berlinfool
Well-known member
I have been looking for a good solution for my shoulder rig. But all the 7Q mounting options are either crap or $1000.
I'm still unhappy with all the 7Q mounting solutions out there
- Thread starter berlinfool
- Start date
slipstrea808
Well-known member
Specifically I'm not sure what I can offer you as a suggestion. You are right. They either cost a LOT or they suck.
That's the way of a lot of this film/video industry. And my other hobbies of cars and computers. And heck anything in life.
I'd say look at what you are purchasing and see if you can use it on other stuff. I mean once you get something else can you still use that bracket? If so get a good durable one. Buy it once, buy it right.
And make sure you charge clients enough for gear. Just my $.02. Good luck!
That's the way of a lot of this film/video industry. And my other hobbies of cars and computers. And heck anything in life.
I'd say look at what you are purchasing and see if you can use it on other stuff. I mean once you get something else can you still use that bracket? If so get a good durable one. Buy it once, buy it right.
And make sure you charge clients enough for gear. Just my $.02. Good luck!
It's a bit on the heavier side, and you have to really crank it to get it to stay, but I've been using the Zacuto Zamerican Arm (http://store.zacuto.com/september-special/), which has held up quite a bit better than my last Noga Arm. I use it on the Movcam FS700 cage, with the Zamerican inserted into the top left rail mount, and the 7Q flipped upside down. So far, it's held up well in shoulder mounted 'EVF mode', and it's pretty easy to swing it around if I toss the rig on a tripod. I'll toss up a picture of it later!
Mitch Gross
Veteran
Tell us where you would like the Odyssey7Q mounted and we can suggest options for getting it there.
I am really happy with the westsideav store mount. About 200$ and rock solid.
http://www.westsideavstore.com/index.php?p=product&id=80
What I am not happy is my shoulder rig...I cant seem to find anything that can be used on shoulder and tripod and be put into my (huge) backpack without dismantling...
http://www.westsideavstore.com/index.php?p=product&id=80
What I am not happy is my shoulder rig...I cant seem to find anything that can be used on shoulder and tripod and be put into my (huge) backpack without dismantling...
Did you see my post on the Movcam bracket?
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ket-mini-review-(lots-of-pictures)&highlight=
Very happy indeed with it - super sturdy and is affordable.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ket-mini-review-(lots-of-pictures)&highlight=
Very happy indeed with it - super sturdy and is affordable.
berlinfool
Well-known member
I had the westside AV EVF holder for I while before I lost a part. It was not stable enough and got lose after a too short time. So I don't know if I would trust the 7Q holder. But at least they made it very affordable and the basic idea is right.
It should be attached to the top of the handle to achieve the right hight and then extended forward so you get enough distance from your eyes.
I really want to go for lightweight. That doesn't look like it.
I think the general idea of the whole Movecam rig is good because it's still kind of light weight but after I tried out my buddy's rig I realized how light the whole rig should be: http://www.builtbyugene.com/blog/blog1_rigs.html
We are lucky that the actual camera and the 7Q are really light so it makes the camera great for intimate shooting and unusual angles.
This might be a good one but it's $925 - crazy (in my world): http://shop.solidcamera.com/FS700-GP-EVF-Support-Kit-w-DovePLATE-03-200-K5.htm
Thanks for asking this Mitch. As a summery I would like a simple but solid and lightweight solution to use the 7Q as a EVF replacement without braking the bank. What about $400?
berlinfool
Well-known member
For my light rig I would like to avoid cage and rails. I actually got a Zacuto rig we spent $3000 on but even that has no well working viewfinder holder. We had the Zacuto one but we sent it back.
Mitch Gross
Veteran
It depends how adjustable the position of the Odyssey needs to be, particularly the height.
The simplest stable rig would be a bar going straight forward off the top handle, much as Westside AV does. The top hot shoe would have to be removed from the handle, but Sony provides mounting holes for it on the back of the handle. Then a clamp to switch the direction laterally off to the left. Into the clamp would go a rod with a 1/4"/20 end that would screw directly into the side of the Odyssey7Q. This can all be accomplished relatively inexpensively with some parts from Wooden Camera and/or Zacuto, and be done for less than $400. For adjustability in height, the rod would need to attach to a secondary bar that would then attach to the side of the Odyssey7Q, which means more bits and cost involved. WC has essentially this rig as their EVF mount system, complete with a clutch mechanism.
Bar on Top Handle: WC Easy Stick $79
Right Angle adapter: WC Easy Right $25
Clamp for rod: WC 15mm tube clamp $95
15mm rod w/ internal threading: Zacuto 4.5" 15mm rod female/female $30
14"x20 insert for rod: Zacuto "Z-ARM-ADPT" $19
That's a total of $248 for a rock solid mounting solution. The Odyssey7Q can be positioned fore/aft on the camera via the Easy Stick mounting, left/right on the camera by moving the 15mm rod in the tube clamp and rotated top/bottom by turning the 15mm rod in the tube clamp. It is rigid so will always be level with the camera. This configuration does not give a vertical up/down to the camera, but a few more parts could do that as well. Knock yourself out.
In my past life at AbelCine I used to contraption out client kits and rental packages all the time. It's like an erector set.
The simplest stable rig would be a bar going straight forward off the top handle, much as Westside AV does. The top hot shoe would have to be removed from the handle, but Sony provides mounting holes for it on the back of the handle. Then a clamp to switch the direction laterally off to the left. Into the clamp would go a rod with a 1/4"/20 end that would screw directly into the side of the Odyssey7Q. This can all be accomplished relatively inexpensively with some parts from Wooden Camera and/or Zacuto, and be done for less than $400. For adjustability in height, the rod would need to attach to a secondary bar that would then attach to the side of the Odyssey7Q, which means more bits and cost involved. WC has essentially this rig as their EVF mount system, complete with a clutch mechanism.
