Kitting up affordably: stuff you have that works. SHARE LINKS HERE-

plasticam

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We are all slaying the same dragon right now kitting out the FS100 beast. eh?
Let's make this link a home plate for finding the basics- or for any dang thing.
The links here will be things we've bought and are satisfied with. I know I'm losing too
much time on searches. let's group fight this one.

Here is a cheap ebay adaptor that works fine.
EOS > NX dumb adaptor for $20 that I got to throw up some lenses while I consider
a final direction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180592864584&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123
This is exactly what I wanted. it's cheap and it fits.


I'd like to find an EVF but won't buy zacuto's at $1000. not my style.
Redrock will prob be months away but with a much better price promised. I'll use my 5" Marshall in meantime.
Where is a place to get serviceable arms for supporting a monitor?

I'd like to find clamp on or screw on cold shoes and 1/4 20 and 3/8ths studs that can be attached randomly to rods
w/o taking up too much real estate.

I have to have a center weighted top handle and finally can see it happening with the FS 100 top mounting points.
Anything out that will work already? I'd also like to find a good bottom handle. Just one for the dummy side
iris rod. Ideally I'd like to remount the Sony handle with the trigger.

Looking forward to seeing what y'all are finding that works.

Looking forward to having a camera that works period.

Caleb Crosby
 
For the EVF I'm waiting on the SmallHD DP4 EVF. I've been using their DP6 field monitor for a while and I've loved it, so I'm guessing that the DP4 won't let me down. Cost effective, large field of view, has an hdmi pass thru and they are always updating their firmware so it's future proof... pretty rad stuff coming out of those guys in Apex NC. DP4 should release soon.

www.smallhd.com
 
I don't think that 800x480 is enough for EVF- especially this size/magnification.
It's going to be pixelated like mad...
 
If by chance, you have been under a rock and you haven't seen it in any of the other threads yet :-) I HIGHLY recommend the Heliopan variable ND filter. Just amazing.
 
I as well am looking forward to the SmallHD DP4 and will be purchasing it as soon as I can so that I can use it for hand-held or over-the-head tripod shots. I highly doubt that there will be much pixelization of the DP4 image as it is made for judging focus.

As far as a monitor arm is concerned, I've heard that the SmallHD StrongArm 6 is very good at $79: http://www.smallhd.com/Store/5-6-inch-HD-Monitor-Accessories/6in-articulating-arm-mount. I've looked at the Noga arms, and don't like them because of price and the fact that one mount screw is longer than the other.

Follow focus: Bought this one and feels very solid - "D|Focus V3" http://jag35.com/index.php/products/followfocus/dfocus.html

I also bought a EOS to NEX dumb adapter on ebay for about $20 or so bucks and it works great.
 
FF:
Shoot35 Cinefocus r2. High-quality all-aluminum (except the marking disc, of course.) I have yet to see a FF unit of this price and quality.
http://www.shoot35.com/products/cinefocus/cinefocusunit/cinefocusunitframe.html (£349)

Lens:
Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290573118195&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT (~$249)

Tripod:
Manfrotto 504HD kit with legs & bag. Awesome true fluid head with drag control on both pan & tilt. http://cgi.ebay.com/Manfrotto-504HD...80692267266?pt=US_Tripods&hash=item2a12193102 (~$669)

Manfrotto 509HD kit with legs & bag. Even more awesome true fluid head with drag control on both pan & tilt, and it holds something like 26 pounds/13 kg which is awesome if you have an FS100 + rails + mattebox + follow focus + monitor + a 80-200/2.8 zoom + 4x4 filters + external battery. I got this one, not the 504. http://cgi.ebay.com/Manfrotto-509HD...852?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b88d7d3c (~$1499)

Adaptors:
Bunch of em' on eBay. Nikon to NEX, EF to NEX, FD to NEX, M42 to NEX. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120600733315&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT & http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220757468258&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT ($10-$20)

Baseplate:
I got the Redrock microSupport Low-riser. I think it has a reasonable price considering the quality. http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/microSupport-Bundles/microSupport-baseplate-15mm-low-riser ($249)
 

I would be extremely leary of using those $20 lens adapters available on Ebay. I bought of of the "dumb" EOS to NEX adapters and nearly lost a 300mm piece of Canon glass when the mount flange pulled off of the adapter and let the lens fall.ely, I caught the lens before it hit the ground. The three very small screws that hold the mount flange to the adapter stripped the threads out under the weight of the lens.
 
nearly lost a 300mm piece of Canon glass

That cheap adaptor might have saved you the camera mount.
Any heavy lens (and most 300's qualify) should be supported.
These cams are not tanks.

Next question is growing painfully obvious...

Who is using an adjustable lens support bracket they like?
Remember for this thread please keep it to things you own and have USED.

Caleb
 
nearly lost a 300mm piece of Canon glass

That cheap adaptor might have saved you the camera mount.
Any heavy lens (and most 300's qualify) should be supported.
These cams are not tanks.

