Rayzrsharp
Active member
Sometime I think we tend to over think things. Has anyone tried using a GORILLA POD? The small one. $29.99. You can configure it anyway you like. This thing is super tough too.
Video DSLR Rigs: Ideas, Thoughts, Theories
- Thread starter Kholi
- Start date
henryciullo
Active member
i use the big one (zoom version) as an emergency shoulder support. it works quite well. I use one leg against my shoulder and the other 2 against my chest.
seanmcleod
Well-known member
I use the Foddis 120 Pro with some modifications.
http://www.foddis.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29
http://www.foddis.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
My rig. Still waiting on my lens gears. I guess I could mount the zoom and the shotgun on here somewhere. I think I'm gonna get the Steadicam Vest and mount my HD4000 and get a pair of those Movie glasses and be done with it. 
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Ron Rodenmeyer
Well-known member
@seanmcleod, what is the loupe viewfinder thing over the LCD? Does the LCD move when you press your eye against this? I would expect it to be unstable, since the LCD doesn't lock in place.
seanmcleod
Well-known member
Ron it's a hoodman loupe I find it works pretty well when the lcd is swung out as it does have a bit of a locked position at 180 degrees out and flipped. However you can see I modified the shoulder piece to give me an extra 4 or 5 inches of height so that the eye piece now lines up perfectly with my eye, so that with the lcd screen in that position, everything is where it needs to be. Before I did this, I did have to put it at an angle and the weight of the loupe was too much for the screen and would pop it down to the semi-locked position of straight on. The loupe itself is beautiful and really magnifies the screen well, however the strap which is also hoodman is a bit clumsy and I would say over priced for what it is, and doesn't fit snugly on the LCD, I think it was meant for like an HVX or DVX screen which has a little more thickness and size. So I'm going to make my own out of a stretchy material that will be tighter, hopefully!
Ron Rodenmeyer
Well-known member
Sean, that's some nice work you've done to make the Infifocus gear more usable. I'd like to know exactly how you raised (lowered?) the shoulder piece if you don't mind sharing. You've obviously put some kind of metal rod between the shoulder pad and the rail mount. I have this rig as well but just don't find it very ergonomic as it is. For one thing, it's just way to heavy. The carbon rods are awesome (albeit a little long) but the hardware is sooooo heavy.
I do a lot of work handheld with just a flash bracket to hold onto and press my eye into the viewfinder. I'm interested in using the Hoodman loupe attached to the LCD in "closed" position, just to get my face back from the cam a couple inches. Does it work in that configuration?
I do a lot of work handheld with just a flash bracket to hold onto and press my eye into the viewfinder. I'm interested in using the Hoodman loupe attached to the LCD in "closed" position, just to get my face back from the cam a couple inches. Does it work in that configuration?
seanmcleod
Well-known member
You would have to come up with a pretty thin way of attaching the loupe to the LCD, so that it could still close, but even then, if you're using a shoulder support I think your neck would be at a really uncomfortable angle. You would be best to use it swung out like it's pictured above I think anyway.
As for the riser, i basically unscrewed the foam from the shoulder pad, removed the carriage bolt that holds the bottom clamp to the shoulder mount metal, and replaced it with a 4" carriage bolt. Then I got the two risers you see, who's bin numbers are 131262 and 131264. The smaller one is the right size, 10 I believe, and it screws onto the thread of the carriage bolt, whereas the longer one is a bit bigger and just covers the bolt, but provides just the right amount of extra height. Then the bottom of the clamp, onto the rails and then the tightening screw. Presto!
As for the riser, i basically unscrewed the foam from the shoulder pad, removed the carriage bolt that holds the bottom clamp to the shoulder mount metal, and replaced it with a 4" carriage bolt. Then I got the two risers you see, who's bin numbers are 131262 and 131264. The smaller one is the right size, 10 I believe, and it screws onto the thread of the carriage bolt, whereas the longer one is a bit bigger and just covers the bolt, but provides just the right amount of extra height. Then the bottom of the clamp, onto the rails and then the tightening screw. Presto!
DirectorLawrence
New member
LOVE my Easom Cages
I don't (and won't) use this setup for weddings, but did it screwing around tonight. Might be good for doing on-the-fly interview/ENG type stuff. But, otherwise not good for much else...on-camera lighting and on-camera shotguns don't work well at all...but sometimes it's all you got for run-n-gun stuff.
I just took one of those cheap L-brackets, drilled a couple of holes in it, and mounted a tripod head dovetail permanently to it. Much better than using the threads in the knob on L-bracket...rock solid...and you can still access the battery compartment.
I shot a test video with this setup...it's uploading to Youtube right now.
I just took one of those cheap L-brackets, drilled a couple of holes in it, and mounted a tripod head dovetail permanently to it. Much better than using the threads in the knob on L-bracket...rock solid...and you can still access the battery compartment.
I shot a test video with this setup...it's uploading to Youtube right now.
BenHughesStudios
Member
It always gets me really mad when I see people with these huge hundreds of dollars or more DSLR rigs. Not because I'm jealous (trust me, I'm not). It's because sometimes it seems like people just put all that crap on their DSLRs for show. I mean especially if you're getting a cheap cam like the T2i. Do you really need the super mega shoulder mount?
First of all, shoulder mounts still produce shaky footage when in motion. If you want camera movements to be smooth, then just get the MiniDV Stabilizer which works great for smooth camera movement, and it can get steady non moving shots if you use it like a shoulder mount. You can put it on your shoulder, or lean the bottom of it against your body, and you get shoulder mount-like results.
If you don't want smooth MOVEMENT, then just get a tripod! They work great! There is so much you can do with one. If you think tripods don't give you enough freedom of movement, then just close the legs and stand it up like a monopod! You can even set a tripod up like a shoulder mount too, and even that works great! Just adjust it, and put it over your shoulder, and extend the legs back.
The only super special dslr accessory that i find work buying (besides good lenses and good audio equipment) is a follow focus. But even that isn't a necessity.
Don't get me started on lens hoods. I despise those. Lens flares rock!
First of all, shoulder mounts still produce shaky footage when in motion. If you want camera movements to be smooth, then just get the MiniDV Stabilizer which works great for smooth camera movement, and it can get steady non moving shots if you use it like a shoulder mount. You can put it on your shoulder, or lean the bottom of it against your body, and you get shoulder mount-like results.
If you don't want smooth MOVEMENT, then just get a tripod! They work great! There is so much you can do with one. If you think tripods don't give you enough freedom of movement, then just close the legs and stand it up like a monopod! You can even set a tripod up like a shoulder mount too, and even that works great! Just adjust it, and put it over your shoulder, and extend the legs back.
The only super special dslr accessory that i find work buying (besides good lenses and good audio equipment) is a follow focus. But even that isn't a necessity.
Don't get me started on lens hoods. I despise those. Lens flares rock!
BenHughesStudios
Member
oh yea, but if you're a super super pro. I understand why you need all the extra expensive stuff. Pros just love spending money on everything.
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
There are several links in this thread for products that are under $50... and the first shoulder-mount endorsement says "it's $100 but worth it"... so in response to that you say "pros just love spending money... just get this"... click the link, and it's $95.
That is somewhat amusing.
That is somewhat amusing.