Shoulder Rigs

P

paulcurtis

Veteran
Here's something that bugs me about most shoulder rigs.

Our shoulders aren't horizontal, well mine aren't at least. So the natural position for a shoulder pad which is flat leaves the rig at an angle, so you compensate for that. But that's not really that comfortable over time and it's also one of those design things that i'm surprised no one really deals with. From a posture point of view it's not ideal either.

Perhaps it's just me? Perhaps other shoulder pads are so squishy that it's not an issue but from various photographs of peoples rigs i don't think that's the case.

I have a shoulder pad from shoot35, which is quite a nice pad and i can attach it to one rail only and angle it a bit which can help - but it's not that sturdy nor an ideal solution.

I'm keen to see whether it's just me, or something that can bug others as well - and perhaps what others do about it?

cheers
Paul
 
Very true. Some pads are squishy (Portabrace), some are profiled (Zacuto and shameless copiers from India and China) - but most are flat and narrow, causing the rig to roll (one such example is the RedRock microShoulderMount).
 
Element Technica, Ronford Baker have Gimbal shoulder pads

Jag35 were tweeting out a ripoff of the same yesterday

Zacutos new thing has a ball joint

I had input to the design of this cheap solution - the curve both fits the drop of the shoulder but the counter curve is appropriate as you might bring your right hand onto the lens.. http://tinyurl.com/7mwwf53

Best

SMM
 
I can't see a Ronford Baker one and the Mantis (ET one) is nearly $2000. I'm glad it's not just me at least, and amazed at how few companies must actually use their own equipment.

That Zacuto scorpion would actually be embarrassing to be seen with, i hope it would be as comfortable as they say to make up for the way it looks. And at $2700 it's a little over the top for what it is. Sort of thing you'd seem in some scifi combat movies.

The other link to the mini shoulder pad is interesting. I may try this and perhaps the portabrace pad which seems to have a lot of fans around.

cheers
paul
 
Wasn't Expecting ET or Ronford to be in your budget .. I was just pointing out that 'pro' rigs do have this and it is eminently sensible for you to desire it

(I can't find the RB link at the mo - maybe it was a custom job for an operator)

Best

SamMM
 
Sam, thanks for the info. Are you using thoses mini shoulder pads on your rig? They seem a little small but perhaps in practise they're not?

Thanks,
Paul
 
Heh, funny thread as I was JUST noticing this tonight. My problem was, if I took one hand off either of the grips, the shoulder pad was causing the whole rig to shift down since the weight wasn't being help appropriately on the shoulder. I think a ball joint or at least a settable angle is what I am going to look for next.
 
I have built a settable angle and I'm not sure.

For example if you move your right arm up to the camera your shoulder angle changes tipping the camera

Thats why I designed the curve on that pad,

Is for gimbals Im sure that is the ultimate solution if you can ride the costs - both in money - and also in additional mass and camera height

S
 
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