C100: Shoulder Rig ?

wow, Zacuto's evf arm only need SIX LEVERS to operate.
Honestly I don't understand how people are still interested in such (IMO terribly designed and overpriced) stuff anymore.

Manufacturers like ARRI, Woodencamera or bebob are putting rigs that are simple, reasonably priced, extremely ergonomic and VERY light. Here's some example:

image_8963_1.jpg
image_8990_1.jpg

Baseplate, Rods- at the right height for MBs!- top and bottom, handles, pad, evf arm, ARRI rossettes, balancing plates...and still room enough to fit any further aks like Wireless RCVs, shotguns, etc. Add a Batt distributor on the back, for power+counterweight, done.

Those are from bebob but the same is the case with ARRI and WC. Plus those rigs are universal and fit any camera.
 
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That doesn't look compact or lightway in any way. The Axis is imho the best EVF holder right now and if you want to use the C100 as counterweight as well, there is no way around it. Besides the fact that Bebob doesnt sell the cable for connecting the original handle to the body. You have only 2 options: Zacuto or Denz
 
Have you lifted the bebob? it weights nothing, really. As for EVF support, both the bebob, WoodenCamera and Tilta offerings are miles ahead of the zacuto, which looks like a school science "terminator" project in comparison, sorry.

ARRI also makes relocators for the C100/300 handle, which can be attached to rossettes just at the baseplate, so you don't even require rods and you can better balance the package, as per in the image. It also leaves the rods free for the Mattebox, etc.

C_C100_300_500_Cage_Stage_2.jpg

As you're in Vienna, apparently, it should be easy for you to try all this stuff out, which by the way is cheaper, specially in the EU, than any zacuto "rods-and-levers".

Hier ist ein Video auf Deutsch für dich. Check out the EVF mount, der Hammer. BTW way, wait till the end of the video to be schocked.

 
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BUUUT... that way you can't position the camera so far back that it will become a counterweight. I do use Tilta but some Zacuto parts are just really nice to play around. Axis, Recoil and Relocator. I ain't a big fan of their shoulder support solutions.
As far as I know no other company offer cable supported solutions. I have used the bebob but sent it back to marcotec just recently.
I will post a picture of my setup tomorrow. Jut combine the best parts and you end up in a useful rig.
 
Having bought the Zacuto Z-finder for my C100 I was hoping to get an offset rig and use the LCD as my viewer through the z-finder, am I kidding myself and need to get the weight on my shoulder? Thus buying an EVF? I might get a manfrotto monopod and stick with the Z-finder for my next gig..
 
BravoCharlieTV said:
Having bought the Zacuto Z-finder for my C100 I was hoping to get an offset rig and use the LCD as my viewer through the z-finder, am I kidding myself and need to get the weight on my shoulder? Thus buying an EVF? I might get a manfrotto monopod and stick with the Z-finder for my next gig..
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The key to any shoulder rig is an EVF which allows you to position the camera further back (ideally right ontop of your shoulder). Once the camera is too far forward you will struggle to get a balanced rig even after throwing a load of counter weights on the rear.. and if it's not balanced you wont be happy.

The shoulder rig should be able to sit on your shoulder and not dip forwards if you let go.

Trust me, I went the whole "let's save money and not buy an EVF" route and in the long run it ended up costing me more.
 
Hi guys,
don't mean to come off like i know it all. can just speak from experience. And from what i found.
the c100 doesnt really need a shoulder rig. With the zacuto viewfinder and a good IS lens (even without at around 35mm and even 50mm ive been ok) The camera really is good hand held.
Its got the best form factor out there. The handles etc. I think the rig was more crucial for getting black magic and 5d's to work etc.
BUT if you insist on a shoulder rig, which would arguably make it easier to shoot for longer periods of time, then you'd have to use an external view finder. WHich like everyone is saying above
would help balance out the rig plus give you one more point of contact for stability. And the bone above ur eye is indeed a great place to put some pressure on from the evf. Its probably
the most stable part of the body.
hope that helps
 
I've been using a Z-Finder with mine and just hand holding it... but damn the screen sucks and I'm finding my z-finder fogs up a ridiculous amount too. I'd love a rig with an EVF or so I could go handheld with my Ninja Blade.
 
