F3: Shoulder baseplate
- Thread starter dhessel
- Start date
I'm lucky I got a great one with my camera purchase of an F3 :-D
It is the tricky part of camera purchases when they're older, finding parts/accessories specifically for them.
Just sit and wait on eBay and something will show up eventually at a bargain price too. Is how I picked up a top plate for F3.
It is the tricky part of camera purchases when they're older, finding parts/accessories specifically for them.
Just sit and wait on eBay and something will show up eventually at a bargain price too. Is how I picked up a top plate for F3.
HD Gear Guru
Well-known member
Where are you located. What kind of plate do you desire? I might have access to some old inventory that we would like to liquidate so might be able to assist with various F3 accessories.
Actually I am following your lead on this one. Saw your posts about this camera and realized what a great value they are for the money. Mine comes with the top plate and a base plate with rods and a gold mount plate which is great but I want to be able to shoulder mount it as well. Thanks for the tip.
I am in Denver Colorado, I am looking for a baseplate with a shoulder pad and rod support. I will be using a PL anamorphic on it that is about 4 kg on its own so I want to be able to get the F3 back over my shoulder to get some of the weight of the front end and allow for a follow focus, etc... I did come across this after some searching which is a good example of what I am looking for and will probably get if I don't find any other options. Thank you.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...OV_303_1106_LIGHTWEIGHT_SUPPORT_FOR_SONY.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...OV_303_1106_LIGHTWEIGHT_SUPPORT_FOR_SONY.html
Oh, great! Nice to hear I influenced somebody else towards getting an F3
We can stumble forward together into this brave new world of using Sony F3 in 2015 as CineAlta beginners! ;-)
I just finished up a multi day shoot using my new Sony F3 with an Atomos Shogun (plus LOTS of other cameras, as we did a LOT of multi camera shooting. All of it in fact! However the F3 was my main one, and only one which got used every single day of the production).
Unfortunately just before the very last shot of the production, my tripod collapsed and dropped my camera to the ground :-o :-/ Used a Samsung NX300 instead for that final take.
Luckily the only major damage (other than a bit of the camera body cracked which I super glued back on, and the flip out monitor is now slightly twisted) is the lens mount is broken. So last night I ordered another Nikon F to Sony FZ part, and fingers crossed that will arrive from overseas before I start shooting this short film early next month.
Strange, as the tripod is rated to about 22lb (tripod head is much much less however). Closer inspection shows one of the three legs when locked is not gripping as tightly as the other three. Sad, I'd hoped I'd be able to get by without a new tripod purchased. Guess I'm wrong. I'm considering this one to buy:
http://www.came-tv.com/came15t-pro-carbon-tripod-for-red-epic-cage-dslr-rigs-p-573.html
I am using this baseplate on my F3 right now. It does not get you a balanced F3 unless you have dovetail with batteries and recorder on the back. It does however work pretty well for quick takes on shoulder.
HD Gear Guru
Well-known member
http://www.16x9inc.com/shop/index.php/movcam-lightweight-support-sony-f3-553.html
This is plate is likely a better option. It works well especially if you have the VCT-14 style camera tripod plate. It will also work with basic tripod wedge plate. It also offers rear rails to mount optional counter weight or batteries etc. We sold them and are affiliated with the distributor , 16x9. We may have inventory we could do on clearance pricing.
This is plate is likely a better option. It works well especially if you have the VCT-14 style camera tripod plate. It will also work with basic tripod wedge plate. It also offers rear rails to mount optional counter weight or batteries etc. We sold them and are affiliated with the distributor , 16x9. We may have inventory we could do on clearance pricing.
Was looking around for baseplate options just now and stumbled across this:
http://www.came-tv.com/tilta-bracket-cage-folllow-focus-44-matte-box-for-sony-f3-p-170.html
Craaaaazy, it costs more than a second hand F3 *and* they've got *thirty two* in stock! lol
Message them directly and bargain it down? Surely it is just an old pricing mistake which they haven't corrected, and the ought to love to clear out a bunch of old stock.
Cheaper option:
http://www.came-tv.com/tilta-est04-lightweight-bracket-cage-w-top-handgrip-sony-f3-p-169.html
http://www.came-tv.com/tilta-bracket-cage-folllow-focus-44-matte-box-for-sony-f3-p-170.html
Craaaaazy, it costs more than a second hand F3 *and* they've got *thirty two* in stock! lol
Message them directly and bargain it down? Surely it is just an old pricing mistake which they haven't corrected, and the ought to love to clear out a bunch of old stock.
