Opinions and reviews on the Indisystem DSLRsm shoulder rig.

J

Josh Fox

New member
Hey, I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. A friend reccomended it to me as I'm a keen filmmaker but still at amateur level and have a lot of questions need answering about all sort of things in this field.

This post is basically me looking for reviews or opinions from people who own, have owned or used the indisystem DSLRsm Rig. I know Indisystems are not exactly recieved greatly for their product quality but I'm on a very low budget and the package deals on the indiSYTEM site are a bargain and a shoulder rig with a follow focus will be essential for a film I plan to shoot very soon on the Canon EOS 60D.

http://www.indisystem.com/products/dslrsm_package

I've searched the net and youtube for a review on the DSLRsm rig but cant find anything so I would be extremely greatful if I could get feedback on this product or even some advice from users who have tried and tested similar rigs.

Thanks, Josh.


PS: I am not the "Director of Gasland" Josh Fox, aha.
 
I owned this a few years back, it was Summer of 2009. My main comments are: it's heavy, unnecessarily. Parts are bulky, lack the same machined finesse of many other rig companies.

I don't use it anymore. I have nothing against it, but it gave me an opportunity to see what I like and don't like.

Happy to help and point out other options I truly think you would be more pleased with. I've used Redrock, Cinevate, Zacuto, Zacuto knock-offs (Gini and Wondlan) and Indifocus. Majority of shooting I find just doesn't require these overly huge shoulder rigs. May look cool for Robert Rodriguez, LaForet and Hurlbut, but so much can be shot with more manageable sized rigs (basic).

A frank question, what exactly are the specifics you are looking for in a rig and also total cost?
 
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Thanks for your feedback. I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world who knew about this rig, aha. I've that indisystem rigs are very heavy compared to rest of the market. Solid aluminium poles. right? and I also know Redrock and Zacuto etc... make very high quality DSLR hardware but most of their products are well out of my price range (especially Zacuto). I'm looking to spend no more then £600 which is approximately $1000. Im currently out of work at the moment and sparing any little cash I have on paying for things like lens rentals. The main features I need for this short film is being able to rack focus more proficiently as there will be no assistant Camera operator or focus puller. Just me. And also, I will require a lot of steady moving shots and I assumed buying a shoulder mounted rig would be a wiser investment then dishing more cash on a half decent steadicam. I understand that The smaller rigs could be just as useful, if not more so, for most shots but the ability to add mics and a Zoom H4n etc... on to a nice solid shoulder rig entise me. Would you reccomend it for a filmmaker with little cash? or if not, is there any similar priced rigs that would be more suitable. Although the addition of a follow focus with DLSRsm package is something that would really help me.
 
I own and have used the indiFocus stuff. I found it to be overly heavy and have some design issues myself. Currently I am building a CPM Film Tools system and so far I really like their stuff. Might want to check them out, they've got some really cool DSLR rigs.
 
Thanks Rick, It's really comforting hearing this from people who have used the Indisystems stuff before. I've checked out CPm Film Tools range and nothing stood out but I think I'll give it another look seen as your building a a system from one of their rigs.
 
I bought some Indi stuff initially when I was using an HV30 with a 35mm rig on it. The price was right, but the construction bothered me. Certain knobs were really hard to get too. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be on a shoot where I needed a shoulder rig and someone had an Indi one that I could use that they had started with. It got the job done, but it was heavy and on this particular model, there was not a lot of adjustments I could make.

I then started looking at the Ginirig stuff. I've seen the Ginirig stuff in person before and for DSLR stuff it looked like it worked well, but, in trying to talk to the company, the communication was horrible. Given I use both a DSLR and an AF100 on my stuff, I needed something a little more sturdy.

CPM does not have a follow focus yet available, they are working on one. I use the D|Focus right now and it works well (and is CHEAP). Their rings, not a huge fan of, so I am going to try and find some other rings.

I don't like to spend a lot of money on something I am just going to replace. On my Indi stuff, I will reuse the rails, but the rest of it really isn't doing much at the moment.
 
I too am using the D|Focus and like it for my 7D. I use a DVTech Multirig, which is not technically a shoulder harness. But I use it on my HMC150, it hasn't been as useful for my 7D, which makes sense as they have an HDSLR rig they sell designed more for a still camera. Frankly, I have gone back to shooting as much as possible from a tripod or just handheld for the 7D. I just don't like jerkiness unless there is a specific reason for it. If you want a sample of using their products their web site has good videos, they seemed like great folks. What I really like about it is that it folds up really small, yet is very sturdy and well built. Also fairly inexpensive. I'd buy one again. I can mount a Mixpre on the back if I want. I still feel that a pure shoulder harness or mount is best if you have to do this kind of thing. But nothing beats, in my mind, a tripod shot. You can make it look as 'natural' as you need to. Yet things remain sharp. Other than than, I do shoot handheld on the 7D. I find I can be very stable for short periods without all the gear.

How stable? Here's a sample of a quick and dirty handheld with the T2i. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKB8H5sLSKQ

Here's a video I shot with their DVTech with a HMC 150 mounted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXa7et-VoL0

Good luck!
 
i also have had a DVTech Multirig for many years. for my EX1 or HMC150 i like it a lot. it uses a mono pod multi extension pole that spring loaded with 2 extention rods where each are spring loaded. it attaches to a pouch that you attach to your belt, slip the bottom of the pole in and attach to the bottom of the Multirig which has a nifty srpingy socket for flex in varied directions. pretty sweet and you can handle this setup for quite a long time with no real fatigue. for DSLR's though i havent been as happy since you need to use your left hand to handle focus ( if no FF is used of course on this rig) and it ends up being somewhat transmitted thru the shot vs using a FF. i ended up buying the Genus shoulder rig (without mattebox) and the Genus Bravo FF. im very happy with this setup. the FF is snug with no play and a joy to work compared to using my hand on the barrel of the lens on the Multirig.

i think the Multirig is a bit restrictive at times if you need to aim way up or down a lot since the monopod pole is set to a predetermined height. to go up you need to sort of pull up on the spring action and to go down you need to push down into the spring action. its not all bad but i think the free movement of the chunkier weighted shoulder rig floats more like a heavier eng style camera on your shoulder. i like the look of the shots more with the shoulder rig although for the EX1 i was pretty happy with the Multirig probably because the camera is quite a bit heavier and because i used a thumb controller zoom attached to the right handle and my left hand was on the left handle making it very stable where my DSLR on the rig always hand my left hand working the focus & zoom occastionly always transmitting some movement. mostly i would just use AF when doing this.

david
 
DSLR rig choices.

DSLR rig choices.

I do this too, one the reasons the camcorder / eng is so much better for this stuff, it's called ergonomics. The follow focus is always problematic on the DSLR unless you are just handholding.

david_p said:
i like the look of the shots more with the shoulder rig although for the EX1 i was pretty happy with the Multirig probably because the camera is quite a bit heavier and because i used a thumb controller zoom attached to the right handle and my left hand was on the left handle making it very stable where my DSLR on the rig always hand my left hand working the focus & zoom occastionly always transmitting some movement. mostly i would just use AF when doing this.


david
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Thanks for all the information and feedback guys. My macbook charger broke so I havnt been able to access the net for a few days so sorry about not replying to some of you. But seriously, I appreciate every response.
 
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