C100: Making The C100 Usable Handheld

E

Erick Stoll

Member
After many beautiful years with my Sony EX1R, I gave in and bought the Canon C100 about six months ago. I'm generally very happy with the camera's performance, except in one key area:handheld operation. With the EX1, I would use the back of the camera against my body for my point of contact--this is obviously not possible on the C100 due to its LCD location. Furthermore, with the EX1, the lcd placement allowed me to look forward, to be able to see both the subjects and the screen at the same time. On the C100, I have to stare nearly straight down, which begins to hurt my neck after just a few minutes of usage.

@hat to do? I purchased SmallHD's HD4 external monitor--I figured moving the LCD screen to the front would help my neck pain, and allow me to support the back of the camera against my body. Unfortunately, neither the c100s waveform monitor nor its focus assist features are sent through the HDMI output. The SmallHDs built-in exposure and focus function were basically useless, meaning that I still had to rely on my original monitor for getting those set. Not worth the $500, so I returned the monitor.

I'm generally adverse to shoulder rigs, I love the size of the C100, and the last thing I want to do is make it much heavier and bigger with a big piece of hardware. I also like to be flexible about my shooting height--I do not want to have to keep my camera tethered to my shoulder.

Any suggestions? Does anyone know of a small external monitor with really good built in exposure and focus tools? I'm also curious about the Zacuto Target Shooter--in all the demo videos its shown being used against the shoulder, but It seems like I could probably use it to brace against anywhere on my body--chest, stomach, leg, etc.

thanks!
 
I'm very curious about this too. I can do handheld for brief spells, especially with a stabilized lens, like the 17-55 f/2.8, but I've learned the hard way never to stray too far away from my tripod or Manfrotto fluid monopod!
 
I'm also interested. The Ninja blade looks like a promising option but the inability to punch in to check critical focus is putting me off.
 
I spent a year trying to do the same thing.

In the end, I conceded that I really needed extra weight to make the C100 a decent handheld proposition. I use it shoulder mounted a lot of the time - I know you're saying you don't want to do that, but my view is that the C100 is ergonomically compromised in it's vanilla form.

I did try a Manfrotto shoulder brace, pushing it out in front, but it proved to be fiddly and too flexible/bendy when I was under real-world shooting pressure.

I've been running the combination below on one of our C100s for a few months. The only thing I'd like to improve now is to find a loupe for the Blade that has diopter adjustment - everything else is working really well and I feel I have reached a setup that genuinely works for most of my shooting scenarios.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...00-Ninja-Blade-with-SWIT-8082S-V-Lock-battery

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-plate&p=1986444632&highlight=#post1986444632

The whole thing slips in and out of an SKB rolling case.

Ben.
 
My suggestion: try using the neck strap. Rather than pushing the camera against your body, push the camera away from you and against your neck. You still have the same three points of contact, but it is much more comfortable and the camera is light enough to do this for extended periods of time. Another suggestion: rather than putting the strap just around the neck, put it over the neck and around one shoulder as if the camera is a satchel. This allows, you to comfortably stop holding the camera and do things with your hands.
 
How bizarre!

I've shot with EX1s for so long, though I remember the time it took to grow and strengthen that curious EX1 muscle in your right fore-arm. I remember the rallying cry of objection as to how bad it was to hand-hold. Even I ranted on about it. It was anathema to decent hand-held shooting. Of course, now it is the gold standard.

Therein lies the rub. If you've been shooting with an EX1 for so many years, then switch to the C100, you will have to UNLEARN stuff. We are creatures of habit, with muscle memory. The C100 will be awkward for at least three months. That's how long it takes to unlearn your standard muscle memory. Then you will get better at handheld.

I wish I could share stuff from a current project which is predominantly hand held with IS lenses - 100mm Macro 2.8, 24-105 f4 and rather a lot of 18-135 STM with DPAF. Sadly due to copyright and exclusivity, I cannot - but let's just say that you couldn't shoot this stuff on a tripod, it moves so fast, and we're dealing with people who don't want to understand how we make films by doing the same thing over and over again.

The EX1 is a half inch camera. The C100 is an S35 camera - the two are so far apart, it's hard to know where to begin. Both have IMHO great ergonomics.

But as I pack for another show next week, do I go for the 'easy' option - EX1, or the more creative and image intensive option with the C100? I can choose between the two, and there are times when actually the EX1 is the best choice. However, its (excellent) image is beginning to date. Do I replace with PXW200 or PXW300, or go to PXW-X70 at 1 inch chip design, or emphasise the C100?

Bottom line: it was the C1oo form factor that won me over for a R&G S35 camera. I've tried it in a rig, and it DOES help for walking shots, but is the antithesis of what I bought it for. It is totally usable handheld for walk-around coverage with 11-16, 18-135 and 70-200 IS lenses, especially if you're shooting de-facto mute B-Roll. For my shoots, adding a rig deforms the whole setup into yet another '2/3" wannabe". But of course, YMMV.
 
Use the EVF (with e.g. a Zacuto eye cup and microfibre cover). Sure, it could be way, way, WAY, W A Y better, but after some time you will get it. It ain`t worse than the HVX LCD back then and the lesser DoF of the S35 sensor makes it easier to see focus IMHO. Don`t forget to tape down your diopter setting first.
 
I also have the DP4 and after much tweaking I have the monitor set up to the point where I can judge exposure with it so I don't need the wf.

As to focus, I have peaking on and when in doubt stay wide, which is often the case with hand held anyway. It took a LOT of practice, viewing the footage every night in FCP and seeing what I did wrong, what lenses are trickier, what situations are more demanding, etc. So don't feel you need focus and exp assists with the DP4, it just takes time.
 
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