Yet another shoulder rig - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Chris Santucci said:
This is what I managed to build after being disgusted with every existing design:

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can you please break down what's involved in this setup?
This is a set up I could work with, but I'm interested in where that wooden rod support is from?
 
Looks like it has enough weight to eliminate microjitters for sure.

See, I don't understand how one pulls focus with a dual grip setup when the FF is so far away from the grip. When your hand/fingers can reach and pull focus from the grip, I completely get it and it makes sense, but releasing one handle to pull focus just seems to defeat the purpose of the second grip in my opinion.

I also don't quite understand the need for a monitor when going handheld. With my viewfinder, I find it more stable but I believe that is likely to be preference and have no trouble pulling focus with the magnification + FF. I haven't used my monitor with a handheld setup like this to accurately comment however.

Could you tell us a little bit more about it and how you workaround the using the FF when its so far from the handle?

Kegan
 
Vince K said:
can you please break down what's involved in this setup?
This is a set up I could work with, but I'm interested in where that wooden rod support is from?
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Starting at the front:

Cavision handgrips with the mounting holes drilled and tapped to 5/16" 18 and stainless steel bolts (with heads cut off) holding it all together with threaded knobs from the hardware store. The wooden extensions are cut from a regular old 1" hardwood broom handle and of course drilled through the center.

I made a cold shoe to use a Manfrotto ball mount on a piece of aluminum angle at the end of the left side handgrip dealio for the onboard monitor.

Redrock Micro DSLR riser mount over a Zacuto Z-Balance with a leftover Shoot 35 quick release plate on the bottom to help balance the rig on a head.

Redrock Micro microLink4 flat holding rods and the microBalance Starter Kit to use as counterweight and shoulder pad and then a bunch of RRM microMounts and a hacked down old Shoot 35 baseplate and some velcro.

Oh and the best part, the top handle, which is an IDC handle and a piece of aluminum bar.

I think that's pretty much it and I can easily shoot handheld and mount to a head without even thinking about it, while also having some good fore and aft mass to keep the footage from looking like a mistake.

One thing I don't understand is why all the DSLR shoulder mounts are designed to be lightweight. The cameras weigh, what, a few pounds? More weight is better with these cameras.

.
 
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Hunter007 said:
Looks like it has enough weight to eliminate microjitters for sure.

See, I don't understand how one pulls focus with a dual grip setup when the FF is so far away from the grip. When your hand/fingers can reach and pull focus from the grip, I completely get it and it makes sense, but releasing one handle to pull focus just seems to defeat the purpose of the second grip in my opinion.

I also don't quite understand the need for a monitor when going handheld. With my viewfinder, I find it more stable but I believe that is likely to be preference and have no trouble pulling focus with the magnification + FF. I haven't used my monitor with a handheld setup like this to accurately comment however.

Could you tell us a little bit more about it and how you workaround the using the FF when its so far from the handle?

Kegan
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The FF setup is not a problem since I can easily hold the rig with only the right side handgrip. The counterweight and the mass of stuff behind the camera is centered over the right side handgrip. If I know I'm pulling focus myself, I just hold the FF knob with my left hand.

Sometimes I have a focus puller and sometimes I'm just shooting wide, so then I can hold both grips and keep 'er steady. I hate the idea of having one central handgrip because it's harder to keep the rig from swaying from side to side.

I have to use an onboard monitor because I need to have an external monitor for clients and director and etc. I sometimes unplug the onboard momentarily just to check exposure and color and etc. on the camera lcd.

.
 
Hm, you make valid points - its there if you need it and if you happen to be pulling focus on your own, you just grip the FF knob.

Oh, I understand the need for a monitor definitely on set completely. Just when going handheld I wasn't sure how it balanced/felt to shoot. Is it at all awkward or do you find that it improves your shooting?

Kegan
 
My shoulder rig design

My shoulder rig design

About $20 from Home Depot.

It's weighted and balanced for a 28-135mm lens and canon 7D.

Tripod plate on bottom allows for attaching to tripod and quick release. (Not currently installed in pics)

Works great. Used on B-roll on the streets/in clubs at SXSW 2010 and everybody was asking me about it.

Check out pics and visit my site:
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screenforme.com
 

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Thanks for all the responses... Thats the thing about dslrs, everyone's needs are vastly different. I'm guessing the rigs out there are a good base to start from - then customize to fit you needs... ?

I have been trying to work on a shoulder support design for one of our dslr rigs... not easy..

Chris, sick setup thanks for sharing.
 
