What are good rugged and affordable support systems after people rigging up some AF100's? I seem to be just as lost as I was a month ago about choosing a support system. I'm torn about getting the 35-100 which will require support, or just buy some primes, or different zooms which probably won't require support. Something like the 24-70. I like the fact the 35-100 is a zoom and I can change focal length in no time. This is pretty important to me, and seems as if it will be a VERY useful range. However, is it worth the price of the support along with it?
Running around in circles over lens support, rods, and baseplate
- Thread starter swanny
- Start date
As far as baseplate and rods go... Zacuto. I know it's more expensive and may not be what you describe as "affordable".
I was in the predicament of trying to find the right baseplate and rods that I could be sure would work with any camera I get in the future. I tried one and the baseplate was difficult to adjust the height of, I didn't like the camera plate lock (concerned it would come loose), and most of all the rods were too thick for some 15mm accessories. After researching and looking at all the options, the only one that made sense as a long term investment was the Zacuto. Zacuto is widely used so it will be compatible with almost everything out there, and the baseplate is easily adjustable horizontally and vertically. You can also buy extensions for the rods if you need to make them longer rather than having to buy all new longer rods. Before, I always thought Zacuto was just overpriced. Now I realize it's not. It's just better.
I was in the predicament of trying to find the right baseplate and rods that I could be sure would work with any camera I get in the future. I tried one and the baseplate was difficult to adjust the height of, I didn't like the camera plate lock (concerned it would come loose), and most of all the rods were too thick for some 15mm accessories. After researching and looking at all the options, the only one that made sense as a long term investment was the Zacuto. Zacuto is widely used so it will be compatible with almost everything out there, and the baseplate is easily adjustable horizontally and vertically. You can also buy extensions for the rods if you need to make them longer rather than having to buy all new longer rods. Before, I always thought Zacuto was just overpriced. Now I realize it's not. It's just better.
Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
The Zacuto baseplate is a great piece of machinery, but it doesn't fit everyones price range. I think an equally great piece that works nicely with the AF100 is the Red Rock microSupport Baseplate Low Riser version. Just like the Zacuto plate, it was from the full sized camera days with the 35mm adapters. However, it uses the Bogen sliding plate for quick removal of the camera from the rest of the rods, unlike the Zacuto which you have to unscrew the camera from underneath the unit.
The unit is both left right adjustable, and you can change the height of the rods with shims.
The Redrock unit is also half the price, and you can still use the Zacuto rods if you like the idea of having rods that you can expand on
The unit is both left right adjustable, and you can change the height of the rods with shims.
The Redrock unit is also half the price, and you can still use the Zacuto rods if you like the idea of having rods that you can expand on
hadi-dimachkieh
Member
does that base plate allow the rods to run all the way to the back or they stop before the knobs ? im really interested in redrock micro gear, they seem as if they are almost zacuto quality for half the price..
Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
If I understand what you mean, yes the rods can go all the way through the clamp. To put it in perspective you could run the rods the length of the plate, and than put a battery on the back (like an Anton Bauer or Switronix battery) with a microPod
You are right, though I did say it may not be "affordable".
One other thing I like about the Zacuto is that it has two clamps for each rod. If the Redrock had 2 clamps I would have likely gone with that and saved some money, but I figured I'm better off getting now what I know I won't need to replace in the future. I made the mistake of getting inferior equipment in the past and would have saved money in the long run had I gotten the "better" stuff from the get go. But of course that's my personal experience and may not apply to everyone.
Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
You are right, though I did say it may not be "affordable".
One other thing I like about the Zacuto is that it has two clamps for each rod. If the Redrock had 2 clamps I would have likely gone with that and saved some money, but I figured I'm better off getting now what I know I won't need to replace in the future. I made the mistake of getting inferior equipment in the past and would have saved money in the long run had I gotten the "better" stuff from the get go. But of course that's my personal experience and may not apply to everyone.
Of course, to each their own.
