Shoulder mount/rig for XHA1s with 35mm adaptor

[luiscabesc]

Hi everyone! Please forgive my grammar as English is not my first language. Also, excuse me if I'm posting in the wrong forum.

I'm planning on assembling a "run-and-gun" kit for my Canon XHA1s, mostly for shooting documentary and short films. This kit would include:

- A XLR microphone.
- A 35mm adaptor (I'm thinking Brevis or Letus?) + 2 or 3 prime lenses.
- A follow focus unit.
- An LCD monitor (I'm thinking Ikan).
- Some sort of shoulder mount/rig.

(I'm not including a Merlin Steadicam, since I've heard it won't take the additional weight of an adaptor, and I can't afford a Glidecam).

The thing is, I need a shoulder mount that would:

1) Support all that weight and still be comfortable.
2) Allow me to easily pull focus with one hand, and hold and move the camera with the other.
3) Include all the necessary rods and hopefully a baseplate that I can also use on a tripod (the idea is to minimize costs)

Do you guys know any affordable shoulder mounts/rigs that comply with all this? I'm on a tight budget, I need equipment that is cheap, rough and effective.

Thank you!

Luis.

 

[walked]

I'm betting the CB-105 will do you, relatively well. Check it out, its cheap as anything, and should handle it.

 

[cowpunk52]

I have a CB-105, and it works perfectly with the XH-A1. The weight is balanced nicely with just the camera, but add anything more and it becomes forward-heavy. Once you put on a 35mm adapter, shooting will become very very difficult and it won't balance with the extra weight.

In my experience, shooting shoulder-mount with a 35mm adapter is a nightmare for your back. I've tried at least a half dozen shoulder mounts with that set-up, and they all suck rocks. You'll be almost completely supporting your system with you arms, and if you're doing any takes over 10-15 seconds, your arms will probably start shaking uncontrollablly, making some pretty rocky footage.

The only thing I can think that might work, is if you do use a CB105, you will have to strap as much extra weight on the back as your adapter weighs, and preferably stick out the weight an equal distance behind you as the camera+lens stretches in front of you. It will make for a pretty heavy and ungainly device, but the balance will be there. You probably will have to build a custom rig. The whole mount will more than likely be just over 4 feet long, but this is your only hope for being able to pull focus yourself.

If anybody knows a better way to deal with this setup, I'd love to hear it!