Maybe if I hadn't been using shoulder mount cameras for the past 35 years...

D

dhart1949

Well-known member
I believe I've reached the end of the road trying to trick the AF 100 out as a hand held camera. Close but no cigar. Olof has made a fine EVF bracket but it's still a work around. It took me nearly an hour to twist all the knobs to get it close, but not quite there. Then there's the flakey HDMI cable. And the EVF location makes it difficult to use the AF 100's side monitor. And the balance of the camera is still too front heavy even with the shoulder mount directly under the camera and counter weight. All tricked out it's nearly as big and heavy as my old Sony D 600. There has got to be a better way. I know this camera is designed to be used on a tripod. But it sure would be great to unlock it from the tripod and shoot some quick b-roll. Olof is working on another product that may fill the bill but we'll have to wait and see.

IMO, the first vendor to make a "real" well balanced shoulder mount, sub $15-K large chip camera will own the market. Can't believe adding that feature to a camera could cost more than $10-k. How about it Jan?
 
Coming from a similar place, I can heartily recommend stripping it down to zero for handheld work. I spent ages and too much cash trying to get the right shoulder rig setup, only to discover that when you accept the poor onboard EVF as good enough (just), going handheld without anything on it at all is amazingly liberating. It's light enough to hold all day to your eye and it's as easy as a DSLR to walk around with. Having said that, I'd completely agree about the shoulder mount camcorder. Such a shame JVC haven't entered the large sensor game, as I think their HM700 series cams are the future in terms of form factor for ENG crews. Light, good professional components and shoulder mounted. Shame the sensor is no good at all.
 
Hi Tom

You can get a little carried away with these cameras. I took out my PDW-700 for an hour the other today, with a Canon J22 lens, and it was was so refreshing to just be able to stand there and zoom in and out and pick off loads of shots WITHOUT having to change lenses etc, and without bits hanging off the camera! They are awesome for some work - interviews, testimonials etc, but certainly not everything. I have been inspired to shoot much more with it after seeing how great an Idiot Abroad looked (series shot with PDW-700) and many other high end HD shows. Best, Sparky
 
Couldn't agree more. My big hope was that Canon would release an XF305 with a large sensor - was actually quite disappointed to see the C300. Would be much happier with one great fixed lens than having to buy loads of cheap versions to cover everything.
 
I agree with Sparky that the 700 and similar cameras are great for ENG style shooting.

I still long for my DSR500. It was not HD of course but was much lighter than the old Betas and still had the perfect ENG ergos.

My current favourite ENG style cam is the EX3. The ergos are quite good, with a simple shoulder brace addition and IDX batts in the back, it can take 1/2" and 2/3" lenses.

Photo:

EX3eng.jpg

But it is not a large sensor camera. And the unfortunate truth as I understand it is that it is very expensive, difficult and would be very heavy to produce a large sensor ENG style lens. I would love to see a C size or MFT lens with f2 and a servo zoom from 12-240 (20x) like a lot of 2/3" ENG lenses. But I think it would weigh an awful lot and be very expensive.

So for ENG style work I use my 1/2" cams most of the time. I like the added DOF of the smaller sensors when shooting that style.

Now for me the AF100 is a terrific bargain and so much easier to shoot with than DSLRs. It really is a video camera.

I make a lot of accessories for it mostly because I want them myself. My initial shoulder brace for the AF100 was for shooting on sticks most of the time and then sometimes grabbing the cam of the sticks and be able to shoot reasonable comfortable for a while. And it also has space for NanoFlash and IDX or AB style batts so you can run the camera and NF, KiProMini etc, and an on camera light. While using the built in VF or LCD.

Photo:
AF100eng.jpg

This has been quite popular. And I use it myself. It is not as versatile and comfortable as a "classic" ENG cam, but the way I use it is different than "classic" ENG work. The look is very different and the fact that you can have such a huge selection of lenses is fantastic. I can use all my canon L's now. And the .95 Voightlander. And my latest addition the Rokinon 8mm fish eye (I like this lens a lot) very wide but not as distorted as most fish eye lenses.

I know that whatever you hang on a camera is never going to be the same as a purpose built camera, but I do think you can come close. I am very close on my design that is meant for long periods on the shoulder. It does use an EVF on a bracket and it does have a wooden handle with a start/stop record button that is adjustable for different lenses. And it can be equipped with AB/IDX batteries or simply a bag for whatever weight you want to add for balance. It will accommodate a matte box etc.

