Hot Rod kit Group Buy from Abel
- Thread starter dcarstens
- Start date
Illya Friedman
Well-known member
Illya
Are you guys planning on making any kind of support for larger lenses? I have a solution for supporting my big and heavy angenieux but I'm in the market for a better solution and I would surely by one from you guys if there was one
Since it sounds like you already have the parts required, you can simply place the X-Baseplate on top of a 15mm/19mm Arri Studio baseplate as you would a 35mm camera. The X-Baseplate is designed to work at the exactly correct optical axis height, so all of your studio sized rod-mounted accessories will function properly. The only other piece you'll need is the "low bridge" for your lens to support the front.
We are working on several new products right now, including our own version of a 19mm Studio baseplate. It's going to be released first for DSLR sized cameras (it's 99% complete right now), then it will be followed with a version compatible with the X-Baseplate. I have a prototype photo here somewhere for the DSLR version, that I think is okay to share. I'll track it down and upload it.
Hot Rod Cameras will also have a corresponding dovetail in short, medium and long lengths, but the 3x dovetails won't be ready for a few months still. Soon you will absolutely be able to support your Angenieux, Arri, Cooke, Duclos, Fujinon, Red Pro or Zeiss Zoom lens on an AF100 entirely with HRC parts.
We spent a very long time noodling this one over, and decided that there would be no reason to build these parts unless we had a new take on it, and it would be an improvement upon what is already in use. There are already several companies that produce their own version of an industry standard baseplate and dovetail part, and the extent of their version is changing a locking lever, or anodizing in a different color. That's customizing, not innovation, and that's okay; but it's not what we're trying to do.
I'm embarrassed and proud simultaneously when I tell people that I'm on my 18th revision of a DSLR top handle. It's easy to make one, and a lot harder than you think to make it perfect.