Bar on Top Handle: WC Easy Stick $79
Right Angle adapter: WC Easy Right $25
Clamp for rod: WC 15mm tube clamp $95
15mm rod w/ internal threading: Zacuto 4.5" 15mm rod female/female $30
14"x20 insert for rod: Zacuto "Z-ARM-ADPT" $19
That's a total of $248 for a rock solid mounting solution. The Odyssey7Q can be positioned fore/aft on the camera via the Easy Stick mounting, left/right on the camera by moving the 15mm rod in the tube clamp and rotated top/bottom by turning the 15mm rod in the tube clamp. It is rigid so will always be level with the camera. This configuration does not give a vertical up/down to the camera, but a few more parts could do that as well. Knock yourself out.
In my past life at AbelCine I used to contraption out client kits and rental packages all the time. It's like an erector set.
Shooter
Veteran
Here is my angle on your request.
I dont understand why people buy production style cameras and expect to be able to make them ENG ( shoulder mount) style without compromise.
Compromising the design and intention costs.
A couple shots of my FS7QQ with the Zamerican Arm:
Thus far, the Zamerican has held up fine for tripod and shoulder mounted work (though I use a longer Cinecoil for added flexibility in positioning, rather than the short Westside AV cable in the pics). I use an Edelkrone EVF rod mount on the back of the 7Q -- the two little rubber strips help prevent twisting (and with the Westside AV plate also mounted, it fits perfectly and has zero twisting).
Similar to Mitch's suggestion, but for a cheaper, lighter, all-in-one setup, albeit with a bit less positional flexibility, you should be able to rig the following combo off of the standard FS700 grip:
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/products/pico-plate-combo
One plate into the top handle, the other plate into the 7Q, run the included rod between them (though you might want some grippy rubber on the 7Q plate to avoid twisting). You should have one-axis rotational and horizontal sliding flexibility with the 7Q. You could also run a smaller Zamerican arm with the same setup, instead of the standard rod, for increased flexibility and some vertical adjustment. The small arms still run nearly $200, but would cut down on the weight a bit.
Thus far, the Zamerican has held up fine for tripod and shoulder mounted work (though I use a longer Cinecoil for added flexibility in positioning, rather than the short Westside AV cable in the pics). I use an Edelkrone EVF rod mount on the back of the 7Q -- the two little rubber strips help prevent twisting (and with the Westside AV plate also mounted, it fits perfectly and has zero twisting).
Similar to Mitch's suggestion, but for a cheaper, lighter, all-in-one setup, albeit with a bit less positional flexibility, you should be able to rig the following combo off of the standard FS700 grip:
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/products/pico-plate-combo
One plate into the top handle, the other plate into the 7Q, run the included rod between them (though you might want some grippy rubber on the 7Q plate to avoid twisting). You should have one-axis rotational and horizontal sliding flexibility with the 7Q. You could also run a smaller Zamerican arm with the same setup, instead of the standard rod, for increased flexibility and some vertical adjustment. The small arms still run nearly $200, but would cut down on the weight a bit.
berlinfool
Well-known member
Hey Mitch. That is amazing! You are a genius!
I ordered the part from Wooden Camera. I can actually use the remaining part from my Westside AV mounting solution to attach the monitor. It's a rod with welded-on mounting plate.
Thank you so much!
I ordered the part from Wooden Camera. I can actually use the remaining part from my Westside AV mounting solution to attach the monitor. It's a rod with welded-on mounting plate.
Thank you so much!
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berlinfool
Well-known member
It's because the industry is changing. I used my FS700 to shoot films, commercials, reality TV and all kinds of different web content. The budgets are lower and flexibility is demanded. And even networks like the look of big sensor cameras.
With that my own creative style has expanded. That's a very good thing. There are no rules anymore.
Shooter
Veteran
This is what I would use .
http://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Redrock-Micro/Redrock-Micro-Lightweight-Support-Arm
I have two and they are the most versatile components I have to build from my rods.
Combine with some other components for angle options.
I often lift and carry my entire rigged camera with these.
http://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Redrock-Micro/Redrock-Micro-Lightweight-Support-Arm
I have two and they are the most versatile components I have to build from my rods.
Combine with some other components for angle options.
I often lift and carry my entire rigged camera with these.
Eyelight Kasper
Member
Here's my very basic, stripped down, lightweight, fast and easy setup - some times less is more, no need to overcomplicate things
And here's my simple, well-balanced shoulder-support system, where I just use it as a recorder and monitor for my assistant and I myself use the on-board FS700 monitor for framing/exposure etc.
-Kasper
And here's my simple, well-balanced shoulder-support system, where I just use it as a recorder and monitor for my assistant and I myself use the on-board FS700 monitor for framing/exposure etc.
-Kasper
Here's my very basic, stripped down, lightweight, fast and easy setup - some times less is more, no need to overcomplicate things
-Kasper
Hey Kasper, I'm like you in that I like to keep it simple. I do think if you had the 7Q in more of an EVF position on the camera left side, it would help you a lot. The 7Q is an amazing monitor and it's a shame to not use it and have it pointing off to the side and still stare at the tiny FS700 LCD. Here's how I do it to keep it light and you can look at the 7Q.
slipstrea808
Well-known member
This is actually a very BAD thing lol. :crybaby: