to expand...

Hi Dan

Happened 5 min before my post
 
adys said:
Still happening now, can't send inquiry
Click to expand...

I am very sorry about the problems you are having with our contact form. I have informed the site administrator that the intermittent problem still remains for some. You can email Brian Berkey directly at bberkey@berkeysystem.com . I am sure he will respond to your questions within a few hours.
 
stonebat said:
I used to watch the cooking TV channel... a lot. A master chefs gave this tip, "Don't buy specialized tools. Buy a simple tool that can do many things such as a knife instead of a food chopper."

To me, the parts from Berkey System are like the simple tools. See this thread: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/75/the-editman-rig-for-gh1 I'm using the same blocks over and over. I feel like 3 years old kid playing with Lego blocks :)
Click to expand...

+1 as I look for the same thing. I've seen some specialized DSLR rigs that I had passed on long ago because I couldn't change ANYTHING on them. I like legos, and still have all the ones from when I was a kid :) I like versatility in my toys even today :)
 
All those best rigs are tailored for pros who use the gears for many hours each time. If you need a gear for less than an hour or two each time, a light gear will do it for u. No need for a big Zacuto eyecup. $5 EVF eyecup will do it. No heavy bulky shoulder pad either.

Small camera. Small primes. Small rig. Maybe adjustable ND filter & step up rings & a rubber hood. Optionally a cheap FF gear box.

Just get the job done in one way or another. Have fun~! :)
 
@adys

I made a typo. I used 7" Standard 15mm Rod instead of 6". 7" worked better for my Nikkor 50mm 1.4 Ai-s. It really depends on your lenses. 6", 7", 8", or whatever works for you. The rods are cheap. I got a bunch.

Definitely I prefer connecting a rod extension to a threaded rod instead of carrying one long rod. It's easier to carry shorter rods in a small camera bag.

If you don't use a FF gear, you wouldn't need the 6" rod extension.
 
Last edited:
They are really designed for big dslrs with LCD eyecup, not EVF eyecup. Big body, big lens, big matte box, big big big...

I like small bodies, m43 lenses, and relatively compact legacy primes. A body + a lens + adapter weigh less than 2 lbs. I don't need a rig multiple times heavier.
 
stonebat said:
@adys

I made a typo. I used 7" Standard 15mm Rod instead of 6". 7" worked better for my Nikkor 50mm 1.4 Ai-s. It really depends on your lenses. 6", 7", 8", or whatever works for you. The rods are cheap. I got a bunch.

Definitely I prefer connecting a rod extension to a threaded rod instead of carrying one long rod. It's easier to carry shorter rods in a small camera bag.

If you don't use a FF gear, you wouldn't need the 6" rod extension.
Click to expand...

I am going to have a FF, this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-Fo...438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415a914a5e

I hope Brian will help me to decide best what I need.
What did you add to the cage ?
http://www.berkeysystem.com/store/dslr-cages/editman-cage-with-front-handles/

Only a chest pad?

Jive said:
Have you looked at the rigs from indiSystem and Express35? Cinevate has some nice rigs in a similar price range to the other products you've mentioned as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks I just looked;
Cinevate have some nice stuff, and so Express35.
I don't like the design of IndiSystems.

I will look more in details when my girlfriend will allow me (she is here and don't like the idea that I am on the computer looking for Rigs instead of giving her attention :) )

But I do like the editman cage from Berkey systems after I saw stonebat review and saw how many options I can build it.

stonebat said:
They are really designed for big dslrs with LCD eyecup, not EVF eyecup. Big body, big lens, big matte box, big big big...

I like small bodies, m43 lenses, and relatively compact legacy primes. A body + a lens + adapter weigh less than 2 lbs. I don't need a rig multiple times heavier.
Click to expand...

Yes I like the small size. Yesterday I went to a video store and tried some rigs of DVTec, they are huge, and it will feel strange to walk around in the city with one on me.

I got a great deal on Zacuto base plate and Follow focus (the good model that cost 1600$) in 1250$ but I am holding myself cause I will have to give up rig if I pay so much only for plate and ff (before the rigs - the rigs are 270$)


BTW Brian202020, the plate can take any lens, even the 20 1.7 pancake. I checked it myself with Zacuto Follow Focus.
Maybe there is a problem with another camera and another FF, but with base plate Zacuto + FF Zacuto + GH2 - any lens, even the small pancake can work.
 
I ordered a cheap FF http://www.personal-view.com/talks/...-follow-focus-looks-very-good-139-shipped-/p1 at $126.50 total. A real steal... I hope. Still waiting for a shipment from the seller. The gear might work with m43 pancakes. Most gears don't work with the pancakes.

Yes. Just a chest pad for the compact run-n-gun style without any other gadgets like preamp, mic, light, etc. When you start adding more gadgets, you'd need a cage with a shoulder pad. Start with the run-n-gun style. See if it works for you. Then start looking into other gadgets.

Lighting and audio.... a whole new world... lots of headache. Guys like seb33 take nothing but a camera :)

I plan to upload another review video with my EVF eyecup and the FF... only if the ebay seller makes it fast enough.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top