GH2 Small camera... Big rig

ed_lee83

ed_lee83

Well-known member
I always feel a bit strange when I'm rigging up the GH2. It's so small and compact but now I've made it so big and clunky on a rig.
So I've stripped away some parts from the new Phottix Trafo rig, as well as adding my own. It effectively is a straight rig with a Cineroid EVF, mimicking a traditional ENG camera.
- Replaced the cage with a vertical rod with top handle
- Used a Manfrotto nano clamp instead of a standard rod clamp
- Using EZ Flag instead of a matte box
- Replaced front handle clamps with single Cinevate articulating handle in the middle, and leaving one standard handle to the side
- Used a dogbone clamp to rotate the connected shoulder pad to accommodate my curved shoulder

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Oh My God!
Its monstrous!!!!

...Ok im really just kidding lol it looks good.
Whats the weight distribution like?
That stainless steel weight at the back looks heavy although looks can be deceiving, especially on the internetz*
I too would feel weird rigging up the small compact GH2 with some big rig.
When I eventually get mine I'll let you know if those feelings remain lol :)
 
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It looks great. I love the fact the GH2 is used by such a wide range of people from Pros to Joe's.

"To me, the great hope is that these little 8mm video recorders will come out, and people who don't normally make movies are gonna be making them. For once, the so-called professionalism of movies will be destroyed."
Francis Ford Coppola
 
The weight is only 1kg, and it really does help to balance the whole thing.
I've gone through 2 rigs to finally find one that is suitable for me in terms of balance, weight, functionality and cost.
One piece of advice is to not buy ProAim from India... ugh

But if I'm just going out for fun, I'd just slap on a pistol grip underneath and then it's kinda like 8mm movie cameras!
 
Lovely... Where's the kitchen sink? It's almost like one of those Rube Goldberg machines.... But man it is pretty awesome. Do you ever just scale it back completely? Most of the time I just like the camera with a hand grip and that's it... The other stuff I prefer for on tripod work...
 
If only Mr Coppola could have predicted people being able to record HD video on their phones... he would've had a heart attack!!

@Blackout: Minus the electronics- the entire Phottix rig was US$2,000 (some parts not pictured of course), Cinevate handle was US$120, cheapy shoulder pad was US$35, EZ Flag at US$50
 
ed_lee83 said:
If only Mr Coppola could have predicted people being able to record HD video on their phones... he would've had a heart attack!!
Click to expand...

I think in 1991 phones were bigger than the GH cameras ;-)

Where did you get your pistol grip from? I like the Megaphone look of your lens. Just don't have that thing in a War zone.
 
ed_lee83 said:
If only Mr Coppola could have predicted people being able to record HD video on their phones... he would've had a heart attack!!

@Blackout: Minus the electronics- the entire Phottix rig was US$2,000 (some parts not pictured of course), Cinevate handle was US$120, cheapy shoulder pad was US$35, EZ Flag at US$50
Click to expand...

Little too rich for my blood when the rigging out prices the camera and lens. How can we get that type of stuff on the cheap?
 
Sun said:
I think in 1991 phones were bigger than the GH cameras ;-)

Where did you get your pistol grip from? I like the Megaphone look of your lens. Just don't have that thing in a War zone.
Click to expand...

OR to a speech where secret service is in attendance. I was filming a news report for my college at another local college where Clinton was campaigning for his wife for president a few years back. I had another guy with me and he was filming with the 3CCD sized cam on a tripod. I got my small point and shoot type photo camera out of my bag and went to the other side of the room to get a different angle for the college newspaper. When I was doing this, I had one secret service guy follow me from that side, all the way over to where I took the picture, and then all the way back again. They checked our bags before we ever came in, like they did the rest of media (though not very thoroughly, I might add) and I'd say that I don't have a very "profile-able" look, so it's not that... I was even wearing a suit.

So I just thought it was weird. And my first thought when I saw the picture w/ that grip was... yeah, if I pulled something like that out there, I probably would've been tackled! lol. Ahh, good times..
 
Brand is called 'Benzzo', if ye ever come across it.
The store I bought it from doesn't do online trading, so I guess wait till some Chinese seller has it on eBay or something.
I already got a few PM's asking me about it, and I would offer to buy it and ship it to you for a little commission. PM away!
 
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