Shoulder Mount

siniarch

siniarch

Veteran
Hey Guys,
I just built myself a nice shoulder mount with a quick release plate and some space to add some weights to the back of it to counter balance the heavy HVX and Redrock M2 combo, but I need some help.
Problems
  1. When I place it on my right shoulder, the left side is supported higher than the right side.
  2. Its not very comfortable having 2 bars sitting on your shoulders
So my solution would be a shoulder pad that could form fit to my shoulder in order to keep the camera level, and it would also be more comfortable than a metal bar on skin.

What are you guys using for shoulder pads, how are you shaping them and how are you attaching them to your shoulder mounts?

Thank you.
 

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Hey Bilgami,
I was hoping there was a foam I could shape to cup my shoulder and be flat on top. Or if there is something out there that is already made to do this.
Thanks.
 
Perhaps you could use the plastic type of styrofoam (flexible) as a base and use that for the general shape, then you could get one of those body-contouring pillows and use a layer of that to sit on your shoulder. I don't think the pillow material is rigid enough to support anything on its own, but it does a great job of forming to any shape.

Perhaps the padding will need a thin sheet of plywood or metal to connect to the metal bars. The padding could also be covered in a (durable?) fabric to improve appearance and prevent separation of the two layers.

Is the QR plate DIY too?

[edit] If you add shaped padding to your rig it won't be stable if you set it down, so you might want to add a leg or two to the back.
 
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Hey JMC,
thanks for the info. sounds like a good idea. some sort of hard layer with rigid foam over and softer foam over that and fabric keeping it all together. I'll see what I can come up with.
And NO, the Quick Release is Manfrotto. (its the same thing I have on my tripod so I wanted to keep it the same and be interchangeable.)
Thanks,
Luis
 
Something like this would work great:

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/2529261?JSESSIONID=FNLT90vQPrKGKJtZZjGQqFG1JSF70Jy3zp2qc3q1QTLQvtQNnQLP!1862187761!-1929580737&site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
 
the best thing would be to wrap a bath towel around the poles. wrap it once or twice around one pole (if you want it built up on one side for stability...) then around both poles a couple of times. hold it together by wrapping duct tape around the whole thing.
there you have it. a free perfectly custom molded shoulder pad. people use this with rail sets for hand held work.
 
thanks guys, i'll give some of these ideas a try. and I'll post some pictures with the camera and monitor mounted on top.
 
Updated Mount - with - NEW LCD DIY Monitor.

Updated Mount - with - NEW LCD DIY Monitor.

Hey Guys,
After some testing, I decided to place the bars closer so that they would sit closer to my neck. My shoulder as most (I assume) drops off more the further you get from the neck. so this improves things a little.
I also placed foam pipe covers on the bars.

On these images, you can also see my new LCD screen.
I've attached the Component RGB to VGA adapter to the back of it.
And I've attached 3 RC batteries to it as well. 2 power the monitor, and 1 powers the RGB to VGA adapter.

I haven't tested how long these batteries last, but at $12.99 a battery, including the charger, I'm sure I can have tons of them at hand.

Just wanted to share with you guys. Thanks for all your help.
Luis

ps: i'm also working on a better way to attach the FireStore FS-100 to the back of the unit.
 

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siniarch, you're the DIY master. You have made a few different monitoring configurations now. Is the balance and shoulder support good, screen not too close? Just curious, shoulder rig experiments next, once I get Brevis back. No onboard monitor yet, waiting for NAB to possibly reveal a Marshall with pixel-to-pixel mode (I wish), otherwise the new Pana monitor scheduled for July looking like a potential buy, except will break my budget. It better have a waveform and frame templates (like 2.35:1, etc) at around $3k.
 
Thanks Christopher, but I hardly think I would refer to myself as a master. (I really appreciate the praise though)

Like most of you, I am working on a limited budget, and the thought of spending 3-4k on a monitor sounds incredible. So when I saw people using cheaper monitors and doing it themselves. I thought why not. The monitor I got obviously was not up to par since it has a very small viewing angle, but when mounted on my shoulder I just position it perfectly and it works great.

