Support for Nikkor 80-200mm lens

I just discovered that Zacutor has a really nice lens support. However, the price is way too expensive for me. I ended up making my own for less than $6.
 
DIY lens support for 80-200

DIY lens support for 80-200

Its hard to find one so I just made one the other day.
I saw this post and thought I'd share it with you guys.

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Thanks for that. My $6 version are very similar to yours too. It's made out of aluminum. Although it does not look professional as Zacuto's version, it's 3,750 percent cheaper.
 
Lor said:
it's 3,750 percent cheaper.
Click to expand...

Hahaha! If it did the job Lor then it doesnt matter what it looks like.
Mines aluminum too. Except the rubber padded steel plate with a bolt. I chose that part to be metal as it won't bend when tightened.
 
I think a diy lens support is great if you don't have to rely on it in front a client or a pay gig. There is nothing worse than having a piece of gear fail on you during a shoot, believe me you don't want to have that happen. I have been using the redrock lens support for a few years now with my 400mm lens and I couldn't be happier. The price, quality, and communication I have ha with redrock has been great too. Everyone has their own expeiences with companies and I thought I would share mine. Zacuto makes good gear, but at a different price point. If you do consider upgrading some day to a different more professional looking rig check out the redrock stuff. I wish I could keep rocking my diy stuff, oh well... Just keep shooting and have fun!
 
Almost all my stuff are diy in the same family tradition that my grandfather made DIY stuff when he started our family photography business in 1920's.
Our reputation in the community we serve is based on our work and output and not on the equipment we use.

In 2005 I made my DIY lens adapter, i made 3 since then, I NEVER bought a branded one since I knew its a transitional phase in the technology, last month, I placed our 1st lens DIY lens adapter for mid format lenses in a glass case in our photography museum beside our 100 year old KORONA view camera. -the lens adapter phase is coming to a close due to new technology. -our DIY lens adapters have been used for high end real estate commercials and government projects, so yeah, DIY doesnt mean its inferior.

DIY is how these "branded" stuff started anyway.
 
teddybear, I totally understand what you are saying in terms of clients basing your work off of your output and not the equipment used, but... where I work (DFW area in Texas) we get paid by the hour on most jobs and everyone wants the lowest bottom line... and if my equipment started malfunctioning during the time I'm getting paid as well as the rest of the crew and actors that are getting paid by the hour, that just upped the clients budget... and that would probably get me fired or never get asked to do work for them again. Not only does my end result make the client happy, but the peace of mind knowing they paid a professional with professional equipment can and will keep them at bay (from my experience). If you work in a community where you can get away with DIY gear and that is how you wish to represent yourself, by all means, get paid and make it happen! This is my philosophy just as you have your own and thats what makes us all individuals and makes the world go round. I'm not trying to burn you at all, just giving my view on the subject.
 
No probs there natxbrotha,

FYI, even tho Im half way around the world which runs on a different philosophy, my wife lives and works in DALLAS near you. :-) more precisely, she lives in Allen but takes the DART to work in Presby hospital in Dallas.


p.s. if I go there for a visit, lets have some coffee.
 
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I found that the RR mattebox's rubber "donut" ring holds up the end of my 80-200 just fine with no need for additional support. The MB requires rails of course, so it's all part of a larger system cost-wise, but I had thought I'd have to separately support the end of the lens. With the mattebox attached, I don't.
 
I also tried this approach Ted, I let the donut get a snug fit and support the end of my bigger lenses.
When I use my lens adapter with nikon mount/lenses I was fine.
But now, I use a 7D with nikon lenses AND my diy follow focus which requires constant friction and slight pressure, plus the use of a nikon to canon adapter, this pushes the long 80-200 lens off the center of the MB. This forced me to mod a support for it. It was more to prevent a sideways movement than up and down.
 
I have the RR FF connected as well, and haven't noticed any tendency of the lens to get pushed around (fortunately). The rest of the setup is an HVX200A and Letus Extreme with their HVX-specific achromat/ring, improved Nikon mount, and rail system that includes a support for the adapter. It all seems to play quite nicely together.
 
Gearless FF! That sounds like slop and play to me!

I agree with the "in front of a client" aspect of DIY products.

Letus's lens mount pin seems very loose to me... seems like the first thing I'd lose.
 
I just found that Cinevate has one support that basically the same as I've made (DIY style) but looks way much better than my home made version.

catalog_lensesupport.jpg

The price is more reasonable to me than some other places.
 
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