Ripley, my handheld rig

A

AdrianF

Well-known member
Hi
I've been trying to find a solution to using a handheld rig with my GH1, which I can hike with and travel lightly, but still bring along my tripod. I know a few people have tried the sling the tripod on shoulder technique, but I think I've come up with a better solution ( well for me at least ).

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I've called this rig the Ripley, which if you try this set up, then you'd guess why. Basically I'm using the centre column of the tripod with a 501 head on and then just tilting down the pan bar to shoulder mount it. To handhold, I added a bike handle to the base of the column and then using a bungee cord, put this over my shoulder or attach it to my backpack harness. It allows me to wear the camera and makes handholding when shooting from the hip, less straining.
I've started to do a write up on it on my site chiilfactorfilms.com/blog and will hopefully post some video of it in use in the next few days, if anyone is interested.

A few clips from yesterday, at a stock car race. All filmed quickly from the audience, but I was able to kill most jello, even at some of the more extreme focal lengths.

 
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Me neither, though you can see it if you right click open in new window. Champaign GH1...don't see that often..nice :D

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Cheers Ben, some might call it fools gold, but not me:happy:! I think I fixed the images by moving it over to smugmug. A couple more pics for anyone interested.

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cool idea, not sure id want to take up my tripod head for something like that, but i guess if your going to be hiking nad not going to bring your sticks anyway, should be fine.

Good solution, good thinking.

Remember people, not everyone needs to run out and spend $1,000 on a few pieces of metal cobbled together because the big companies tell you its what you need.
 
cool idea, not sure id want to take up my tripod head for something like that, but i guess if your going to be hiking nad not going to bring your sticks anyway, should be fine.
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With the back handle attached to the column, it takes me around a minute to re rig back to the head and sticks, so if you are going to be swapping out fast and only have one head, then it's a no go. The quicker way is to unscrew the head and transfer it to a bowl or stub connecter on the tripod, I think this could be done pretty quickly, but it's not quick release for sure.

Here is some really rough footage of it working, showing how you can operate the camera while moving around.

 
The way the LCD is flipped in the bottom photo is an optical illusion mindtrip...took me a second to figure out what was going on :D

Should be called Ripley because it looks like a flamethrower from Alien.
 
Setting the screen at an angle like that makes it harder to judge horizon.
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Yeah it does, even though it's set that way to look straight on to the monitor. I've tried shooting with guides, which certainly helps, but isn't always practical.
 
You just gotta get used to the same angle I guess, but it really messes with you.

Swivel screens are EPIC though, and Canon not including them in 5/7D is utter bullshit!

That race was a great subject! Thanks for sharing.
 
That race was a great subject! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, it was fun watching it. It was a bonus event, as I didn't know it was on and just drove into town and saw it all happening.

Anyway, here is another possible set up. I call this one the Streetfighter :)
Just remove the centre column and place a stub on the base of the head. The bungee is just there as a strap, but if you push out against it, like you would with a neck strap, it adds a little extra stability and allows you to take your fingers off the handles to operate the camera.

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Not quite as elegant as the Hotrod handgrips, but it sort of works to add a little stability.
 
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