Need advice on a Baseplate issue for my shoulder rig. Cheeseplate, qr adapter, or?

S

shipwrecked

Member
Hello there,

Until last week I had only done handheld, monopod, and tripod work. However, I've got an ENG style shoot coming up next month that required something along the lines of a shoulder rig.

I ordered a Gini Rig for use with my new GH4 on the shoot. The baseplate that came with the rig is the "magic baseplate" and has a FIXED video (locking pin.) I've never seen a fixed pin like this, only ones that can be unscrewed or are spring loaded. Basically, my GH4 can't be mounted directly to the base plate on the rig.

I'm looking for solutions that can be mounted on top of the baseplate that will allow me to mount my GH4. Essentially, the current QR plate I have doesn't allow me to mount directly on top of the pin (there isn't a hole to seat the video pin)

would mounting a cheese plate on top fix it?

Would something like the Giottos MH621, or Manfrotto 577 rapid connect adapters allow me to mount directly over the fixed video pin?

I've got time to find a solution, but need a bit of advice

Thank you for your time!
 
I hate, hate, hate proprietary quick release systems! If you have multiple cameras (4), and multiple tripods, rigs, and sliders (6) - nothing ever fits anything, you are always changing, they are loose because they have to be taken off and put back on.

I standardized on Really Right Stuff clamps and plates many years ago. These are also compatible with Arca Swiss - so make sure taht you get something that is "Arca Swiss compatible."

On DSLRs I always use an "L" plate, which will allow you to mount the camera horizontally or vertically (portrait mode.)

I have a quick release clamp - the bottom part - on every tripod, monopod, and rig. When I get a new camera, I buy a plate, and attach it to teh bottom of the camera using a thread lock compound. Then it never twists or comes loose. Avoiding endless headaches with those things ...

In theory you can/should get a custom L plate or regular plate for each camera - RRS does custom ones for almost all cameras. In practice, I still have a Canon 20D L plate that has fit at least 5 cameras since then. Including a Nikon D3200. So eventually you wind up with enough plates & clamps for just about anything.

Good luck!
Michael
 
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