C300: What is the ultimate baseplate for the C300? K-Plate? Zacuto? Berkey?

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truelife

Well-known member
I have been having a very frustrating experience with finding a proper baseplate for the C300. I began using the Kessler Kwik-Release system and like its functionality. However, the lack of a 3/8-16" connection seemed totally dumb. They then released the K-Plate which both acts as a baseplate and provides rod mounts and a nice base for the camera. This has both 1/4-20 + 3/8-16. It should mount great, right? Nope. I find that even with both screws tightened down, the plate has a lot of give and threatens to both spin and strip the tripod mounting holes that're on the camera.

I hear good things about the Gorilla C300 from Zacuto and there is nice looking one from Berkey and I know Denz (sp?) is an option. It seems like the Berkey makes the most sense because it has a rear set screw. Anybody using something they like or experienced similar spinning with plates etc? I never had this issue with my F3 or any other camera- very frustrating...
 
After a lot of research, I just bought (today) the Zacuto Gorilla plate for my C100. It seems like a good starting point for a versatile rig. A lot of other plates on the market are simply too high for a follow focus.
 
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I have the Gorilla baseplate and like it. Haven't built out much with it but it has a couple extra rod holes for more bits. Here is the Gorilla baseplate on the C300 and a Tilta follow focus. The Gorilla plate works fine with the Canon Cinema Primes. I bought the Gorilla plate for this purpose and don't intend to create a big rig with it. Really just needed a follow focus attached.

Screen Shot 2013-07-05 at 9.19.00 AM.jpg

The new Kessler K-Plate looks really nice and it comes with a quick release built into it. Handy only if you use the Arca-Swiss style clamps which I do. Bummed you have issues with it because I was considering buying one.
 
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i use tilta shoulder support unit as my base plate, this way i can go handheld right away.....
 
Have both the Zacuto Studio and the Gorilla baseplates and both have their purposes. Overall they are similar, but the studio baseplate has two main advantages in my opinion:

• The rods continue out the rear of the unit, making it possible to attach recorders, counterweights or shoulder pads in-line and behind the camera
• The rods are situated right underneath the camera they have a standard 85mm height to the center of the lens. I have a mattebox that isn't height adjustable, so it's nice to have things line up perfectly.

The Gorilla rods are lower by about 7-8 millimeters. For smaller diameter lenses, it works, but its far enough off to be a hassle. You wouldn't be able to use big diameter cinema lenses without a height-adjustable matte box. Again, they're very similar (though the prices are not!), but for me the two benefits listed above made it worth it for me to go with the studio.

The other benefits of the plates made for the C100/300 is that the camera sits right up next to the edge of the plate, minimizing the amount of space the "toe" of the camera takes up. I own the Tilta as well, and while it's great for many cameras, I could never get the camera far enough ahead to make it work for shorter lenses. There's just not enough rod space to fit a follow focus and mattebox if the camera doesn't sit flush against the front of the plate and where the rods start.
 
Erik Naso said:
View attachment 73410

I have the Gorilla baseplate and like it. Haven't built out much with it but it has a couple extra rod holes for more bits. Here is the Gorilla baseplate on the C300 and a Tilta follow focus.
Click to expand...

Erik
Does the rod closest to the viewer not continue the full length of the gorilla plate? I've just placed an order for one and would be worried about how much weight that rod could take. Or is it nothing to worry about?

i assumed by looking at the cavities on the underside of the plate that the rods inserted the full length of the plate.... :-/
 
Curnsie said:
Erik
Does the rod closest to the viewer not continue the full length of the gorilla plate? I've just placed an order for one and would be worried about how much weight that rod could take. Or is it nothing to worry about?

i assumed by looking at the cavities on the underside of the plate that the rods inserted the full length of the plate.... :-/
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The rod doesn't go through the baseplate. You need rods with a threaded end and that end screws into the front of the baseplate. One rod clamps down with a allen screw and the other doesn't. It seems to hold the follow focus fine. I haven't added a matte box to the front. I rarely use one.
 
Initially I had considered buying Gorilla plate but heard a bad report. I went ahead with wooden camera. I am happy with their products and fast response.
 
Thanks guys- I feel like the Berkey plate may ultimately be the best answer. Sounds like there aren't too many cases of people having difficulty affixing plates to their C300s. I'd be interested to know if anyone else tries the Kessler stuff and has the same issue.
 
