F55: What kind of tool is that?

anatusa

anatusa

Veteran
Hello

i looked at that Cine Alta magazine, and found something that i believe i need, but i dont know what is it! could u plz help me out and tell me what is it?

here is that magazine: http://issuu.com/sonyprofessional/d...n_1_issuu_fr_pages?e=10444591/12235836#search

image is located at page 139 (magazine owns pages 133-134), there is also a title : "The Shoot"! the girl/operator use shoulder rig, but what took me attention is the STICK that is attached to her rig and to belt on her waist!
1. what is it, and how its called?
2. if any one has an experience with it, plz share, i wonder how useful it is?

regards
 
I saw that too, and was thinking the same thing! It's be like improvised easy rig, helping to relieve strain for long shoulder shoots.

Would love to know myself.
 
I think it's quite different from an Easirig, first of course because it's supported from below and second because the weight is only moved to hips versus full harness.

Then, if you zoom on the picture on the double page, you can read "VALEO". After a quick research, it looks to be a brand of lifting belts.

My guess is that it's a custom rig to support the camera and not something available commercially (well, the parts to built it probably are).

It reminds me a bit of the french microphone boom pole support called the "Kit Cool" http://www.boomaudiovideo.com/index.php/fr/produits/kit-cool

They also have a light pole support model http://www.boomaudiovideo.com/index.php/fr/produits/boom-light

Cheers.
 
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That's exactly the way I've been shooting handheld for years, and when I post pics of it on this forum no one ever responds whatsoever - so I figure it must be uncool. The basic ideas is you have a pole of some sort supporting the front of the camera attached to a fannypack. It gives you a triangulated support and takes an enormous amount of the strain off you. A little tricky when walking but I just lift it the weight a little off the pole for that duration.

There are a couple of ways to do it. I have experimented with a couple of poles that were made for that purpose that have a dedicated waist holder and some kind of flexible or spring mounted support in the pole. But I'm happiest with a monopod topped by a manfrotto tilt head (not the one with the quick release.) With the FS7 (similar to her picture) I connect it to the rods with a cheap 15mm rod adapter which has a 1/4 hole in the bottom and a quick release to the rods themselves. With cameras like the EX-1 or F3 I just attached the monopod to the bottom of the camera and held that in front of me. I hate those behemoth shoulder mounts.

There are commercial rigs ( I'll look for the links) but I think a monopod is easier and more solid. After using this years ago with the first handy cams I started adapting it to B4 cameras and I could shoot for hours. If you can tighten the tilt head for an interview or leave it loose when moving and you generally keep tyne screw to the camera loose so it doesn't inhibit you.

It is the opposite of an easy rig. Its also more stable than an easy rig and very quick to put on & off . Very easy to get out of the way if you want to float the camera low as well and it even can give you an extra angle of control by swinging the monopod to the side. I did tests years ago with an easy rig and discovered that although I felt I was steadier with it, in fact footage showed it was the opposite for nearly every kind of shot .
 
Versions of that have been around for YEARS. I remember seeing some live guys using them back in the 80's and 90's. I believe Peter Lisand(who is no longer with us…) used to make one. You could rig one up yourself pretty easily.
 
Ny friend bought about 6 different expensive rigs for his cameras F3, C300 & F55 and had an old Peter Lisand laying around- we both decided the Lisand was clear winner. Very basic but it worked with minimal intrusion. You can't get them anymore but this is a stripped down version though the original had a handle, was more adjustable and a better shoulder pad

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/739054-REG/Chrosziel_AC_3030_DV_Balancer_ENG_straight.html

Here's another version that might be what the woman in picture is using, but I don't know how the heck its attached to the camera in the pic:

http://www.varizoom.com/product-p/vzr1001.htm

Here's a couple pics of my rig though I've since got a simpler way to attach to rails, a better shoulder/rails mount ( Westside) and use a lighter monopodPic freestanding Rig cropped.jpgPic Full FS7 rig w monopod.JPG

Sorry if my pic is sideways
 
I picked up a Handi-Pod from Gary Regester at Plume about 12 years ago. It could be used much the same way. I bought the complete unit to use with a PD150 but then also used just the monopod with belt support connected to the matt box rails with my Betacam. Haven't used it for years, will have to dig it out and try with FS 7.

Found the web page http://www.plumeltd.com/handi-pod.htm

cheers
Morton
 
Sachtler made one eons ago, that's the particular one I was familiar with. They're ok, but the one I worked with, you have to point the camera with your whole body, and tilting down, as well as up was not very easy.

If all you need to do is shoot handheld and keep the camera pointing straight ahead, then it's great. But mobility was compromised.
 
That's why you need a tilt head on it . You can tighten or loosen as needed and reduce the length quickly. Just a monopod is extremely restrictive. However it does reduce mobility a little bit. The question is what the trade off is . For me there's been no question that I can usually adjust to most shots pretty easily and while sometimes I have to loosen the locks on the monopod or pull it out of the fanny pack - it's quick and works well for must purposes. The stability is a big plus. Whatever works for you though. Some people will hate it no doubt. Horses for courses whatever that means.
 
I have used the ENGrig from DVTec for several years.

http://www.dvtec.tv/engrig1.html

I bought it for my EX3, but I now use it for my FS7. It makes a world of difference. You don't realize how much it's doing until you go to take the camera off. The quick release makes it great if you need to grab something off the shoulder quickly.
 
Great thread, everyone.

Exactly the sort of thread this forum is all about. Someone posed a question and others provided great info in response in addition to chiming in with related experiences.
 
I believe it was called a Steady Stick and it may have even being marketed by Tiffen and then the rights were bought by Davis and Sanford.
I still have one and there are definitely occasions when it is helpful. Like when going hand held with a Cooke 20-100.
Believe me it makes a huge difference.
 
yoclay said:
I still have one and there are definitely occasions when it is helpful. Like when going hand held with a Cooke 20-100.
Click to expand...

uh, that sounds bordering on dangerous. If not to others, than to yourself.

Mostly kidding. :) :undecided

I will add, and I don't want to disparage anyone, I had a handheld operator want to use one down in the barricade for a concert many years ago. I really didn't want her to use it, because I felt it would influence the fluidity of her operating.

Her footage was 85% unusable.

I know it can work, but it's within a narrow range of parameters.
 
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The visual in my head I just can't seem to shake when I see this thread now, is someone doing a whole body tilt up and down. Makes me chuckle every time.

Sorry pointless post I know.
 
I've never had a complaint and use it all the time. But again i point out that for me the solution was not a steady stick but a monopod with a tilt head . The tilt head makes moves easy. I have tried a few of the other steady stick type solutions and rejected them though I can't remember why. Perhaps it was because they impeded movement.
Nate - what was wrong with her footage?
 
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