Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Alternative approach for using Red in handheld mode

S

shootblue.tv

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2008
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
51
Website
www.shootblue.tv
I’ve been looking into the various systems & prototypes available for using Red in handheld mode and I can’t help but thinking that there could be another approach (or at least an alternative method) to support the camera and allow ease of use when shooting handheld.

In handheld, on the shoulder mode, most ENG/EFP camcorder operators provide additional support to the camera by holding the lense zoom control/electronics unit, which is usually ergonomically designed and keeps the operators arm close to the camera body, offering stability and protection to the camera/lense area. It usually also affords a convenient on/off control for recording mode.

My question is this: has anyone considered having some kind of sliding, ergonomic grip/handle that can be locked securely between a front extended right top mount rail and lower right base plate rail, to the right side of the lense (if that at all makes sense – can sketch something out if it doesn’t). The camera operator would use their right arm to securely grip this and support the camera, just to the right of the lense area. It could also be beneficial to have a start/stop button built into this grip (again, as per ENG/EFP camcorders/lenses). The left arm is still free to pull focus (or grip a lower mounted type handle, found on many of the existing solutions, if that’s what is necessary). I also feel it would be beneficial and offer greater support/stability if this grip was ergonomically designed, more of a pistol type grip, not just a tube with some rubber/plastic type covering.

Keeping hands close to the camera has surely got to be better for agile, confident handheld work, than having hand support far lower down, closer to the operator’s chest, no?

Any thoughts on this approach? (forgive me if this has already been covered or I’m missing something glaringly obvious here).
 
Yeah, I keep pushing to have the bundle put together for an Aaton handgrip for the RED. It is something we have done already, but I want it to be a set product so that we don't re-invent the wheel every time. I just mentioned this the other day again. We'll have the product right away.

Note that this is not exactly what the original poster as asking for but it is close. The distance between the upper & lower rods is non-standard to anything else in the industry, so no one has made a bracket to span them at this time. It's possible to use some clamps from Zacuto to create something but I'm afraid it would come out rather clunky and not so ergonomic for a handgrip.

I've never beeen the biggest fan of lens servo handgrips as I always felt the height was slightly off and the wrist rotation improper. My hand would always fall asleep after long periods. But the Aaton grip is the single most comfortable I've ever used.

We have something similar to the Element Technica rig for the Phantom, and we also have an Aaton handgrip. Most large camera ops prefer the big rig, but I personally prefer the Aaton.
 
Mitch,

Ergonomically speaking, that's the kind of thing I have in mind. The start/stop button is great and exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for. However, I would still be keen to have this mounted between the top and bottom rails, so it creates a very strong, stable bridge between the two bars. Having the ability to turn/adjust it slightly to suit you hand position would be good too (reference EX3 servo/grip).

I realise opinions are going to be mixed as to whether this constitutes a comfortable, steady hand grip, but having witnessed a number of shoots recently, where camera operator is working non-stop handheld with an ENG camcorder in this manner (for example filming a 3-4 hour concert or live event), to me it kinda makes sense & works.

Any other subscribers out there to this approach?
 
Maybe this grip could be modded to be mounted on one of red's side handles. the one that "connects" the top and bottom rods.
If that's possible, it opens up a wide spectrum of placement options.
 
gieppetto said:
Maybe this grip could be modded to be mounted on one of red's side handles. the one that "connects" the top and bottom rods.
If that's possible, it opens up a wide spectrum of placement options.
Click to expand...

Aron,

Quite like the idea of that, mounting on the Red side handle, this would get the grip into the right kind of position. Only concern would be that the Red side handles still quite not robust enough for this, would prefer if these totally enclosed the rail and had to slide on, rather than just clamping on the rail.. would give me a bit more confidence in using the camera handheld in this manner.

Perhaps something along the lines of a Zacuto handle, with attachment points below and above the grip attached on to this kind of side handle would work.
 
Yup, that's the one. We'll have a bundle together tomorrow and I'll post about as soon as it's ready. Guess what color the run/stop switch will be...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top