Nate Haustein said:
Have both the Zacuto Studio and the Gorilla baseplates and both have their purposes. Overall they are similar, but the studio baseplate has two main advantages in my opinion:

• The rods continue out the rear of the unit, making it possible to attach recorders, counterweights or shoulder pads in-line and behind the camera
• The rods are situated right underneath the camera they have a standard 85mm height to the center of the lens. I have a mattebox that isn't height adjustable, so it's nice to have things line up perfectly.

The Gorilla rods are lower by about 7-8 millimeters. For smaller diameter lenses, it works, but its far enough off to be a hassle. You wouldn't be able to use big diameter cinema lenses without a height-adjustable matte box. Again, they're very similar (though the prices are not!), but for me the two benefits listed above made it worth it for me to go with the studio.

The other benefits of the plates made for the C100/300 is that the camera sits right up next to the edge of the plate, minimizing the amount of space the "toe" of the camera takes up. I own the Tilta as well, and while it's great for many cameras, I could never get the camera far enough ahead to make it work for shorter lenses. There's just not enough rod space to fit a follow focus and mattebox if the camera doesn't sit flush against the front of the plate and where the rods start.
Click to expand...

Hi Nate,

I have the zacuto studio baseplate too but I am a little bit frustrated with it. The rods keep spinning, no matter how strongly I use the knobs. I contacted zacuto support and sent back the plate a first time. The plate came back with the same problem. I contacted them again and this time they replaced the plate but still same problem, rods would spin no matter what. they finally sent me another piece, the mini mount, that keep the rods secure but add weight and bulk to the rig. It is problematic when sing accessories that use only 1 rod, cinevate follow focus, handle...

Do you have that problem as well?

Ced
 
truelife said:
Thanks guys- I feel like the Berkey plate may ultimately be the best answer. Sounds like there aren't too many cases of people having difficulty affixing plates to their C300s. I'd be interested to know if anyone else tries the Kessler stuff and has the same issue.
Click to expand...

The Berkey plate looks nice, if I had to choose another plate instead of the zacuto studio which really disappointed me, I would go for the Berkey...
 
Has anyone looked at Wooden Camera's baseplates? They look pretty nice, not cheap though.

Quick Base:
http://woodencamera.corecommerce.com/Canon/Camera-Support-Canon/Quick-Base-C100-C300-C500.html

Fixed Base:
http://woodencamera.corecommerce.com/Canon/Camera-Support-Canon/Fixed-Base-C100-C300-C500.html

What I really like is the Go Shoulder attachment:
http://woodencamera.corecommerce.com/GO-Shoulder.html

I've been trying to find the best option to get my C100 right over my shoulder and as low as possible.

Like this: http://store.zacuto.com/recoil-v2-for-canon-c100-c300-c500/

I thought the Zacuto Recoil V2 was my only option but WC's version looks like it could work really well too.
 
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I love my Kessler Kwik Release plate for my C100. I use it with a long camera plate. This way when throwing on a 70-200 for example, I can easily move the camera back enough so it still fits with my matte box. The long camera plate gives a lot freedom to move the camera back and forth when needed due to the length of the lens when using a matte box.

And for $140 it is a steal compared to other solutions.
 
David- you don't find that the quick release plate spins on the camera? Maybe it's different with the C100, but I actually stripped my tripod connection on my C300 when I first tried using the Kessler Short Plate. I had to modify the short plate to accept 3/8-16 screws so that I could fasten it with two screws and even then there just doesn't seem to be enough bite to keep the plate from shaking loose.
 
Hey truelife, no spinning at all for me, since I use two screws to tighten down the plate on my C100 - I think it is one 3/8-16 and one 1/4-20.

After screwing them in, I used a screw driver to tighten them a bit more. No screw hasn't come loose so far. And because of the two screws used I dont get any spinning.

Not sure how it is with the C300, but assume they have a similar tripod connection.
 
I have the same problem. I need to go to the hardware store and get the right screw for the second threaded hole. Would've been nice if it came with one. If you have some thin rubber tubing put that in between the plate and camera. This will give it something to grip so it wont twist.
 
Interesting, it does look like only the long plate comes with a 3/8-16 screw. Peculiar since Kessler themselves suggest the short plate for most cameras.
 
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