FS7: Mounting FS7 Smartgrip directly to body without extension arm?

EidolonFilms

EidolonFilms

Well-known member
Researching an FS7 purchase, and wondering if any FS7 users have mounted the included grip directly (or much more closely) to the body? Sort of like how the FS5 comes. I'm not interested in using the extension arm (or even a third party one), as I don't plan on using the FS7 on the shoulder, and want to keep the rigging minimal while still being able to use the grip. Any ideas or advice welcome, thanks!
 
I'm actually looking for exactly the same thing... I just came from a C100 and have had the FS7 for about two weeks.
The C100 on a monopod w/the side grip was fantastic. I'm having a hard time using the FS7 in the same way..... I'm currently not using the arm because its such a PITA to put on/off a tripod/monopod with it connected.

Holding a monopod at the bottom with my right hand and only using my left to operate the cam / lens is certainly not as easy as the C100 was!
Smartgrip somewhere on the left side next to the body would be awesome.
 
So right now you aren't using the arm or the grip? Is there any way to attach the grip directly to the rosette on the right side? Hopefully someone else has some ideas for us!
 
No I'm not using the arm or the grip at all because its too much of a pain removing it... putting the camera on a monopod... reattaching it.... and then having to remove it again to take the camera off.

I've seen a few options, but most are arm extensions and whatnot. I dont think theres enough room to mount the grip directly to the body.... potentially with modifying the grip so it had a rosette very long rosette on it and somehow being able to put that onto the body? heh No idea.
 
I don't think anyone has a way to do this

I have a small rosette dog bone attached between arm and camera letting me articulate it back towards the body for C300 style gut handheld.
 
Am I correct that the grip cannot be removed completely from the extension arm? I don't currently have a Sony FS7 so I can't verify for myself. If that's the case, it seems the only options are to use a third party arm (meaning can't have the grip directly attached to the body), or don't use the grip at all/use a third party grip that doesn't have all the functions?
 
I use mine daily with the extension arm attached and take it on and off the tripod several times per job. The arm must point directly forward, can't be tilted down any, but it works for me.
 
I tried to do the same but I failed. I think it is a mistake of Sony not to make this possible, the rosette doesn't fit. Something for a 3D printer?
 
i think somebody here did this, i was interested in this as well.....i really hate that the grip is attached to the arm.....wish they would have made one grip for the Fs7 and Fs5 and make the arm optional in between....
 
Hmm, ok. Well looks like for now I'll try going without it entirely. May eventually get something like this that looks like it could go straight on the body and provide a handle and rec button.
 
Consider using a Cinevate simplis quick release which you can lift the camera into directly without sliding. I use it on tripod and on monopod and it is quick & easy to use with the Sony arm . Operate the monopod with your left hand and the arm with your right. I use a manfrotto tilt head on the monopod and usually lock it for most operating unless I want it loose. Pretty flexible solution I think. I also use a Tilta arm extension which makes it easier to put the camera on a table or in a bag.
 
I would LOVE to know a solution for this as well. I really hate the stock arm that comes with the FS7. The handle is awesome, but the arm.... not so much. (IMO)
 
EidolonFilms said:
Hmm, ok. Well looks like for now I'll try going without it entirely. May eventually get something like this that looks like it could go straight on the body and provide a handle and rec button.
Click to expand...

if those handles work as easily as it looks, and if they fit without any other adapters needed, then I will buy some this week!
 
They look promising but I can't find much info/reviews of them, so it's hard to be sure how they'd work. Let us know if you get them!
 
The FS7 and FS5 use the standard ARRI rosette. This is unlike the FS700, which used an ARRI rosette but a 1/4x20 center bolt instead of the ARRI-standard 6mm, which may have been entirely my fault (but that's another story for another time). The only issue with using a 3rd party handle is that the included 6mm bolt may be too long and bottom out on the camera. This is a problem with mixing and matching lots of different ARRI rosette items from various manufacturers, and it simply means that you may need to replace the bolt with a shorter one.

There are lots of ARRI rosette handgrips out there from various accessory manufacturers, some with trigger buttons and some without. One guy even makes one with tons of adjustability and a bunch of buttons that can be programmed to interface with the various controls of the FS7 or FS5, but the handgrip costs about half as much as the FS5 camera! Note that any trigger will need to be Sony LANC compatible in order to work with these cameras.

It's also possible for someone to machine an adapter part that would allow one to mount the Sony handgrip directly to the camera. But this would be expensive as it is so specialized and because there is not a hole that passes through the handgrip this adapter would need to be offset somehow so that a bolt could tie-down into the camera's socket. The offset would either push the handgrip out away from the side of the camera (I REALLY would not recommend this) or it would need to be a mini version of the arm that comes attached to the handle. So imagine the handgrip and arm as it currently attaches to the camera, but the arm is only about 2" long.
 
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Another option might be picking up a FS5 grip. Sony is supposed to be offering a Arri Rosette adapter for it so perhaps it could attach directly to the FS7.

If your problem is simply getting the FS7 on/off fluid heads consider Shape's Extension Arm. It moves the arm further away from the body so should work well with all but the largest fluid head, plus it's rapid adjust feature alone makes it a worthy purchase.
 
I once removed the arm and the grip an I never put it back. Camera is almost always on tripod. And with the grip it doesn't fit in my camera bag. But an adapter would be nice. Although, the very very short arm solution sounds good too.

Now where is my saw?
 
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