Mount 15mm rails to the 7D hot shoe?

[Justin Aguirre]

I'm searching for a way to attach 2 short 15mm rails to the top of the hot shoe of the 7D. I already saw the the Redrock Handle with the hot shoe built in but at $200 I'm hoping there is a cheaper alternative. Has anyone else found a company that makes this hot shoe to 15mm rails accessory?

 

[maranfilms]

I wouldn't put to much weight on the shoe, What are you trying to mount?

 

[Justin Aguirre]

It's going to sound weird but I want to mount my follow focus to it, nothing else..

I used Zuiko primes and they are just so short that my follow focus hits the bottom of the camera. Also my focus ring are set back so they sit under the pop-up flash. So, to solve that, I'm going to get a zip ring for the lenses but that creates a half inch gap between the lens and the follow focus. And the easiest way to solve that problem is to just mount the follow focus to the top of the camera.

I already thought about the fact that since the follow focus would be reversed I can get the reversing gear from Redrock.

I think worst case would be for me to get a rail block and a metal shoe adapter and JB Weld them together.

 

[Rick Burnett]

I'd be afraid of the rotational pressure on the hot shoe myself. That metal doesn't look terribly robust (I have a 7D as well). What about a cage system for the camera and put the follow focus on the top then? I know CPM makes these kinds of systems.

 

[CPM Camera Rigs]

I'd be afraid of the rotational pressure on the hot shoe myself. That metal doesn't look terribly robust (I have a 7D as well). What about a cage system for the camera and put the follow focus on the top then? I know CPM makes these kinds of systems.

Rick is correct. I use the hot shoe on my 7D when we do our instructional videos to hold the wireless transmitter. Normally the rig is in a cubed cage and the transmitter sits on that piece. But lately its been going back and forth between actual use (like with the video) and as a test piece for the geared head (naked).

As a simple mount it works great as it just sits there. But a follow focus is going to put side pressure on the shoe mount. Its not that you'll rip the shoe out of the camera, as the force is side to side, not up like a handle or heavy piece of gear. But without a way of keying it in it will 'unscrew itself" away from your gear. I suppose you could mount it upside down and still on the left side. That rotating motion would be more towards tightening and might work. Depending on the style of FF it might be 'backwards' as far as pulling focus, but its an option.

If you want to give it a try we have a low cost thin mount and I'll throw in a threaded cold shoe for free. Thin pad is 28.99 and we have the 10% off coupon code for DVX users "DVXUser.com" (no quotes)

http://www.cpmfilmtools.com/Thin_Rail_Mount_p/024_tr - 24.htm

Steve

 

[Samuel H]

I have my followfocus DIY mounted on the hot shoe

it works, but:
* the hot-shoe-to-3/8" adaptor wiggles a little bit, I have to screw it real hard to avoid the whole thing from pivoting
* I have a 550D, and use big lens gears (proaim indian ones, from ebay); my setup won't work on bigger bodies (7D/5D), or with zip-tie gears
* it doesn't feel the most secure thing ever

the good part is that it is extremely confortable to use "solo": I hold my shoulder rig with the left hand, which provides better balance, and control all the camera features and the followfocus with my right hand