Cheaper option:
http://www.came-tv.com/tilta-est04-lightweight-bracket-cage-w-top-handgrip-sony-f3-p-169.html
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I'd rather go with one which has a low profile shoulder pad integrated into it, which is one of the reasons why I went for my particular F3 as it came with one.
Morton Molyneux
Active member
Good day, I have a Berkley baseplate left over from my F3 on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/231642776499?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
cheers
Morton
cheers
Morton
Can you ship to the US?
Thanks to everyone for the advice, sorry to hear about your F3 IronFilm hopefully all is OK. I should be getting mine tomorrow if all goes to plan. The one I got already comes with a baseplate similar to the one in the 16x9 link posted earlier only made by Zacuto, it has front and rear rails along with a Gold mount batter plate on th rear. Maybe I should just try and find a pad that will work with it?
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See you've got the same Berkley top plate as I got! Nice :-D
Mine already came with a top plate, but I liked the look of the Berkley one so much I splurged out on it instead and swapped out the old one.
You could mount underneath a shoulder mount (as you need it far enough forward for it to be balanced) in the same manner you'd put it on a tripod with a quick release (only hassle is you'll need to clip out the shoulder pad when you want to put it on a tripod). However, that will put the camera quite high above your shoulder. Not what I'd be keen on (especially for me personally, because I'm so tall).
Mine already came with a top plate, but I liked the look of the Berkley one so much I splurged out on it instead and swapped out the old one.
You could mount underneath a shoulder mount (as you need it far enough forward for it to be balanced) in the same manner you'd put it on a tripod with a quick release (only hassle is you'll need to clip out the shoulder pad when you want to put it on a tripod). However, that will put the camera quite high above your shoulder. Not what I'd be keen on (especially for me personally, because I'm so tall).
Morton Molyneux
Active member
I was lucky with the accessories it came with for sure. I have been considering putting a pad underneath but I am also concerned that it will be too high, I am tall as well. Next decision will be an external recorder which I don't have currently. I am considering the samurai blade or the new BM video assist. Video assist would be an obvious choice but it seems to lack basic monitoring functions like peaking which might be added later but who knows. Neither has de-squeeze which will probably render the peaking useless shooting anamorphic anyway. I am thinking about just getting either of those and something like the Grid 5 viewfinder to have my recorder and evf all in one.
How tall are you? I'm 1.9m, which always makes it awkward if you want to shoot basically anybody from below eye height for the dramatic effect.
I absolutely wouldn't get the Atomos Samurai Blade. Has a lower resolution screen, but also and far worse it lacks 1080 60p! Which for me is one of the top big reasons why for getting an external recorder for the F3!
Have used the Atomos Shogun, and really liked it, but I wouldn't buy it or the Odyssey. For two key reasons:
1) too pricey
2) their screen is too damn big!! 5 inches is the sweet spot instead for a single operator used on camera monitor. (Especially when shoulder mounted)
My two leading choices are:
A) BMD VA, as it is very cheap. But is basically "just" a FHD and a recorder, not extra features. (Though I'd hope more comes in the future, even just very basic stuff like a histogram, and trigger recording)
B) Video Devices PIX-E5, is stuffed full of features and is the cheapest out of its direct competitors (and comes with the great priced PX-LR as an optional extra, a bargain for Sound Devices quality audio equipment!). On the downside.... it costs more than I spent on the F3 itself!!
I'll probably go with BMD VA, and hope for lots of firmware updates.... maybe if work goes well, I'll pick up a PIX-E5.
I am also 1.9m which I realise will make shoulder mounted work a bit more akward, but with the F3, FF, battery and my anamorphic it will be upwards of 10 kg so going shoulder mount for hand held is probably going to be the best option. Thanks for the info on PIX-E5 I will check it out for sure. I am aware that the samurai is lacking compared to the BMD VA in almost every way so I am leaning towards the VA but since it will be my primary means for focus and exposure on the F3 I am a little concerned about the VA not having the monitoring features or lut support and it won't be available until early October as things look now. Since I didn't pre-order it could potentially be a bit longer. I agree about the Shogun, too big for what I want it for - but having the 4K option along with anamorphic de-squeeze would be nice.
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