MadHMC150 said:
Thats the thing about dslrs, everyone's needs are vastly different. I'm guessing the rigs out there are a good base to start from - then customize to fit you needs... ?
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guess you're right...
It just bothers me that industry leaders sell their imperfect "DSLR-rigs" for so much money. A fellow cameraman spent around 1000$ on his rig and can't even use it single-handed. Balance get's lost as soon as he doesn't grab it on both handles.
It's a joke...
 
stip said:
guess you're right...
A fellow cameraman spent around 1000$ on his rig and can't even use it single-handed. Balance get's lost as soon as he doesn't grab it on both handles.
It's a joke...
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What we see there is a gap between the purpose of the kit and the use of the kit by the end user

A classic T rig is designed to by held by both handles

The trouble is not what they are selling its that they dont give a warning..

"Warning : You need and AC to pull focus with a whip with this rig or it wont work with a DSLR"

Instead they say -

"Hey Mr X ASC the hollywood queen - uses our kit - if its good for him its good for you"

But fail to mention the $500 a day AC and $10k Remote focus that they use it with

My 'design from scratch' places the FF close to the operator

S
 
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Cassius said:
I gave up on the hunt after a few days and made one myself. But I know that's not an option for everyone, and I also don't fully understand why something so simple is so hard to find.
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With workbench and a few basic tools most rigs are easy to build.
Not for everyone but people with limited budgets should give it a try.
At least you'll have something to work with right now.
Some things you can't make yourself like lenses, so if you have to chose, buy a lens and make a rig.
 
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Chris Santucci said:
The FF setup is not a problem since I can easily hold the rig with only the right side handgrip. The counterweight and the mass of stuff behind the camera is centered over the right side handgrip. If I know I'm pulling focus myself, I just hold the FF knob with my left hand.

Sometimes I have a focus puller and sometimes I'm just shooting wide, so then I can hold both grips and keep 'er steady. I hate the idea of having one central handgrip because it's harder to keep the rig from swaying from side to side.

I have to use an onboard monitor because I need to have an external monitor for clients and director and etc. I sometimes unplug the onboard momentarily just to check exposure and color and etc. on the camera lcd.

.
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Question about the handle mounting, I see you have one end attached to the cameras hot shoe and the other to the rails. How well does that work, does it put any stress on the cameras hotshoe? I have a rig that I love, mainly redrock parts but the main thing I am missing is a decent handle, most sollutions seem to be cages that go around the camera that I dont like.
 
evanbutson said:
Question about the handle mounting, I see you have one end attached to the cameras hot shoe and the other to the rails. How well does that work, does it put any stress on the cameras hotshoe? I have a rig that I love, mainly redrock parts but the main thing I am missing is a decent handle, most sollutions seem to be cages that go around the camera that I dont like.
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It works great. It's super rigid at both ends so lifting/carrying weight is spread out and that setup also stabilizes the camera when focus pull torque on the lens wants to shift the camera up and down.

As far as I know the RRM top handle is only attached to the top shoe and I also can't stand the idea of a cage.

.
 
Chris Santucci said:
http://www.filmmakeraccessories.com/

I hate them all. When will someone design a sensibly priced rig that allows (easily) for hard mounting and hand-held use?

.
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As soon as I get through the backlog of current work and projects and PTO filings...
I can look into it.
I'll tell you this much right now. You really can't properly build a full turnkey support system as a 'bolt on' to anything that was designed as an evolution of a 35mm handheld camera.
The whole kit, camera, supports and interfaces need to be thought out together at the design stage, along with all the other reqs.
Just no time in my life unless I offload a ton of work to do this. I'm guessing that current offerings are lackluster because there are no usability standards in the photo/video industries, or firearms, or....
 
Chris Santucci said:
Part of my goal with a camera rig is to not have it look like some do-it-yourselfers experiment. Using big rubber bands to hold an accessory on a camera is not very "pro" looking.

.
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LOL.... You need to tell that to the "Pro's"... hehe.. I'm sure you've seen some of the riggin' folks do in the ENG field.
 
Zephyrnoid said:
As soon as I get through the backlog of current work and projects and PTO filings...
I can look into it.
I'll tell you this much right now. You really can't properly build a full turnkey support system as a 'bolt on' to anything that was designed as an evolution of a 35mm handheld camera.
The whole kit, camera, supports and interfaces need to be thought out together at the design stage, along with all the other reqs.
Just no time in my life unless I offload a ton of work to do this. I'm guessing that current offerings are lackluster because there are no usability standards in the photo/video industries, or firearms, or....
Click to expand...

Thats what I am saying... I shoot a GH1 when it comes to dslrs, and I can already see my needs totally different then the previously posted rig. It would take some serious time and money to make a rig play nice with everything out there. Then when it finally gets to market its to expensive for most.
 
Hunter007 said:
See, I don't understand how one pulls focus with a dual grip setup when the FF is so far away from the grip.

Kegan
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Perhaps the follow focus could second as a left hand grip with a smaller percentage of the load. Similar to a twist grip motorcycle throttle.
I also don't see how one operator will be able to pull focus unless you grow another arm.
Nice rig though, looks like the Borg.
 
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