jwing
Active member
Hi there,
I posted this a few days ago in the cinematography forum, but I had not realized at that time that this would probably be a more appropriate forum. Sorry guys! Perhaps one of you here can help me.
Anyway, I have recently put together the finishing touches to my rig, including a matte box and a handheld shoulder mount. However, it's really throwing everything a little off balance. It's very top heavy, and my hands are really cramping up as I hold it over my shoulder. I'm not quire sure I can improve this. Take a look (and I apologize for the crappy photos and for shooting against a dark background. I was in a hurry!):
The problem I have is, that is just about the only place I can put the handlebars, due to the follow focus and the matte box. The matte box (Redrock) is as far in as possible so as to make contact with the lens, so I can't really lengthen the rods on that end, otherwise I would push the matte box out too far from the lens.
Also, on the camera's end, I had to ghetto rig a shim system to get the camera to line up with the DOF adapter (SGPro rev 3). See below:
It works, but I don't like it as the camera might be prone to slipping left and right as there is only one screw going through the shim; this also creates a slight tension on the shim/camera because of the weight on the front end pulling it forward. Does that make sense? But, it is necessary to interface the camera and the adapter. Does anyone have any other recommendations or ideas for that? The Zacuto Z-riser seems like it could help in some sense, in that it would create two adjustable levels of rods. That would seem like a good idea, but it just seems so overpriced as a solution IMHO.
Also note that the rods essentially end at edge of the top part of the shoulder mount support. Would it benefit me to purchase longer rods, so as to have them going further back, which might give the back end more counterbalance?
If any of this is confusing, or if any of the pictures are not clear, let me know and I will take new ones.
Thanks everyone. I look forward to learning from and contributing to this community!
I posted this a few days ago in the cinematography forum, but I had not realized at that time that this would probably be a more appropriate forum. Sorry guys! Perhaps one of you here can help me.
Anyway, I have recently put together the finishing touches to my rig, including a matte box and a handheld shoulder mount. However, it's really throwing everything a little off balance. It's very top heavy, and my hands are really cramping up as I hold it over my shoulder. I'm not quire sure I can improve this. Take a look (and I apologize for the crappy photos and for shooting against a dark background. I was in a hurry!):
The problem I have is, that is just about the only place I can put the handlebars, due to the follow focus and the matte box. The matte box (Redrock) is as far in as possible so as to make contact with the lens, so I can't really lengthen the rods on that end, otherwise I would push the matte box out too far from the lens.
Also, on the camera's end, I had to ghetto rig a shim system to get the camera to line up with the DOF adapter (SGPro rev 3). See below:
It works, but I don't like it as the camera might be prone to slipping left and right as there is only one screw going through the shim; this also creates a slight tension on the shim/camera because of the weight on the front end pulling it forward. Does that make sense? But, it is necessary to interface the camera and the adapter. Does anyone have any other recommendations or ideas for that? The Zacuto Z-riser seems like it could help in some sense, in that it would create two adjustable levels of rods. That would seem like a good idea, but it just seems so overpriced as a solution IMHO.
Also note that the rods essentially end at edge of the top part of the shoulder mount support. Would it benefit me to purchase longer rods, so as to have them going further back, which might give the back end more counterbalance?
If any of this is confusing, or if any of the pictures are not clear, let me know and I will take new ones.
Thanks everyone. I look forward to learning from and contributing to this community!
