Tie Down on Letus 35 Support Rods?

[puredrifting]

Hi all:

Just received the Letus support rods and I am setting them up. On the tripod base plate, what is the small knurled silver tie down knob for? It doesn't look like it tightens anything, is it there to mount something on it or what?

Best,

Dan

 

[Huy Vu]

Hi all:

Just received the Letus support rods and I am setting them up. On the tripod base plate, what is the small knurled silver tie down knob for? It doesn't look like it tightens anything, is it there to mount something on it or what?

Best,

Dan

Funny you should mention that, I just discovered what it did yesterday. That screw when removed is used for securing the Extreme to the support bracket in the front.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Funny - I never even gave that thing a second though - just checked it out and sure enough, that's exactly what its for.

Too bad they don't include a screw hold on the top of the Extreme for those of us who prefer to mount it upside down. I guess that's why I never thought about it - I have my extreme just sitting on the support in the 'up' configuration, so there is no way to screw anything into it.

Hien - if you happen to read this - you might want to think about adding that into the next version of the LEX.

 

[puredrifting]

Funny you should mention that, I just discovered what it did yesterday. That screw when removed is used for securing the Extreme to the support bracket in the front.

Thanks Jade:

Unfortunately with the Sachtler DV-6SB that I use, the tripod base plate is isolated since the way that the Sachtler baseplate assembly fit into the top of the tripod head, there is no way that the Extreme support bracket could make it over to there to use it.

But thanks for the heads-up so I at least know what it is.

Best,

Dan

 

[Charles Lowthian]

Too bad they don't include a screw hold on the top of the Extreme for those of us who prefer to mount it upside down. I guess that's why I never thought about it - I have my extreme just sitting on the support in the 'up' configuration, so there is no way to screw anything into it.

Hien - if you happen to read this - you might want to think about adding that into the next version of the LEX.

Haven't tried it yet, but apparently, you can loosen all the allens screws at the front section of the adapter, and turn it around 180 degree, so the rail support screw is in the position you require for upside down mounting.

 

[Shane]

Haven't tried it yet, but apparently, you can loosen all the allens screws at the front section of the adapter, and turn it around 180 degree, so the rail support screw is in the position you require for upside down mounting.

That depends if your adapter has 3 or 4 screws securing the front tube.
Mine has 3 and I have removed one of the screws for the nikon mount (after rotating the front tube) and screwed the support into those threads. It doesn't seem to effect the seating of the lens mount. Looks like this http://www.zacuto.com/Letus_cine_kit.htm
I may just drill new holes at the rear of the front tube so the adapter screw hole will line up in the adapter up position.

Shane.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Yeah, mine has the 4 screws - and I know it can be mounted there - but I was talking about the main body of the Letus, not the lens tube.
This would probably make a lot more sense if I just took some pictures.


I'll try to do that later today

 

[Shane]

Luis,
Why do you feel the need to mount it on the main Letus body? - just curious.
edit:
are you saying that the current version of the letus has threads on the bottom of the main body? Mine doesn't.
Shane.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Why do you feel the need to mount it on the main Letus body? - just curious.

Let me get some pictures and it will make a lot more sense.
It just seems to be the best place to mount it given the way I have it configured.
But after seeing this thread yesterday, the good folks at Letus actually contacted me to see if we couldn't figure out something - so looks like I might be getting a longer support bracket.

In the end, it's an issue of the length of the Letus support bracket, and my not really wanting to deal with a riser or double rail setup. Honestly, I think it's probably fine the way it is - but it would be nice to be able to screw in that support bracket.

I'll get some pics up in a bit.

Are you saying that the current version of the letus has threads on the bottom of the main body? Mine doesn't.

No, it doesn't - I was just saying it might be nice if it did.

 

[Kholi]

Luis what rail/rod setup are you using?

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Luis what rail/rod setup are you using?

Letus rails.

Alright.... I'm going to get some pics.
Kind of a pain bc my wife took her camera with her today - so I'll have to grab the DVX I have here and pull some grabs that way.

I'll post in a few.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Alright - here you go - possibly the worst pictures I've ever posted on this site, but this should give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

The full set up on Letus Rails - camera low and Letus mounted upsidedown in 'up' configuration.

Here is the LEX from the front, showing the support bracket on the main body of the adapter:

Here is a shot from below, showing you how it sits on the bracket - THAT is where it would be nice to have a screw mount:

And lastly - showing the compromise you make for mounting the camera low:

Let me say that when I first saw how much those risers were going to stick out of the bottom I was very very worried. After being on a few shoots like this, I can tell you I've shot on sticks, on shoulder rigs, and on a jib - and have yet to have any problem whatsoever with this rail configuration. So - it works for me anyhow. And the camera feels rock solid - no wiggle room really.


EDITED TO ADD:
I just realized that silver thumb screw is still sitting on top of my Letus in those pics.
That's actually from yesterday - when I saw this thread and checked to see if that was indeed what it was for.
Sure enough...it fits.

I guess I can take it off now.

 

[puredrifting]

Alright - here you go - possibly the worst pictures I've ever posted on this site, but this should give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

The full set up on Letus Rails - camera low and Letus mounted upsidedown in 'up' configuration.

