Latest GH2 Rig

Nice. I see you have the P&C Gear Box - which I also bought, but I also bought the P&C rail adapter w/rails, and you went for the ikan... why did you decide on the ikan? Also what FF is that (looks like ikan wheels?), and is that some kind of Sony monitor? Thanks!
 
Nice!, I'm thinking about getting one of those for my second GH2 I use a Gini Rig on my A cam. I'm curious about why you decided to use the extensions under the handles. It seems tall for the camera. I'm thinking I'll use a Manfrotto quick release adapter to give the GH2 a little more height in the rig.
 
Why do you have the cage with the extenders? To much room on top of the GH2. Shorten that up, also as other poster mentioned the rails by P&C look a lot better
 
Actually, that is the P&C rail adapter and rods which I just swapped out for black Cavision carbon fiber rods (much lighter in weight) right after I took that picture.

That is an Ikan F3 friction follow focus that works great, quick to set up for different lenses and no gears to fuss with or damage the lens. Uses a soft rubber on the wheels that really grips the lens ring well with very little pressure needed. You can use it on the zoom or focus ring.
 
First thing I did was rotate the bottom plate of the Gear Box so it would work better with the GH2. This allows for much more room to plug in an HDMI cable and for the GH2 LCD screen to flip out better. Also had to mount the camera as far forward as possible so my hands would fit better around the right hand grip which is why the extensions are in still.
 
Cavemandude said:
First thing I did was rotate the bottom plate of the Gear Box so it would work better with the GH2. This allows for much more room to plug in an HDMI cable and for the GH2 LCD screen to flip out better. Also had to mount the camera as far forward as possible so my hands would fit better around the right hand grip which is why the extensions are in still.
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Cool, everyone shooting style is different. I like mine nice and compact, no room for error. Regardless if you are happy and it works that's all that matters. I have the same cage and really like it. I just have it more together so it can be at eye level. Will post some pics later
 
That is a Sony CLM-V55 monitor.

Cant use a quick release mount with this configuration because it would make the GH2 too high and the follow focus wouldn't reach some of my lenses.

I can mount an audio recorder and position it in that open area between the top of the GH2 and the top plate. I also like the height of the HD monitor so it doesn't bother me the way it is.
 
Here is the video monopod configuration with front grips added, carbon fiber 15mm rods, an audio recorder, cardiod mic and telescopic arm to freely position the Sony HD monitor.

The previous configuration was more for a tripod or handheld where I prefer the monitor to be higher.

Also without the extensions and rotating the bottom plate, the GH2 monitor (when it is flipped out) would be in the way of the left hand grip of the Gear Box.

PICT0128_cropped.jpg
 
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Interesting. You have to shift the weight around depending on how the whole thing is used - on a monopod, it makes sense to have the weight as vertically central right above the monopod as much as possible, so you can pan easily. The front grips make it look like you'd take it on the shoulder - because for the monopod, why not just use the monopod handle... but then if you wanted to quickly take it off and put it on your shoulder, there really is no shoulder pad, or chest gun-butt or some way to stabilize it against your body - at the same time you got it on quick release so you can take it off fast so you can certainly go handheld, but then I imagine you'd just use the P&C side grips and the front grips would be a bit in the way, no? I'm sure you got it figured out, it's just interesting how everybody arranges all the elements depending on how they work... makes just the raw camera body look pretty naked and awkward to use :)
 
Configured with a shoulder rest and the Sony monitor adjusted more forward and right at my eye level when using the shoulder rest. With the Gear Box extensions in and the Gear Box bottom plate reversed, I also get a nice open view to look through below the bottom edge of the Sony monitor which would be blocked without those two changes to the Gear Box.

PICT0133_cropped.jpg
 
Hands free configuration, again showing why the Gear Box extensions are useful by having enough space to mount a telescopic arm underneath the top plate instead of on top of it, This leave room to mount other accessories on the top plate like a light or additional mic to go directly into the GH2.

PICT0145_cropped.jpg
 
How do you like that Cavision shoulder mount? I was looking at getting one, since it looks like the best bang for the buck, but practically nobody uses it.
 
The Cavision is hard plastic where a pad should be and it is very light but it is very adjustable. I'll probably pad that area and add an Anton Bauer gold mount plate and battery to the back that will power at least a light but will also add some much needed weight to the back to help balance everything out. In the last pic I posted, that shoulder mount doesn't need any weight added to the back because of the front part and also has some thin padding.
 
Pics look fine on my monitors considering almost all the components are black and I was bouncing one flash with no additional lighting. Certainly not a black blob, you may want to calibrate your monitor. I'm using Dell Ultrasharp 24" monitors here.
 
Another reason to have the front grips on the video monopod is that I can keep the camera much more stable and smooth while making any movements and can even use my thumb to control the follow focus while my hand is still on the left grip and my right hand is on the monopod arm grip.
 
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Cavemandude said:
Another reason to have the front grips on the video monopod is that I can keep the camera much more stable and smooth while making any movements and can even use my thumb to control the follow focus while my hand is still on the left grip and my right hand is on the monopod arm grip.
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That makes sense. Purely aesthetically I find those front grips quite ugly - though I guess taste is subjective, and if they work, that's all that counts... maybe they had a price advantage?
 
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