Next question is growing painfully obvious...

Who is using an adjustable lens support bracket they like?
Remember for this thread please keep it to things you own and have USED.

Caleb

Hi Caleb...

Indeed, I had the lens supported on a set of rails. This $20 adapter is VERY weak.Some adapters are machined out of aluminum in one piece. Others, like the one that failed on me, have a brass mount flange screwed into an aluminum body. The screws barely reach into the aluminum adapter. Aluminum will NOT hold threads when the threads are this fine. The more expensive adapters have a minimum of 5 screws. These cheapos have only 3. Just a word to the cautious. They just DO NOT work. You get what you pay for!!
 
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testimonials-16.jpg

This is about the strangest way I ever have seen to mount a camera.
Why didn´t they make that riser not larger. I doubt that it will be stable and last very long.
This is like balancing the camera on a tiny matchbox.

Doesn´t look like a real smart assembly to me.

Frak
 
Hi Caleb...

Indeed, I had the lens supported on a set of rails. This $20 adapter is VERY weak.Some adapters are machined out of aluminum in one piece. Others, like the one that failed on me, have a brass mount flange screwed into an aluminum body. The screws barely reach into the aluminum adapter. Aluminum will NOT hold threads when the threads are this fine. The more expensive adapters have a minimum of 5 screws. These cheapos have only 3. Just a word to the cautious. They just DO NOT work. You get what you pay for!!
Just curious. How can the lens fall to the ground if it's actually screwed onto a support mount for 15mm rods which is tightened to the rails properly? Sounds like your rod support is to blame. It should hold the bulk of the weight, leaving almost nothing to the mount it self, and regardless of if the camera is even attached or not the lens should stay fixed on the rails.
 
Why didn´t they make that riser not larger. I doubt that it will be stable and last very long.
This is like balancing the camera on a tiny matchbox.



Frak,
It actually works very well. You, obviously have not seen the camera - there are 4 - 1/4 screws under the body
and the same rig is used for the F3 camera. And the riser is NOT made of cheese.
 
. You, obviously have not seen the camera - there are 4 - 1/4 screws under the body
and the same rig is used for the F3 camera. And the riser is NOT made of cheese.

I was the first person in Germany , that received the FS100 and yes, all the mounting points ar great and solid. nevertheless I bet you cann wiggle the camera on that matchbox stunt thingy.

Also chances are that you strip the treads over time.
Here is my rig for the moment (still waiting for some goodies) :)

FS1.jpgFS2.jpgFS3.jpgFS4.jpgFS5.jpg

Rock solid. Modified Bescor base plate with v-lock for tripod plate and build in shoulder mount. Qick relase plate gives you a lot of room to slide back and forth.
C-frame cage with solid handle.

xp-bm4.jpg

Frank
 
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Very nice, Frank - but it looks very front heavy. I bet you - after 10 minutes of shooting , you will feel it - severely.
And no - you cannot wiggle the camera "on that matchbox stunt thingy."And - yes - there are rails to move the thingy back and forth.
 
In the stock version it´s front heavy as hell. But thats why I modified mine, so the main wight sits on my shoulder, like a proper ENG camera.

First I removed the sliding shoulder pad in the back. Then I fabricated a rail, that mounts the shoulder pad, right under the camera.
That´s why I also removed the brace that holds the "belly post", so it swings much wider to the font.
It´s pretty comfortable, with a pair of grips that slide over the rails. I can almost go freehand.

Maybe I should call it "Frank-n-Stein Rig" :)

Frank
 
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That's the best I've seen Frank. I looked at the site from that matchbox design but left after seeing the 149 bucks for a 3/8th clamp. or what was it 260 for a lens support? i'm not saying it's not well made, but these prices are unwarrantable for an owner /op wants to make a living instead of an aluminum monster!
I'm currently toying with a design for a cage like that c-cage you have. That is the indian one? Frankenstein is the tough nut with this. Sure you want some protection and mounting points- a handle at least! but you don't want to bury the tool itself in bzantium. Frank your's look like a good balance.
(still too many ribs maybe?)

Questions, thats a RR v 2 FF? I'm about to get the "blue" if I can justify the expense. I need hard stops cause I suck at focus.

What are you using for a monitor support arm?

Thanks on those photos. I'll plan to post some next week when I'm closer along.

Caleb
 
I was the first person in Germany , that received the FS100 and yes, all the mounting points ar great and solid. nevertheless I bet you cann wiggle the camera on that matchbox stunt thingy.

Also chances are that you strip the treads over time.
Here is my rig for the moment (still waiting for some goodies) :)

View attachment 36490View attachment 36491View attachment 36492View attachment 36493View attachment 36494

Rock solid. Modified Bescor base plate with v-lock for tripod plate and build in shoulder mount. Qick relase plate gives you a lot of room to slide back and forth.
C-frame cage with solid handle.

View attachment 36489

Frank

Who makes this shoulder-chest mount?
 
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