Is there a tripod-rig

confirmed/agreed. I bought a battery grip for my T2i for this reasons alone (well and the extra battery life)
 
Too expensive as I will keep the 550d just for my short and probably upgrade to GH2 or a successor. Is there no railsystem?
 
muroshi said:
Too expensive as I will keep the 550d just for my short and probably upgrade to GH2 or a successor. Is there no railsystem?
Click to expand...

A grip for the 550d is between $45 and $65, some come with 2 batteries, some with back loading trays and others with side loading.
One of the best features, if all goes to hell, it comes with a AA battery tray so there is no reason to run out of power.
 
The redrock DSLR cinema rig has enough room to switch the battery and the memory card without removing the camera.
8-003-0054_2_lg.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 8-003-0054_2_lg.jpg
    8-003-0054_2_lg.jpg
    61.7 KB · Views: 0
I own a letus hawk viewfinder and its plate doesn't have to be removed when changing batteries. I also have a manfrotto plate mounted to the letus plate and I don't have to remove that one either.
 
I was indeed looking at the original battery-grip, which seems to be a ripoff for what it is. The tripod-plate of my DV-7000 won't let me remove the battery. I would have liked to buy something, that lasts me longer.
 
Last edited:
Let's see if I understand you correctly, muroshi. I have my T2i usually with the Manfrotto 501PL sliding quick release plate mounted, so that I can quickly take it away from the tripod and remount it, for instance, on my Kameraslider or on my Hague DSLR cage or on the Steadycam Jr. for different shots, or else just use it handheld.
In any case, I can insert a new battery whenever I need, because the mounting of the 501PL does not interphere at all with the battery box in my T2i, as you can see in the picture.

/Users/anazano/Desktop/plate and battery opening.jpg

I hope this is helpful to you, if I interpreted accordingly your question, murochi.
Best,
Ana.
 
The battery grip is a good answer - until you get on rails, or use a follow focus or a matte box. I find they just make a bad video form factor even worse.

If you move to a rails setup: I was able to chop a corner off my DSLR riser to make room for the battery door to open and close. An angle grinder & a file are handy to have around.

Jag35 had an adapter for some Canon cameras that allowed you to use an external battery pack, might check into that as well.
 
Anazano said:
Let's see if I understand you correctly, muroshi. I have my T2i usually with the Manfrotto 501PL sliding quick release plate mounted, so that I can quickly take it away from the tripod and remount it, for instance, on my Kameraslider or on my Hague DSLR cage or on the Steadycam Jr. for different shots, or else just use it handheld.
In any case, I can insert a new battery whenever I need, because the mounting of the 501PL does not interphere at all with the battery box in my T2i, as you can see in the picture.

/Users/anazano/Desktop/plate and battery opening.jpg

I hope this is helpful to you, if I interpreted accordingly your question, murochi.
Best,
Ana.
Click to expand...

Hi Ana,

I can't see the picture you posted, but I guess it won't fit on my Velbon DV-7000?
 
Michael Carter said:
The battery grip is a good answer - until you get on rails, or use a follow focus or a matte box. I find they just make a bad video form factor even worse.

If you move to a rails setup: I was able to chop a corner off my DSLR riser to make room for the battery door to open and close. An angle grinder & a file are handy to have around.

Jag35 had an adapter for some Canon cameras that allowed you to use an external battery pack, might check into that as well.
Click to expand...

I shot the T2i just on the tripod for now. Although I definitely look for stuff that would improve my shooting. But getting on rails soon ads up. What are the recommended rail-systems out there, that allow to change batteries? (I'm not looking for shouldermounts, cause it isn't my shooting style.)
 
Man, there's just tons of rail gear nowadays. Try the search function here, see what people like.

I had a cavision setup before I got a DSLR; I use their rods and their loupe, which is a swing-away design, lots of magnification and under $200. I have two jag 35 tripod-plate-to-rod adapters (they sell a kit with just one, but your rails are like a seesaw with that) and a Jag35 rods-to-camera plate; I chopped the corner off that for the battery door. I have cavision shoulder mount and grips which attach to the rods, haven't used 'em much but they fit in the case and attach quickly. Whole mess? Well under $500, really sturdy & reasonably light. Attached to all of that is a follow focus & matte box, and I have a long-lens support which I haven't needed yet, but sometime I'm sure I'll stick the 80-200 2.8 on there. Kind of built that up over time but really quite happy and it makes me think a lot of rod gear out there is insanely overpriced.

If you're doing paid work, or any work where you want to get a lot of setups done as quickly as possible, you need to assemble your rig and find a case that the whole mess can drop into with no dis-assembly. (OK, a long lens or a set of matte box flags con't count). I lucked out on a big rolling tenba-style case for cheap, but had I not found one I might have very likely taken a rivet gun to a big roller suitcase, padded & partitioned it and added some 1/8 plywood or masonite in the shell. Big cases are freakishly pricey. For a while I used a flight case - one made for DJs to carry stuff in, and I partitioned it, and used foam, black leather-vinyl and a glue gun to custom-fit it. The interior came out really nice, but when I got my matte box it was too wide for the case.

It's just heaven to be able to throw your camera on your sticks and start shooting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top