shoulder support

JoeyG123

Active member
Hi all,

can anyone recommend a good shoulder support to hold an HVX and sgpro with matt box rig,

I have looked around and found a few, just wanted to know peoples preferences and experience using the equipment,

Thanks in advance
 
On the higher end, I would suggest the Zacuto rig. On the more cost effective side, switronix has a decent one.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
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Specialized Communications Corp.
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that cb105 thing on ebay is handy but wont work with an adapter and mattebox without serious rigging.

i suggest zacuto products - way pricey but very worth it!
here is my zacuto rig - it was like $2700 but i dont regret it for a second:

IMG_0136.JPG
 
The only one I have experience using is the spiderbrace, it definitely helped but there's no doubt that there's far better. I'm in the market for something right now thats affordable and just for camera mounting, no 35 rig or monitor. cb105 thing looks interesting but I would like grips at the front I think.

Any affordable and effective suggestions?
 
I like the CB105 + you can order additional weights to balance with whatever acc. you are using. The grips on the front on the others only make them more front heavy. The CB105 balances just setting on your shoulder without holding it
 
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bbgun - you clearly havent used used a good grips setup. ; )

and matti, i have the cb105 and its great, but i too would like to see a grips option added to it. you could pretty easily rig and bolt on some grips with a trip to home depot and a bike store... but like bbgun says, youd want to add additional rear weights to counter balance the extra front weight
 
Dan,
You can see he doesn't have a Zoffset because the rails are parallel throughout. The Zoffset is quite an ingenious piece of engineering. It also really helps when filming outside without an external LCD monitor ... because you can use the viewfinder with its custom sunshade. Check it out here.

zoffset-20071121-174618.jpg

0216alg-20071121-174645.jpg
 
thanks for the replies peeps, helped me alot,

i really like the zacuto rig looks sturdy and professional, but i also really like the look of the dvrig pro hd, i had not seen that one before, a question for the dvrig hd users......can the existing sgpro rail system be mounted straight onto the dvrig hd or is it a separate plate system?

cheers everyone and thanks for the pics......anymore 35mm adaptor rig pics are welcome......:)
 
no. i dont have the zoffset. i did SERIOUSLY consider getting it. but i got to the point where id spent more than enough money on the rig and thought that for MOST of my uses i would be using an external monitor anyway.

if i did more ENG stuff i'd DEFINITELY have bought it. i did though get the Q-release to put the shoulder mount UNDER the rails as opposed to on them and an additional minimount (which i may be selling soon) because i wasnt sure how id mount the zamerican arm for the monitor.
 
Edit: (I stand corrected)

I'd never have to do that with my Zacuto rig. Neither would WGZN. Main diff.. is customizability. Zacuto opens up a lot of doors. They even have equipment to integrate 19mm Cine style equipment with 15mm rails. Zacuto's stuff balances fine as well. So what's your price range here? Zacuto can get you a great discount... just tell them Joseph Stunzi sent you. I have somewhat of an "in" with Zacuto.
 
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Thanks Joseph, if i can afford it i would really like to go with the zacuto rig, whats the exact setup you have for use with your sgpro rig, which package/parts have you got?,

I appreciate the help.....:)
 
to me one of the main differentiators with the zacuto stuff is the "pro-vibe" and "pro-feel" it does what its supposed to do and does it well, without any whining or crying. when i mount up my rig i can almost hear it saying "let's get to work!"

as a side note - and im SURE this sounds hella-shallow, but there is still a good deal of "cache'" associated with our industry. clients often are in a race to out-cool their competition (and to remain "cool" in the eyes of their employees) and when you get to a shoot and whip out your pre-rigged, aluminum and red anodized zacuto kit you WILL get looks. and clients notice that. and thats important.
 
Joey it's really up to your needs. I believe the DVRig Pro HD is great but it limits your monitoring/accesory capabilities. check out this image...
image002.jpg

If the point of posting that pic (which is from the DVRigPro site) was to assert that the system can't hold an arm mounted monitor, then what about this pic, from the same site, just below it:
 

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Yes to WGZN. I recently got a comment from a client
"What the hell is that on your shoulder?"
I replied...
"My Zacuto camera rig!"
He goes....
"Oh okay!"

I don't own an SGPro. So here's the deal... if you're starting out with follow focus, camera, and SGPro... you're going to want to also be able to balance it on your shoulder. So here's my itemized recommendation for a SGPro rig. Note I'm not a Zacuto employee and thus you'll want to talk to them first.

Consider the following...
Universal Baseplate Kit (mounts underneath camera)
Z-Grips (hand grips... they're amazingly adjustable and comfortable)
Shoulder Pad with Q-Release (so you can mount your shoulderpad directly under your camera for balance)
 
Ted... I stand corrected...
you are right.

You have a lot of room with rails and what not--- didn't see that at first. My main question is about weight. When does the DVRigPro cut off on weight. Can it support IDX batteries, a monitor, the HVX, and a 35mm DOFA with lenses? If so, then it looks like a great system. Only thing is... how do you transfer from shoulder mount to tripod? Does the rig detach somehow? That's one of the advantages of the Zacuto system... tripod to handheld and back again.
 
with all that great stuff that jstunzi suggests on the front end ahead of the shoulder support, id really suggest either of the following on the back:

1. the zacuto "lunchbox" - though i have HUGE issue paying $200+ for an 11lb weight covered in rubbber/plastic. im reasonably happy with the near extortionate pricing on the rest of their stuff - but i have to draw a line somewhere!

2. do what i did (as seen in my photo) and get a "red plate" for the back end and either use gaffer tape or industrial velcro to strap a couple of weight plates to it to counterbalance the front weightiness.
 
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