Shoulder mount?

Finnegan

Finnegan

Well-known member
I bought an SGblade package about a month ago, bought all my lenses, and am now looking to buy a follow focus, HD-monitor, and a shoulder mount for my run and gun rig. The problem is, I have no idea what I'm looking for as far as shoulder mounts. I've heard Zacuto and Redrock make some great shoulder mounts for use with camcorder+35mm adapter combos. What are you all using? What do you suggest?
 
I'm using the Indirailspro :
http://www.indifocus.com/products_indirailspro.htm

Doesn't break the bank, and does the job well:
M2_rig.JPG
 
Awesome, I actually really like what I'm seeing both here in the photo you've attached and on the website. How comfortable is the shoulder mount? It doesn't look to have much of a front end. Do you find that to be a problem?
 
I have the Redrock shoulder mount and truthfully It is so uncomfortable I barely use it. Plus I am 6'6" so when I put it on my shoulder I have to tilt down to get anything.
 
That is good to know. Comfortability is definitely a top priority, maybe second only to functionality. If it's that uncomfortable then its definitely out of the picture.
 
I'm 5' 11" and perhaps my height is just right, but I don't have many problems with my shoulder mount system. I do find that I have to use very different hand/arm positions to support the camera compared to when I'm handheld, but it's nothing that can't be gotten used to.

I also have to point out that a way to balance the rig has to be found, as it becomes front heavy...this isn't the fault of shoulder mounts, but just an inherent quality of DOF rigs.

Doesn't look to have much of a front end?? My rig has TONS of front end....In fact I've been thinking of buying some shorter rods.

You'd be suprised how ridiculously long these rigs get....With my Soligor 90-230 this rig looks like a damn rail gun.
 
can you still see the built in lcd with that shoulder mount? It looks like the shoulder pad could do with some more padding. Guess I'll find out when i get mine, just ordered the handles and pad for my sgblade setup.
 
i'm also deciding if i should get the indirails or spend the extra on the redrock. i will probably not be using it as much as i would on the tripod. i have basically the same setup as the op. hmc150, sgblade, canon lenses. looking for shoulder support, matte box, lcd monitor and follow focus. man this is gonna hurt.
 
I use the Indirails shoulder mount. Did a stint with it filming almost nonstop from Noon to 10PM. Shoulderpad is very comfortable, and with a properly balanced camera forearm strain is bearable
 
the only thing that is stopping me from buying the indirails one is the way the handgrip rods screw on. it uses a screw that digs itself into the rod in order for it to tighten down. so if you are in the middle of a shoot and you have like a sec to change the angle of the handgrips or something you have to pull out the allen key and use that. the cavision one just has the little handscrew lever thing which is alot cleaner and easier. with the indirails, after a while the rod will be full of dents if you screw and unscrew alot. the cavision one is nice but the handgrips themselfs are like a hard plastic and i wish they were more like the redrock. now the redrock is nice but it only comes in blue. i contacted redrock and they said if i wanted it in black which i do i have to purchase the black rubber grips from their store and replace the blue ones. each grip is $14. why dont they just give us the option instead of charging us for extra parts that we dont need. i think ill purchase the redrock grips and get a cavision v3 shoulder pad. i dont like redrocks shoulder pad it looks like it would be uncomfortable.

Ninos
 
MattRobertson said:
Are those the indiRAILSpro XVs?
Click to expand...

Yep, it's the whole kitten caboodle that indi offers.

To the question of if you can see the LCD : NO......you need an external monitor in order to use this rig. I myself don't think much of it, as I need one anyway for Steadicam....You can also get easier focus with one.....here's my own opinion: don't try to use the built in LCD on a shoulder mount rig of this kind, cause you'll just end up making the rig far to bulky...just accept the fact that you need an external monitor.

To the digging into the bar comment : Yep it does exactly this, and I already have a few marks in my rig from re-adjusting the handgrips...although if I really wanted to I'm sure I could find a solution to this...a small piece of rubber inside would solve this.

To the allen key thing : Yep it isn't optimal in all situations, but it is pretty much the most recessed option there is....I'm sure that this as well could be easily modified, but I myself will stay with the allen key thing.
 
Just got my indi handles and shoulder pad by fedex. Feels quite comfy on the shoulders but as is expected, my xha1 and the sgblade is front heavy as hell. I'd have to mount the shoulder pad under the lens of the camera to get a good counter balance but then I'd have to take away the tripod plate and get an external monitor.
Speaking of external monitors, they would be ideal but I can use the onboard lcd fine with a hoodman with a magnifying glass. without the hoodman magnifier, the onboard lcd sits too close to my face, I'd have to go crosseyed to focus on it.
 
How stable is this. If I run can it be close to a sedicam. I have a stedi cam but would like to do a run and gun with a shoulder mount providing it gives me stable moving and runing shots. please let me know thanks.
 
I use the CAVISION set up. Very affordable, works fine. And I use the DVTEC ENG Rig, which is almost a must with the Letus set-up. The spring loaded mono support carries all that front weight perfectly. As for a monitor nothing beats the new SmallHD DP6 monitor right now.
DVTEC.JPG
 
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