Looking for a Quick Release...Thing

Jordan Scott Price

Jordan Scott Price

Veteran
So I'm at the point in my DIY rig (for my 7D) where I really need to have the camera, ya know, actually locked in to the rig itself. I've seen all these DSLR rigs that have a quick release system for the camera, where the camera just slides off quickly - haha.

Are there quick release bases and plates that are sold individually from, say, a tripod? I tried searching B&H for the quick release things I've seen in videos, but I had thousands of hits and couldn't really find what I was looking for.

Where can I find these?
 
all DSLRs are 1/4 20

also worth considering,

manfrotto 577/501 which give seom for aft slide (match your lens to your follow focus easily)

and for the weathly..

'really usefull products' or 'arca swiss'

google em

S
 
One thing about the various quick release hardware - if your shooting style means you work from a shoulder rig, a tripod, a slider, a crane, all in the same day - you may need something that gets your entire rig - rails, focus, matte box, etc - on and off of these systems quickly. It can be a big problem breaking out tools and allen wrenches to get one release plate off and another on.

My present, not-for-everyone setup has been a Manfrotto 503 head, which has a 75mm bowl. My slider has a 75mm bowl adapter below and a flat-to-bowl adapter on the sliding plate, so my entire head can go on the slider (no tools); my crane has a manfrotto quick release receiver that's the same as the 503 head (rig snaps into the crane). I'm presently putting together a shoulder rig with the same receiver so I can pop my whole rig on a shoulder setup.

When I'm doing paid work or experimental stuff, it can shave 45 minutes from a shoot to quickly make these changes, and you can be less concerned about getting everything from a setup - if in the middle of a shot you think "hmm, handheld or low angle is what this needs" you can get there in minutes. I think the main thing is "think system approach" and get gear that fits into a modular rig over time. I went with Manfrotto because my head dictated it, but it's a nice complete system & very sturdy.

BTW, the slider setup is really handy, even for static shots or pans - I can screw the slider onto blocks (threaded thumbscrews) for shots lower than any support I have; next week I'll be screwing the slider plate upside down to a ceiling for a straight-down-from-overhead slider shot. Really finding it useful now that I can get a head on it quickly.
 
Michael,
I can only support your ideas - I took the same approach, with my slider and the manfrotto parts, but using a Sachtler tripod (see here). This saves a lot of time on the set.
 
In my rig, which is designed to be popped off the tripod for shoulder use, I've already built a receiver that my tripod's quick release plate screws into. It screws into the bottom of a metal box with holes bored in it for my rails to act as the camera mount. Now I just need to install a QR system on the top of this box, so I can actually mount the camera.

It's worked so far in principle because the camera sits dead center over the tripod (well, respective to the lens, that is), so the rig actually balances perfectly while sitting there.

I finished the shoulder mount last night and took the rig for a spin just for kicks (no camera attached obviously). It handled really well, although it will take some getting used to, and the weight will shift when I mount camera, lens, matte box, etc. I absolutely love being able to snap it on and off the tripod. Speed and ease of use were of paramount concern when I first started sketching my ideas for a rig.

I don't have a great tripod, either, but with this rig and the long shoulder mount extending backward, I can use the shoulder mount as a pan/tilt arm, and it actually works quite well, removing the sticky movement from the prosumer tripod.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top