Whats the most basic rig required for a AF100?

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I am in the throws of a nervous breakdown as I am trying to decide between a Canon 5D and a Panasonic AF100. My decision is realistically nearing completion and looking at the AF100. I come from shooting on Sony Z5 and am looking to change it up a bit, lens wise. I have Canon EF mount lenses.

I am not a big fan of these frankenrig shoulder mounts and would like to know what people think are the most basic, least intimidating rig requirements to shoot predominantly hand held and to work in small spaces.

I am thinking a simple rail system with a mattebox when necessary. Am I kidding myself?

Open to any thoughts or opinions.

Cheers.
 
The simplest rig is none at all; if you keep the package very light (just the lens and a battery), it's not that hard to handhold steadily using the stock right side grip and the left hand on the lens rings. I was a little surprised at how successful I was doing that myself. You might not want to do extraordinarily long takes that way, or walk around with it all day, however. And no question, the start/stop buttons are poorly positioned for this application. But extreme simplicity does have its merits. If you don't need rotating filter holders and the other niceties of a full size matte box, you can save the weight of the base and rails using a lens-mounted shade or something like the Cinetactics Matteblox. I'm motivated about half by weight and size considerations and half by pure midwestern stinginess, but I've managed to avoid needing to purchase a rail system so far. I do use the AF more on a tripod than handheld, however.

- Greg
 
The AF-100 with native MFT lenses is super light to work with. It gets heavy when you go cinema with it. It all depends what you want to do and everybody is different. You are the only one who knows what your purpose is with the camera. I have two setups. I own about five MFT lenses that are very sharp and work great without a silly mattebox and follow focus. In fact it wont work with them.

Then I have PL lenses that I use with that silly mattebox and rails and baseplate with a follow focus ect. And it works very well!

In the end you need to set the camera up so it works for you. That is the wonderful aspect of the AF-100. You have so many options for how you want to shoot with it. Don’t let the camera control you. Its very versatile.

EF lenses only work if you get the Redrock EF adapter to control the electronic iris. Thats a pretty cheap investment if you already have a lot of Canon glass.

Cheers!
 
You should get one of Olof's wooden handles. That'll solve your hand & button position for small, handheld places.

http://www.westsideavstore.com/index.php?p=product&id=55
 
It's an adjustable wooden grip with a record button, connected back to the remote slot via a lead. There's pictures there to explain it all.
Pull the camera into your shoulder, perfectly positioned right hand with record. Bingo.
 
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