GH2 Need Advice on Setting up GH2, Cowboy Studios Shoulder Rig, Rails and D|focus V3

Ok, so here is the rig that is the end result of this thread. (Pictures below, log in to see)

Will try to add some more details pictures and notes over the weekend for those curious. I finally received all of the parts and tonight I put it all together. Took literally about 10-15 minutes to put everything together (I had a bit of practice)... except the D|focus follow focus which took another 15-20 minutes to get the D|Focus set up and working. I was expecting the D|Focus to not work or not reach the GH2 focus ring. But everything works perfectly. The Gini rig helped out a lot because it has an adjustable riser which allow the camera to be raised/lowered to an appropriate height for the follow focus. And everything seems to feel solid, nothing slips around. I will shoot with it this weekend though for a field test. Overall, very happy with the end results.

I'm calling this combo of parts "The Synchro Rig". :happy:

Total cost for rig including shipping but excluding the GH2 camera was in the range of $425 to $450(including that Carryspeed viewfinder attachment).

The only minor problem is that I may need to find a way to push the camera back further so I don't have to crane forward so much to see in the viewfinder.

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback and help here on dvxuser.com!

*** Please ignore that the hand grip is backwards ***
synchroRig5.jpgsynchroRig6.jpgsynchroRig4.jpg

1. Gini Base Plate (new) $74 shipped : on Ebay (It looks like the Gini has gone up in price on this site from $55 to $120)
http://www.gini1.com/base-plate-no5.html

2. Cowboy Studios Shoulder Support $36 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-Shoulder-Support-Camcorder-Camera/dp/B0036NMQ7S

3. Cinevate Universal Rail Block - $38.95 : from BHPhoto
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...02_CI_RA_AS_000002_Universal_Rails_Block.html

4. IndiSystem 12" 15mm Carbon Fiber Rods (x2) : $39 shipped : from IndiSystem
http://www.indisystem.com/products/carbon_fiber_rods

5. BARSKA Handle Grip $14 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-Accu-Handheld-Tripod-System/dp/B001JJCI5Q

6. D|Focus Follow Focus + 1 Gear : $166 : from Jag35.com
http://jag35.com/new/products/dfocus/

7. Carryspeed 3" LCD Viewfinder : $39.99 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/CARRY-SPEED-LCD-VIEW-FINDER/dp/B004KCAQ9O/
 
Last edited:
Duh. Cork

Duh. Cork

First off: Berkey System baseplate is basically same as gini. The Jag35 is the only one that I have seen that accounts for the slip and is made just for DSLR. And it's $79 (and out of stock). Makes no sense to buy anything else in low cost realm as I see it.

But cork inset? Hmm. I have been looking all over for dense rubber and no slip this and that and didnt even consider that the thing was made for you to put cork right on it. (Mine didn't come with cork, did yours?

I have shot several days with ikan follow focus and gini rig with gini plate. It's useless. Just a stripping mess that ruins shots. Total crap. But then, I stuck sticky rubber on there so maybe it just needs CORK. If it doesn't work, I'm getting the jag35 and my world domination rig will be ready.

synchroman said:
I'm a bit worried too that the camera will slip around when i adjust the follow focus. The camera is going to sit on the Gini base plate which has cork inset on the top of it. I haven't gotten the rods yet so I can't hook up the follow focus and test it. But I can say that when I put the GH2 on the Gini baseplate, tighten the red screw underneath(but not overtight) the GH2 sits solidly on the cork inset and doesn't move when I give it a decent tug by hand. I will know more obviously when I get a chance to shoot for 2 or 3 hours but I can't imagine the follow focus is going to be putting anywhere near the pressure on the camera that I am doing with my hand. So it's looking good so far.

The other nice thing about the Gini base plate is that you can remove the battery to the GH2 without totally unscrewing it from the baseplate. You will though have to probably loosen the red screw a few turns, rotate the GH2 90 degrees and then fully open the battery door. Would be way better though, if you didn't have to unscrew the scew at all. Overall very happy with the Gini. (So far)
Click to expand...
 
bait n tackle said:
First off: Berkey System baseplate is basically same as gini. The Jag35 is the only one that I have seen that accounts for the slip and is made just for DSLR. And it's $79 (and out of stock). Makes no sense to buy anything else in low cost realm as I see it.

But cork inset? Hmm. I have been looking all over for dense rubber and no slip this and that and didnt even consider that the thing was made for you to put cork right on it. (Mine didn't come with cork, did yours?

I have shot several days with ikan follow focus and gini rig with gini plate. It's useless. Just a stripping mess that ruins shots. Total crap. But then, I stuck sticky rubber on there so maybe it just needs CORK. If it doesn't work, I'm getting the jag35 and my world domination rig will be ready.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the top of my Gini baseplate came with cork already inset into the top and it seems to be keeping the camera locked down pretty well. And the follow focus I bought from Jag35 was the D|Focus(not Ikan). The D|Focus so far seems pretty solid. But this is the first follow focus i have ever bought and used so I don't have anything to compare it to. I am going to try to take the entire rig out later today or tomorrow and shoot for an hour or so and then let you guys knows how it worked. I haven't seen any slipping yet, but if there is any slipping I will let you guys know where the weak points are.
 
How are you finding the viewfinder on the GH2 LCD? Is it ideal for critical focus? I find the built in EVF to be sharper as the LCD doesn't seem to have a great pixel density, so when it's magnified by one of these viewfinders, the pixels become distracting.

synchroman said:
Ok, so here is the rig that is the end result of this thread. (Pictures below, log in to see)

Will try to add some more details pictures and notes over the weekend for those curious. I finally received all of the parts and tonight I put it all together. Took literally about 10-15 minutes to put everything together (I had a bit of practice)... except the D|focus follow focus which took another 15-20 minutes to get the D|Focus set up and working. I was expecting the D|Focus to not work or not reach the GH2 focus ring. But everything works perfectly. The Gini rig helped out a lot because it has an adjustable riser which allow the camera to be raised/lowered to an appropriate height for the follow focus. And everything seems to feel solid, nothing slips around. I will shoot with it this weekend though for a field test. Overall, very happy with the end results.

I'm calling this combo of parts "The Synchro Rig". :happy:

Total cost for rig including shipping but excluding the GH2 camera was in the range of $425 to $450(including that Carryspeed viewfinder attachment).

The only minor problem is that I may need to find a way to push the camera back further so I don't have to crane forward so much to see in the viewfinder.

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback and help here on dvxuser.com!

*** Please ignore that the hand grip is backwards ***
View attachment 35050View attachment 35051View attachment 35052

1. Gini Base Plate (new) $74 shipped : on Ebay (It looks like the Gini has gone up in price on this site from $55 to $120)
http://www.gini1.com/base-plate-no5.html

2. Cowboy Studios Shoulder Support $36 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-Shoulder-Support-Camcorder-Camera/dp/B0036NMQ7S

3. Cinevate Universal Rail Block - $38.95 : from BHPhoto
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...02_CI_RA_AS_000002_Universal_Rails_Block.html

4. IndiSystem 12" 15mm Carbon Fiber Rods (x2) : $39 shipped : from IndiSystem
http://www.indisystem.com/products/carbon_fiber_rods

5. BARSKA Handle Grip $14 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-Accu-Handheld-Tripod-System/dp/B001JJCI5Q

6. D|Focus Follow Focus + 1 Gear : $166 : from Jag35.com
http://jag35.com/new/products/dfocus/

7. Carryspeed 3" LCD Viewfinder : $39.99 : from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/CARRY-SPEED-LCD-VIEW-FINDER/dp/B004KCAQ9O/
Click to expand...
 
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