Amazing Mantis

[Shawn Nelson]

I know it's been talked about and reviewed a bunch, but I just got a Mantis and tonight was the maiden voyage ... amazing! This is a MUST have. Kudos to ET, the design is so well done it actually makes me wonder why Red didnt do it in the first batch, well I'm glad they didnt because ET makes a hell of a product.

It also goes amazingly well when combined with the Easyrig. I use to think of those two as an either/or situation, not anymore! For me it's now Mantis or Mantis+Easyrig for the ultimate "hours of handheld" combo. :thumbup1:

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Is that a Zacuto EVF arm Shawn?

 

[Rick Darge]

I know it's been talked about and reviewed a bunch, but I just got a Mantis and tonight was the maiden voyage ... amazing! This is a MUST have. Kudos to ET, the design is so well done it actually makes me wonder why Red didnt do it in the first batch, well I'm glad they didnt because ET makes a hell of a product.

It also goes amazingly well when combined with the Easyrig. I use to think of those two as an either/or situation, not anymore! For me it's now Mantis or Mantis+Easyrig for the ultimate "hours of handheld" combo. :thumbup1:

I love that Mantis. It travels with me everywhere. So versatile and comfortable. Can't wait to use it with the new camera systems

 

[Ryan S]

Seconding Roberto's question about the arm, as I'm looking at getting the Zwivel myself.

Love the Mantis!

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Is that a Zacuto EVF arm Shawn?

uhm...maybe :blush:

it takes a while to get all the ET stuff! Even though its way worth it, I hope to get the EVF mount before too long

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

I heard nothing but great things about the Zacuto EVF with the extra rod.

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

I know it's been talked about and reviewed a bunch, but I just got a Mantis and tonight was the maiden voyage ... amazing! This is a MUST have. Kudos to ET, the design is so well done it actually makes me wonder why Red didnt do it in the first batch, well I'm glad they didnt because ET makes a hell of a product.

It also goes amazingly well when combined with the Easyrig. I use to think of those two as an either/or situation, not anymore! For me it's now Mantis or Mantis+Easyrig for the ultimate "hours of handheld" combo. :thumbup1:

That's funny we just bought one and it arrived today too.

We will test it tomorrow.

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

I know it's been talked about and reviewed a bunch, but I just got a Mantis and tonight was the maiden voyage ... amazing! This is a MUST have. Kudos to ET, the design is so well done it actually makes me wonder why Red didnt do it in the first batch, well I'm glad they didnt because ET makes a hell of a product.

It also goes amazingly well when combined with the Easyrig. I use to think of those two as an either/or situation, not anymore! For me it's now Mantis or Mantis+Easyrig for the ultimate "hours of handheld" combo. :thumbup1:

Post a pic of the EASy Rig and Mantis. that makes sense I guess... although you will probably look like the guy with the powered suit in District 9 :yesnod:

EDIT. Post a picfrom the side i mean. its hard to see the rig front on

thanks

 

[Jens Jakob Thorsen]

I have had the Mantis for 6 months....with the RED1 the lens sits much too high for any serious hh work. It feels like a helmet cam for skydiving. And the balance is ridiculous.
An easyrig should not be used unless, your camera balances really bad or weighs more than 30pounds. I find it takes away too much of the finesse and fingerspitzgefühl of hh operating.
Looking forward to a lower lens hight and better balance with the Epic....

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Looking forward to a lower lens hight and better balance with the Epic....

Agreed. But the Mantis is about as low as a HH rig could be.

Have you considered shooting HH upside down if it bothers your operator too much? It isn't that much of a hassle to deal with in post.

Though it would be great if an easy software fix could allow the metadata on any given clip to be changed and then software would read them flipped automatically.

