FS7: Super Telephoto Lens Support Solution ?

[steve phillipps]

I sketched mine out and got a precision engineer to make it. It was more tricky in my case as it was for Varicam and HDW750, which are designed for VCT14-type plates, much easier now as most cameras have simple flat bases. It has a countersunk slot at the front with a captive bolt that can slide along to meet the holes on the lens foot. At the other end it's just a question of having a few holes through which you can put bolts to hold the camera on (or to bolt on a quick release and snap the camera into that).
The crazy thing is that with the price of broadcast gear like rails and plates it's actually cheaper and often more effective to have a bespoke piece like this handmade thrs setup off the shelf! This plate cost me about £300 or so.
Steve

 

[steve phillipps]

You then just need difference spacers - simple aluminium blocks - with different hole patterns for use with different gear (here for example a Phantom Flex 4k with Sigma 300-800 and a PDW700 with Canon HJ40).

 

[morgan_moore]

You then just need difference spacers - simple aluminium blocks

The 'simple' blocks need to be reasonably accurate.. that is why my OP referred to shims.

Mine has the 1 1/2 'block' (actually square section) to raise the camera and a couple of mm of shim underneath that to get it accurate height-wise.

Ideally of course a machine shop would make a custom block.

Of coure a rod base solution with an ajustable riser negates the need for shimming.

S

 

[steve phillipps]

The 'simple' blocks need to be reasonably accurate..

Yeah for sure, hence using a precision engineer! I can't even cut paper straight!
Steve