FS7: long /heavy lens support?

[jpham]

Looking for long/heavy lens support for FS7 - any suggestion?
Putting a Nikon 800mm on FS7, and it is very front heavy .

 

[jasonbrooks]

Search this forum for your keywords, you'll find many and varied solutions... ;-)

-jason

 

[egproductions]

I use a combination of this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0197OP4PU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4DLoyb1QQ3GEJ

And this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XCTFAOW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UGLoybKCVK9YZ

 

[jpham]

I had those smallrig and lens support - it isn't enough, barely handle it
the lens is about 2x the weight of the FS7.

Also is there a 2x viewer to replace the viewer tube - or should I just put the O7Q as a monitor
every time I use the Sony viewing tube, I'm adding vibration

 

[Ivor C]

I use one of these, but it can throw the centre of gravity off (towards the camera body), depending on the weight and length of the lens :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/iSh...2230284044.html?spm=2114.01010208.8.78.4vsiPZ

 

[morgan_moore]

You want to attache the lens to the sticks and work out a way of hanging the camera off it.. supported.

https://twitter.com/sammorganmoore/status/674656992858923008

 

[J Michael]

I have that same lens. Most of those lens supports are too short so building a rail support is probably your best option.

 

[steve phillipps]

There is very little "off the shelf" that will work, you usually need to do some modification / fabrication to make these things work. If the combination is going to be used for a long time then it's worth doing something properly, but not so much if it's just going to be used for a couple of days. If it was kit I was going to keep I would either make a flat plate from aluminium, with a groove in it for the lens and mounting holes for the camera, or get a 19mm baseplate and rod setup - then just need to fabricate the appropriate spacer depending on whether the camera or lens sat higher. One thing to bear in mind which can help, is that many long telephotos have a removable foot, and once this is removed it allows the lens to sit much lower - helping mounting and also stability. That's what I did with this Sigma 150-600, then just drilled a couple of holes in the support bridge so I could screw the original bolts back in where the foot normally sat. It's not hard, just needs a bit of head scratching and some simple precision engineering - the key word really is "spacers", that's usually all that is needed.
Steve

 

[dolby]

Here is my solution that I use on my Varicam and FS7 when I use big PL zooms. The dovetail plate by Cametree is surprisingly built very well.

http://www.woodencamera.com/unified-baseplate-sony-fs7-canon-c100-c100mkii-p/222100.htm

https://www.amazon.com/Smallrig-Fin...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CVJVCHW0ZE3SJE28AK5M
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M569LF2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[broughtonfilm]

Use 19mm baseplate with rods and add a 19mm lens support, like the one pictured or similar (it is worth to support the lens (metabones?) adapter with another one too). Then add a 19mm bridge plate or a 19mm rail block and attach it directly to the 19mm rods at the center of the gravity of the whole thing, bridgeplate is better because on top of being able to slide it on the rods you'd gain a dovetail balancing. If you are looking for a cheap solution then a rail block shown in the pictures would work fine for both the main camera plate and the one that goes on the rods (you could unscrew the top plate from the piece when mounting on the rods because at this point it is not needed).

Regarding the EVF, since it is using 15mm rods for mounting, it should be relatively easy to attach it to the tripod head directly with some sort of arm or rods extensions. This way the camera would be somewhat isolated from vibrations caused by operator's contact with EVF (yes, still not isolated completely but at least it is not mounted to the camera itself).

 

[jpham]

for DSLR - the iShoot Telephoto Lens Bracket is ok, I use that on my Nikon (however the screw knob fell out after 4-5 use)
but the FS7 is about 4x (?) the size/length/weight. I want something more rigid
and stable, as the wind blow (12-25mph) against the big long lens - and that put a lot of vibration.

Wondering how the Sony A7SII and it internal vibration reduction sensor can handle vibration

 

[jpham]

I need something like that on image #3 - a 24 inch base plate for the fluid head. probably a new head too!!
I need a tripod head that do dampening vibration, is there such a thing ? or can I mount my DJI upside down can it
handle a big lens and FS7 body?

 

[steve phillipps]

I need something like that on image #3 - a 24 inch base plate

A plate is very simple for an engineer to make, and not too expensive - I think I designed and had the one in the picture for about £200. Then when you get different kit all you need is to machine a spacer to fit.

Steve

 

[deltoidjohn]

I'm using this one with my FS700 for longer lenses:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/853308-REG/ikan_ELE_LBP_EV2_Camcorder_Baseplate.html

It has the benefit of being height adjustable to you can make room for larger feet on bigger lenses. You can also slide the camera fore/aft on the plate, to help with balance on a tripod. Then you just need a 1/4" thread mount like this one:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ke_support_universal_telephoto_long_lens.html
(Take off the curved bit and you've got a 1/4" thread)

By the time you add a quick release plate to the top of the baseplate you've got plenty of height to play with in order to fit even the biggest of lens feet.

 

[Grug]

This is exactly what 19mm Studio baseplates and rods are made for - BIG ASS GLASS!

A simple 19mm studio baseplate attached to the bottom of whatever current baseplate you have, with stainless steel 19mm rods (you want the steel for the extra riggidity), an 18-24" dovetail, and a regular old studio lens support (that you can screw into the lens' support foot) - will give you all the support you need, and you can rent the parts for just a few bucks from any rental house.

 

[jpham]

I have the Arri 19mm base plate - it is on my FS700. On the FS7, I have the Sony quick release + 15mm tilta body armor
Maybe I should try out the 19mm plate on the FS7. The big lens and camera look really solid indoor. I also thinking is there a big sand/bean bag that I can use ... maybe I need to visit a dry good store and ask for one of those 50lbs bag of beans, then all I need to do is lower the tripod down to bag level - and let the lens rest on the bean bag

 

[klk]

I have the Arri 19mm base plate - it is on my FS700. On the FS7, I have the Sony quick release + 15mm tilta body armor
Maybe I should try out the 19mm plate on the FS7. The big lens and camera look really solid indoor. I also thinking is there a big sand/bean bag that I can use ... maybe I need to visit a dry good store and ask for one of those 50lbs bag of beans, then all I need to do is lower the tripod down to bag level - and let the lens rest on the bean bag

Uh- forget the bean bag if you want to operate the camera. 19mm rods. Arri or generic- this is what they're made for. The Optimo 24-290 weighs more than the lens mentioned.
FYI the Alexa/Optimo combo is on a slider I made for myself.

 

[jpham]

What tripod head is that - is there a tripod head with 19mm rod slider ? or just use the arri quick release with 19mm?

Do you also use a counter balance weight for the rear ?

 

[steve phillipps]

Top is Ronford Baker 2015 / 2030 and bottom is O'Connor 2575D. No head that I know of has 19mm rods built in, just use standard Arri dovetail. No need for counterbalance weight for rear, just slide to correct balance and dial in counterbalance setting - easy and prcise with the O'Connor as it's stepless, with the Ronford it's more pot luck and right ballpark. You're talking big money for the O'Connors - but totally worth every penny, they're in a league of their own in my opinion. The Ronfords can be found much cheaper - I've seen plenty of 2015 / 2030 head for around £1,000 to £1,500.
Steve

 

[klk]

What tripod head is that - is there a tripod head with 19mm rod slider ? or just use the arri quick release with 19mm?

Do you also use a counter balance weight for the rear ?

As Steve said, standard Arri 19mm baseplate- or generic brand made to Arri specs. We never counterweight anything- if needed we just use a longer dovetail for balance. Simple, effective, and kinda expensive- but much better than trying to use counterweights.