Originally, I just basically wanted a should rig with a follow focus, as I do a lot of event shoots as well as my own films. However, the more I think about it and worth with the camera, the more I realize I might need a few other things. For example, I'd like a shoulder rig that can also be mounted on a tripod, so that I don't have to remove and remount my accessories, or buy two of them, neither of which seems very pleasant. A mattebox would also be nice, mostly just because it might be useful in the future, and I realize that the "wow" factor for clients is important both while shooting and when delivering the final product. I would also need the ability to mount a few other accessories, including camera mount lights, a Rode mic, and maybe even an LCD monitor. Essentially, that means I'll need more than one hot shoe mount.
I'm also on a budget. Originally I was hoping to spend around $300 for the basic rig and then buy accessories, but I quickly realized I'd have to bump it to maybe $500.
This has put me in the direction of a few rigs, but none really meet those needs. Very few shoulder rigs have a tripod mount. The IndiSystems rig does, but the mattebox and pretty limited, and they're very forward with the fact that adding more accessories might make it rather difficult to work with an unbalanced. This led me to consider a cage rig that also had a shoulder mount. This would work well, but these are generally much more expensive. The least expensive I've found that met my needs, shoulder mount, rods for adding accessories, mattebox, follow focus, mattebox, is the DVcity/FilmCity rig. I could pick it up for $875 shipped, but again, that's a good bit out of my price range.
I realize that these sort of rigs are expensive, but there seem to be a few emerging budget options and companies. Though I wouldn't want to spend almost $900 on junk. Any thoughts or suggestions?
I'm also on a budget. Originally I was hoping to spend around $300 for the basic rig and then buy accessories, but I quickly realized I'd have to bump it to maybe $500.
This has put me in the direction of a few rigs, but none really meet those needs. Very few shoulder rigs have a tripod mount. The IndiSystems rig does, but the mattebox and pretty limited, and they're very forward with the fact that adding more accessories might make it rather difficult to work with an unbalanced. This led me to consider a cage rig that also had a shoulder mount. This would work well, but these are generally much more expensive. The least expensive I've found that met my needs, shoulder mount, rods for adding accessories, mattebox, follow focus, mattebox, is the DVcity/FilmCity rig. I could pick it up for $875 shipped, but again, that's a good bit out of my price range.
I realize that these sort of rigs are expensive, but there seem to be a few emerging budget options and companies. Though I wouldn't want to spend almost $900 on junk. Any thoughts or suggestions?
