C100: Zacuto C-Shooter Hands On Review. C100 C300 C500

I like how compact the system is. A problem I've had with other rigs is how tall the camera is on the baseplate. Not the issue with the C-Shooter. However you can't adjust the height so if your going to add a matte box to the C-Shooter it has to be an adjustable type.
 
Erik, as far as the C100 is concerned, would that rig work without an EVF, using the lcd alone or with a Zacuto C-100 Z-Finder?
 
Homey said:
Erik, as far as the C100 is concerned, would that rig work without an EVF, using the lcd alone or with a Zacuto C-100 Z-Finder?
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I dont think so. The camera would have to be offset and way in the front. Best with an EVF. You could use a different mounting system for an EVF but it will work much better on the side of the camera.
 
This is the thing i still dont' understand with these rigs, how in the world are you expected to be tracking focus with that setup? The problem i've always found with shoulder mounts, is they work great if you can have your hands on two handles, however 95% of the time I want one hand to be on the focus ring at the same time. I've yet to find a rig where you can easily access the focus ring while still maintaining a good balance. I just am not a fan of focus rings, and hate the clumbsiness of swapping out lenses with follow focuses when i'm trying to shoot something fast paced. Any remedies for this erik?
 
I feel your pain my friend. The lens choice is very important when you use a rig. The short stubby primes are a pain to use because the EVF gets in the way. If run and gun is the shoot then a zoom like the 24-105 works great. I was able to get clean access to the focus ring since the EVF was behind it. The zoom was tight but not to bad. I should have hooked up a follow focus to the rig but that got away from me. That would be a great place to also hold on to. It might get in the way of the zoom. I haven't tried this yet but if it possible to assign "push to focus" to the "magnification button" that would be cool when the camera is in a rig.
 
I'm sorry, but that rig is a massive failure. The way Zacuto "engineered" (actually recycled) the EVF mount precludes from any focussing to happen, as the whole EVF package sits precisely where the left hand shuld be, to grab the lens and the focus/zoom rings.

Zacuto came out with the DSLR revolution, designing very simple accessories, based essentially around rods and levers. That could suffice at the time when there was just the 5D and nobody else making such accessories, but nowadays there's plenty of companies doing REAL smart engineering to solve such problems, leaving the rods+levers "solutions" way behind.

Another issue is the price points. How can Zacuto get away with such prices (again, for just rods and levers), when german companies charge less for better engineered, lighter and more ergonomic solutions? Jut look a the counterweights alone (compared them to Denz, for instance).

Sorry Zacuto, time to wise up. Learn a bit from ARRI, bebop, Chrosziel, Denz, WoodenCamera, Element Technica, edelkrone, Tilta... etc.

By the way, you can build yourself a similar rig than that one proposed by Zacuto, but by those manufacturers, for similar or less money BUT with the EVF coming from above (thus leaving free space to handle the lenses). AND with further mounting points to add additional stuff like TFTs or Wireless receivers, etc. AND the whole thing will still weight less then the Zacutos.
 
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I really wanted to like the C-Shooter with my C100, but try as I might I couldn't figure out a way to get comfortable with it. Even with the weight in back it felt very front heavy, and my SmallDH DP4EVF just got in the way of my left hand trying to control the lens. There's probably a good way to get everything spaced correctly and get a follow focus on there but I couldn't figure it out, and the whole thing started to feel heavy and fiddly to me. Also, there's no good way to set the thing down unless you get Zacuto's EVF mount and the little "foot" you can attach to it to make a three point landing. In the end, it was a relief to separate the camera from all that junk and shoot with it stripped down (no handle and just a Rode Video Mic) with a stabilized lens for hand held work. Granted, I lose having a good EVF this way, and the benefits of everything else like a wireless receiver, etc that Erik mention, but I think I just need to think differently about it all to use the camera this way. In the end, I think the choice of a rig for this camera comes down to how and what you shoot, of course, and some folks could probably be happy with it. But personally I would hate having to use this all day in run and gun mode. I sent it back (thanks, B&H, for your understanding).
 
i found my Tilta shoulder support - perfect for my c300..... nothing front heavy, cam sits on my shoulder and the monitor comes from the top and sits exactly in front of my eyes! - its just perfect. but there is 1 issue all together it is a little tall.

i plan to get that zacuto re locator, - just cant justify that 300 usd..... but i think i ll do it anyway soon.

i did a doc yesterday for the whole day since like 10 am till 11pm - almost non stop with my tilta setup. the shoulder is kind of dieing today , and i think it would kill me if i had to put a counter weight .... but its great that with tilta i dont really need it!

about zacuto c shooter and c100..... i am not sure if u guys have a cold shoe in front of c100 handle , but if u do ... i would recommend to look at edelcrone evf holder - perfect solution for the monitor!
 
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