Here is the LEX from the front, showing the support bracket on the main body of the adapter:

Here is a shot from below, showing you how it sits on the bracket - THAT is where it would be nice to have a screw mount:

And lastly - showing the compromise you make for mounting the camera low:

Let me say that when I first saw how much those risers were going to stick out of the bottom I was very very worried. After being on a few shoots like this, I can tell you I've shot on sticks, on shoulder rigs, and on a jib - and have yet to have any problem whatsoever with this rail configuration. So - it works for me anyhow. And the camera feels rock solid - no wiggle room really.


EDITED TO ADD:
I just realized that silver thumb screw is still sitting on top of my Letus in those pics.
That's actually from yesterday - when I saw this thread and checked to see if that was indeed what it was for.
Sure enough...it fits.

I guess I can take it off now.

Luis:

Thanks for showing us the "LEX mounted high configuration". Only problem is now, how would you mount a follow focus or matte box? Guess you would have to pony up for a Z-Riser? Ughh....more money, more money, it's always more money.

Dan

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Luis:

Thanks for showing us the "LEX mounted high configuration". Only problem is now, how would you mount a follow focus or matte box? Guess you would have to pony up for a Z-Riser? Ughh....more money, more money, it's always more money.

Dan

Good point - when I find myself in that situation I'll probably switch configurations and mount the Letus right side up. I should have thought about mentioning the fact that I wasn't using a matte box or follow focus yet.

 

[puredrifting]

I find that I can easily not use my follow focus. I have the Red Rock and while it's very good, I find that I am rarely tracking focus. If I was doing more narrative stuff, and had a focus puller, I am sure that I would need it more.

OTOH, I can't live without my matte box when shooting with the 35mm lenses, it's really needed to control exposure by using NDs. ND Grads and Polarizer.

Dan

 

[Luis Caffesse]

I find that I can easily not use my follow focus. I have the Red Rock and while it's very good, I find that I am rarely tracking focus. If I was doing more narrative stuff, and had a focus puller, I am sure that I would need it more.

OTOH, I can't live without my matte box when shooting with the 35mm lenses, it's really needed to control exposure by using NDs. ND Grads and Polarizer.

Dan

Completely with you on both accounts.
It's not really a creative choice not to use a matte box ... just a financial one for now.


When needed, for paying gigs and such, I'll simply rent the necessary accessories until I get around to picking up my own. I guess that means I need to double check my rail diameters soon.... seeing as I got one of the first sets of Letus Rails sent out, there's a chance they might be off.

 

[Charles Lowthian]

And lastly - showing the compromise you make for mounting the camera low:

Was just about to ask, did you saw down your riser?. I'm literally about to as I can't fit a tripod plate on mine (HV20+Mini rig) being a shorter configuration, risers are closer together down below.
I still image although you got yours to fit, it defeats the purpose of quick-release plate on the tripod? Haven't used that head before, can you detach the camera or do you have to remove riser each time?

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Was just about to ask, did you saw down your riser?. I'm literally about to as I can't fit a tripod plate on mine (HV20+Mini rig) being a shorter configuration, risers are closer together down below.
I still image although you got yours to fit, it defeats the purpose of quick-release plate on the tripod? Haven't used that head before, can you detach the camera or do you have to remove riser each time?

No, I haven't touched the risers at all - and my quick release works just fine on that head.
The camera plate slides in from the back, so I just slide it in and the risers just rest against the back of the head. And because all the pieces on the Letus rails are adjustable, it's actually evenly weighted. I haven't had to do anything to it since setting it up the first time.

The only issue now is that I don't have a case big enough to fit the whole camera rig - and I hate the idea of taking the adapter off all the time. So for now it actually lives on the sticks.

That's actually the only small annoyance I've found with the risers - because they stick out like that you can't rest the camera on anything. It's either on the head or in my hands for now.

 

[puredrifting]

No, I haven't touched the risers at all - and my quick release works just fine on that head.
The camera plate slides in from the back, so I just slide it in and the risers just rest against the back of the head. And because all the pieces on the Letus rails are adjustable, it's actually evenly weighted. I haven't had to do anything to it since setting it up the first time.

The only issue now is that I don't have a case big enough to fit the whole camera rig - and I hate the idea of taking the adapter off all the time. So for now it actually lives on the sticks.

That's actually the only small annoyance I've found with the risers - because they stick out like that you can't rest the camera on anything. It's either on the head or in my hands for now.

Hi Luis:

Same deal with my setup. I just ordered the Storm IM2975 case from a place back east for $194.00. Good deal. Now if I can just get the dirt particles off of the Letus, I will be in business.

Dan

 

[Chenopup]

Luis,

Letus makes a longer riser to use with the barrel up position, you just rotate the gg barrel so the screw hole is pointing down in the barrel up config.

I've got mine mounted this way and it's as solid as barrel down. With the extended riser now, I've got two rail mounts and can mount a higher set of rails for ff / mattebox. Prior to this I had MacGyvered a solution using Brevis rail mounts. Only problem is in that config, I couldn't get the Letus to mount via screw to the rails so I much prefer this new set up and it's cheaper.

cheno