Letus Extreme rig photos
- Thread starter hennbot
- Start date
Ryan E. Walters
Well-known member
I'm not trying to make it look like that- just trying to find a solution to get everything to work together how I want it to. So I took an solution that was used on the Varicam and applied it to the HVX. Looks are not an issue for me- it is functionality that i am more concerned with. Do the filters work how I want them to- do I have the flexibility to paint the images how I want them. Whatever it takes to get there is fine with me.
Arrik
Well-known member
There are couple configurations people use from spiderbraces, dvrig HD's, to the zacuto shoulder mount rigs you refer to and more... Some people go just cam + adapter + 50mm. I'm sure the LEX could stand for that.
I am going to use a combination of Cinevate Rails + Zacuto Shoulderpad. With the Cinevate rails, the tripod plate sits further forward which gives great balance for 35mm adapters. This also allows the rails underneath the camera to be free of obstruction, which allows me to slide in a Zacuto should pad. With this setup, I can keep the shoulder pad on, rather than having to use it behind the camera or use a Q release to put it on/take it off.
I plan on doing that for the flip unit as well. I also like it because the shoulderpad will fill in some of the negative space created from the camera being raised so high. In fact, a lego block attached midway on the riser tube would allow you to connect a zacuto shoulderpad/rails to it. This way your camera wont feel like its two feet above you when using the brevis flip or letusEX in a shoulder-mounted configuration.This should work well with the LetusEX too. Just an idea.
I am going to use a combination of Cinevate Rails + Zacuto Shoulderpad. With the Cinevate rails, the tripod plate sits further forward which gives great balance for 35mm adapters. This also allows the rails underneath the camera to be free of obstruction, which allows me to slide in a Zacuto should pad. With this setup, I can keep the shoulder pad on, rather than having to use it behind the camera or use a Q release to put it on/take it off.
I plan on doing that for the flip unit as well. I also like it because the shoulderpad will fill in some of the negative space created from the camera being raised so high. In fact, a lego block attached midway on the riser tube would allow you to connect a zacuto shoulderpad/rails to it. This way your camera wont feel like its two feet above you when using the brevis flip or letusEX in a shoulder-mounted configuration.This should work well with the LetusEX too. Just an idea.
8DFM.com
Member
My Rig
My Rig
So here's my configuration:
Letus Extreme
IndiRAILSpro w/ 18" rails
IndiFOCUSpro
Matthews m25 tripod
DVX-100b
Geardear Matte Box
Canon FD and Nikon lenses
Observations:
1. The Letus Extreme looks very solid and well made. I will shoot some footage with it tomorrow and post.
2. The rails bracket that ships with the LEX gets in the way of the IndiFOCUS. I re-purposed it to to mount on the front end of my rig to support the Geardear Matte Box.
3. The IndiRAILSpro has two screw-in rails height adjustments. I had to take one of them off in order to get the base plate to mount to my tripod, but I end up using the 2nd on in the middle of my rig between the base plate and the IndiFOCUS rail mount.
4. The Geardear Matte Box is an excellent design. I'm still pretty new at using this accessory but suffice to say I think I made a wise decision for the $$. My only issue which is pretty much moot since I have the converted Letus rails bracket to help is that the front seems to sag a bit. The LEX rails bracket helps mount it up to the desired height.
5. The IndiFOCUS works great. Very smooth and simple design.
Any feedback, questions, disses? lol... I'm pretty new at this and would welcome it.
I was very close today to getting the HVX but I think I will hold out and really make use of my DVX-100b for a while longer and maybe just get Instant HD and play around with it. I feel like this set-up will extend the life of my DVX-100b at least for a few months longer
My Rig
So here's my configuration:
Letus Extreme
IndiRAILSpro w/ 18" rails
IndiFOCUSpro
Matthews m25 tripod
DVX-100b
Geardear Matte Box
Canon FD and Nikon lenses
Observations:
1. The Letus Extreme looks very solid and well made. I will shoot some footage with it tomorrow and post.
2. The rails bracket that ships with the LEX gets in the way of the IndiFOCUS. I re-purposed it to to mount on the front end of my rig to support the Geardear Matte Box.
3. The IndiRAILSpro has two screw-in rails height adjustments. I had to take one of them off in order to get the base plate to mount to my tripod, but I end up using the 2nd on in the middle of my rig between the base plate and the IndiFOCUS rail mount.
4. The Geardear Matte Box is an excellent design. I'm still pretty new at using this accessory but suffice to say I think I made a wise decision for the $$. My only issue which is pretty much moot since I have the converted Letus rails bracket to help is that the front seems to sag a bit. The LEX rails bracket helps mount it up to the desired height.
5. The IndiFOCUS works great. Very smooth and simple design.
Any feedback, questions, disses? lol... I'm pretty new at this and would welcome it.
I was very close today to getting the HVX but I think I will hold out and really make use of my DVX-100b for a while longer and maybe just get Instant HD and play around with it. I feel like this set-up will extend the life of my DVX-100b at least for a few months longer
MalcolmOng
Veteran
Handheld must be a ***** eh.
