Looking for a short baseplate/riser

[moldcad]

The RR microSupport baseplates (I have 2 of them, with different riser heights) work flawlessly for me, but what I need for my even more compact and lightweight rig is the very same concept baseplate as the left one below -

- only with the bottom plate being much shorter (it doesn’t need to be any longer than the riser block).

Can someone point me to something like this?

PS I realize the Zacuto mini baseplate (on the right) is just the length I need, but it is not compatible with the Manfrotto QR adapter/plate - and this is essential to me, as it enables very flexible, modular rig design...

 

[Loren Simons]

Piotr,

I'm glad you're happy with your current set up. What do you need the smaller baseplate for? Are you planning on going to a should rig? If so, all of our shoulder rigs can take a bogen sliding bracket like the Bogen 357, that way you can quickly move between the two.

 

[moldcad]

Hi Loren,

As a picture is worth more than a thousand words, I'll post a photo of my current setup (currently holding my EX1, not the FS100 - but you will get the idea). Just give me some time please as I can't do at the moment.

BTW, I have filed a case on that at RR support (#9089), as I believe a new bottom plate would need to be custom-machined to achieve my goal (I'd use my existing riser block/adapter and the rail holder)... Are you able to take care of the case for me, please? It's very important to me

OK, Loren - below is a pic of my current setup using low-riser RR plate (the high-riser I use with Letus). As can be seen (I hope - sorry for the quality), a shorter base plate would have a number of advantages:

- thanks to more room behind the plate, the shoulder pad could slide forward, right under the camera
- thanks to more room in front of the plate, I could mount the full-size RR follow focus in the normal way (now I'm using a small FF with gearbox flipped over)
- entire rig could become shorter and balance better (even with my largish RR matte box!)

I'm sure that while the current design of the RR plate is fine with larger setups, not intended to be shoulder-mount (I use mine with Letus setup without any complaints), making the shorter version available would certainly make many people happy

 

[Loren Simons]

Piotr,

There's a couple thing's I'm going to address in here, so stick with me.

We do just offer one size baseplate, and like you said it does work for most things, including what I think you want to do, and here's how:

Purchase a microClamp and attach it to the rear of the unit as shown below:


That way you'll be able to quickly throw the shoulder pad literally wherever you want. Since the shoulder pad you have is not redrock brand, it will of course be compatible, but it may not be the most elegant solution.

Your other option is to purchase our microShoulderPad, which has a set of 3/8" and 1/4" on it's dovetail, so you can quickly mount it to a tripod with the shoulder pad still attached.

If your heart is set of really making a shorter baseplate, I would suggest taking the components to a local machine shop and have them cut you a smaller bottom plate while still using our rod clamp and riser.

You also mentioned:

I could mount the full-size RR follow focus in the normal way (now I'm using a small FF with gearbox flipped over)

Not sure if you're aware of this. But our microFollowFocus V2 (which I believe is the one you have) can in fact be reversed so the drive gear is on the opposite side of the gear box by following these instructions.

 

[Peberley]

FYI - I'm using the Manfrotto RC4 Low Profile Rectangular Rapid Connect Adapter with 3271 Plate. Fits fine on Zacuto mini baseplate.

 

[moldcad]

Piotr,

There's a couple thing's I'm going to address in here, so stick with me.

We do just offer one size baseplate, and like you said it does work for most things, including what I think you want to do, and here's how:

Purchase a microClamp and attach it to the rear of the unit as shown below:


That way you'll be able to quickly throw the shoulder pad literally wherever you want. Since the shoulder pad you have is not redrock brand, it will of course be compatible, but it may not be the most elegant solution.

Your other option is to purchase our microShoulderPad, which has a set of 3/8" and 1/4" on it's dovetail, so you can quickly mount it to a tripod with the shoulder pad still attached.

If your heart is set of really making a shorter baseplate, I would suggest taking the components to a local machine shop and have them cut you a smaller bottom plate while still using our rod clamp and riser.

You also mentioned:



Not sure if you're aware of this. But our microFollowFocus V2 (which I believe is the one you have) can in fact be reversed so the drive gear is on the opposite side of the gear box by following these instructions.

Dear Loren,

Thanks a lot for all those ideas - unfortunately, only the one about my need to use a local machine shop is really useful

The standard RR base plate sandwiched with the clamp and another pair of rods is not an option for me, as it denies my general goal which has been to achieve the shortest rig possible, and with the lowest CoG too.

As to my RR FF, I checked and unfortunately, it's not reversible (only 2 holes). Besides, it developed a huge play not possible to adjust by pushing the wheel in while re-tightening the 2 screws (it must be the gear getting loose on its shaft).


Anyway - thanks again; at least you have tried to be helpful (unlike some of your RR colleagues )...

 

[moldcad]

FYI - I'm using the Manfrotto RC4 Low Profile Rectangular Rapid Connect Adapter with 3271 Plate. Fits fine on Zacuto mini baseplate.

Yes - I'm aware of this option, but I prefer to have a full size, industry standard tripod plate permanently attached to my cameras so that, when I use them "naked", I can always put them on my tripods quickly...

But thanks, anyway.

 

[moldcad]

Piotr,

Your other option is to purchase our microShoulderPad, which has a set of 3/8" and 1/4" on it's dovetail, so you can quickly mount it to a tripod with the shoulder pad still attached.

As to the microShoulderMount - sorry, but this is definitely one of RR's worst products. The pad is too narrow and too high, resulting in no stability at all... I had it, and sold it away.

Back to the baseplate for a while, if you please: can you explain to me why it's so excessively long? Looking at my picture above, it could be just as long as my intermediate Sachtler QR adapter - and not a single mm longer!

Just take a look at this perfectly designed piece to see what I mean (wide shoulder pad under the camera, lots of space in the front of and behind the camera mount plate*, industry-standard tripod mount):

* yes I realize this is just a DSLR mount, but could be replaced with e.g. Manfrotto QR adapter - you get the overall concept, anyway