The next project as soon as I hear from the LCD Mnf. is making this whole thing in one box that will house the following:

  • 1024x768 pixels for close to pixel by pixel on 720p w/ backlight
  • 400:1 contrast
  • Sunbright screen w/ AntiReflective coating for outdoor viewing
  • 110/130 degrees viewing angle. (so focus puller can share monitor)
  • Component input (possibly BNC adapters)
  • Similar Cheap batteries
  • zoom option for better focusing (not sure if it will be pixel for pixel on 1080p)
This would be better than the Marshall as far as resolution and I believe also as far as having the Sunbright screen. I'm going to make one for myself. If it works then I will see if others want to buy one.
Wish me luck. :)

ps: the balancing works great. its a little heavier on the left side because of the monitor, but when I reach my hand behind the monitor to focus the 35mm lens, it also stabilizes the unit. I will do more test, but so far so good. the monitor is far enough infront. I also have some play with the noga arm and can bring it further in front. I just dont want to interfer with me being able to focus the lens with my left hand. also the camera is pretty far back. (not like the spyderbrace which has it really forward) so the weight is mostly on my shoulder. I had the camera infront more and it was getting really heavy really fast. now its much better.
 
Yes, $3k is kind of crazy for a monitor, but I am considering it if I get all the features and if the color calibration is reliable.

Very interesting siniarch, the monitor you are considering building. I like the resolution, puts it on par with the current Pana 8.4" onboard mon. I am curious as to your component input, is that going to be component to DVI or VGA conversion, or YUV color space displayed?

As for power, I have recently purchased a few Tekkeon MP3400 batteries. Not sure how the 'power-to-price-to-weight' ratio compares with your current config. I will be testing these on the weekend with some Vidled's, etc. Just thought I would share the battery info, as they are sleek and compact.
 
I did look at the Tekkeon MP3400. I'll have to re-examin it again. whats nice about that battery is that it powers anything. but the price/power ration might be better with these RC batteries. (I still have to test the time they power the lcd)
As far as the conversion, there won't be an adapter. the LCD mnf. is providing an internal circuit board that will go directly from RGB to the LCD. I might even have it with Component, VGA, & DVI. as well as picture in picture???
 
siniarch, thanks for the feedback on the batteries. As for the monitor input, Component most relevant for me with the HVX, however, if you want to expand the potential market (and if not adding too much more weight and bulk) then adding a DVI (&/or HDMI?) and VGA would make sense. Part of why I am considering the new Pana BT-LH80W, is also factoring component and SDI/HD-SDI (optional:() input for future cams I may purchase.
 
Well, I can't imagine that those extras will be more than 50 to 100 and like you said, for future cameras it will be worth the added price. as for weight, I'm sure is minimal. if i do this it will definetly cost less than the marshall. otherwise i don't think it will be worth it.
 
i would want to finish it in less than a month.
it all depends on the LCD mnf. and when they can get me - first a quote. -2nd the unit.
then I would get a metal enclosure to house all the components. might go to a shop and have them cut out the area for the screen or I might do it myself.
but definetly before that panasonic one comes out.
 
Cool setup. I've been looking to build a shoulder mount similar to the Zacuto. Have you seen that system? It seems like you could reduce your entire shoulder mount to just handles and a shelf for the FS100, if you could just attach them to your existing rails.


Nice work on the monitor, too!
 
I have seen that Zacuto, but boy is that frickin thing expensive. I mean 750 just for the grips? wow that's a lot.
I'm not sure what kind of rods they are using, but I'm using the base plate and the rods from RedrockMicro. they don't have threads so you cannot expand them. (nice feature on the zacuto ones) so i would have to get longer ones. and I also think with all the weight, they do bend a little. and that affects the focusing on the M2 adapter. (I am talking millimeters.)
So maybe if I got longer stronger rods.
Also the zacuto setup has alot hanging out on the back. if you look at my first picture, it has different handles than the last. the first picture has long handles. I replaced them with shorter ones because when you walk around with the camera you keep hitting things. I know zacuto made it to hang all that weight on the back and balance the damn heavy behemoth, but I'm thinking of grabing those long handles I have and bending them so they stay close to my back. and then mounting the FS100 to that and maybe even some weights.
hey JMC where in So.CA are you? I'm in LA? maybe we can meet at the next HVX user meeting. I'll bring my stuff.
 
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