Video DSLR Rigs: Ideas, Thoughts, Theories

Yeah. I was just thinking of somehow incorporating int into another rig.

What I am really interested in in the cinevate ones. What do you guys think?
 
Why spend as much on the support stuff as the camera? Because you will have the support stuff a lot longer than the camera. (Trust me) When I buy it's not just for the current camera I own, it's also for the future, for the possibility of shooting with two or owning/using a different one later...so I need systems that are adaptable. That doesn't mean I always have to pay for the expensive stuff though. No you don't always get what you pay for, usually you get something twice as good for 4 times the price, unfortunately. It's a mix really.

I have purchased tons of redrock stuff and it is solid and very adaptable. It adds mass and that is good, but of course mass is weight. My suggestion for shoulder rigs is to use a "Steady stick" from Tiffen for $75 as a bodypod support (a weist belt plus center column support) to the redrock cheeseplate underneath a rig (it screws in directly) - OR - to take that same cheeseplate and put it at the back with a velcro ankle or wrist weight (like the ones people use for workouts) wrapped around it to create a counterweight.

The Z-finder is brighter and better magnification than anything else out there, but very expensive. It tends to fog up with the eyecup too close in hot weather and the mounting system is still a work in progress. Their version 2.0 is on the way (about 10 weeks). Another finder will also be coming out soon from a european consortium in the mid price point range in about a month or so.

You can basically make the Zacuto Gunstock rigs out of Redrock stuff, but then you might as well spring for the gunstock handle (at $200) and integrate it into your system. It's not as outrageous in price as some of the other products from them. The only other alternative is a $30 all plastic piece from Bogen/Manfrotto at B&H. I personally don't find this thing all that helpful actually....a counterweight seems more important for a shoulder rig to be honest...
 
The Cinevate rig is too big, heavy and clumsy, it just doesn't look very ergonomic or refined. I honestly think it was made for more of a studio environment in mind. I think the company is terrific, but this just is not a winner. People are going more streamlined these days, witness even Redrock re-orienting itself more towards it's 2.0 stuff than the cinema bundles....
 
maybe I'm missing something here but...

maybe I'm missing something here but...

redrock, zacuto etc...I mean sure that's fine - but is there a reason why nobody's mentioning indifocus ?

I only ask because if you get the shoulder kit rig plus the follow focus you're only at a little over $500 (with short and long rails)

Granted it won't look as cool as the zacuto ;) - but the zacuto is over $2k for the rig alone.

I've made a few quick release modifications on mine that make it easier to configure - and the new shaft bearings on the indifocus FF units make them much smoother.

will take some pictures when the GH-1 arrives.

nick
 
Please do nicky. I looked into the rig a bit. I would just rather invest in something a little better and a little more configurable.

As far as the comments from voclay, well I agree that the cage and the metal bars around the mattebox look bulky and ridiculous, but these actually do not come with the rig. If you watch the vid, you will see that the rig consists of a shoulder mount, connected to rails, with their awesome camera moutning plate (adjustable in every way), and two handles. I think I am going to get it along with some other things to make myself a more compact rig for when I need it. I am going to use 12 inch rails (in place of the 18 inch ones) wick will position the back of the shoulder mount so that it is pressing against my chest. It can be shaped very easily with the knobs and it should form a chest "gunstock" type thing pretty easily. I will only use one of the front handles (swung over to the middle) and use it with my right hand to press the rig up against my chest. If I want, I can quickly slip off the shoulder/chest mount, and use the handles on the sides of the camera pointing up. I am going to add a piece to tilt it so that it runs more parallel to the ground so that holding it would feel a bit like holding a DVX or similar camera under the strap like normal. Finally, I am ordering a "top handle" piece from a guy, which functions like the handle on a DVX and is nice for low handheld shots.

So thats the plan so far. I will buy a mattebox when I get the $ as well.

For when I want to just look like a photographer, I already have a manfrotto modosteady that I use with my HF-10.

What do you guys think?
 
Sounds good Entity, the point is to have enough support stuff to build what works for you in any given situation. And those situations will change. Also what's wrong with just cradling the camera sometimes and/or only using a viewfinder? Or add a focusing ring without the follow focus and it's enough for instance. Everything depends on the usage more than having the right "look".
 
Hey guys,
I just came across this interesting looking rig...
What thinks you all? I really like design of having the handle directly under the camera to give you a balanced weight which also leaves your other hand to pull focus directly on the lens.
Plus it just looks pretty cool huh?

http://peterpeterpeter.com/pages/bushhawk.htm
 
Starscream said:
Letus leftover Rails.
Homemade railholders,
zigview screen (sunshade McGyver´d from the SB600 bag)
chrosziel Mattebox

rodent_f_002.jpg


rodent_f_001.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey just wondering if you have made anymore of these? It looks like a sick setup. I'll buy from you if you make me another one or if you could tell me how to make one like this that would be great thanks.
 
Entity said:
Awesome! So you just bought the Z gun-mount thing separate? How much did that cost? Like 800 bucks I imagine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, so I basically bought the parts from redrock and zacuto. The gun-mount makes the rig so much more secure because now I have 3 points of contact with the rig. I had to purchase the gun stock and the female rods from Z. $300.

But it's just sitting there....on my desk......collecting dust and looking cool. :(
 
Here is what I am working on. Not meant to be a stabilizer, just to give me somewhere to hold the GH1 when it is on a rod system, or just by itself. I am planning on adding 10" rails and a follow focus. This part as configured attaches to the tripod mount part of the rod system. It can be unscrewed and reconfigured in different ways, a handle up and a handle down, two down, one handle, a two handles below in an L, etc, all with these parts. You can also, when mounting the rails on the other side, push one of the handles into your shoulder, and hold the other handle, or reconfigure the things a bit to use your shoulder/torso. I have some old airsoft gun stocks lying around and am thinking about a way to maybe integrate one.

Unfortunately the screw in nature means that you have to have access to a table and a clamp to really get the stuff done right, although the parts manage to give you enough leverage that you shouldn't always need a wrench or pliers as well.

It was made from off-the-shelf parts (and looks it) for about $50, took no time to build and less to come up with. Sure it's not easily adjustable like RedRock Ultraport it's pseudo based on, nor is it as small or light (local hardware store had galvanized steel, no aluminum,) but I think it will get the job done when my GH1 gets here. Also since the cameras and carbon fibre rails are so light and it works fine as is, I figure it will work fine when I get the other parts.

And no I am not going to be using it with that analog Sony 8mm-Tape camera...I just happened to have it lying around, and yes I realize it has no focus ring, I am merely demonstrating.

Sorry for crappy picture quality, I really don't have much in the way of cameras right now (as evidenced by the sample camera on the thing.) Hope you enjoy.

img1004b.jpg


moremorerig.jpg


morerig.jpg


morerig01.jpg


I will post some more images when I configure it in different ways, and some more when my GH1 and rod system/follow focus get here so you actually get an idea of what the point is.
 
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looks like the shopping spree wont stop ever.....I bought the GH1 for very specific purposes and have totally different requirements:
I need it to hang inconspicously from my neck and film unnoticed. My main problem is the viewfinder sticking out which makes the glass tilt downwards. I already got all sorts of c-mount glass with widest angles and apertures which reduce the front pull because of the size and weight of the lenses, but I need to find a way to attach something to the bottom screw, which comes up around the bottom to where the LCD sits and gives me an adjustable backside so it can dangle from my neck STRAIGHT!

I would NEVER mount the GH1 on some of these monster rigs....they look terrible ! :-)

I do however like small steadycams like the british thing or the first generation steadycam mini ( which does a sort of shoulder rigging too)
 
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