My budget DSLR rig

bumkicho

bumkicho

Well-known member
Today the rod support for my GH1 came. I had been looking at this support system from gini.1980 on ebay for a long time. It looked very good and versatile at a relatively low price, but I was wondering why no one knew or mentioned about it. So I figured I could be the first to purchase it and to review the item.

The item below is the same one I won.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DOF-ADAPTER-SUP...eras?hash=item2a0141907d&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

Boy am I happy with the decision I made. This is a great looking support system that is light and easy to operate. It is versatile. I can go compact or go fully connected. I can also add a shoulder support (gini.1980 started selling shortly after I won the item) later.

With my dFocus (another great budget item) and good gears I got from jerkstore over on hv20.com, I am more than happy with my budget rig. I also got cokin p system with hoods from fotodiox on ebay.

Here are some pictures I quickly grabbed with my old point&shoot camera.

http://p1umc.com/graphics/uploadfile/4597/4731/img_0460_.jpg
http://p1umc.com/graphics/uploadfile/4597/4731/img_0462_.jpg
http://p1umc.com/graphics/uploadfile/4597/4731/pict0002_.jpg
http://p1umc.com/graphics/uploadfile/4597/4731/pict0007_.jpg

Support system, follow focus, focus gears, and filter system with lens hoods cost just over $350!!!
I am not affiliated with any sellers I mentioned above. I just wanted to show my appreciatin to them for making things available at low price. Hope this post could help someone else looking to build a dslr rig with limited budget.
 
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I was the lone bidder. I won it at 99 :)
I must say, now I have seen the quality of their products, I do not feel their buy-it-now price is not over priced. But if you win an auction like I did at really cheap price, even better!!

Including shipping and handline, I paid $144. The shipping cost seems a bit high, but their shipping is excellent. I got a tracking number as soon as shipped and the item acutally showed at my door in 3 days. Did I mention it is international shipping from Korea? Excellent.
 
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mo sizzle said:
whered u get your lens filters and hood, and follow focus and gears
Click to expand...

I got a dFocus from
http://designbydave.net/dfocus/products.html

It is a great budget follow focus.

Gears I bought on hv20.com. I believe he has a couple more available now.
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?p=252400#post252400

dFocus and these gears work great.

About filter system and hood, I paid about $27 for items below from fotodiox on ebay.

P-series 77mm ring adapter with holder for Cokin
3x P-series hood for Cokin system
7 Step up Ring 49mm-52mm-55mm-58mm-62mm-67mm-72mm-77mm
lens cap for Cokin P-series
 
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Did your kit from gini180 come with a connection plate allowing you to mount it to a tripod or was that bought seperately?
 
Connecting plate was separate, but they were accepting offers for a tripod connection plate. I made an offer and combined shipping to reduce the total price.
 
bumkicho - what is the diffeerence of the HV20 gear as opposed to those from dFocus?

Just bought a rod set as well from gini.1980 and think that it is probably the best price out there for the number of parts included if you bid on it. Paid for on the Thurs the 24th and got it on Mon the 28th. Shipping was the killer though and should have read this thread a little more and gotten the tripod connection plate.

Converting it into a hand held solution and almost got the configuration/balance figured out.

A few notes for those interested. You will need the 3mm and 4mm (metric) Allen keys to adjust some of the knobs or reconfigure the nuts around.
 
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haojan said:
Converting it into a hand held solution and almost got the configuration/balance figured out.
Click to expand...

Can you share more details? I am getting my GH1 today and looking for a quick setup I can rig up for my trip to Europe in October. I think I'll be using monopod 561B. Would love to have a small stabilizer rig for fluid movement. (wondering if Figrig would do the job).

Are you guys using Follow Focus with the stock lens? Is it adjustable for different lenses?
Thanks
 
Xaveryptak said:
Can you share more details? I am getting my GH1 today and looking for a quick setup I can rig up for my trip to Europe in October. I think I'll be using monopod 561B. Would love to have a small stabilizer rig for fluid movement. (wondering if Figrig would do the job).

Are you guys using Follow Focus with the stock lens? Is it adjustable for different lenses?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Won't get home till around midnight and then I should be able to post my current configuration. I am starting out by mimicking the shape of the rigs that Zacuto makes. Wish I had the money lying around to actually get Zacuto products. :embarasse
 
haojan said:
bumkicho - what is the diffeerence of the HV20 gear as opposed to those from dFocus?
Click to expand...

The lens gears I got from a hv20 member (I don't know if he still has some left) is more like lens gears you get from redrock micro gears. Indifocus sells this type of lens gears at cheaper price than redrock.

Advantages over cheaper flex gears you see on dFocus? They are easier to securely put on. They are thicker so you don't need to worry about focus gear coming off track.
 
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Xaveryptak said:
Are you guys using Follow Focus with the stock lens? Is it adjustable for different lenses?
Thanks
Click to expand...

It is tricky but possible to use follow focus on the stock lens if you have lens gears like mine. Any type of flex lens gears either from dFocus or indifocus will not work. Focus ring on the stock lens is just a plastic band and applying a bit too much pressure will cause it to.. well.. not turn.

The only way I was able to use my lens gear on the stock lens is securing the lens gear with a rubber band. Not so tight but just enough pressure to be able to turn.
 
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