Looking for best Handheld Rig for AF100.

Skuzzle

Skuzzle

Active member
I know this has been covered before, but feel it's worth another look.
I'm looking for a simple, affordable, practical, comfortable Handheld Rig for the AF100.

Here are my requirements:

$1k or less. I'm not interested anything that costs more period.
Less is More. I don't have 20 minutes to get on or off any rig.
No monopods. I don't like the look. It's kinda creepy really.
Shoulder pad, Rods, handgrip, abdomen brace? I'm thinking Varizoom LSP-92 but beefier.


This should be achievable goal.

Thoughts?
 
Yes Creepy. The side to side movement induced by a monopod looks quite unpleasant to me. I'm not saying they don't have their place, it's just not what I'm looking for.
 
Olof's shoulder mount looks like a great option, especially as he is currently adding the v-mount option. Excuse the ignorant question, but can a v-mount battery be used to power multiple devices at the same time, like the AF101 and Nanoflash or Af101 and a top light? I've never used an external power supply before, so have no idea.
 
I recently purchased a gini rig on ebay. The price was very reasonable (just over $350) and the quality is excellent. I highly recommend it.
 
Same here. I can't find the Gini Rig anywhere. So far I like the looks of the DVtech DVRig Pro HD system the best. Has anyone actually used Olof's shoulder brace that has an opinion one way or the other?
 
Skuzzle said:
Has anyone actually used Olof's shoulder brace that has an opinion one way or the other?
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One guy has anyways, name's Barry Green, I think? Did a little write up, he's kinda new here though, so I'd take his opinion with a bag of salt... :Drogar-Dum(DBG):
 
I haven't used Olof's shoulder-mount setup, just his Nano bracket. The Nano bracket is genius. The shoulder-mount seems like a reasonable add-on to it, but I don't have direct experience with it.
 
CraftyClown said:
Olof's shoulder mount looks like a great option, especially as he is currently adding the v-mount option. Excuse the ignorant question, but can a v-mount battery be used to power multiple devices at the same time, like the AF101 and Nanoflash or Af101 and a top light? I've never used an external power supply before, so have no idea.
Click to expand...

Yes you can power both a NanoFlash or KiProMini and the AF100 and still have enough wattage over for a Sola light (30w) with the IDX batteries. I use my setup that way. IDX is now shipping the plates with 7.3v (and 5v, USB voltage) as well as the standard 14.8v (12-17v really). I have shipped about a dozen of these setups in the last couple weeks, both for NF and KPM.

The way I set up the shoulder brace and battery plate is there are internal cables from the plate to the NanoFlash/KiProMini, and a cable from the 7.3v D-tap to the AF100 (using a paddle battery insert like the one that comes with the AF100 charger). This leaves the standard D-tap open for whatever you like. I have even set some shooters up with a 4 D-tap jack on the shoulder bracket. You can pull 50w continuously from the IDX plate.

Anton Bauer has a similar plate coming, I have a bunch on order with them, and it will work in a similar fashion.

I also often make up custom D-tap cables, I am currently setting up 6 EXcams for CBS to cover the Royal Wedding across the pond using AB and Frezzi battery plates that can power the cams, Lectrosonic receivers and on camera lights.

Below is a photo showing the AF100 with my shoulder brace and a KiProMini studio setup (less compact way of mounting KPM) both powered by the IDX battery. There is still an open D-tap. This is also a very balanced rig for shouldering.

KPM2.jpg
 
Olof,

I have your shoulder brace without the Nano bracket or battery mount. I'm experimenting with putting on additional weight to counter balance the camera on the shoulder pad. My local metal shop is made up a 0.5Kg weight and its not enough so I'm having him make up a 1kg and a 1.5kg weight.

How much weight do you think I can safely put to counter balance the camera before it stresses the pieces too much? I'm especially concerned about where mount connects to the camera hand grip.

Danai
 
Regarding using Olof's shoulder mount:

I find that it works quite well if you are using the camera without any additional accessories such as a heavy camera base plate, follow focus, etc... My camera rig weighs in at about 4kg or 9lbs with my Zacuto Universal Base Plate, Shoot35 Cinefocus R2 follow focus, Zeiss Standard Prime Mk1 Lenses, PL Adaptor, Zacuto Lens Adaptor, and Chrosziel Handgrips. Setup this way its quite a bit too heavy for doing shots longer than 30 seconds.

Danai
 
dchutinaton said:
Olof,

I have your shoulder brace without the Nano bracket or battery mount. I'm experimenting with putting on additional weight to counter balance the camera on the shoulder pad. My local metal shop is made up a 0.5Kg weight and its not enough so I'm having him make up a 1kg and a 1.5kg weight.

How much weight do you think I can safely put to counter balance the camera before it stresses the pieces too much? I'm especially concerned about where mount connects to the camera hand grip.

Danai
Click to expand...

I use between 1kg (2.2lbs) and 2kg, in the form of stacked IDX batteries. No problem at all, the mount to the camera is very tough. It consists of 2 1/4"-20 screws they are rated at 100's of lbs each (I don't recommend trying that though). This is in addition to the NanoFlash or KiproMini. Panasonic did a great job on mounting points on this camera.

I have been making a similar system for EX1 and EX3 cameras for a long time and there many people are adding 2.5lb weights or batteries, no one has had a problem.

104.jpg


olof@westsideav.com
www.westsideavstore.com
 
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Skuzzle said:
Yes Creepy. The side to side movement induced by a monopod looks quite unpleasant to me. I'm not saying they don't have their place, it's just not what I'm looking for.
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It depends alot on what you are doing and how much practice you have. Sure, it is not going to have a locked off steady look like a tripod, but if you are getting more lateral movement with a monopod than with a shoulder rig, that seems more like an issue of technique.

I am not trying to convince you about the monopod route as it can be limiting, especially if you need to move while shooting, so if may not be the best for your situation, but I just dont want people getting the idea that there is major side to side movement inherent in using a monopod, especially compared to using hand held rigs.

On another note, I use to have a indierails shoulder mount that cost me $350 a couple years back that I liked. It was just some 24" rails, a shoulder pad, baseplate for the camera, and some grips, but it worked out great will I overloaded it on a red shoot for a few days (I was desperate and it was on set and worked) and stripped a few pieces on it. Thinking about getting it again though, or rigging up something similar as I am really looking for one for my AF100 as I am getting back to alot of work where I need to go handheld.
 
Heres the issue I keep seeing and its the same one we were talking about five years ago. Many of these shoulder mounts arent counter balanced correctly so basically your back ends up doing all the work and if your shooting something for 8 hours like this you might find yourself in a bit of trouble. The key to a good shoulder mount is counter balancing. 2/3" shoulder mount eng cams are good at this they balance they weight for and aft nicely. Take a look at an Alexa on the shoulder, the camera is designed to sit the actual body on the shoulder.

Then another point - off the shoulder - I hate how it makes you look down on things all the time (people) and prefer often to shoot from my chest height. Especially if the operator is a tall guy. For me the perfect handheld rig would have good balance and be adjustable in height so it could be lowered to chest height and still have a way to maintain balance and control. You also dont want something thats really stiff so you cant manoeuvre freely.

EDIT: This is how I like to work, so call it my personal wish list.
 
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