Question about focusing with a shoulder mount

H

hatsoff2halford

Well-known member
Hey everyone...have a pretty obvious question to ask (I must be missing something).

When one is using a shoulder mount with a follow focus, how do you focus while holding the mount? Does it come down to having only one center handle (seems like you'd want two. one doesn't seem too balanced, and I'd be scared to have nice equipment only being balanced by one hand)? Or is there just a basic way to grip the handle WHILE focusing at the same time?

Please aware me on this obvious question.
 
1. Have a single handle (as you mentioned).
2. In most following situations this works: Set the focus and follow at the same distance as to keep the subject always in focus.
3. Have someone else walk next to you and pull focus.
4. Use a remote follow focus.

I'm sure others also have some methods.
 
It's not really a big issue between one handle or two. What's really important here is having your shoulder rig properly balanced, which requires the right counterweight. The biggest issue with most shoulder rigs, especially the "budget" versions, is that there's no weight on the back of the shoulder. No counterweight means that the forearms are having to bear the weight of the rig as well as operate the camera and FF. That's tiring.

If you're counterweighted, and thus balanced, you'll have no problem letting one handle go to operate the FF.
 
Ah, this makes sense. Thanks for the response. Problem is, I am on the budget side of things when it comes to the support. I am spending most of my money on other accessories a little more necessary than a shoulder mount (at least, I'm hoping they are. I really don't want to find out that I'm out of luck without one).

So, I am looking at a few that offer counterweights, and I'm probably going to go with that. Either the Indie System (although I've heard it's heavy), or a DV rig Pro, but im not sure I can attach rails.

I'm still up in the air about it at this point.
 
IndiSystem's DSLR shoulder rig is a little on the heavier side. There are many who complain about that, but personally I find that it works to my advantage. It's more like shooting with a traditional camera (and those bad boys aren't light). The counterweight block that IndiSystem offers is useless. It doesn't add enough weight... not by a long shot. It does, however, have a mounting plate on the back of the shoulder pad with 1/4" threaded holes.

I went to the hardware store and got a 1/4" x 3" hex bolt, a large-diameter washer (1.5" or 2", with a small hole), and a 1/4" wing nut. I then went to the sporting goods store and spent about $9 on three 2.5lb barbell weights. That gave me everything I needed to counterweight the rig (when it's front-loaded with a mattebox, follow focus, and a larger lens).
 
Thanks for the response Alex!

I am going to be using an AF100- and I was planning on adding weights to the bakc of the IndiSystem's rig. Do you find that it works decent as a rig? Are the rails nicely designed? Because I would be only using Indi's rails too. The fact that it includes the rails is what made me consider it most...I will be using a follow focus for sure, but a mattebox not for awhile.

I haven't heard many people's opinions on the rig, but I'd love to hear what you have to say!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top