It is hard to have a camera be compact light and at the same time low cost. And to have it fill all the functions. That is why I use a number of cameras for different styles of shooting. I do agree that it would be great if manufacturers would make the EVF high quality with 2x or better magnification for focus (so critical for large sensor cams) and to have them be removable so you can place them where they need to be for different styles of shooting. I really like the EX3 solution.

Maybe one day we will have one camera that you can decide what size sensor you want, just by cropping (RED sort of does this) and with modular EVF etc. But for now I do think it is possible to adapt the cameras to the purpose you need. Here is a photo of one of the latest prototypes for the AF100:

AF100engnew.jpg

Just a few thoughts on a snowless Sunday morning in the valley while drinking coffee.
 
Yes, Panasonic is squandering the Varicam brand by not coming out with a large sensor shoulder mount camera,
low profile like the 370/3100, S35 sensor, AVC-Ultra 12-bit, 4:4:4 along with Intra, sub-$30K price point and it
would be an Alexa killer.

I love shooting with our HPX2700, it's just so natural and comfortable. A bit lighter weight would be nice, and
a large sensor, slap on our Arri Alura 18-80mm Cine zoom and I'd be all set!(Albeit front heavy.)

No outboard recorders, no tinker toy rigs.......
 
Dino said:
Yes, Panasonic is squandering the Varicam brand by not coming out with a large sensor shoulder mount camera,
low profile like the 370/3100, S35 sensor, AVC-Ultra 12-bit, 4:4:4 along with Intra, sub-$30K price point and it
would be an Alexa killer.

I love shooting with our HPX2700, it's just so natural and comfortable. A bit lighter weight would be nice, and
a large sensor, slap on our Arri Alura 18-80mm Cine zoom and I'd be all set!(Albeit front heavy.)

No outboard recorders, no tinker toy rigs.......
Click to expand...

I just got a little tear.
 
I had an AF101 as many know and really enjoyed it. I now have an F3, but have to use this set up for shoulder style shooting, and it just isn't the same as popping the PDW-700 on my shoulder, but the pictures are lovely from it.
F3 rig small 1.jpg
 
Sparky874 said:
I had an AF101 as many know and really enjoyed it. I now have an F3, but have to use this set up for shoulder style shooting, and it just isn't the same as popping the PDW-700 on my shoulder, but the pictures are lovely from it.
View attachment 45901
Click to expand...

Who makes the baseplate you have, it looks like a nice fit.
Do you add a grip for your right hand to hold on to the camera?
 
Erik Naso said:
Who makes the baseplate you have, it looks like a nice fit.
Do you add a grip for your right hand to hold on to the camera?
Click to expand...

Just look up 'Movietube' on google and you'll see the Movietube rig, it comes complete with handles for the front bars as well ( you have to pay extra) but it is so well made. Sparky
 
Sparky874 said:
Just look up 'Movietube' on google and you'll see the Movietube rig, it comes complete with handles for the front bars as well ( you have to pay extra) but it is so well made. Sparky
Click to expand...

That looks great. Kinomatik MOVIEtube CR doesn’t have a US distributer so its hard to get prices for it. I like the design a lot. The camera doesn’t ride really high on the shoulder like most DYI rigs do. Wish I could try this rig out.
 
I am useless when it comes to guessing weights, but its pretty heavy. All that weight, when you have a prime lens, for a fixed focal length!
 
you know, I've been using my DV MultiRig Pro that I bought years ago for the HVX and it works wonderful. The support takes all the weight off and the thing just floats. It doesn't have a rail mount system, but maybe you could mount it to the top somehow. I haven't tried as I haven't been using any really large lenses.
 
Erik Naso said:
That looks great. Kinomatik MOVIEtube CR doesn’t have a US distributer so its hard to get prices for it. I like the design a lot. The camera doesn’t ride really high on the shoulder like most DYI rigs do. Wish I could try this rig out.
Click to expand...

Maybe they'll be at NAB. That does look interesting.
 
MovieTube is great, but pretty expensive.
I just bought som rig parts from Tilta, coldn´t be happier.

IMG_4679.jpgIMG_4682.jpgIMG_4685.jpgIMG_4691.jpgIMG_4690.jpgIMG_4689.jpg

The build quality is in the same league as Chrosziel or Element Technica.
I paid about 800 bucks for the baseplate/shoulderpad, cage, rods, top grip and front handles.

Frank
 
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