Joe Stas said:
I've been using a Z-Finder with mine and just hand holding it... but damn the screen sucks and I'm finding my z-finder fogs up a ridiculous amount too. I'd love a rig with an EVF or so I could go handheld with my Ninja Blade.
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Yeah if you squeeze your whole face against it for a while it might fog up. With both evf and z finder i rest the top bone more on it. not my whole eye if that makes sense
this creates a little gap underneath for air to circulate

edit... and yes if you want a ninja go for shoulder rig... otherwise there really is no point in a shoulder rig. The above picture although looking really impressive
i look at it and see no point at all.
(i had the zacuto c shooter which helped when using ninja, but i didnt like hdmi but thats a whole new point)
 
Continuing my trend for quite possibly the worst photography ever (dispite rescue work in Photoshop) here's the first steps of a rig that made a visible difference to handheld work:

rig-basic.jpg

It's not wired for sound, though most of the time it would be a separate mic, maybe a wireless pack or two strapped to the battery.

Using the Ninja and its peaking as a focus aid was okay, would prefer a punch-in, but IMHO the Ninja was easier to focus on than the Zacuto EVF, though in bright sunlight you'd want blackwrap wound the Ninja, or succumb to the Zacuto EVF. It depends on whether I'd want to shoot AVCHD (easy - put menus on HDMI) or ProRes (have C100 LCD flapped up so tilting the rig down and glancing up and to the right to check the settings).

I have a C100 Grip Relocator - somewhere... wasn't in the bits box.

The biggest gripe has been, of all things, the baseplate. Because the C100 is a little 'tall', my matte box wouldn't fit when the C100 was on the Zacuto Mini baseplate, even when lowered right down. I ended up attaching it directly to the RedRock shoulder pad. My rig was originally based around the Half Inch Rails T-60, which has 5x little rubber 'things' that make a minimalist shoulder pad that slant the right way and keep the camera very low.

The battery at the rear is essential as a counterweight. That's all it does. It could be a diving weight for all the technology it provides. But it brings inertia and momentum, which are amazing things to have when hand-holding.

To be honest, I was through with rigs after the FS100 debacle, and that's why I bought a C100. This thread tickled me and so I started hunting through the parts bin, assuming that 'C100 on a rig = tits on a bull'. By the time I'd finished shooting the footage on both handheld and rig, I was sure of that. Then I looked at the footage.

Inertia. Momentum. It beats IS into a cocked hat. Well, actually, it helps IS tremendously, but IS can do silly things.

So, it looks like I am going to have to invest in yet another bit of exquisitely expensive machined metalwork, and suffer the weight and the faff of a rig when I can. My key takeaway, though, was keep it simple, don't let it get too Frankenrig. The sun is out, the sky is blue, ideal weather for playing with cameras, which means I'm solidly editing and must stop playing now, but I guess I'm shopping for my FOURTH baseplate.
 
before saying that can you confirm you used c100 with the zacuto viewfinder? i found both ways equally stable if i used the eyepiece. The only difference being i could shoot for longer
on the c-shooter and cost way more and had to fiddle with hdmi and took longer to run and gun. maybe its personal preference. but saying that its world apart atleast in my experience is incorrect.
My shots are stable as with just the zac viewfinder
 
Joe Stas said:
You'd need to get some kind of counterweight for that though, surely?
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Yep it's not shown in the photo, Movcam uses their swivel battery plate (and V-mount battery) as counter balance. They have cables for C100/300/500, FS700, F5/F55 etc.
 
mtnski said:
How did you attach it to the RedRock shoulder pad?
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There's a 1/4" 20 screw with rubber pads on top of the RedRock shoulder pad. I thought about adding a simple Manfrotto sandwich plate to the top of it, but it still raises the camera up too high. Needs a long shaft Allen key to do the nut up. There's a similar 1/4" 20 at the bottom with which to attach a tripod mounting system, but it's al a bit jiggly. I need to try the Zacuto C100/300/500 plate and the HIR rubber pads (again) before I take it on another paying gig. Also, IMHO, no point without the C100 grip extender thing when filming AVCHD. Use Zacuto EVF with viewfinder stuff in window. Filming with Ninja, just wish somebody would make or adapt an optical loupe for it, that would be pretty awesome.
 
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