Rig sticks and steadi..

the strap is cool just not the feral rainbow look but I'm sure I could easily source a black one myself
 
im onto black ones with stainless buckless direct from the manufactuer in sweden

they also do braided in logo but that is min order 500meters of strap !

I can see a combo of braid and teeth rubber at the lens - just buying some thinner gates stuff


interestly those who try and copy the design for themselves will find that once they have factored in courier costs, minimum orders and all that mine will seem reasonable just as a one stop shop

ordered 5 sets of handles too and some more tube stops having rejected the last solution

zactuto is cheap compared to one off diy ! :) :(

S
 
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yeah but if zacuto worked perfectly with the MKII Kholi wouldn't be lugging around his frankenstein rig which apparently weighs a tonne.

have you tried the strap that comes with the MKII?
 
no but it did occur - ive got some pretty retro 'nikon D1' straps and an ultra rare yellow nikon strap that came with a MF 300 2.8 in 1993

seriously the buckle is the important bit and they seem to have the patent nailed down -one supplier

S
 
most of my nikkor ai lens are pretty worn in, are loose focus rings going to be any problem?
 
My feeling is that you get a similar experience using the lens bare

sloppy lenses are problematic even bare due to backlash

theoretically the side pressure could take up some of the backlash but I imagine that a very sloppy lens could be problematic

I think a toothed solution (possibly round the lens to) is the way for rough and sloppy primes

I have some toothed belt in my shopping cart right now and have found an anodizer with a sensible minimum order and reasonable turnaround

thanks to members of this board for pushing me forward - better than the C5d lot who wouldnt know a shot if it shot them

to summarise ordered up..
handles (black foam)
tube stops (black)
straps black and stainless
stainless button head bolts
glass reinforced toothed belt

S
 
:) - these are sourced for the job - reading many PDFs to ascertain which two sizes will work together as male and female

S
 
Your mission Sam should you choose to accept it is to develop a mount/arm to attach the skateyfocus TM to 15mm rods. One version with an arm that connects at a right angle to rods for tripod mounted cameras and another version that connects directly to 15mm handlebar rods on shoulder mount rigs or better still design it so it can be mounted in either configuration and sell it as a kit. I reckon you'd sell a shi*load in the $100-$200 price range.

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If I had my own lathe and mill Id by chucking out every combo known to man - it is very tempting..

It is insane that http://www.chesteruk.net/store/db8_variable_speed_lathe.htm is cheaper than a 14 2.8 !

I hear you on 15mm compatability - I just need to get a slick version of this sorted first

In the long term I beleive 15mm is over engineering to carry a 5d/GH1 - you would not pick that size designing 'from scratch'

Also the configuration of this rig and its rear hinge IMO makes it more stable and balanced than other shoulder systems

The version two - which is the real eye popper - defo requires an attention to mass and strength that would not function with 15mm because every ounce is critical -especially to the one man op in the field transporting themselves by bike or foot

For the DiYer 15 is a nasty size especially for drilling - you can get 1/2 drill bits for your home drill and small pillar drills have a half inch chuck go above that and costs fly and obviously the material is difficult to source

1/2 and my joints can be used for others stuff like DIY scrims - with items of that nature cheap tube becomes a real boon

S
 
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The version two - which is the real eye popper - defo requires an attention to mass and strength that would not function with 15mm because every ounce is critical -especially to the one man op in the field transporting themselves by bike or foot

S

Sounds tempting, are you going to use aluminium bolts/nuts? Some sort of lens support is crucial for me, I'm using the mattebox mount on my cavision rods to support my heavy lenses, maybe some 12.7mm-15mm shims would work.
 
The bolts shown are hex head, ive got allen head ones now

Im not sure about ali bolts..

they are discontinued at my main suppier - one has to wonder why

It would seem to me that they are weak - the same reason im supporting the thread on a nut rather than attempting to have the ali joints support the thread

Use of ali bolts seems to be around attaching fairings on to motorcycles - lots of short ones sharing the force

Shimming - mentioned before I see a 1/2 15 mm shim for supporting small 15mm accs off 1/2 tube like mini mic boom

There is rail distance to consider too - my rails are not standard width but narrower

the width is chosen for many reasons, clearance of the frotto side lever, mass, and also hopefully for a step up in the same way as you can step up from 15-19

I see a simple 15mm T form creating a FF /handle unit for conventional rods

S
 
The bolts shown are hex head, ive got allen head ones now

Im not sure about ali bolts..

they are discontinued at my main suppier - one has to wonder why

It would seem to me that they are weak - the same reason im supporting the thread on a nut rather than attempting to have the ali joints support the thread

Use of ali bolts seems to be around attaching fairings on to motorcycles - lots of short ones sharing the force.

Ali bolts are strong, strong enough to hold my stem on my bike, to hold my chainring on and various other high load fixings as I go flying down the side of a mountain or on the roads.

Certainly strong enough to bear the load of a 5DII !
 
Well maybe my material engineering is not up to speed, Im sure suitable aluminium alloys exist

Again $50 for a set or thereabouts judging by "tasty nuts" and some other suppliers Ive checked

Look at the cost of bike parts - nice stems - and they are comparitive mass market

On one hand people are suggesting $100 FF and on the other a rig whose minor fixings are costing $50 to the maker

The answer is for me to, as I progress, offer a basic version and a fully pimped version

Anyone can of course change thier own nuts.. M6 25mm - no whcko Imperial threads like certain other rigs

S
 
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