Leo Versola
Well-known member
HV20 + Extreme + Cinevate Rails and Mattebox
HV20 + Extreme + Cinevate Rails and Mattebox
Here's some pics of my setup which includes:
HV-20, Letus Extreme w/Nikon lenses, Cinevate 45mm Carbon Rail System, Cinevate Mattebox, Libec LS-55
Thank god for Cinevate's flexible rail system; I had to try a half dozen setups to get it to balance perfectly over the tripod head. Also, I needed an extra long post for the camera base to get it everything high enough for the mattebox.
Quick note regarding the support brace for the Extreme: the height retaining screw will not thread far enough into the baseplate to maintain a tight and solid connection, so I cut about a quarter inch off of the screw, removed the plastic head and used a hex key to firmly tighten the height bar to the baseplate.
All set to go except for an external monitor and follow focus. I'll probably add an external battery and possibly a Firestore to the mix at some point as well.
Also, I tried the setup removed from the tripod and it's light enough for me to run and gun with it but I'll have to see how steady I can shoot this way.
Next on the list ....... Test footage .....
Cheers!
HV20 + Extreme + Cinevate Rails and Mattebox
Here's some pics of my setup which includes:
HV-20, Letus Extreme w/Nikon lenses, Cinevate 45mm Carbon Rail System, Cinevate Mattebox, Libec LS-55
Thank god for Cinevate's flexible rail system; I had to try a half dozen setups to get it to balance perfectly over the tripod head. Also, I needed an extra long post for the camera base to get it everything high enough for the mattebox.
Quick note regarding the support brace for the Extreme: the height retaining screw will not thread far enough into the baseplate to maintain a tight and solid connection, so I cut about a quarter inch off of the screw, removed the plastic head and used a hex key to firmly tighten the height bar to the baseplate.
All set to go except for an external monitor and follow focus. I'll probably add an external battery and possibly a Firestore to the mix at some point as well.
Also, I tried the setup removed from the tripod and it's light enough for me to run and gun with it but I'll have to see how steady I can shoot this way.
Next on the list ....... Test footage .....
Cheers!
Attachments
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Leo Versola
Well-known member
I agree.
No sagging on mine at all; perfectly level. Again, I had to get the camera high enough to clear everything to allow this; the Cinevate rail system made it very easy to do. The other option would have been to get extra rails to lower the mattebox but that would have been extra work and cost.
Also, I had to shorten the height retaining screw for the Extreme support to get it to thread in far enough lock down tightly and securely otherwise it sagged down in the front due to the weight of the adapter.
No sagging on mine at all; perfectly level. Again, I had to get the camera high enough to clear everything to allow this; the Cinevate rail system made it very easy to do. The other option would have been to get extra rails to lower the mattebox but that would have been extra work and cost.
Also, I had to shorten the height retaining screw for the Extreme support to get it to thread in far enough lock down tightly and securely otherwise it sagged down in the front due to the weight of the adapter.
So I'm really curious... how much does your rig weigh??? Very cool...
I'm guessing around $3k all said and done?
Leo Versola
Well-known member
Upshot, I just put in on a bathroom scale and it weighed between 7 and 8 pounds. I'm expecting it to weigh somewhere around 15 to 17 pounds when I add batteries, an external monitor and follow focus. Longer lenses and better glass are heavier too...
And yep, tipped the scale a little north of $3K for this current setup not including the tripod or anything else listed above.
Cheno, I tried 'informally' shoulder mounting it by removing it from the tripod by holding the little post underneath the mattebox and resting the rear of the rig on my body. It should work for simple run and gun shots as long as I set the aperture high enough so I don't have to focus while moving. I also tried cradling it like a baby and that works pretty well too.
And yep, tipped the scale a little north of $3K for this current setup not including the tripod or anything else listed above.
Cheno, I tried 'informally' shoulder mounting it by removing it from the tripod by holding the little post underneath the mattebox and resting the rear of the rig on my body. It should work for simple run and gun shots as long as I set the aperture high enough so I don't have to focus while moving. I also tried cradling it like a baby and that works pretty well too.
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Leo Versola
Well-known member
jshooter, you might try doing what Ryan Walters did with his setup. He used two sets of rails and put the mattebox on the lower set of rails in front. There's a silhouette of it on the first post of this thread....
8DFM.com
Member
Phase 2
Phase 2
Thanks for the feedback Adam. I'm still working on a more streamlined and balanced set-up.
I think phase one for me was just making sure that everything COULD play with each other.
Now its time for phase 2 - getting an optimal configuration.
Phase 2
Thanks for the feedback Adam. I'm still working on a more streamlined and balanced set-up.
I think phase one for me was just making sure that everything COULD play with each other.
Now its time for phase 2 - getting an optimal configuration.
LuckyStudio 13
The Tapeless One
Leo,
How are you going to mount a redrock micro FF on tht rig ??
How are you going to mount a redrock micro FF on tht rig ??