New Z-Finder plate + rails....

M

meauounji

Well-known member
Probably not news to a lot of people, but I got the new Gorilla plates for the Z-finder, and I'm really not digging the new design.

The problem is that the plate off-sets the tripod mounting hole about 1.5 inches to the right (or left, depending on where you're looking from) This small off-set is surprisingly difficult to deal with when your rig (rails, cage, follow focus, and matte box, in my case) assumes that the mounting hole lines up with your lens. It also adds significant height to your camera and some follow focus units might actually have problems reaching smaller gears, especially when combined with certain rig configurations and/or battery grips.

So consider this a PSA for everyone who's thinking about getting a Z-finder AND plan on using it with rails: just get the old-style adhesive bracket. It worked very well for me up until the point where I peeled it off to install the Gorilla plates, which I am now uninstalling and ordering the old brackets. Remarkably, the brackets are only $6 and not $60. Which is what I literally expected it to cost, coming from Zacuto....
 
That's precisely the reason I went with the Z-FInder Jr ... the offset is a real PITA. And you have to really read through the Zacuto literature to find out about the offset, too. I'll bet that there are going to be a lot of surprised buyers when the new versions start delivering.

BTW, I am very happy with the Z Jr. ... nice!
 
Heres what I made quits any height or offset issues and never falls off

S

1.jpg
 
That's interesting and disturbing. I spoke with them at NAB and mentioned that I wanted to park my 7D onto one of their original (full sized) base plates and rails. But the baseplate has a little security pin in addition to the 1/4 20 thread. They said the new Z finder plate would drop right onto the old baseplate, since there's a whole in the bottom of the Z finder plate to accept that security pin.

If what you are describing is accurate, then the whole assembly will be pushed to one side and not line up in the middle of the rails. I have a hard time believing they'd sell something that doesn't even line up with another one of their own products.

Do you have any pictures to share?
 
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morgan_moore said:
Heres what I made quits any height or offset issues and never falls off

S

1.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice, it looks similar to the Hood Crane concept, but less bulky.
If you could figure out a way to mount a quick release of some to the section that connects to the loupe, you would have a winner. As ti works with a metal loupe like the VFDSLR, but I figure wouldn't;t work with something like a Hoodman Hoodloupe.

Nice though.
 
Yes, you can mount it on a UB3 or Mini baseplate and just slide the red plate to the side to line up the matte box. The universal baseplate has horiztonal and vertical adjustment.

Bobonli said:
That's interesting and disturbing. I spoke with them at NAB and mentioned that I wanted to park my 7D onto one of their original (full sized) base plates and rails. But the baseplate has a little security pin in addition to the 1/4 20 thread. They said the new Z finder plate would drop right onto the old baseplate, since there's a whole in the bottom of the Z finder plate to accept that security pin.

If what you are describing is accurate, then the whole assembly will be pushed to one side and not line up in the middle of the rails. I have a hard time believing they'd sell something that doesn't even line up with another one of their own products.

Do you have any pictures to share?
Click to expand...
 
mrogers said:
Yes, you can mount it on a UB3 or Mini baseplate and just slide the red plate to the side to line up the matte box. The universal baseplate has horiztonal and vertical adjustment.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but you do have to be okay with paying $500 for a (admittedly nice) baseplate.

If you're thinking you can use a Manfrotto 357 or 577 sliding baseplate, I also agree that your can do that, but now you also have to be okay with adding around an inch an a half of height to the whole camera. Not a problem unless you use a small lens with a zip gear and a follow focus. Also, that solution doesn't work for me because I'm trying to fit the whole thing inside an Indi-Square cage and the combined height of my tripod base plate, sliding quick release, and the gorilla base plate actually prevents the rig from fitting in the 8.5" tall cage. Forget even thinking about battery grips.

Having said all that, my point wasn't that you should get the V2 over V3. The V2 doesn't have the upgraded eyecup, case, lens cap, and most importantly, permanent fog-free lens coating. Plus, the Gorilla plate isn't useless. I can still use it for very small shoulder-brace style get-ups. I just can't leave it on all the time and that means I can't use the screw-fit, non adhesive bracket. The price of the V3 is the same as V2 was so you're basically getting the upgrades for free if you were contemplating V2. You just have to pay $6 for the adhesive bracket. (okay so I guess the upgrades will cost you $6)

@morgan_moore

Nice work on that. Rather ingenious, I'd say.
 
meauounji said:
So consider this a PSA for everyone who's thinking about getting a Z-finder AND plan on using it with rails: just get the old-style adhesive bracket. It worked very well for me up until the point where I peeled it off to install the Gorilla plates, which I am now uninstalling and ordering the old brackets. Remarkably, the brackets are only $6 and not $60. Which is what I literally expected it to cost, coming from Zacuto....
Click to expand...

I left my old adhesive frame on the camera and put the new baseplate and frame in front of it allowing the old style use if I just remove the frame.

Best of both easily configurable.
 
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