 

[Florian Stadler]

Disagree with you there Jens, but nice use of a German word!
Why no one has thought of adjusting the angle of a hh mount to the angle of the operators shoulder before ET is a mystery to me.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

I have had the Mantis for 6 months....with the RED1 the lens sits much too high for any serious hh work. It feels like a helmet cam for skydiving. And the balance is ridiculous.
An easyrig should not be used unless, your camera balances really bad or weighs more than 30pounds. I find it takes away too much of the finesse and fingerspitzgefühl of hh operating.
Looking forward to a lower lens hight and better balance with the Epic....

I agree. Nothing beats a sleek, light and ergonomic camera for hand held work: Aaton XR, 416, 235, you name it. I really, really hope that Red is learning their lessons in this regard.

Hans

 

[Evin Grant]

Agreed. But the Mantis is about as low as a HH rig could be.

That's not entirely true. If you want the lowest CG possible pull off the sliding base plate and use either the ET or Long Valley lightweight support rods. Then add a strap-on shoulder pad and a set of Spyder grips to the front and you have a very compact and light weight HH system that has a lens height level with your eye. Add a battery plate about 6" from the back and you have a very well balanced rig. For guys with bum backs like me you can even forgo the EVF and just use the LCD.

 

[Ryan B]

Post a pic of the EASy Rig and Mantis. that makes sense I guess... although you will probably look like the guy with the powered suit in District 9 :yesnod:

EDIT. Post a picfrom the side i mean. its hard to see the rig front on

thanks

Ya lets see a side pic Shawn...!

Ryanb.

 

[Tony Lorentzen]

I have had the Mantis for 6 months....with the RED1 the lens sits much too high for any serious hh work.

That's a very relative statement... It depends entirely on your height and the talent's height / position.

 

[Constantine Tyrintzis]

Hello. HHeld rigs are mostly depended on the operators height and actors height considering the point of camera view. Some times a higher hh rig is better.Sometimes worst.Considering balance, with the red it can all be shorted with longer handle bars and lower placement of the red drive and bat unit at the back and you can get it as pleased.
This way increasing the leverage with the longer handles, and placing the CG lower with he lower placement of the back pack unit gives an over all well balanced rig.
As for the shoulder angle I think its very important to be right for each individual.
on the HR-1 there isnt such a prob as it has a roll axis and the shoulder pad takes the angle of any shoulder freely. But on the new hheld rigs Iam designing there will also be this kind o adjustment and you can choose to have it either locked of free.
When you have a free angle this really takes some serious angle body errors when you walk minimizing the side to side error effect quite dramatically producing steadier shoots.
The new range of the HH-1 rigs will be avalliable at the end of September - middle Octomber and they will be in the 1600 usd range .Thank you.
Constantine

 

[Jens Jakob Thorsen]

Its not depending on anybodys height. Its about balance ,and more importantly about where you eye sits in your skull, if you want to "see" with your camera. Thats why you want that lens as close to your eye as possible.
To put it simply: Do handheld for two decades and get back to me then....Let me take that back. Just do 4 features handheld...and get back to me then.
I will buy you a large beer and we can talk.
Florian you can come too!

That's a very relative statement... It depends entirely on your height and the talent's height / position.

 

[Tony Lorentzen]

I'll give you a call in about 10 years Jens Jakob

 

[Florian Stadler]

Just do 4 features handheld...and get back to me then.
I will buy you a large beer and we can talk.
Florian you can come too!

Done 2 features so far all handheld with Moviecam compact, F900 & never had a handheld rig as comfortable as Mantis. Done about 20 commercials (some 100 takers) & 4 music videos all handheld & with the Mantis & Red over the last year... Certainly not lacking experience.

 

[D Fuller]

That's not entirely true. If you want the lowest CG possible pull off the sliding base plate and use either the ET or Long Valley lightweight support rods. Then add a strap-on shoulder pad and a set of Spyder grips to the front and you have a very compact and light weight HH system that has a lens height level with your eye. Add a battery plate about 6" from the back and you have a very well balanced rig. For guys with bum backs like me you can even forgo the EVF and just use the LCD.

Evin, I'm with you here--it makes the camera sit like an Arri SR. But where do you get the Spyder grips. I can't seem to find them.