And we of course sell both Redrock and Zacuto, so they are both fair game for me. I do have a close relationship with Redrock though and just love telling them what I hear people want
What is the benefit of having the two rod clamps though? Only thing I can think of is if you're going from shoulder mount to tripod and want to pull off the whole back rods (assuming that all that is on them are counter-weights)In my opinion between Redrock and Zacuto, the two companies do things just differently, but neither of them inferior, just different applications:thumbsup:
aurantaurant
Well-known member
I have all redrock stuff and it's great.
But Loren, EVS needs to get more in stock.
But Loren, EVS needs to get more in stock.
Oh I didn't mean that Redrock is inferior. I was actually referring to some other stuff out there. Redrock is cool! :thumbsup:
The reason I wanted 2 clamps for the rods is just extra support holding the rods, lessening the possibility of rods bending (especially over time) or spinning. I also extended the 12" rods that came with the Universal Baseplate v3 and didn't want the extensions to not be clamped down as they could tend to come loose otherwise. You are correct, I am using a shoulder pad attached to the back as well, but I actually take the shoulder pad off the rods and leave the rods where they are.
I had another brand of baseplate and rods that had only a single clamp for each rod and with that one the rods would spin sometimes if I put too much force on my handle grips, even when clamped down as tight as I could get them. Granted, that's definitely inferior equipment, but since then I want 2 clamps if possible. I'm using the Mini Baseplate for my GH2, which has one clamp but at least rod loops for the rear. I'm okay with that since it's a much smaller, lighter rig.
Also, you can actually put the Manfrotto universal quick release on the Zacuto. I have a quick release on my tripod (it's a Manfrotto) and on the top of the Zacuto. Then I have a plate on the bottom of the camera and on the bottom of the Zacuto. And voila... quick release for the camera and for the support rig so I can use the camera on the tripod (or high hat or car rig or whatever else I want) with or without rods if I want, and move the camera and rig between different setups very quickly.
The reason I wanted 2 clamps for the rods is just extra support holding the rods, lessening the possibility of rods bending (especially over time) or spinning. I also extended the 12" rods that came with the Universal Baseplate v3 and didn't want the extensions to not be clamped down as they could tend to come loose otherwise. You are correct, I am using a shoulder pad attached to the back as well, but I actually take the shoulder pad off the rods and leave the rods where they are.
I had another brand of baseplate and rods that had only a single clamp for each rod and with that one the rods would spin sometimes if I put too much force on my handle grips, even when clamped down as tight as I could get them. Granted, that's definitely inferior equipment, but since then I want 2 clamps if possible. I'm using the Mini Baseplate for my GH2, which has one clamp but at least rod loops for the rear. I'm okay with that since it's a much smaller, lighter rig.
Also, you can actually put the Manfrotto universal quick release on the Zacuto. I have a quick release on my tripod (it's a Manfrotto) and on the top of the Zacuto. Then I have a plate on the bottom of the camera and on the bottom of the Zacuto. And voila... quick release for the camera and for the support rig so I can use the camera on the tripod (or high hat or car rig or whatever else I want) with or without rods if I want, and move the camera and rig between different setups very quickly.
Take a look at the hot rod cameras x-baseplate http://www.hotrodcameras.com/product/x-baseplate/ . I have it and its very nice and solidly built.
Wow! $715? Wish there was more pictures, especially without the camera.
Loren Simons
DVXuser Sponsor
We've got that guy in as well, and I've gotta say being able to precision move the tripod mount underneath the camera is awesome. Build quality is also as I'd expect from Hot Rod, rock solid.
In our old building we had a total shortage of Redrock (also due to the fact that they used to be at 4 week lead times) Now I feel like we've got a pretty good selection in, from Nano rigs, to Field Cinema Bundles. I've been put in charge of sorts of the Redrock section of the store and we've now been buying things individually as opposed to in the bundles. The benefit of that is if people want a rig they can come in and we can build it for them, but they can also come in and grab an 8" Handlebar rod or a 4" grip rod, ect. which is normally a piece you'd have to buy online because of its specialty. We now pride ourselves on being able to build whatever sort of franken rig fits your needs, which is something I think many other resellers can not do.
Jon Furtado
Well-known member
I stewed for WAY too long over this. I found some amazing metal rigs on ebay machined by a guy in Korea. They are AMAZING from everything i've read. He builds and sells entire support rigs at a fraction of Zacuto's prices. And, oddly enough, they share the same color scheme.
Here's his ebay store:
http://shop.ebay.com/gini-2011/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
To save you some time, here are the pro's/cons that I found thru my research:
PRO: AMAZING build quality, full shoulder rigs for the fraction of Redrock or Zacutto.
CONS: Gini,(the owner) doesn't speak english very well i hear. So it can be a bit difficult to communicate directly with him. And I believe his success has prevented him from communicating thru email very well. But from everything I hear, he's delivered every time. He also bargins! You can make an offer on a rig he's selling and can get it at a steep discount. I got mine for less than 1/2 of what his ebay store was charging for it!
Thanks for posting those pics. Looks like a nice baseplate.
Those plates look like they'd be too small for the AF100. They're more for DSLRs.
BobbyMurcerFan
Well-known member
How about Cinevate's stuff? It's always looked very nice to me.
Jon Furtado
Well-known member
They might be. I'm gonna see when my AF100 comes in to see how it'll hold up. Either way, i'll take the money I saved buying the rest of the rig and get a more solid baseplate if I need it.
That's what I had, and had to return. The baseplate was difficult to configure and get perfectly level. I also didn't like the quick release mechanism. It has a lever that you push in. I'm always concerned with that style that the lever will pop out since it's only held by friction. The baseplate also doesn't have a security pin like the normal Manfrotto quick release, so if the lever did come loose somehow say goodbye to your camera. Granted, that's unlikely, but there's a reason why most quick release systems have locking and safety mechanisms.
The thumbscrews for the clamps aren't adjustable and on the ones I had, when tightened down, they pointed down and protruded down too far to the point that they blocked being able to slide the rig onto my tripod (a Manfrotto with a sliding quick release). If I loosened them enough to not block, then the rods were a little loose which isn't good.
The Cinevate rods were thicker than other 15mm rods I have, including Zacuto, Redrock, and Indisystem. The clamps were difficult to clamp down on non-Cinevate rods because their rods were thicker and thus the holes for the clamps were a little larger. Cinevate says their rods are 14.97mm to 14.98mm in diameter, but I used 2 different calipers and measured no less than 15.00mm. I have an accessory with a non-clamping hole that also measures exactly 15.00mm and so they couldn't work together. That accessory worked with all my other rods. The Zacuto and Redrock rods measured 14.93mm, and the Indisystem rods measured 14.85mm.
Don't get me wrong. Cinevate makes some great stuff. I have the Titan matte box, Durus follow focus, shoulder pad, counterbalance weight, and their Uno hand grips and they are all great stuff, and of course nothing out there is perfect. I did have to get some larger thumbscrews for the clamps on the Titan, shoulder pad, and counterbalance because I couldn't get enough leverage to securely clamp them to my other rods with the smaller thumbscrews they normally have on them. But now it's all working. If you're going to have an all Cinevate rig you'd have no issues. If you're going to add other non-Cinevate stuff to it, from my experience there's no guarantee.
John Foundas
Well-known member
This is a great system. Bh has the everything much cheaper. Lens support must be purchased fro. The SHAPE website ($100).
http://www.shapewlb.com/en/shape-pr...page=n_estore.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=9
You can get cow ter weights, gold mount dtap, and has a wedge mount system for quick release tripod plates.
It's a no brainer for the price. I don't work for them, I'm just an experience news eng shooter and really like this product.
Plus its not all gaudy, robo pimp looking like some other systems.
http://www.shapewlb.com/en/shape-pr...page=n_estore.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=9
You can get cow ter weights, gold mount dtap, and has a wedge mount system for quick release tripod plates.
It's a no brainer for the price. I don't work for them, I'm just an experience news eng shooter and really like this product.
Plus its not all gaudy, robo pimp looking like some other systems.